D&D General Should the DM roll in the open?

[BookTenTiger]

I roll out in the open for many things, but not all. Attacks and damage (on a crit) out in the open. Opposed roles, some enemy saves and PC death saves? Hidden.

It's not that I fudge, it's because I don't necessarily want to reveal information. The player suspects an NPC of lying and they're telling the truth? That's hidden because I might roll a 1. Death saves? Hidden because players shouldn't know how close to death a PC is.

I have never thought of Death Saves being secret, I've always had the players roll them. Leaving it to a behind the screen roll sounds really intense! How do the players react? Do you give them any descriptions to clue them into the results?

 

[Zaukrie]

I fudge all the time, because it's impossible to always build an interesting encounter.

I do rarely roll in the open, but I can't tell you why it when. I just sometimes do.

 

[Oofta]

I have never thought of Death Saves being secret, I've always had the players roll them. Leaving it to a behind the screen roll sounds really intense! How do the players react? Do you give them any descriptions to clue them into the results?

It does add to the suspense, in a fun way. I actually picked it up from another DM. I will indicate if it gets to the point that they stabilize or die. Players rarely let it get to that point, that's kind of the point.

 

[ezo]

I have never thought of Death Saves being secret, I've always had the players roll them. Leaving it to a behind the screen roll sounds really intense! How do the players react? Do you give them any descriptions to clue them into the results?

We also roll death saves in secret often to build up the suspense of not knowing how someone is doing. I do give descriptions, particularly if a 1 is rolled.

However, unless immediately pressed by the PCS, I have many creatures double-tap downed PCs to kill them instantly. That might sound harsh, but in a world were the dead can virtually get back up and into the fight, taking a round or two to make sure that isn't likely to happen seems worth it.

Players quickly learn to get to the aid of others, or at least get them out of immediate danger--as it should be IMO.

 

[bloodtide]

I'm in the middle, but it does not matter at all.

Roughly 99% of the time the players will be clueless about the rolls, so it does not matter.

Sure the clueless player can sit there and "think" that a high number rolled is "good" and a "low" number is bad......but they really don't know.

To the cynical player I'm just ignoring the roll...as far as they can tell...and just doing whatever I want as DM anyway.

 

[Deset Gled]

I'm in the middle, but it does not matter at all.

Roughly 99% of the time the players will be clueless about the rolls, so it does not matter.

I'm very similar to this. However, for that 1% of times when the party is fighting a major battle and everyone is tuned in, it really does add some fun drama. And going into that, it's nice to have the precedent that the DM is rolling in public most of the time.

So I voted yes, but it's a weak yes.

 

[GMMichael]

Depends. Combat doesn't really matter . . .

Way to throw down the gauntlet! I'd agree with you that combat doesn't take precedence over other aspects of play, but this is a D&D thread.

 

[Charlaquin]

I prefer the DM roll in the open except in specific cases where the results of the roll should be unknown, and I’m more sparing with which rolls I think should have unknown results than most. But really, the important thing is that the DM not fudge the rolls, unless the players have agreed ahead of time that they’re ok with the DM fudging.

 

[Distracted DM]

A DM can roll in the open and still fudge the roll - the PCs don't know what bonuses the NPC gets on each roll.

An opposed in-the-open roll gives PCs a good reason to hold their breath, waiting to see if they'll win the roll.

That being said, mystery is more powerful in an RPG than being candid. It's about the story, not the dice. The answer is no.

Yup. I roll in the open, but there are plenty of ways to curate the experience (or cheat, if you look at it that way), while still rolling in the open.

I pretty much always let the dice fall as they may, buuut there are a few circumstances where I regret doing so (biggest one being first-encounter-Phandelver goblins crit+insta-killing a a new player's sorcerer). Took an hour to make, one unfortunate roll of the dice to kill :'(

 

[Reynard]

I feel like this discussion usually simplifies into a discussion between those that prefer to focus on the "game" aspect of RPGs (roll in the open) and those that focus more on role-playing/storytelling (those that want a shield with which to fudge). As said, that is a generalization but I think it is more often true than not.

To me, even when we are engaged in a deliberate act of storytelling, RPGs are fundamentally games first, and one of the unique and interesting aspect of (most) RPGs is how the uncertainty built into dice informs the story aspect. I want the dice to surprise me, and I like to play games where the dice have a lot of input in the outcome of things.