Dealing with bluffs

[jopperm2]

One thing a friend of mine does is set up a spreadsheet with each stat(str, dex, con, etc... ) and each save (fort, will...) plus a column named other. Then, before the session, he uses a dice program to populate like 200 rolls for each column with a d20. Then, whenever he needs to do a roll he picks the relevant stat (cha for a bluff for example) and uses the next value on the list. Then he crosses that one off. That way the characters won't know every time he rolls. Works pretty well. Less cumbersome too. I think he make have started a new column for attack rolls too.

[Grimar]

that one was good! >starts rolling for next session<

[melancolly]

i know this is a bit off topic ,but i make my players role their own healing potions

[Grimar]

Originally Posted by melancolly

i know this is a bit off topic ,but i make my players role their own healing potions

so do i.. isn't that normal? all players and DM's i have played with made the players roll their own hp. But there is a house rule i forgot. if my players roll a 1, they can reroll their hp. if they have D8 and roll 2, they can reroll. if they have d12, they can reroll. but if the players have rolled 10-10-10-8-1, they will not be allowed to reroll.

[Aegis]

The group I play with generally re-rolls under half for HP. But then, we play in some pretty challenging campaigns.

[Aramant]

I require my players to make up backgrounds for their characters. It gets them more in tune with the character, and hopefully more attached to them as well, so they aren't just playing themselves in a risk-free environment (ie. if the character dies, so what, I can just make another one).

I also retain veto power over the characters. One of my players always played a monk/whatever, simply for the armor class bonus so he didn't have to wear armor. It was fine at first, but he never justified the monk class. He just wanted the armor class bonus. After a whack of characters with which he ignored any monk-like training in their backgrounds, yet who still possessed a number of monk levels, I started saying no. Which ties into the background issue as well. My rule is that characters don't just arbitrarily know things, so it has to be accounted for in the background.

On other occasions, it's not a background issue, but just something stupid. Like when a higher level character with more starting gold owns nothing but clothes and a magic weapon, because he spent all his gold on said weapon.

I don't like munchkin campaigns. I like to focus on the roleplaying. Though that doesn't mean I shortchange on the fighting or loot.

[jopperm2]

How does one roll healing potions?

On HP, If it is less than half I allow reroll -1, but you have to keep the result even if it's zero. I also allow average rolls; 2,3,4,5, or 6 depending on hd.

[Aegis]

Originally Posted by jopperm2

How does one roll healing potions?

On HP, If it is less than half I allow reroll -1, but you have to keep the result even if it's zero. I also allow average rolls; 2,3,4,5, or 6 depending on hd.

For example, a potion of cure minor wounds heals 1d8+lvl (to a maximum of +5). As you progress up to more powerful healing draughts, you add 1d8 for each level of strength, as well as increasing the +lvl bonus.

[jopperm2]

Oh okay.. So like I take a cure light and I get to roll my own d8? I do that too. I figure it's negligible how much that reveals and you should be able to tell how far you are from are keeling over.