When you GM, do you roll damage dice? Come on, tell the truth now.

36 thoughts on “When you GM, do you roll damage dice? Come on, tell the truth now.”

1. Nope, not even damage dice. It’s hard, I know, but it gets easier with time.

2. Giovanni Lanza do you have the PC’s roll the damage dice then?

3. Yep. It does get a bit confusing when you say “roll b[2d10] 1 piercing” and they’re like “huh?”. But after one or two rolls they get the hang of the lingo.

4. I don’t roll the dice. For new groups who might react to that, I tend to not make a big deal of it. When damage comes up I just say something like “oh, dang, I don’t have my dice, could you just roll a d8 and add 3 to see how much damage you take?”

5. Never. I delight with glee at making the player the direct agent of their own destruction.

6. by the rules, damage dice are rolled by the players. And boy, do I love games where the gm doesn’t roll anything.

7. joshua crocker The rules for the Deal Damage move do say “When a player takes damage, tell them what to roll. You never need to touch the dice. If the player is too cowardly to find out their own fate, they can ask another player to roll for them.” I love that last line.

8. That’s what I get for skimming. On the skimming note what does the b[2d10] notation signify? Please forgive the dumb question.

9. Roll 2d10 and take the best result.

10. Slight aside: I started DMing basic D&D back in the ’90s, somehow my reading of the rules caused me to think that the DM rolled all the dice, including players’ attacks, etc. I’ve since realized the error of my ways, but I do find it very difficult to relinquish control of the few dice I’ve retained.

    So, yes, I roll damage as a GM.

11. Best?! That’s harsh.

12. joshua crocker Thanks for asking. Was wondering myself.

13. Ish Stabosz thanks that is mean but better that 2d10

14. In the first demos I played, we players rolled the damage. In the first campaign I played, the GM rolled the damage. In my first campaign as GM, I rolled the damage. In several demos I made, either me or the players rolled the damage. In my actual campaign as player, we players roll the damage. I’m an eclectic person.

15. After much reflection on this discussion, I’ve decided to leave my dice at home tonight. Anyone know the typical withdrawals symptoms I should expect?

16. I think it’ll go swiftly.

17. “Ok, I don’t have mi dce with me, so guys, you’ll roll the monsters’ damage.

    Oooh so you rolled a 2 with the damage die of your warrior but rolled a 10 on the monster’s damage die? So, so sad” 

18. I did when I started because I didn’t see the rule about players rolling it

19. So should just jump to having a different players roll each others damage dice, so that they may blame each other?

20. I love not rolling any dice as the GM.

21. No. I tell them to pick it up and roll them.

22. Nikitas Thlimmenos you’re just a coward. ;-P

23. yeah, I’m not a real man and all that. Still, killed a PC in a one-shot… or did he kill himself? 

    muahahahah…

24. I killed three. Well, actually they killed themselves. Definitely.

25. oh I remember that one… guys, PVP is not a very good idea in Dungeon World. Really.

26. The only time I roll dice is for the treasure table. Which, Kerry Harrison, is on page 226.

27. I found that I’m more comfortable in rolling for treasures aforehead. Once, the treasure gave me a nice idea about the background of a monster…

28. I sometimes roll for treasure before and sometimes during the session. And sometimes I don’t roll at all. Ok, guys, I’m a mad sorcerer.

29. Nope, never.

30. Oh, I do roll on random tables, though!

31. I have players of characters with “negative” bonds with the character receiving damage make the roll if possible. Seems to add a little “edge” to the process. As GM, I never roll dice.

32. I’ve never rolled a die while GMing Dungeon World

33. No. I have a player who rolls high all the time. Making him roll the damage to his character is perfect revenge. 😉

34. As other folks have said — that’s what players are for.

35. I don’t roll damage dice, but when I’m disclaiming decision making I’ll throw together tables for me to roll on.

36. I even did this in my 4e game for a while. I’d tell player A to roll an attack and damage against player B. They about rioted after a couple rounds. “Hell no, you’re the bad guy not me.”

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