If player Jim rolls thirty-five "twos" on thirty five in-game, combat, D20 rolls, what should the DM do to save Jim's character? Should the DM fudge thirty or so rolls so that the 1st level character doesn't die in combat?
So often I hear that the DM should fudge die rolls because they don't want the players to have a constant escalator of new characters. If the DM doesn't fudge, then the unlucky player will likely have to constantly be making new characters. That is not fun, so the DM should do something.
But what if a player's rolls will never hit even the weakest monster? After ten rounds of futility, will the monster run away? How is that fun? Okay, the character talks his way out of the futility and the monster leaves. That might be interesting. How many back-to-back fights will that work? To muddy the water, let's say player Jim on roll thirty-six says he rolled a 20 when he actually rolled another 2. Is that okay? Imagine the celebration and fun that would be had - A 20! And the next time Jim needs a 20, he can just say it, no matter the roll.
I am noting an absurd situation. But extremes should be considered when making policy. How sacred is that die roll?
For the DM who hides the roll to allow for fudging on his or her part, how do you feel about poker? If your friend is losing every hand at your poker party, and is down most of the actual money he came in with, will you throw in a few of your winning hands so that they might win? No? Why not? Because it's for money and not D&D? What contract did you sign?
