Curious, as a FL GM, do you roll in the open for all to see or keep your rolls hidden and simply communicate/interpret the results to the players? What about your players? e.g. is there ever a time when a player might be asked to roll but not shown the exact result?
Your thoughts and explanations are appreciated. Thanks
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- Konungr
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Re: Do you roll in the open?
I only roll behind a screen and I always roll for the players for rolls that they should not know how well they have done or not. Like if it's DnD I roll search/notice checks. If they roll a 1 I don't want them to know they did critically bad. I just want them to know that they didn't find anything.
Once they know they didn't find anything because they rolled a 1 they assume that they failed because of the roll and keep looking for ways to keep searching. When they don't know what they rolled they accept the result and move on.
Once they know they didn't find anything because they rolled a 1 they assume that they failed because of the roll and keep looking for ways to keep searching. When they don't know what they rolled they accept the result and move on.
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- muk83
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Re: Do you roll in the open?
I always roll in the open. If I really need some outcome I simply state it, and don't roll for it.
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Fenhorn
Moderator
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Re: Do you roll in the open?
All the rolls are in the open.
Besides combat, you are not supposed to roll too often, only once per situation. The outcome of such rolls tends to be quite obvious.
Besides combat, you are not supposed to roll too often, only once per situation. The outcome of such rolls tends to be quite obvious.
"Thanks for noticing' me." - Eeyore
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- Mr Oldtimer
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Re: Do you roll in the open?
So, me and my old group of players are living in different parts of the country, therefor we play mainly online. Since I didn’t have all of the NPCs and monsters uploaded and also because, well, I like the sound and feel of rolling dice, I did roll most times ”behind screen”. Even now, when most rolls are possible in the virtual table top, I still roll mostly behind the screen. I find it better If my players don’t know exactly the number of dice a sertain monster or NPC have as an attack or dodge roll. Also, the gasp of unease and unsertainty from the players when they hear all of those dices rolling, suddenly understanding the fight is going to be much harder than they had thought, even though they don’t know the exact strenght of their opponent, is quite pleasing.
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- sefnerr
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Re: Do you roll in the open?
I appreciate the responses to this. In my experience(mostly older D&D/Ad&d, 5e, Pathfinder, and misc...), I've GM/played in games where the GM rolls most things behind the screen but opts to make "game-changing" rolls in the open to add a level of gravitas. Obviously, there is no right or wrong method and I do not recall how rolls should be handled specifically called out in the FL rules. (I could definitely be mistaken...)
I'm still working up a time to GM a game with my home group and I'll probably leave it up to them how they would like to handle GM and/or player rolls which might not have an immediate/obvious resolution.
The main reason behind my inquiry was whether or not I should add a whisper option to roll20's Forbidden Lands character sheet? I think at this point I'll add such an option to appease both ideologies. Cheers
I'm still working up a time to GM a game with my home group and I'll probably leave it up to them how they would like to handle GM and/or player rolls which might not have an immediate/obvious resolution.
The main reason behind my inquiry was whether or not I should add a whisper option to roll20's Forbidden Lands character sheet? I think at this point I'll add such an option to appease both ideologies. Cheers
Sheet Author: Forbidden Lands on Roll20
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- Mr Oldtimer
- Posts: 397
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Re: Do you roll in the open?
Ah, I understand. Good thinking. As of now, I've made macros of most actions my NPCs or monsters can do, and they all start with the "/w GM".I appreciate the responses to this. In my experience(mostly older D&D/Ad&d, 5e, Pathfinder, and misc...), I've GM/played in games where the GM rolls most things behind the screen but opts to make "game-changing" rolls in the open to add a level of gravitas. Obviously, there is no right or wrong method and I do not recall how rolls should be handled specifically called out in the FL rules. (I could definitely be mistaken...)
I'm still working up a time to GM a game with my home group and I'll probably leave it up to them how they would like to handle GM and/or player rolls which might not have an immediate/obvious resolution.
The main reason behind my inquiry was whether or not I should add a whisper option to roll20's Forbidden Lands character sheet? I think at this point I'll add such an option to appease both ideologies. Cheers
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- Valyar
- Posts: 343
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Re: Do you roll in the open?
Rolls in the open. Excitement for players and game master! 
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- Ebrim
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Re: Do you roll in the open?
I’ve done it both ways. I think I prefer rolling mostly behind a screen. Very rarely will I make a check for a player.
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