When GMs roll bad

[Necrobeer]

I had one of the more interesting situations behind the screen today. It seemed that I had good die rolls when my random encounters and grunts were attacking my players, but my big creatures couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. As an example, my fleshcrawler attacked with three tendrils, all missed. Then the sucker got turned and then munched. Oh well, I guess I'll have better luck with the big boss in the dungeon.

 

[Crothian]

Bad luck happens to everyone.

 

[AuraSeer]

Bad luck happens to PCs just as often as it happens to DMs. Sometimes your campaign-defining antagonist will be slain early by a lucky pair of 20s and a failed save. Other times, you'll accidentally cause a TPK with an unimportant, "easy" encounter.

 

[John Crichton]

That usually means a near-TPK is on its way...

Tell your PC's to bring their good dice for the next few sessions. The law of averages and Murphy's Law will catch up, don't you worry...

 

[Orius]

Bad luck happens to PCs just as often as it happens to DMs. Sometimes your campaign-defining antagonist will be slain early by a lucky pair of 20s and a failed save. Other times, you'll accidentally cause a TPK with an unimportant, "easy" encounter.

I hate when that happens. I set up a nice powerful boss or other major encounter designed to be tough, roll crappy, and the PC's totally rock the day. Or I throw a minor encounter at the players and they end up getting their asses handed to them.

 

[Dagger75]

Well I have a feeling my unlucky slump has finally runs it course. I have had EXTREMELY bad luck rolling. So bad in fact I used to add extra monsters just so I could get more chances to hit. Lets just say, needing to roll a 4 or better was not a gaurentee to hit. I am not talking about missing once in combat, I am talking about the whole. (A dragon of mine missed EVERY attack for 2 full rounds. The highest I rolled was a 3 on like 8 rolls. I kid you not. Right Pylar?)

This weeks game I actually critted a few times and hit everybody. I hope it is not a fluke.

 

[Norfleet]

Well, somebody I know of invented a novel way of keeping player groups from turning into TPKs on "easy" encounters, and stuff like that:

Everytime a player wants a die to be rerolled, he puts a quarter into the jar. He can do this as often as he likes, as many times a session as he likes, provided he puts a quarter into the jar every time he does it.

The appropriated funds can then be pocketted by the GM, or used to pay for pizza, snacks, drinks, etc. If the former option is used, instead of placing a quarter into the jar, the GM must give each of the players a quarter when he chooses to exercise this option.

 

[Taloras]

Heh....try when GMs roll good. First session of a new game(tonite, just got back). DM gets 3(count em, 3) crits...with a scythe. thats....8d4 each time. AND HE DOESNT kill anyone. Everyone survived...and he didnt fudge, i saw the damage dice. 1s and 2s. We had several ppl go under...but he threw in lotsa healing potions. our dwarven cleric seems to like goin under, it seems. even more than the wizardess.

 

[Valicor]

Your players might be the high rollers living the grand way of life right now, but as soon as the law of averages hits them with a reality check, your gonna shift gear and leave your players in ruin.

 

[yennico]

When I am player I only have bad die rolls. My high level wizard needed only a 5 on a D20 to overcome the SR of the enemy. Four times in a row I rolled below 5

This high level wizard is also an expert (IIRC 12 or 15 ranks + high Int bonus) in knowledge (planes), but every time I have to roll on this skill I always roll below 6 I always failed the DC for the infos. Several times I rolled a 1.

As a GM I nearly always rolls natural 20s and criticals.

Just my 2 cents
yennico