So I've been in PbP games over the years, but we didn't have auto-dice or a site this easy to use.
1. The auto-dice is just so there isn't cheating, and that is cool, but is it intended that DMs do it too? I know I wouldn't cheat, and DMs usually throw dice behind screens, but the players would not know me.
2. %dice test
3. Is it a requirement all players have the manuals I permit, or can I step them along?
4. Has anyone here (a long time ago) been part of the unofficial AD&D community site about ten years ago. You would know if you were, as flame wars were commonplace. I might be re-introducing adventures I started there. Possibles are a 3.0 Faerun sea adventure, or a 3.0 Middle Earth romp.

I'm posting from phone so this is short... But regarding rolling DMs can either make a rolls in the dice thread, can roll offsite somewhere like Invisible Castle, or roll real dice and players have to trust you're honest.

I personally prefer to roll somewhere track able offsite. And if a roll gets challenged, link it.

Where are you referring to?

I don't know if BH had this in mind, but I like http://invisiblecastle.com/

Is there any reason why it would be a bad idea to just post rolls as the DM? It might end up like being behind the screen and the players hear roll, roll...oh &$@*! The players here see a roll posted, their first thought might be, "OK, who stepped on it?!"

I could even post random rolls to throw off actual rolls...lol.

Jokes aside, bad idea to post rolls?

In some cases it may lead to leaking meta knowledge like enemy attack bonuses etc. But its totally DM preference. I do both, depending on what game im running and eho im with

Some answers, at least in my opinions...

1) This is totally a style issue. I've played in pbp games where DMs roll their own dice manually and just tell players the results. I've been in a game where the GM did what BH suggested - she rolled on Invisible Castle, posted just the result in our game, and if anybody had a question she could link it. Finally, I've played in games played through AIM where the DM rolled all the dice just like the players.

It's entirely a style issue and should go by what you're comfortable with. As was said, making all dice rolls in the open can lead to metagaming in some instances, so there are drawbacks all around.

2) I believe this works, too:



It just won't show a pretty picture.

3) Again, this is a style thing. usually (not always) if a GM makes a book available, it's optional for the player to use, so if they don't use it they don't need it. Often (but not always) the GM should have a copy of whatever material the player is using.

4) I started on WotC shortly after 3e came out.

I could care less what the DM rolls. From my experience, if they're gonna lie about it, most of the time it is to help the party and not have everything end in a cataclysm. And if they lie and have it go against you? Then man up and deal with what comes next. There's always a way out, harder rolls against a player just force them to find that way, or die trying. ^_^

~SE++

[monty python]Run away! Run away![/mp]