Does your DM roll behind a screen or head to head?

[GlassJaw]

I always use a screen. I like to keep any maps I'm using open all the time so the screen helps.

The screen also prevents metagaming and I like the ability to fudge a roll once in a while if necessary.

But most importantly, I like the screen so I can freak my players out. I'll make rolls once in a while when none is required. I'll ask for Listen and Spot checks and then roll a couple of dice and then give them a little grin. Then I just ask them what they do next. Drives them nuts.

 

[GlassJaw]

I definately roll behind the screen (or at least out of sight) for secret stuff like Spot/Search/Disable Device checks

Really? I've always found that players don't like this - I know I don't like it as a player.

For Disable Device, isn't is reasonable to think that you would know how well (or bad) you did trying to tinker with some device?

I always let my players roll Spot and Listen because I ask for them a lot.

Search isn't really an issue because it's almost always used Taking 10 or 20.

Rolling the dice is part of the fun for the players IMO. Just one man's opinion.

 

[Buttercup]

Do a little of both.

That's my way too. Generally I roll behind the screen, but sometimes in a dicey (no pun intended) situation I'll roll in the open so the players know I'm not playing favorites or being unnecessarily harsh. In fact, I've even handed a player my dice and had them roll for me once or twice. The last time that happened, it was life or death, and everybody loved the character who was hanging by a thread. My player rolled, and the other player's character did not stabilize. It was a traumatic moment, but I wouldn't change the way I did it, and I'm glad I didn't roll behind the screen, because I might have fudged at the last moment. The loss of a beloved PC actually made the game much more meaningful to everyone. I wish I could say it also made my players more cautious, but that's too much to hope for.

 

[deltadave]

What about "Always - except for dramatic impact"?

 

[Doug McCrae]

As a GM I try not to fudge, though do from time to time. Never with die rolls though, only rules interpretations. I think I'd be a better GM if I didn't do it at all.

In the D&D game I'm playing in our GM never fudges die rolls cause they're all the open. Except for necessarily secret stuff, obv. Again though he occasionally fudges on situational stuff.

Didn't answer your poll cause the question was confusingly framed.

 

[Davelozzi]

For Disable Device, isn't is reasonable to think that you would know how well (or bad) you did trying to tinker with some device?

Maybe if you totally botch it you'd be aware, but I don't think anything is definate,

I always let my players roll Spot and Listen because I ask for them a lot.

Okay, I lied a bit. I often let me players make their own rolls when its easier for me, but I have no hesitation about doing it secretly if I don't want to tip my hand to the players that there's something out there.

 

[IronWolf]

I didn't vote as the poll question is a little confusing. As a DM I roll behind the screen.... Habits from the old days....

 

[Starglim]

This is a very strangely worded poll.

Yes.

That is to say, my DM rolls almost all rolls behind the screen, unless deliberately rolled in the open for dramatic effect in a critical scene.

 

[MonsterMash]

To actually answer the question I roll behind the screen always as DM.

 

[Turanil]

"All the time except for rolls that they shouldn't see." ?

Me too: all rolls in front of the players except for those they shouldn't see.