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

[Shiroiken]

Both have their purpose, creating a certain style of play. I used to be a "behind the screen" DM, but after killing the same player 3 times in 5 sessions (all due to crits), I started rolling combat in the open. As a player, I'm a fan of open rolls, because I don't want the DM to fudge, either for or against the players.

 

[soviet]

I not only roll everything in the open, I call attention to what I'm doing, state out loud what the roll is to resolve, and state out loud what my modifier is/what target number I need. Sometimes I will get one of the other players to make the roll and, again, state the modifiers and consequences of different results.

I find the tension and excitement it creates is very effective. Watching the dice roll happen vs having me articulate it afterwards is the difference between being at a sports event and hearing it on the radio.

Also, I don't ever fudge, I want it to be obvious I never fudge, and I want to remove any possibility I could ever be tempted to fudge.

 

[soviet]

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.

No, this is utterly false. It's not about the game vs the story. It's about the game as a randomised story generator vs the GM's curated story.

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.

I agree with this part.

 

[Deset Gled]

No, this is utterly false. It's not about the game vs the story. It's about the game as a randomised story generator vs the GM's curated story.

I think you are both right.

@Reynard is correct that there is a correlation to less attention being paid to rolls in general and having a more narrative focused playstyle.

You are also correct that there is no direct causal link between the ideas. One can imagine a story focused game where rolling in the open is critical for any number of reasons.

 

[the Jester]

My answer: Depends on the group's playstyle.

For my preferred playstyle (let the dice fall where they may): Absolutely.

 

[soviet]

I think you are both right.

@Reynard is correct that there is a correlation to less attention being paid to rolls in general and having a more narrative focused playstyle.

You are also correct that there is no direct causal link between the ideas. One can imagine a story focused game where rolling in the open is critical for any number of reasons.

I don't know what you mean by 'narrative focused playstyle' or 'story focused game'. If what you mean is the GM's narrative, the GM's story, then OK. But there are many other ways to have a narrative or story focus to your game, and in at least some of them GM secret rolls/fudging is absolute poison.

 

[GMMichael]

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 :'(

Both have their purpose, creating a certain style of play. I used to be a "behind the screen" DM, but after killing the same player 3 times in 5 sessions (all due to crits), I started rolling combat in the open. As a player, I'm a fan of open rolls, because I don't want the DM to fudge, either for or against the players.

XP for kills

 

[Autumnal]

As a GM, I’ve come to favor rolling in the open. I don’t like the perceived weight of fudging or not. As a player, I don’t have any strong preferences, within the overall framework of mutual trust.

 

[Reynard]

No, this is utterly false. It's not about the game vs the story. It's about the game as a randomised story generator vs the GM's curated story.

I can see your distinction. But I also don't think you need to swagger around declaring things "utterly false" to make your point.

 

[soviet]

I can see your distinction. But I also don't think you need to swagger around declaring things "utterly false" to make your point.

You're right, I came in too strong there