The game master screen is an old tradition, often used so that the master's notes aren't visible to the players. Hidden dice rolls behind this screen are yet another tradition. Well, once you have a screen, rolling in the open could be a yoga excercise in itself, but there's usually a second motivation.

Whether fudging die rolls is acceptable has often been a matter of discussion, personally I don't think it should be neccesary.

But once you roll everything in the open, players will be able to judge the strengths of their opponents. How do you cope with this? Of course, true role-players won't mix character and player knowledge. But those "true" role-players are probably as common as true communists...

So, what's the your opinion on this matter?

I have never used a GM screen, all my rolls are in the open .
Although I don't bother to tell the players what I am rolling for sometimes

I roll in the open, but don't announce totals due to any modifiers.  My players just know if the roll succeeds or fails.

I have no problem with the players being able to judge the relative strengths and abilities of their opponents in this way.  When you're engaged in a contest of sorts with anyone, you will be able to get a rough idea of their abilities simply by observing what they do and how they do it.  Players getting a read off the dice is just a way to simulate that, I suppose.

I roll almost everything in the open. The only things that are hidden are things like spot checks, but even for those I uusally ask the players to roll.

I don't have a problem with the players figuring out things about their opponent because I'm rolling in the open. While the character may not see that the NPC hit on a 5, he would definitely see that the NPC hit him almost without trying. The players calculating general to hit bonuses just gives them a stronger meaning for "you can tell by the way he's hitting you left and right that he's a really good swordsman."

I roll in the open; because I figure if I'm going to roll dice they ought to count for something, and it's more exciting if everybody sees it happen.

Apart from fudging, the other reason for keeping your rolls hidden is to play mind games on the players, and I don't like to do that no more.

All open all the time.  I like to let the players see the die rolls, it's fun.

If I don't want death in a campaign I'll remove the possibility, perhaps by house ruling "death" into "incapacitation" or something similar.  If I want to temper the randomness I'll use a game system that has Hero/Drama/Fate points or something of that nature.

True story:
When combat ensues, I fold the DM screen. The gals and guys get excited/worried when I do this. It has become a little bit of a ritual, akin  to (and actually replacing) saying "roll for initiative".

I never used to roll dice in the open. My current group likes all dice rolls in the open. Guess, they want to see the pain coming :eek:

Regards,
David R

Quote from: James McMurrayWhile the character may not see that the NPC hit on a 5, he would definitely see that the NPC hit him almost without trying. The players calculating general to hit bonuses just gives them a stronger meaning for "you can tell by the way he's hitting you left and right that he's a really good swordsman."

I really have no big problems with stuff like AC or parry rolls or something like that.

Saving throws and similar mechanisms on the other hand...

Sometimes I've rolled dice in the open, sometimes behind a DM screen. It depends on my mood, and whether or not I want to make my players sweat. I'm fickle like that.

A great effect can be achieved by rolling almost all die rolls behind a screen and then, for a really critical roll, just whipping that bad boy out in the middle of the table.

Quote from: SosthenesI really have no big problems with stuff like AC or parry rolls or something like that.

Saving throws and similar mechanisms on the other hand...

If a group were to be really technical about OOC vs. IC knowledge, the players wouldn't know their own saving throws and ability scores. And it takes some luck to know exactly what the other person's bonuses are after more than a few rolls. It doesn't happen often enough to bother me.

Quote from: jrientsA great effect can be achieved by rolling almost all die rolls behind a screen and then, for a really critical roll, just whipping that bad boy out in the middle of the table.

I totally agree with this, the trick is to know "when" to roll in the open to make a dramatic effect.

I don't like GM screens in general. Although back when I had a laptop I used that, (mainly because it was convenient, as I put all my GM-notes in MSWord).

But everyone's dice rolls (not just the GMs) are always out in the open. We also play around the same table- another important factor in the dice rolling tradition: have a table. None of that lounging around on cushions crap.

Quote from: jrientsA great effect can be achieved by rolling almost all die rolls behind a screen and then, for a really critical roll, just whipping that bad boy out in the middle of the table.

That...doesn't sound good.