I make my players roll randomly just so they think I'm a competent DM.
won't that backfire on you when they roll a nat 20?
That's like what a 5% chance, I think I'm good
2 players roll nat 20s back to back on random dice rolls
...shit
Not if you play the rules as written. There is no such thing as a critical success on an ability check in 5E. Nat 20s only apply to attacks.
Thats when I pull a random character sheet from the book of random encounters
Jokes on you, I'm into that.
The mystery is fun
Yeah, that's gonna be me tonight.
"Make a perception roll..." So? "Nevermind"
cackles
Me : dam, its been 45 minutes without something to roll for, and its still going on. Wait..
Me out loud : the first one closest to the front, roll me a d20 plz.
Hmm, interesting (no matter what), I will just note it down.
I love this technique. I consider it using the players' imagination to help build the game world.
Player: "Oh I get it, the GM is going to throw at us whatever we think of... Everyone clear your minds."
Later: "The Stay Puff Marshmallow Man?!"
Best is when they roll really high and you go interesting, anyway where were we?
My campaign fell apart (scheduling issues) right after a buddy rolled a nat 20 on a mystery perception check. I was going to start the next session with him noticing the tail on them, but it never happened and a year later he still wants to know what that was about lol. I can't tell him just in case maybe someday we start that campaign up again!
If you pick it up you can’t tell him. Even if he asks all you say something like it is important and leave it at that. The notice of the tail is for next roll.
This will tear him apart. If you talk about it but not pick it up game yet say people online loved the twist and you really wish to tell him but Alas.
I generally prefer playing with all die rolls out in the open, so this is a really handy way to still freak out the players every so often for no reason. :P
Funnily enough I prefer to roll in front of the party
I feel that it shows them that it's less me vs them and more that is vs the world if that makes sense
Also it makes combat more dramatic IMO
Its the "not peeing your pants roll"
Roll for money and status
