A Stranger Approaches

A stranger approaches our table in the corner, and we invite him to play a game with us. "D&D" we say, and he looks over at the dice on the table with a sigh. He says, with just a hint of regret "Sadly, in this place, I can, and even must, control the outcome of any die roll. You need not believe me, but just know I could not play such a game as intended, I have never been able to." We look around the table at each other, with a sadness overtaking any sense of incredulity, for why does it matter if he can or cannot do as he says, if he believes it is so and does not play for that reason? Imagining never having the opportunity to roleplay around the table with friends, or even playing something as simple as a fair hand of cards, feels truly awful to a gamer like myself. I consider for a time, and then offer a suggestion.

"Can you read my thoughts or with precision predict what I might do next?" He locks his gaze with mine, as if trying to watch my thoughts on screen but, for show or not, here there is no such screen to be seen. He shakes his head so I ask another "Can you fix many dice rolls in a row, before any hit the table?" He nods. "Then I ask you to do this 20 separate times, assigning each list a number from 1-20, let's say (I glance at my watch to mark what time is left in this night) with 250 rolls each." He blinks once "Okay, done." "So these are our 'seeds.' When the game begins, I will pick a seed. Then, each time you are about to roll, I will pick a seed. Also, I may just randomly pick a seed. You won't know which seed I might pick and when, and I won't know what rolls are upcoming on any of them. You strike me as a tactician and so I will add, this game is less about perfect success, and more about the fun that can be had. Hopefully with these tools employed, you will find it is a game that can be enjoyed. If these terms are acceptable, then all that's left is to pick a character." The Stranger considers, and then replies.