Page 235 - Dungeon Master's Guide

CHAPTER 8: RUNNING THE GAME

ULES ENABLE YOU AND YOUR PLAYERS TO HAVE monster hits all the time, is it of a much higher level
fun at the table. The rules serve you, not vice than the characters, or are you rolling high numbers?
versa. There are the rules of the game, and Rolling behind a screen lets you fudge the results if
there are table rules for how the game is you want to. If two critical hits in a row would kill a
played. For instance, players need to know character, you could change the second critical hit
what happens when one of them misses a into a normal hit, or even a miss. Don't distort die rolls
session. They need to know whether to bring too often, though, and don't let on that you're doing it.
miniatures, any special rules you've decided to use, and Otherwise, your players might think they don't face
how to treat a cocked die (a die that lands so that its any real risks-or worse, that you're playing favorites.
face can't be clearly read). These topics and more are A roll behind a screen can help preserve mystery. For
covered in this chapter. example, if a player thinks there might be someone
invisible nearby and makes a Wisdom (Perception)
TABLE RULES check, consider rolling a die behind the screen even if
no one is there, making the player think someone is,
Ideally, players come to the gaming table with the same
indeed, hiding. Try not to overuse this trick.
goal: to have a fun time together. This section gives
You might choose to make a roll for a player because
recommendations for table rules you can establish to
you don't want the player to know how good the check
help meet that goal. Here are some fundamentals:
total is. For example, if a player suspects a baroness
Foster respect. Don't bring personal conflicts to the might be charmed and wants to make a Wisdom
table or let disagreements escalate into bad feelings. (Insight) check, you could make the roll in secret for
Don't touch others' dice if they're sensitive about it. the player. If the player rolled and got a high number
Avoid distractions. Turn off the television and video but didn't sense anything amiss, the player would be
games. If you have young children, hire a babysitter. confident that the baroness wasn't charmed. With a
Reducing distractions helps players stay in character low roll, a negative answer wouldn't mean much. A
and enjoy the story. It might be fine to have players hidden roll allows uncertainty.
wandering away from the table and back, but some
players prefer planned breaks. ROLLING ATTACKS AND DAMAGE
Have snacks. Decide before a session who will bring
Players are accustomed to rolling an attack roll first
food and drink. This is often something the players
and then a damage roll. If players make attack rolls and
can handle.
damage rolls at the same time, the action moves a little
faster around the table.
TABLE TALK
Set expectations about how players talk at the table: RULES DISCUSSIONS
Make it clear who's speaking: the character or the You might need to set a policy on rules discussions at
player (out of character). the table. Some groups don't mind putting the game
Decide how you feel about a player sharing on hold while they hash out different interpretations
information that his or her character wouldn't know or of a rule. Others prefer to let the DM make a call and
that the character is incapable of sharing as a result of continue with the action. If you gloss over a rules issue
being unconscious, dead, or far away. in play, make a note of it (a good task to delegate to a
Are you all right with players retracting what they just player) and return to the issue later.
said their characters did?
METAGAME THINKING
DICE ROLLING
Metagame thinking means thinking about the game as
Establish expectations about rolling dice. Rolling in full a game. It's like when a character in a movie knows it's a
view of everyone is a good starting point. If you see a movie and acts accordingly. For example, a player might
player rolling and scooping the dice up before anyone say, "The DM wouldn't throw such a powerful monster
else can see, encourage that player to be less secretive. at us!" or you might hear, "The read-aloud text spent a
When a die falls on the floor, do you count it or reroll lot of time describing that door- let's search it again!"
it? When it lands cocked against a book, do you pull the Discourage metagame thinking by giving players a
book away and see where it lands, or re~;oll it? gentle reminder: "What do your characters think?" You
What about you, the DM? Do you make your rolls in can curb metagame thinking by setting up situations
the open or hide them behind a DM screen? Consider that will be difficult for the characters and that might
the following: require negotiation or retreat to survive.
If you roll dice where the players can see, they know
MISSING PLAYERS
you're playing impartially and not fudging rolls.
Rolling behind a screen keeps the players guessing How should you deal with the characters of missing
about the strength of their opposition. When a players? Consider these options:

CHAPTER 8 I RUNN lNG THE GAME