Tell players target save DCs or let them sweat?

[Liminal Syzygy]

Generally, it seems to be fairly standard not to tell players what a monster's AC is, just reporting if they were successful on their to-hit rolls.

But I've seen a lot of DMs give the players target DCs for saves, i.e. "Make a DC20 fortitude save" rather than "Make a fortitude save... 18? You fail."

What do you DMs out there do?

 

[Mystery Man]

No telling.

 

[Grazzt]

I dont tell them at all. Make 'em sweat....

 

[rushlight]

Generally, it seems to be fairly standard not to tell players what a monster's AC is, just reporting if they were successful on their to-hit rolls.

But I've seen a lot of DMs give the players target DCs for saves, i.e. "Make a DC20 fortitude save" rather than "Make a fortitude save... 18? You fail."

What do you DMs out there do?

I generally just tell them to make a save, of whatever variety. Giving the DCs is no fun, and it can ruin the sense of drama, especially when they have a fairly small chance of failure. As for AC, I don't give that out either, but usually after a few rounds they'll nail it.

 

[Neowolf]

This question brought to mind a game I played at DragonCon this year. It was a pretty interesting session of 7th Sea D20 (Swashbuckling Adventures, forgive me if I'm wrong about 7th Sea being the setting), and the DM was obviously doing the best he could considering he had 5 extra players dropped on him at the last minute. Roleplay wise, it was a great session, and I learned enough about the setting to find it intriguing, without having to listen to a 20 minute lecture. At this point you may be saying, "Neowolf! Get on with it!" but I wanted to make it clear that I enjoyed the session, despite the fact that the DM told us EVERYTHING about the game mechanics.

"This monster has a AC of X, Y hit points, an A, B, and C as special attacks."

This made for a few somewhat less than thrilling combats, because we knew exactly what all it could do to us, what we needed to roll to hit it, and exactly how much longer we had to pound on it before it died. To be honest, I think my favorite thing about RPG combat is trying to picture how things are happening without thinking about mechanics, and that approach to the game made it hard.

 

[diaglo]

make them roll. don't tell them what they are needing to beat.

 

[nsruf]

I don't tell them the first time or the first few times, but if they are targeted by the same effect several times in short order, I eventually tell them (it speeds up play and they have usually guessed it by then). Same with ACs, only here it happens more often that they have to roll vs. the same number again and again.

Of course, if the save DC is set by the rules (e.g. Death from Massive Damage) I tell them right away.

 

[King_Stannis]

I always tell my players what AC they need - just one less thing I have to worry about. I write out the AC on the Battlemat.

Now, for checks of opening locks and disabling traps, I am a bit more close-mouthed.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I don't give AC, although after a round or two, they have usually managed to figure it out (17! Miss. 18! Hit!). For saves I usually don't tell if it is an indivdual save. If the whole party has to make it (eight players) I usually give them the DC then ask who did not make it. It speeds things up.

 

[MarauderX]

Sweat. Some players keep track of the numbers pretty closely (like me), getting a rough idea of what it takes to take down an opponent or make a save. I just ask players to make a save for me, giving me the total and then tell them their fate. Since there is no Rat Bastardly Scheming Forum any longer, lemme throw this in: Muhahaaaa....