DMs only: Do you actually track numbers behind your screen?

[Driddle]

With the plethora of gaming supplements -- books, pdfs, magazine articles, etc. -- available to add variety and personalize your campaign, it's nearly impossible to justify why an NPC can't do something during a game scene. New spells, feats, prestige class abilities, templates, variant core classes ... the sky's the limit when you need to design an encounter.

Combine that with the DM's legitimate right to roll his dice behind a private curtain, and I have to wonder why anyone would bother keeping track of elaborate NCP character sheets. Just gauge the players' enjoyment levels and decide on the fly, for example, "Ooops, you missed," or, "The monster dies as you take his final hitpoint." Merely maintain the thrill of adventure regardless of how much "fudging" it takes.

After all, as GM, you're Gawd Almighty. As long as you play nicely and grant small rewards every so often, the petty mortals who sit at your gaming table aren't going to care about the number of plus-ones you juggle in your head.

So be honest. Do you actually keep track of all the esoteric digits? Isn't it OK for the ends to justify your means?

 

[Jdvn1]

All? No. A lot, though.

What else would I do back there!

 

[ThirdWizard]

I might not have every skill statted out, but that's the extent of it. I can't imagine a DM who didn't at least have Attack bonus, AC, HP, and saves for every NPC statted out. And, for me that would be the bare minimum for unimportant mooks. Nah, I couldn't stat them out withoiut ability scores, feats, speed, possessions, and... well basically what's in the MM entries for creatures.

 

[derelictjay]

Yes, I actually keep track of those esoteric digits, why because this DM's mind likes to wander, and its hard enough keeping track of numbers on a piece of paper, let alone trying to make something on the fly. But of course I'm more than willing to play with those digits in the heat of the moment. I just hate it when I change a characters race from an elf to a dwarf right in front of the players face, and am forced to backtrack because I lost my train of thought (and I still do that with everything in digits in front of me just much less often).

 

[Ruined]

Definitely. I used to wing it, play without good stats for opponents because hey, story is king right? But I've gotten more accustomed to the mechanics and I want to keep it fair to the players. They have to abide by rules for their characters, so shouldn't I at least play them straight? I already have tons of flexibility assigning the opposition, so I feel little need to fudge numbers behind the screen.

 

[Dagger75]

Hit points, At low levels yes, at higher levels not really. I take the damage and add it up and if it looks pretty high the monster dies.

Also the dodge feat equals +1 AC to all the PC's

 

[ThirdWizard]

Also the dodge feat equals +1 AC to all the PC's

<houserule>
And NPCs in my game. It relieves headaches that way, and makes it worthwhile as a feat all in one simple stroke!
</houserule>

 

[Arbiter of Wyrms]

I often fudge the numbers on the fly to enhance (read:control) the encounter, but I'm always working from a prepared base if there's combat involved. The important, stroy-advancing NPCs tend to be the ones without stats.

If the 1st level party meets the hero-deity/arch-mage/emperor on the street, he doesn't actually needs stats. He just ignores them or commands them or whatever. If they decide to attack, as some parties in the past would have done, they vaporize.

 

[WayneLigon]

So be honest. Do you actually keep track of all the esoteric digits?

I do, yes; I have a stat block for every monster on my likely encounters matrix (see below), and a set of generic stat blocks for most of the humanoid foes. If I make a special NPC, I have a statblock on him, with notes below it as to what something does (if it's some exotic monster ability I'm unfamiliar with), saving throw DCs, and any special tactical ideas.

If I have an encounter of, say, 10 bladetrolls, then they all have the same stats. No need to keep track of numbers that way; just one tiny stat block and a space on my notepaper with 1, 2, 3, etc down the side to keep track of which troll has how many hitpoints.

I will fudge on some things, but not often, and I fudge on their behalf as much as the monsters; whatever keeps a balance of fun going on.

My Likely Encounters Matrix:
I do a square 6x6 for most common encounter areas like 'Farmland' 'Civilized Road' 'The Misty Swamp', etc, and fill it with monsters. The ones on the 1,2 areas are minor encounters, or sometimes just events. The 2-4 areas are more normal things, depending on party level. The encounters in the 5-6 (sometimes in the 4 lines, for really dangerous areas) are higher level encounters and can be much more dangerous. It's not percentage-wise accurate but I let players roll the encounter dice, and it's a lot more fun to see them go 'Ut oh, a 5 on the first number... it's gonna be bad... AUGH! A SIX! Break out the heavy weaponry! Aiiee!'

 

[Arnwyn]

So be honest. Do you actually keep track of all the esoteric digits?

Yes.

Isn't it OK for the ends to justify your means?

For some. Not for me. (But then, I get different enjoyment out of the game than those others.)