Pathfinder 1E Secret rolls

[Ezequielramone]

I'm always the dm/gm in my groups. and since I don't want players to know the stats of creatures and enemies I tend to roll behind the screen.
recently we start a parallel campaign in which I don't play as a dm. The actual dm rolls some important die in the middle of the table and even comment the bonus. and defenses of the enemies.
this make me realice that there are many ways to dm.
the main reason for me to keep secrets is that the players can see a troll who can't be hit because of his armor or a thief who just dodged their attacks instead of a token with stats. this leads me to roll behind my screen, so they can't speculate with bonuses. I usually describe misses depending in the ac bonuses they have so they can narratively intérprete what are their capabilities.
I have thought in roll where everybody can see the roll, they could do some math and know my bonuses, I can intrrpretate that as seeing the enemies b attack and knowing how much of the attack is luck and how much is real combat skill. but I always come back to my screen. of course there are always rolls that need to be done in secret but that is another history.
so, how do you roll? do you let players know enemies' stats? what are your thoughts about this?
I like to hear another people opinions in order to see if there is a way to improve my game I'm not seeing. and
is always nice to know how other people plays.

 

[Meliath1742]

Most of my rolls are hidden/secret as the GM. There are exceptions but I believe the original idea behind the DM screen was to prevent players from seeing the machinations/mechanics/magic of the game. For me this certainly includes the die rolls. Some DMs feel the dice should be seen by all and let fate sort it out. I'm of the belief that the DM has the responsibility of ensuring the dice (fate) don't become a hazard to the story and direction of the game. If the dice need to be fudged that's the DMs prerogative...which is hard to do if the die is rolled for all to see. I guess it comes down to play style really.

 

[Kinak]

I don't mind my players getting monster information. For particularly complicated fights, I'll even print sheets with all the monsters' ACs and SRs.

But I usually don't roll out in the open. It's mostly old habit, but also because our gaming space just isn't conducive to it. I GM from the edge of the room, with the central table taken up by the battle map during combat.

Cheers!
Kinak

 

[Vegepygmy]

I generally roll in the open, and it doesn't bother me if the players can extrapolate from that what their opponents' stats are. (Frankly, if they're THAT interested in what's happening, I consider it a good thing. Also, I'm strongly opposed to fudging, and rolling in the open greatly reduces temptation.)

I do make some rolls in secret, though, usually when the result of the roll isn't immediately apparent to their characters. For example, they fail a saving throw vs. disease and the onset time is 1d4 days -- I roll that secretly because the character shouldn't know exactly when he's going to wake up sick. (Also, I don't tell them whether they made the save or failed it, and I roll the 1d4 either way so they can't figure it out based on whether I rolled or not.)

 

[Ramaster]

I make most rolls in the open. The secret stuff is usually employed on stealth and bluff checks.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I am always rolling dice behind screen, it keeps the players from knowing stuff is happening around them. There are also a few rolls I, roll for my players, mostly detection, because I don't like saying roll to see if the pick pocket picks your pocket; it is better for the players to find out later that happened.

 

[The Crimson Binome]

I mostly roll in the open, and declare the DC for most checks, because it makes sense that the characters can tell how good something is by looking at it. If I say that someone has a Dex bonus of +8, then I feel that it conveys the sense of wonder much more accurately than if I'd tried to get that across without referencing the game mechanics.

 

[Razjah]

I make rolls in the open. I also declare AC when first engaged and I give DCs of tasks before the players roll dice. My first long campaign had a GM who cheated, and any time a GM hides rolls I get suspicious. I announce target numbers and the like because it helps the players make informed decisions to ensure their characters are competent.