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From: jrrt@hogpd.UUCP (R.MITCHELL)
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: More on Dice and Fudge
Message-ID: <361@hogpd.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 17-Jul-84 14:35:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: hogpd.361
Posted: Tue Jul 17 14:35:25 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 18-Jul-84 03:10:18 EDT
Lines: 71

Since it was my remark that started the discussion on fudging dice
rolls, I'd better clarify myself.

Ed Turner (astrovax!elt) writes:
	The opinion has been expressed that it is cheating for the DM to fudge die
	rolls...I would strongly disagree and argue that it is poor
	refereeing (or DMing) to let the dice rule when the game would be improved
	by direct decisions.
I agree 100%.  I see my role as DM/GM as being, in a sense, the
director of a free-form movie.  In large part, it is MY job to
develop interesting plot lines, opportunities for player action,
etc., all within the context of game balance.  Therefore, I rarely,
if ever, use dice when building my worlds.  Mindless dice-rolling
gets you into situations where 3 kobolds are guarding a Vorpal
Blade, which is foolish at best (unless those are *kickass*
kobolds).

However, once the stage has been set, I consider it unfair for me to
fudge die rolls.  If the "script" for the adventure says the elves
*must* find the secret door, well, why bother rolling dice?  I'll
give the PC's a chance to do it themselves; if they fail do think of
looking, a few subtle hints from the DM will generally suffice.  My
players trust me enough to not get distressed if I make a move as DM
without consulting a die roll.

The area of role-playing that started the whole discussion was
combat.  One writer (Sorry, Jamie, I disremember your address and
last name) offered "fudging die rolls" as a reasonable way for the
DM to dispatch an uppity PC.  I said I disagreed, that fudging die
rolls is cheating, and I still think so, especially in combat. 
First, the DM is not supposed to be playing against the PCs; s/he is
supposed to be neutrally coordinating the NPCs actions.  Second,
honesty should apply on both sides of the screen.  I'd lose a hell
of a lot of respect for my DM if I knew she was fudging die rolls --
how can your trust someone like that?  Third, if the PC is really
getting uppity, there are more subtle and appropriate-within-game-context
ways for a DM's will to be invoked. 

While we're on the subject, one recent posting asked what DMs do to
handle the highly improbable, but possible, strings of 19s and 20s
that result in 4 zombies tearing the party to shreds.

I don't see that as a problem.  Your players sure wouldn't complain
if THEY got all those 19s and 20s, right?  To me, game balance means
among other things, that the players don't get a free lunch.  They
take the same risks and live by the same rules as the NPCs.  Sure, I
use a critical hit system for when a player naturally rolls a 20. 
But I make damn sure I use the exact same system for the monster,
too.  Another non-problem I see in the postulated scenario is the
lack of common sense/proper roll playing on the part of the party. 
If I was with a bunch of other PCs, and the DM had us fighting
zombies that were mutilating us, I'd retreat before everyone got
creamed.  From my character's perspective, these would certainly be
"exceptional" zombies, so why keep trying to beat on them as if they were
the typical sort?  And if I was a soft-hearted DM (which I think I
am, overally so), I would take pity on the PCs -- not by fudging die
rolls, but by subtly suggesting flight, and then insuring the
zombies did not give chase.

I like to think that I'm a sufficiently good scenario-designer, that
I can provide those breath-taking adventures without blatantly
disregarding die rolls.  If I want an event to happen, it happens. 
No die roll.  If I am willing to go by the result of a die roll, I
go by it.  In my mind, any other system is unfair, in the long run,
to both me and my players.  

Naturally, what is right for me won't necessarily be right for you.
Different rolls for different trolls, or something like that.

Rob Mitchell
{allegra,ihnp4}!hogpd!jrrt