Fog of war

[fbnaulin]

As a Loremaster, do you hide enemy stats, remaining points or TN from players? Maybe, using narrative to hint what's going on, for example: "the goblin is weakened, he would barely resist another hit", "this is not an ordinary task, it will take an extra effort".

Or do you openly tell them the numbers? "the goblin has 3 Endurance points left", "the TN for this task is 16".

Have you catch a tip about this in the books? Wich do you think is best suited for TOR? Or it's just a matter of group style?

I'm interested in your opinions.

[Elmoth]

Yep. Except TN. TNs are public so they can decide to use Hope or not. Damage level to the goblins is generally not described in detail (knowing them, they will attack anyway no matter what...) but yes, if they ask the perceived damage level of the opposition is described. We describe if something looks easy or difficult and then assign a explicit TN to it.

We have never described an opponent as having a specific and explicit number of hit points left anyway, in any system, so not much new stuff here...

[Yusei]

I hide everything, and after a few tries they slowly learn the parry and endurance scores of their opponents. For the TNs, I usually give it, but not always, so spending Hope can be a tricky choice. For example, they don't always know is they need to spend hope to avoid a wound, because they don't know if the ennemy weapon has an injury rating of 12 or 14.

[fbnaulin]

Yep. Except TN. TNs are public so they can decide to use Hope or not.

Hope points are used after the roll (AB p.150), so it's not mandatory to know the TN, just if it's a failure.

[Yusei]

But you still need to know the TN in order to decide if spending one Hope Point is useful.

[Elmoth]

But you still need to know the TN in order to decide if spending one Hope Point is useful.

That. I roll an 8. I can add +6 to the roll using Hope, but would it help me beat the number? yes if the TN is 14 or lower, but not if it was 16 or above.

[fbnaulin]

Ah, sorry. You are totally right guys, and I think the same as you. I use open TN for the same reason and it seems non-viable to manage Hope another way.

[Sprigg]

Our groups have never given explicit numbers except when absolutely necessary. If a player fails a roll I will tell them the TN so they can decide to spend hope or not, but that's probably it.

[Glorelendil]

Our groups have never given explicit numbers except when absolutely necessary. If a player fails a roll I will tell them the TN so they can decide to spend hope or not, but that's probably it.

You could still hide the TN if you wanted. The player could ask if a point of Hope would make the roll or not. You can still make it binary for them.

I just tell them the TNs, but I see the argument for not doing so.

[doctheweasel]

I am open with stats once the party has experienced them directly. No TN to hit until they actually attack enemy. No damage from weapons until they have been hit by one. No knowing anyone's skill until that skill has been rolled.

Once it has happened, though, then it's all open. I don't roll behind a screen, so I can't (and don't care to) keep those things hidden.