I've Lied on Dice Rolls
Lying on a dice roll is often remarked as a horrible behavior to do. I've always laughed and agreed with statements like, "Yeah how much of a loser do you have to be to cheat in a RPG?" Turns out, I have been that loser. I would argue that it's way more common than people think and comes from a variety of places.
Lying as a Player
For me, the impetus for lying about a dice roll was not only to do what I want. Rather, it came from a drive to be useful, to have a proud moment, or to be worth something in the party. For a long time, I lacked a community, and I wanted to prove that I deserved to be in this space as a player and creator. Why did my brain think, "Yes if we lie on this damage roll, we will be valued as a contributing member!"
Although the lying on rolls wasn't always tied to success. Sometimes I would lie when I thought the story would be more interesting if I failed or wanted to give another character the opportunity to do something interesting. This lie felt justified in that was I had the grace to step aside and let someone else take the limelight. How gracious of me to be intentionally useless in my party!
Lying as a GM
I've also lied about dice rolls as a GM, not just a player. If I know a player is already struggling, do I really need to kill their character too? At my table, it's important to consider the emotional regulation and social implications of your rolls. We all love chance and the risk of success, but sometimes in a session, we just need to make it to the next hook, the next room, etc.
I don't lie about dice rolls anymore, and I stopped partly from the guilt I felt around what people would say about it and partly because I don't need to chase the feeling of being useful at a table. I already know I am and can create interesting narrative outcomes for myself regardless of any roll. I trust my ability to be a storyteller and play with people who value me just as much as I value myself.
Have you lied about dice rolls? If so, when and in what context?