GMing: How to fudge NOT using the dice.

[Tonguez]

Monster tactics - or rather lack thereof. Goblins that DONT bonus action disengage and hide but instead stand around to be slaughtered, creatures who forgo their range attacks and charge into melee instead
Morale breaks are good too - have some of the monsters choose to attempt to disengage instead of attack, causing confusion ...

 

[DEFCON 1]

Being concerned about fudging or cheating is overrated.

 

[payn]

Same with a treasure table. But then again I have heard DMs say “I am not giving you THAT” after rolling to see what a monster has for loot.

Oh yeah ive heard that before too. Reminds me also of the "I only roll my stats!" GM. Then, they tell you how its not in order, or 3D6, but 4D6 drop the lowest, and if you dont get an average score you can just do it all over again. Though, yes, totally rolling stats!

 

[aco175]

Published modules are something that I find needs changing a lot. I feel they are made for a 'standard' party of average build and tactics and not for groups of more optimized characters and tactics of play. I need to go through them before play and adjust encounters to generally be harder for my game. I do not see this as fudging, but when playing if I think that this encounter that just started needs something, then that is generally fudging.

Which might be either good or bad.

 

[Maxperson]

Same with a treasure table. But then again I have heard DMs say “I am not giving you THAT” after rolling to see what a monster has for loot.

It's not fudging to ignore the dice when you roll randomly. You fudge rules, not non-rules. The rules say that if you roll a d20 and after bonuses equal or exceed the PC's AC, you hit. If you ignore that you have fudged. The rules do not say that you take the result of a random roll on a table, so it's not fudging to ignore the roll.

 

[payn]

It's not fudging to ignore the dice when you roll randomly. You fudge rules, not non-rules. The rules say that if you roll a d20 and after bonuses equal or exceed the PC's AC, you hit. If you ignore that you have fudged. The rules do not say that you take the result of a random roll on a table, so it's not fudging to ignore the roll.

 

[Reynard]

It's not fudging to ignore the dice when you roll randomly. You fudge rules, not non-rules. The rules say that if you roll a d20 and after bonuses equal or exceed the PC's AC, you hit. If you ignore that you have fudged. The rules do not say that you take the result of a random roll on a table, so it's not fudging to ignore the roll.

I am curious where you see the distinction.

 

[Maxperson]

I am curious where you see the distinction.

I pointed it out in my post. You can fudge a rule, not a non-binding chart. A non-binding chart isn't a rule. It's an aid to help you decide what magic items to include. Something there to help you decide isn't there to make the decision for you.

 

[Reynard]

I pointed it out in my post. You can fudge a rule, not a non-binding chart. A non-binding chart isn't a rule. It's an aid to help you decide what magic items to include. Something there to help you decide isn't there to make the decision for you.

There are times, though, when it is a rule. A dungeon level or adventure chapter will tell you (not advise, tell) to roll random encounters every X time, and if one comes up, use chart Y to determine the encounter. That is a rule. Therefore, isn't deciding not to roll, or changing the result of the roll, fudging in that sense?

 

[payn]

There are times, though, when it is a rule. A dungeon level or adventure chapter will tell you (not advise, tell) to roll random encounters every X time, and if one comes up, use chart Y to determine the encounter. That is a rule. Therefore, isn't deciding not to roll, or changing the result of the roll, fudging in that sense?

It was an editing error, they were supposed to be called “not so random tables”