Prepare for failure, adapt to unexpected outcomes, and trust your players to handle the story as it unfolds. The best moments in TTRPGs come not from a predetermined path, but from the shared journey through triumphs and failures alike. Let the dice decide—they are the heart of the game.

Conclusion: Let the Dice Fall Where They May
Fudging dice rolls offers no real benefit to the game. It undermines the principles of fairness, removes genuine stakes, and erodes player trust. As a GM, embrace the uncertainty of the dice.

On the flip side, failing and facing the consequences can lead to some of the most memorable and character-defining moments in a campaign. Fudging cheapens these experiences by replacing authentic outcomes with artificial ones.

6. Players Value Authenticity Over Success
As a player, the possibility of failure is part of what makes success meaningful. Overcoming a tough challenge feels rewarding because it wasn’t guaranteed.

We’d call that cheating. Why, then, is it acceptable for a GM to fudge rolls? The roles are different, but the principle is the same—both involve manipulating outcomes to suit a personal preference. Fairness must apply to everyone at the table, including the GM.

5. Double Standards: Fudging vs. Cheating
Consider this scenario: A player wants their character to hit every attack, so they roll the dice secretly and always claim success.

It’s a self-centered perspective that disregards the players' ability to handle setbacks and undermines their trust. Moreover, players value genuine challenges and the knowledge that their successes (and failures) are earned, not orchestrated.

4. Fudging Is Selfish and Undermines Player Trust
Who decides what makes for a "better" outcome? Often, fudging is driven by the GM's fear of player frustration or their own discomfort with unexpected results. However, this approach assumes you know what’s best for everyone else.

Perhaps the encounter was poorly balanced or the players missed critical information. These are design or communication issues, not problems to be masked by altering dice rolls. A good GM prepares for the possibility of failure and weaves it into the narrative rather than avoiding it.

3. Fudging Is a Failure in Game Mastering
A common argument for fudging is to "save" player characters or to adjust overly difficult encounters. However, if you find yourself needing to fudge, it’s often a sign of a deeper issue.

of this essential tension. Imagine if Mollymauk Tealeaf’s death in Critical Role had been avoided through fudging; the emotional impact, character development, and memorable moments that followed—including the introduction of Caduceus—would never have occurred. True stakes create true stories.

2. Fudging Removes the Thrill of Uncertainty
Every dice roll carries with it a sense of anticipation and genuine risk. When players face danger or uncertainty, the possibility of failure makes success all the more rewarding. By fudging, you rob the game

If you pre-decide outcomes or intervene after a roll, the dice become an unnecessary and misleading mechanic. Rolling without honoring the result is a hollow gesture, a facade of fairness that ultimately cheats both players and the narrative.

1. If You Ignore the Dice, Why Use Them?
If you, as the GM, choose to ignore or manipulate dice rolls, it raises an important question: Why bother rolling dice at all? Rolling the dice is more than a ritual; it’s a commitment to impartiality.

immense authority over the game world, shaping the narrative, encounters, and challenges. However, once the dice hit the table, that authority is voluntarily surrendered to fate. Fudging dice—altering rolls to change outcomes—undermines this core principle and diminishes the integrity of the game.

Embrace the Darkness!

Evil isn't about demonizing real-world groups—it's about crafting stories where courage, hope, and goodness shine brightest against the shadows. Let's keep the darkness alive and the stakes high.

5. Cultural Identity and Lore

Iconic evil races have rich histories of dark gods, brutal conflicts, and cursed bloodlines. These narratives provide depth and immersion. Stripping away their darkness can leave a vacuum in world-building.

4. Richer Roleplaying

For TTRPGs, defined evil races don't limit creativity—they expand it. Players who wish to defy stereotypes can create compelling "redeemed" characters, emphasizing their struggle against their nature. Such narratives lose impact if "evil" is watered down.

3. Archetypal Power

Classic evil races like Drow, Orcs, and Tieflings embody timeless fears and struggles. They draw from mythic archetypes that tap into our deepest subconscious. Changing their fundamental nature risks losing this archetypal resonance.