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18:07, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

When you just can't roll well.

Posted by Genghis the Hutt
Genghis the Hutt
member, 2543 posts
Just an average guy :)
Sat 23 Jun 2018
at 20:38
  • msg #1

When you just can't roll well

Responding to a "vent with allowed responses" thread, but figured this might spawn its own discussion and didn't want to hijack the vent thread.

I had a character who rolled really low a lot several years ago (the previous poster had described a character that, in 18 rolls, had rolled six 1's and two 2's.  Eventually I just gave up and started writing him as a combination of "Ernest P. Worrell" and "Steve Urkel", writing in that he got lucky during one of the rare moments when I'd actually roll well.

Some other people in the game expressed in OOC that they were upset that I was writing such a poor character, a character who was basically contributing nothing to the group, but I'd already posted in OOC that I was frustrated by the rolls too and was just trying to write something that was true to what was supposed to happen.

Like the fifth time you roll a grand total of eight on your attack roll, it may be time to stop writing about how your opponent is such an amazing dodge/parry master (especially when that particular opponent was literally a crippled kobold who could barely move), and start writing about how ineffective your character is.

"Did I do that?"  The character ignored the destroyed desk that had resulted from when he'd fallen and stabbed it seventeen times then thrown away his dagger (from a one).  He smirked at the crippled kobold in front of him, "Prepare for a chilling ray of frost, vile creature!"  He waved his hand and then saw a butterfly fly near his face.  A beautiful butterfly, with wings of gold and silver and amethyst wrapping around each other in a never-ending fractal spiral.  And as his attention turned to the butterfly he pointed his finger at it at just the wrong time and hit it squarely with his ray of frost.  An expression of horror slowly spread across his face as he realized what he'd done and turned to give his full attention to his real opponent.

I rolled a 4 with 1d20+2.



OOC thread:

In OOC: Why'd you attack a butterfly?  Your character is worthless.  You're worthless -- play better.  You're supposed to attack the kobold.

Me: Look at my dice rolls, that's the 5th time I've tried to attack that same creature and failed miserably each time.  I'm starting to run out of ideas for how I can keep missing so badly.  I mean, it's not like I'm missing by one or two, I'm missing by a lot.  There has to be a reason for that.




Anyway, that was my somewhat frustrating experience.  How about the rest of you?  Who else has had a rotten string of bad luck rolls and how did you handle it?
DarkLightHitomi
member, 1369 posts
Sat 23 Jun 2018
at 21:34
  • msg #2

When you just can't roll well

I think you are handling it wonderfully. I wish more would play like that. You can game with me anytime.
aguy777
member, 277 posts
Join Date:
Thu, 28 Nov, 2013
Sat 23 Jun 2018
at 22:08
  • msg #3

When you just can't roll well

I had a character once who was completely inept outside of combat. Didn't matter that he had a +7 to Perception, he would roll 1-4 every single time. In combat? He was untouchable. Every roll was a hit, and every damage roll was good. I don't remember how I handled that character, but I remember an interrogation came along and he just walked away. Sure, I have a +5. But I knew it was gonna be an epic fail.
facemaker329
member, 7023 posts
Gaming for over 30
years, and counting!
Sun 24 Jun 2018
at 00:24
  • msg #4

When you just can't roll well

Not my character, but there was one in my first Star Wars group...*mumble-mumble* years ago...she was a mercenary...but she couldn't hit the broad side of a Star Destroyer with a blaster...until she was wounded.  Once she got a die penalty for damage in battle?  She couldn't miss.  And it was totally NOT a character choice...it was astounding how consistent her dice were...
biscuit
member, 33 posts
Sun 24 Jun 2018
at 00:28
  • msg #5

When you just can't roll well

I GMed a game (RoleMaster) which had a Dwarf Cleric named Krepotkin. Only a 2% chance to fail a spell roll. He failed 25% on his first adventure. The rest of the group decided Krepotkin was Dwarvish for "Look out, he's casting a spell!!"
MythZarya
member, 27 posts
Sun 24 Jun 2018
at 00:54
  • msg #6

Re: When you just can't roll well

DarkLightHitomi:
I think you are handling it wonderfully...


I agree! My rolls are generally low with d20 too, so you just have to roll with it the best you can. I think you (Genghis the Hutt) have a great attitude.
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