THIS is why I roll in the open...
- Thread starter Rel
- Start date
Treebore
First Post
I don't like to roll in the open either, simply because too many players quickly figure out what the attack bonus of their opponents are, it is bad enough that they quickly figure out the AC.
Of course I don't fudge either. So when I have a player who thinks their AC is bad (high) enough to stand in the middle of 8 opponents who each have two attacks each. Well, lets just say when he went down because of all the 20's (3 of them confirmed) I managed to roll with that many attacks, accusations of being a killer and unfair DM flew. So I wish I had rolled in the open in that case.
I also told them if they really believed I am that bad I would be happy to quit DMing. I am Dming this weekend.
Of course I don't fudge either. So when I have a player who thinks their AC is bad (high) enough to stand in the middle of 8 opponents who each have two attacks each. Well, lets just say when he went down because of all the 20's (3 of them confirmed) I managed to roll with that many attacks, accusations of being a killer and unfair DM flew. So I wish I had rolled in the open in that case.
I also told them if they really believed I am that bad I would be happy to quit DMing. I am Dming this weekend.
Rel
Liquid Awesome
After a LONG day on the road I'm back and pleased to read the many interesting replies.
I think most of you got the general gist of what I was saying. Basically it is just that rolling in the open eliminates any temptation that I'd have to fudge things in one circumstance and not fudge them in another when I'm being influenced by other factors (like which PC is more integral to the plot threads currently in play). I like to think that I'm a good and impartial GM most of the time and this removes one minor threat to that impartiallity. Kind of the same way that I'm happily married and my wife can trust me but I still don't hang out in singles bars or give long backrubs to Salma Hayek.
The other reason that I like doing it is because it forces the unpredictable on me and the unpredictable has been pretty good to me over the years. I often think that I have a good idea of where the campaign is headed when *POW* the dice nail me with a curve ball (usually in the form of an unlucky character death) and suddenly things go in an unexpected direction. I enjoy the effect this has on the course of the campaign because it keeps alive some of the "exploratory spirit" of the game instead of me gently guiding things in a certain direction. It forces me to adopt new and creative ideas and that's almost always a good thing.
I understand the mindset of those who say (essentially), "I work hard crafting the plotline and I don't need it screwed up by a few bad dice rolls." And I also understand those who espouse the "Black Box" idea that ThirdWizard poses. But I think I benefit in small and occasionally large ways from my open rolling and last night reminded me of it.
I think most of you got the general gist of what I was saying. Basically it is just that rolling in the open eliminates any temptation that I'd have to fudge things in one circumstance and not fudge them in another when I'm being influenced by other factors (like which PC is more integral to the plot threads currently in play). I like to think that I'm a good and impartial GM most of the time and this removes one minor threat to that impartiallity. Kind of the same way that I'm happily married and my wife can trust me but I still don't hang out in singles bars or give long backrubs to Salma Hayek.
The other reason that I like doing it is because it forces the unpredictable on me and the unpredictable has been pretty good to me over the years. I often think that I have a good idea of where the campaign is headed when *POW* the dice nail me with a curve ball (usually in the form of an unlucky character death) and suddenly things go in an unexpected direction. I enjoy the effect this has on the course of the campaign because it keeps alive some of the "exploratory spirit" of the game instead of me gently guiding things in a certain direction. It forces me to adopt new and creative ideas and that's almost always a good thing.
I understand the mindset of those who say (essentially), "I work hard crafting the plotline and I don't need it screwed up by a few bad dice rolls." And I also understand those who espouse the "Black Box" idea that ThirdWizard poses. But I think I benefit in small and occasionally large ways from my open rolling and last night reminded me of it.
DragonLancer
Hero
I have always rolled my dice behind the screen out of sight of the players, and I always will. The players are not meant to see what the DM rolls, mainly for the reasons already stated in this discussion.
Players have to trust their DM not to abuse the rolls for good or bad, and accept that they shouldn't be seeing what he rolls.
Players have to trust their DM not to abuse the rolls for good or bad, and accept that they shouldn't be seeing what he rolls.
DragonLancer
Hero
Rel said:
No problem. Glad I could help.
Don't be a muppet, read my post as everyone else's is written, with an invisible IMO at the front.
the Lorax
First Post
The_Gneech said:The dice are NOT impartial!
I CANNOT roll above an 8 on a d20. Period. I frequently beg the GM to let me take 10, because it's the only way I'll occasionally succeed at something.
-The Gneech
Ok, you now have accepted that the dice are not mere (as one of my friends used to say)
"random number generators". Now you must make your peace with the dice and begin to believe. This may mean getting a new set of dice and keeping them separate from your old dice. And getting a new dice container.
Once you BELIEVE, your dice will roll well for you.
It doesn't work if you don't BELIEVE.
the Lorax
First Post
Crothian said:
Um yeah, what he said. It's crucial for long standing campaigns. A long standing player in a game that I also play in, a game that is part of a continous campaign that has been running for over 15 years, has decided that he is quiting and because he has lost his trust of the DM. It sucks.
IronWolf
blank
I roll behind the screen... I guess old habits die hard (even after an extended break from the game 
). It's not that I am fudging, if the dice fall in a manner that causes a character to die, so be it. I think my players would not like to think I will save them from death on occasion. Keeps the game interesting, just for me I tend to like rolling the dice behind the screen.
). It's not that I am fudging, if the dice fall in a manner that causes a character to die, so be it. I think my players would not like to think I will save them from death on occasion. Keeps the game interesting, just for me I tend to like rolling the dice behind the screen.
Rel
Liquid Awesome
DragonLancer said:No problem. Glad I could help.
Don't be a muppet, read my post as everyone else's is written, with an invisible IMO at the front.
I was just giving you a hard time for sounding a bit authoritative.
I promise not to be a muppet in the future. But if I am then I am SO being Animal!
