Taking the average instead of rolling many dice

[Storminator]

. I like to use damage rolls to help visualize the action - if it's a low roll then the opponent's sword managed to find an unarmored spot and my character scoffs, "It's only a flesh wound!". If it's a high roll then the opponent clove right through the armor and my character shouts in pain.

Whereas if my PC takes a low damage roll he scoffs, "it's only a flesh wound!" and if it's a high damage roll he bluffs "it's only a flesh wound!"

In the epic game I played in we averaged a lot of rolls for spell damage. After a while counting up 20d6 (and picking dice up off the floor...) gets tiresome.

PS

 

[Quicken]

I've learnt it's all a matter of scale. Players want to see the dice for a fireball thrown at them. But if a 3rd party throwns a fireball at another 3rd party group I usually decide the outcome with the wave of a hand (typically it downs them all). I've had some success doing frantic battle scenes this way. Different groups all fighting each other, the players rushing through the chaos to do their heroic thing. I'd often just roll attacks and keep track of hitpoints and damage in only the most rough way (goblin dies in 1 hit, gnoll dies in 2 hits or 1 crit) unless it's a creature attacking or being attacked by players. A few dies rolls are enough to create some randomness and can create some surprising turns in the battle from a few lucky/unlucky rolls.

It worked a charm. The play was quick. The battles seemed huge. And the players got to act out an important part in a much larger battle. They even would cheer and boo the NPCs fighting each other! Seems they were unaware of how they were like cardboard extras.

 

[shilsen]

As a player, I wouldn't mind at all, but then again I don't have much fascination with rolling dice anyway (yes, yes, I know it's heresy). As a DM, if I know an encounter is to be expected, I pre-roll a lot of stuff, and definitely so for big multi-dice effect. Saves me a lot of time in-game.

 

[Angel of Adventure]

I've been taking average dice for my epic game for most of the NPCs and bad guys. While I do really enjoy 40d6 (Disintegrate, Sphere of Ultimate Destruction), it really slows things down. I love fast paced combats and it seems to work.

However, I don't mind the PCs rolling all the dice they want and I just bought a pound o' dice to help them.

 

[Tonguez]

10d6 = 2d6 x5 (or 5d6 x2)

40d6 = 4d6 x10

easier rolls but keeps a bit of randomness

 

[Steve Jung]

The old competition (C series) modules did this to reduce variability. Next game, all my monsters will be taking 10 on their attack rolls, too.

 

[IronWolf]

Roll the dice. The clatter of them across the tabletop makes it all worthwhile.

 

[Li Shenron]

I've always thought that rolling dice is part of the fun of D&D

 

[the Jester]

You'll pry the dice from my cold, dead fingers.

And it'll take a DC 35 strength check to boot!

 

[Rel]

Next game, all my monsters will be taking 10 on their attack rolls, too.

It's like I don't even KNOW you people!

After reading this thread I feel somehow very scared and alone.