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DMs, how do you fudge?
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<blockquote data-quote="TheSword" data-source="post: 8594159" data-attributes="member: 6879661"><p>The truth of the matter is that when it’s done properly no one would ever know you are fudging. Those little corrections that keep the game rolling on at pace. Which are only ever made in a DM visible space anyway.</p><p></p><p>Whether I decide to add shields to the orcs at the last minute or swap for greataxes has no impact on agency. Whether I decide the orc boss has a <em>parry</em> ability or not has no impact on free will. Or if I decide the wizard has the shield spell… or even a wand of Magic missile. The reinforcements arriving after 2 rounds or 5 rounds is entirely down to me as a DM.</p><p></p><p>The fallacy here is the idea that somehow, some of the DMs arbitrary decisions are pure and honest and others are corrupt and dishonest.</p><p></p><p>It’s easy to say changing dice rolls breaks trust. I have some sympathy for that opinion, even though it personally doesn’t bother me. Adding a potion of healing to a character at the last minute because you decide it’s reasonable they would have one, or making the boss 20 hp harder because you originally made them too weak is a lot harder to criticize I think.</p><p></p><p>I personally don’t believe this kind of fudging needs to be approved by the players in advance. It’s par for the course of game prep and frankly whether I do it a week in advance, in lunch break on the day of the game, or as the combat proceeds is frankly up to me. You’ll never know the difference so this is all theoretical.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="TheSword, post: 8594159, member: 6879661"] The truth of the matter is that when it’s done properly no one would ever know you are fudging. Those little corrections that keep the game rolling on at pace. Which are only ever made in a DM visible space anyway. Whether I decide to add shields to the orcs at the last minute or swap for greataxes has no impact on agency. Whether I decide the orc boss has a [I]parry[/I] ability or not has no impact on free will. Or if I decide the wizard has the shield spell… or even a wand of Magic missile. The reinforcements arriving after 2 rounds or 5 rounds is entirely down to me as a DM. The fallacy here is the idea that somehow, some of the DMs arbitrary decisions are pure and honest and others are corrupt and dishonest. It’s easy to say changing dice rolls breaks trust. I have some sympathy for that opinion, even though it personally doesn’t bother me. Adding a potion of healing to a character at the last minute because you decide it’s reasonable they would have one, or making the boss 20 hp harder because you originally made them too weak is a lot harder to criticize I think. I personally don’t believe this kind of fudging needs to be approved by the players in advance. It’s par for the course of game prep and frankly whether I do it a week in advance, in lunch break on the day of the game, or as the combat proceeds is frankly up to me. You’ll never know the difference so this is all theoretical. [/QUOTE]
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