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<blockquote data-quote="Imaculata" data-source="post: 6804587" data-attributes="member: 6801286">I agree though, even though we ninjas the response. I don't like the &quot;placebo die&quot;. Where the DM secretly rolls behind his screen, but the result is already set in stone, and not affected by what is rolled what so ever. Either you roll and accept what is rolled, or you don't roll at all. If you've decided that the assassin sneaks up on the players unnoticed, then what is the point of rolling fake stealth checks behind you screen to maintain the illusion of the rules? Just narrates what happens, and leave the dice in their box. Besides, I think it creates suspense to roll dice out in the open. When I roll for the attacks of my monsters, I do so out in the open, and my players dread the outcome. There are huge bursts of laughter when the monster rolls poorly, or great shock when the monster rolls good. I don't like the idea of changing the outcome after rolling.Now suppose the players stumble upon an npc trapped in a cage, and they fail to pick the lock? The npc needs to be freed for the story to continue, but the players keep rolling 1's and failing their checks. What do you do? Not all DM's are good at improvising alternate scenarios, and maybe they really want that npc to get saved by the players. Yes, its railroading, which I'm not a fan of, but it is not a crime either. So what do you do? I think it is okay to admit that you made a mistake as a DM, and that given enough time the players eventually manage to open the lock. But it is of course better to never ask for those skill checks to begin with, if your intention was all along for the npc to get saved. Don't make them roll first, and then double back on the outcome. Just tell them they succeed, and don't ask for a roll.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Imaculata, post: 6804587, member: 6801286"] I agree though, even though we ninjas the response. I don't like the "placebo die". Where the DM secretly rolls behind his screen, but the result is already set in stone, and not affected by what is rolled what so ever. Either you roll and accept what is rolled, or you don't roll at all. If you've decided that the assassin sneaks up on the players unnoticed, then what is the point of rolling fake stealth checks behind you screen to maintain the illusion of the rules? Just narrates what happens, and leave the dice in their box. Besides, I think it creates suspense to roll dice out in the open. When I roll for the attacks of my monsters, I do so out in the open, and my players dread the outcome. There are huge bursts of laughter when the monster rolls poorly, or great shock when the monster rolls good. I don't like the idea of changing the outcome after rolling. Now suppose the players stumble upon an npc trapped in a cage, and they fail to pick the lock? The npc needs to be freed for the story to continue, but the players keep rolling 1's and failing their checks. What do you do? Not all DM's are good at improvising alternate scenarios, and maybe they really want that npc to get saved by the players. Yes, its railroading, which I'm not a fan of, but it is not a crime either. So what do you do? I think it is okay to admit that you made a mistake as a DM, and that given enough time the players eventually manage to open the lock. But it is of course better to never ask for those skill checks to begin with, if your intention was all along for the npc to get saved. Don't make them roll first, and then double back on the outcome. Just tell them they succeed, and don't ask for a roll. [/QUOTE]

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