Fudged odds
Also said as True hit, Hidden assist, Lying about probability
Players read probability badly, so games often show one number and use another. A shown 75% may really be 88%.
Sid Meier told GDC in 2010 about testing combat for Civilization Revolution. Players were delighted to win at long odds, accepted a loss at 2-to-1, and got angry at a loss at 20-to-10, which is the same ratio. His conclusion was that a purely mathematical system would not do, and player psychology has to count. Fudging is a kindness in a game with nothing at stake. It stops being one when players pay on the basis of the number.
Say it
“Average two rolls for all hit chances shown to the player, so 90% rarely misses and 10% rarely lands. Never apply this to anything bought with real money: paid odds must be exactly what we state.”
Where you’ve seen it
Most Fire Emblem games from The Binding Blade on average two random rolls for hits, so a displayed 75 really hits about 88% of the time. Some later ones changed the method: Fates uses a hybrid, Engage a modified single roll.
Not to be confused with rubber banding
Rubber banding changes the game based on how you are doing. True hit is a fixed lie about the numbers, and it applies whoever you are.