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<blockquote data-quote="Olaf the Stout" data-source="post: 6804901" data-attributes="member: 13703">Several years ago I used to fudge rolls as a DM.&nbsp; Most often they would be in favour of the PCs (reducing damage from my hits, ignoring a crit against a player that may have killed them), but occasionally it would be against them (increasing HPs of bad guys or bumping up a saving throw in the interests of ensuring the climactic boss fight was a little interesting and not a complete cakewalk for the PCs).I’m not sure what made me do it, but one day I just decided to just let the dice fall where they may.&nbsp; I found it to be very liberating as a DM.&nbsp; I got rid of my DM screen and, unless it was a roll I needed to keep secret (like a Search check to see if the PCs spotted a trap or not), I rolled in the open.It definitely made the game more exciting for both myself and the players, especially when they were rolls made when the fight was in the balance.&nbsp; Everyone knew that there was no DM net to save them if the dice went against them.&nbsp; Some rolls would have everyone craning their necks across the table to see if the Blackguard rolled high enough for damage to possibly kill the badly injured fighter or if the Dragon made his save to avoid being Disintegrated by the Wizard PC.&nbsp; Those moments didn’t really happen when I fudged my rolls.Yes, not fudging dice has resulted in some anti-climactic fights where the party has just rolled through an encounter I thought would be a difficult challenge.&nbsp; There has also been a few times where an encounter I thought was balanced has nearly resulted in a TPK.&nbsp; The number of PC deaths has definitely increased since I stopped fudging (there were almost no PC deaths when I fudged), but I definitely prefer my open rolling method and have never considered going back.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Olaf the Stout, post: 6804901, member: 13703"] Several years ago I used to fudge rolls as a DM. Most often they would be in favour of the PCs (reducing damage from my hits, ignoring a crit against a player that may have killed them), but occasionally it would be against them (increasing HPs of bad guys or bumping up a saving throw in the interests of ensuring the climactic boss fight was a little interesting and not a complete cakewalk for the PCs). I’m not sure what made me do it, but one day I just decided to just let the dice fall where they may. I found it to be very liberating as a DM. I got rid of my DM screen and, unless it was a roll I needed to keep secret (like a Search check to see if the PCs spotted a trap or not), I rolled in the open. It definitely made the game more exciting for both myself and the players, especially when they were rolls made when the fight was in the balance. Everyone knew that there was no DM net to save them if the dice went against them. Some rolls would have everyone craning their necks across the table to see if the Blackguard rolled high enough for damage to possibly kill the badly injured fighter or if the Dragon made his save to avoid being Disintegrated by the Wizard PC. Those moments didn’t really happen when I fudged my rolls. Yes, not fudging dice has resulted in some anti-climactic fights where the party has just rolled through an encounter I thought would be a difficult challenge. There has also been a few times where an encounter I thought was balanced has nearly resulted in a TPK. The number of PC deaths has definitely increased since I stopped fudging (there were almost no PC deaths when I fudged), but I definitely prefer my open rolling method and have never considered going back. [/QUOTE]

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