In this episode of Z’s Dice Den, your friendly neighborhood NPC, Z, is joined by Michael, a newer but passionate Dungeons & Dragons player with a few campaigns under his belt. Together, they dive deep into the age-old tabletop debate: when to let the dice decide the story versus when the DM should fudge the rolls for narrative flair.

Michael shares stories from both sides of the screen—as a player and a DM—including cinematic moments, last-minute roll fudges to avoid total party kills, and times he adjusted DCs behind the scenes to protect story flow. They discuss the frustration of being a player stuck behind bad rolls in a hyper-roll-heavy campaign, and contrast that with the joy of narrative-driven flexibility.

They also explore the importance of DM style, emphasizing that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. It’s about knowing your players, the tone you want to set, and the story you’re telling together.

The episode closes with laughs, personal anecdotes, and a warning from Michael: "Don't buy too many dice... unless you like being broke but happy."