I was wondering, who initiates the most skill tests, rolls for thresholds, etc. in your group?

Before I answer this question I would like to give my ideal situation in who initiates the rolls. Ideally, the GM initiates all rolls in the game. He knows the SR4 rules very well, has a great grasp on the scenarios he presents in the game, and has properly prepared for the session. In the face of an unsuspected scenario he is confident in his ability to initiate rolls when necessary to let the PCs shine or stumble.

For my group it seems it mixes in with the GM initiating rolls and players having to remind the GM that certain scenarios require a rolls. This obviously goes against my ideal situation. I understand maybe giving the GM a hint that maybe it is time for a roll every once in a while. Of course then there is also what to do if your GM is new to the SR4 system.

I'm interested to see what your experiences are with this. I personally would like to never have the need to remind the GM. It makes gameplay flow much smoother and helps ensure GMs and players don't clash.

I'm a GM and i usually call for every roll made by the player...As a GM, i don't care whether the books says a roll should be made or not for a specific situation, I decide when luck should be taken intto consideration or if the action fail or succeed automatically.

As a GM, I think I initiate about every roll needing to be made. I think I have a firm grasp of the overall rules and I can't really recall a time when a player has asked for a roll, or recommend one be made. I'd say that my players' knowledge is pretty solid and might be a little better in a few specific areas when dealing with their particular character, but even so, the iniation of rolls is still coming from me...

Also a GM, and I also initiate dice rolls. My players sometimes jump the gun and crack on with a roll before I ask for it but I like to think that this is good synergy between player and GM.

Most of my players are long time multi genre players who know the game well. While I normally call for all rolls, once in awhile they might ask if I think a roll is needed or if they can try something not covered by rules.

And of course theres always the crazy speed rolling when I yell "ROLL INISH" !

My current group prefers that I role perception tests, and sometimes other tests, to allow them to retain more of a sense of the unknown. Also, two of the three players are new to the system. Thus, I find myself initiating a lot of rolls.

A player initiating a role has been extremely rare so far, but we've only played two sessions.

It's usually me calling for rolls. We go for a while in the beginning of the session with no rolling, usually, then I call for a roll and everyone realizes they should have their dice out.

Sometimes a player will ask for a roll, often for social stuff. Sometimes I say yes. I know that he's mostly trying to create a safety net for himself in case he screws up and says something wrong in roleplaying. I always let them know that no amount of dice will save you from making a plainly wrong choice.

Mostly, outside of combat or similar stressful stuff, everyone gets too caught up in everything to think about dice. It's mostly on me to control that stuff. Which I like. It allows me to ignore some rules when they get in the way of the game.

GM calls for rolls and makes some secret rolls (rarely).

Sometimes players ask for rolls (when it might make sense to do so).

Bye
Thanee

Most of my gaming experience involves the GM making the call for rolls, mostly because the way we play for ease and flow the GM propels us through the world based on the decisions we make and thus would say when to roll since they are the ones with the better idea of what is going on.

The two exceptions would probably be A - when we had a n00b GM who didn't really understand the game well enough to be running it but we all wanted to play anyway, and B - I'm known a bit with the people I game with as someone who has a tendency to think of odd things that can sort of mess up a GM's plans...and so sometimes I ask if I can roll and do a certain thing, or other times I'll just tell him what I'm rolling and watch with an evil grin as he realizes what it is that I'm doing. Either way, it is the exception and not the rule.

GM almost always calls for rolls in games I run and games I play in.


Players may remind, point out skill / ability / etc, but GM would still call for roll.

Most of my normal group is very long time players and we and will often roleplay out situations, instead of rollplaying.

With a quick look at skills / abilities and the 'average' determination rather then rolling them out.

As a GM I would initiate all rolls but my players would still pipe in occasionally when they wanted to do something without the rest of the group. Usually this was personal Perception tests or Matrix rolls or side Negotiation tests with fixers or contacts. Other than that I would roll normal Perceptions tests and then give the PCs an option to roll their own, but the only clause was that they had to deal with their personal dice roll if it was worse than mine. I would have the PC leave the room, tell the remaining PCs the description based off their roll, and then have the other PC come in and tell them their roll result. It worked out quite well actually.