Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="Noctem" data-source="post: 6803727" data-attributes="member: 6801315">Here's what I suspect is happening.&nbsp; To be clear this is my opinion.Starting with the numbers of players vs fudging:It seems to be that the reason most people don't want the DM to fudge numbers, as players, is because of the perception that the DM doing it is unfair.&nbsp; Someone had posted in one of the previous threads something like &quot;If I'm not allowed to cheat, the DM shouldn't be allowed either.&quot;&nbsp; I agree with this statement, of course.&nbsp; It's a game, no one should be allowed to cheat in a multiplayer cooperative game, after all.&nbsp; So then this brings me to the Why?&nbsp; Why do DM's fudge, when do they do it and what do they fudge?From my experience fudging is done almost entirely within combat.&nbsp; Outside of combat, social die rolls just aren't of enough consequence in most situations to warrant the DM changing his rolls.&nbsp; Most of the time, the rolls revolve around information gathering, exploration and the like which the DM WANTS to have happen successfully.&nbsp; That's how you give information to the party and advance the story.&nbsp; Now in combat however there's many situations that usually warrant a DM fudging rolls.&nbsp; Sometimes it's to protect an important NPC.&nbsp; Automatic success vs a spell effect for example that would have caused the NPC great harm is a common one.&nbsp; Another is automatic hit or at worse crit vs a PC.&nbsp; Sometimes done to force the party to expend resources to increase the war of attrition the party is going through during a day of adventuring.&nbsp; It can also be because the DM wants the encounter to feel more dangerous, so targeting a specific key PC and guaranteeing success via fudging.&nbsp; I mean there's all sorts of reasons, sometimes even plot or story line based people fudge the dice when they DM.And finally, I think that the reason why DM's fudge in general is simply because they can.&nbsp; They perceive themselves as an authority at the table.&nbsp; Absolute power corrupts absolutely.&nbsp; I believe that human beings are very easily influenced by the ability to control others.&nbsp; Those who fudge don't announce that they are fudging.&nbsp; They do so secretly, usually behind a screen.&nbsp; Again, this is why I don't use a screen.&nbsp; I roll in the open.&nbsp; I announce all modifiers before rolling.&nbsp; My players know for a fact that whatever the situation is, the decisions they make aren't simply counteracted by my whims.&nbsp; And I think that's a good thing.&nbsp; It builds trust between DM and players.&nbsp; Again this is my opinion, based on personal experiences.&nbsp; If you disagree, feel free to say so and why.&nbsp; I'll read your response with an open mind.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Noctem, post: 6803727, member: 6801315"] Here's what I suspect is happening. To be clear this is my opinion. Starting with the numbers of players vs fudging: It seems to be that the reason most people don't want the DM to fudge numbers, as players, is because of the perception that the DM doing it is unfair. Someone had posted in one of the previous threads something like "If I'm not allowed to cheat, the DM shouldn't be allowed either." I agree with this statement, of course. It's a game, no one should be allowed to cheat in a multiplayer cooperative game, after all. So then this brings me to the Why? Why do DM's fudge, when do they do it and what do they fudge? From my experience fudging is done almost entirely within combat. Outside of combat, social die rolls just aren't of enough consequence in most situations to warrant the DM changing his rolls. Most of the time, the rolls revolve around information gathering, exploration and the like which the DM WANTS to have happen successfully. That's how you give information to the party and advance the story. Now in combat however there's many situations that usually warrant a DM fudging rolls. Sometimes it's to protect an important NPC. Automatic success vs a spell effect for example that would have caused the NPC great harm is a common one. Another is automatic hit or at worse crit vs a PC. Sometimes done to force the party to expend resources to increase the war of attrition the party is going through during a day of adventuring. It can also be because the DM wants the encounter to feel more dangerous, so targeting a specific key PC and guaranteeing success via fudging. I mean there's all sorts of reasons, sometimes even plot or story line based people fudge the dice when they DM. And finally, I think that the reason why DM's fudge in general is simply because they can. They perceive themselves as an authority at the table. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. I believe that human beings are very easily influenced by the ability to control others. Those who fudge don't announce that they are fudging. They do so secretly, usually behind a screen. Again, this is why I don't use a screen. I roll in the open. I announce all modifiers before rolling. My players know for a fact that whatever the situation is, the decisions they make aren't simply counteracted by my whims. And I think that's a good thing. It builds trust between DM and players. Again this is my opinion, based on personal experiences. If you disagree, feel free to say so and why. I'll read your response with an open mind. [/QUOTE]

Verification