D&D General Do You Use a DM Screen?

[Reynard]

I think you might have some people blocked. There are several posts in this thread about fudging rolls.

Ah, yeah, that's probable. Or, rather, they have me blocked and I can't see their quoted text in someone else's reply. I wish the software would tell you someone is responding to a user you can't see, though.

 

[Clint_L]

Fair enough.

I understand your point. But what "thing" are you hiding from the players? Could you give me an example please? Thank you.

I previously have done so, but again: let's say the player tries some BS story to trick a guard. I ask for the player to make a deception check, contested by the guard's insight check. In that situation, I keep the result of the guard's roll secret, because the character can't know for sure whether or not they successfully tricked the guard, and we role-play it out. Is the guard just playing along? Were they successfully duped? The player doesn't know because their character doesn't know, and they have to act accordingly.

That's way more fun than letting the player see the roll, effectively reading the guard's mind.

Whereas if it's a contested strength check, then yeah, we roll out in the open, because that's more fun, and the result would be obvious to the character anyway. Damage dice, saving throws, etc. are all on the table. If a character dies, so be it. If a boss fight turns out to be a cakewalk, oh well. It happens. As a rule, I strongly prefer rolls to be visible. But there are exceptions, and they are important.

So that's one reason I still use a DM screen, or some other means to give me the option for secret rolls. But DM screens are useful for a lot more than hiding dice. Mine has little plexiglass sheets for keeping notes, and magnets for posting anything I need handy. It also has grooves in the top and plexiglass turn counters to make it easy to track initiative, if I want to go analogue.

 

[Scott Christian]

I previously have done so, but again: let's say the player tries some BS story to trick a guard. I ask for the player to make a deception check, contested by the guard's insight check. In that situation, I keep the result of the guard's roll secret, because the character can't know for sure whether or not they successfully tricked the guard, and we role-play it out. Is the guard just playing along? Were they successfully duped? The player doesn't know because their character doesn't know, and they have to act accordingly.

That's way more fun than letting the player see the roll, effectively reading the guard's mind.

While I agree with this premise, they also don't know the guard's bonus. On top of that, if you wanted to roll without players eyeing the die, just roll close to you. I mean, are your players actively trying to look at your rolls?

Whereas if it's a contested strength check, then yeah, we roll out in the open, because that's more fun, and the result would be obvious to the character anyway. Damage dice, saving throws, etc. are all on the table. If a character dies, so be it. If a boss fight turns out to be a cakewalk, oh well. It happens. As a rule, I strongly prefer rolls to be visible. But there are exceptions, and they are important.

Again, I agree with the premise. Some dice rolls are better without the player knowing the exact results, and for others, it doesn't matter. But my point is, you don't need a DM screen to make that so.

First of all, some people do in fact want reminders for 5E stuff like cover and other rules.
Second, I might hide my notes or a map or the minis I have pre-selected or any number of other bits that would spoil the fun if the players saw it.
I need a place to keep my coffee and my beer and my water and my beer.

You need to keep your beer and coffee secret? (JK)

But, to be serious, you need to hide rule references? You can't put your cool mini in a bag? It's much less likely to be seen there than sitting behind a 12" screen that everyone can see over if they walk behind you or stand up to pick a dropped dice (or get a beer). The same is true for maps.

 

[Meech17]

While I agree with this premise, they also don't know the guard's bonus. On top of that, if you wanted to roll without players eyeing the die, just roll close to you. I mean, are your players actively trying to look at your rolls?

If the guard does really really well, or really really poorly his bonus may not matter if there's like a 10 point delta between the player's roll and the DMs.

Also.. If they're not actively looking anyway, what does it matter if they're hidden?

You need to keep your beer and coffee secret? (JK)

Yes. Always keep the players guessing. Am I going for the beer or the coffee? they'll never know.

But, to be serious, you need to hide rule references? You can't put your cool mini in a bag? It's much less likely to be seen there than sitting behind a 12" screen that everyone can see over if they walk behind you or stand up to pick a dropped dice (or get a beer). The same is true for maps.

You have to admit, rummaging around in your bag to pull out the boss monster mini is much less dramatic than bringing it out from behind the screen.


I don't know what to tell you man. I get it that you really hate screens.. They're cool though. They're part of the core aesthetic to the game. Some people just like them.

I've found myself using it less and less, but I still like the vibe they provide. It kind of adds to the ambiance of the game. It separates you a bit from the players and helps transform you into the omniscient narrator

 

[Scott Christian]

Also.. If they're not actively looking anyway, what does it matter if they're hidden?

Exactly. Why does it matter if they are hidden?

Yes. Always keep the players guessing. Am I going for the beer or the coffee? they'll never know.

The question to that is which DM do they prefer: the beer-buzzed or caffeine-buzzed DM?

You have to admit, rummaging around in your bag to pull out the boss monster mini is much less dramatic than bringing it out from behind the screen.

I'll admit the latter is cooler.

I don't know what to tell you man. I get it that you really hate screens.. They're cool though. They're part of the core aesthetic to the game. Some people just like them.

I've found myself using it less and less, but I still like the vibe they provide. It kind of adds to the ambiance of the game. It separates you a bit from the players and helps transform you into the omniscient narrator

That is an argument I definitely think you'd win. It does help separate you from the players and does really well in helping someone feel or look like a narrator.

(For the record, I don't dislike screens. I have had some of my best campaigns as a player from DMs that use screens. I just am pointing out that once a screen is used, there is most likely going to be some BS rolling by the DM. Whereas, when there isn't a screen, the dice play their role. - pun intended.)

 

[Oofta]

I put all my monsters in a box so I can pull them out, no need for a screen. Unless of course I just want some foreshadowing, then they just happen to be in reach.

 

[Velderan]

I previously have done so, but again: let's say the player tries some BS story to trick a guard. I ask for the player to make a deception check, contested by the guard's insight check. In that situation, I keep the result of the guard's roll secret, because the character can't know for sure whether or not they successfully tricked the guard, and we role-play it out. Is the guard just playing along? Were they successfully duped? The player doesn't know because their character doesn't know, and they have to act accordingly.

That's way more fun than letting the player see the roll, effectively reading the guard's mind.

That's really the way it should be IMO. There's just some rolls that are so much better if the players don't know what they rolled. My group found some strange runes on the ground and 2 players decided to try to figure out what they were for. I rolled their checks for them, 1 rolled a nat 1 and 1 rolled a nat 20 so I told one of them their character was 100% sure it was a teleportation circle and the other was sure it was a summoning circle used to summon demonic beings. Who was right?

 

[Velderan]

Aside from hiding info I don't want the players to see, I used my DM screen to put folded pieces of index card with the name of every combatant during combat. The left most piece of paper was the current turn, so everyone at the table could see who was up next and how many more people go before their next turn.

 

[Reynard]

I just am pointing out that once a screen is used, there is most likely going to be some BS rolling by the DM.

I still say this is a non sequitur.

 

[Argyle King]

I like the idea of using a screen.

However, I've found that it creates a barrier to being able to interact with players. I prefer to not use one.