Finding the right rules
I am far from being a rules lawyer, but somehow I always find myself perusing the core rulebooks and going over the inner workings of the Dungeons & Dragons. I think I do that to find a better combination of rules for my games.
There are too many rules out there for one man – or woman – to remember. That’s why I think that dungeon masters should suggest a style of play, a way to handle the rules, to the players. Ultimately, they will decide. If they enjoy themselves, the rules are probably right, or at least good enough.
Dealing with rules lawyers
I have been dungeon master of a lot of games ran by the role-playing game club in college. Most of these games were short independent adventures completed in less than a day. And the players were usually complete strangers. A few of them knew the rules much better than I did. I realized over time that it is best to mention at the beginning of a game that the players are welcome to point out mishandled rules, but that the DM decides how the rule is applied. 90% of the time, I’ll go along with whatever the players say the rule should be. But in that rare occasion when I think the actual rule doesn’t serve the game best, I’m covered.
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Arete
Hmm right here is what we, or more appropriately I, do.
If we find a situation that we do not like, but we play the game through with the existing rule.
The next session I will have researched the idea and come up with an alternative. If we agree that alternative, we play it. If it works it goes into the Campaign Setting Book
If it doesn’t we fix it a different way.
The only proviso is I write the rules, whether DM’ing or not. ANyone else could of course but no one does.
Almost 30 years of writing DM’ing and playing sort of give me an advantage.
I do however read a LOT.
Example, Tripping a 4 legged 2 winged creature. Does it get a size bonus? Yup size makes sense
How about a stability bonus for having 4 legs….er bugger the rules say yes.
We played YES for one session and then I went away and worked it out.
Now there is NO stability bonus available no matter how many wings you have. Screw one up and you still crash even if you have 3 more working.
Oh and I should point out that I am far worse than a rules lawyer.
I don’t know the page number of the rule, but I know what was intended by the rule, and how it connects to other rules…I understand the SPIRIT of the RULE
Which is far better.
One rule of thumb
NO matter what it says in the most recent manual of manual manualness…DO NOT CHANGE anything unless it is proven not to work.
DON’T tinker…just because a NEW rule sounds better doesn’t mean it is.
Or put another way if you never noticed it was at fault before, don’t change it just cause someone says …ooo try this.
Gryphon said: I understand the SPIRIT of the RULE. Which is far better.
I totally agree with that. Not only does it make more sense to all the players but it also saves time and trouble to make sure you know why the rule exists in the first place.
Gryphon said: NO matter what it says in the most recent manual of manual manualness…DO NOT CHANGE anything unless it is proven not to work.
It makes sense but I think I’ll still end up changing some rules that work alright, but not great. 99% of the time tough, I agree with the if it ain’t broke don’t fix it stance.
Ah I should say this “NEVER take what I say as gospel”
I would like people to read what is said and try and understand the underlying reasons, but once that is done do your own thing.
Just because I know best… sorry may be THINK I know…it is not necessarily true.
What works for me does not necessarily work for others. I play with a trained and practiced group mostly with the same basic outlook. We like role playing not roll playing, anything that smacks of BOOOOOM is analysed and moderated.
So for example
It works for us to NOT double Str and Double Magic on a Crit
But that is balanced because;
It works for us to have a crit miss penalty
(Basically if you roll a 1 you have to confirm it is a crit miss. A crit miss provokes an AoO against which you are flat footed. If you do not confirm the crit you still provoke an AoO you are just not flat footed.)
That does not work for others…most folks want a rolemaster type crit…BAH too many dice rolls. Too slow.
I think you make 2 good points here.
1. Nobody should take what you say as gospel. ;)
2. Dice slowing down your game is bad. This is the main reasons for me to change or forgo rules. Too time consuming. I want to play D&D, not roll dice and browse books for obscure rules.
Any suggestions on time-saving rules?
Time saving rules
Well I don’t really have any problems with dice rolling slowing things down actually.
There are many optional rules that might help. But WHERE in the session do you think they slow things down?
Combat can be streamlined…but it is bloody dull if you do it.
It is all about average…you just assume 10 on every 20 rolled and average on every hit or dice roll. You only ever ask for a roll when they need a damn big dice roll to hit with. (This negates crits)
Equally Skills and Saves can easily be streamlined…you just assume they take 10 every time.
Again if they need to roll MORE than this to survive then you ask them to roll. Otherwise they pass
Easy
But DULLLLLLLL
Good point about the fight. Fights are never too long except when the wizard or cleric doesn’t know his spells. I don’t mind dice rolling there too much. I guess it’s everything else. I’m a big fan of taking 10 but even that rule isn’t perfect. Improvization is my best friend.
u cant just take ten on every thing! deffanatly not in combat! it makes it kind of pointless!
my only rule is “the DM is the rules” :P
Which is a great rule!
Any comments on AoO? I find the rules for this to be cumbersome and my players just can’t wrap their heads around the idea of it. For instance, if a fighter is surrounded by 4 mages, and they all cast spells on him, why would he get a free attack on each mage plus he normal attack? It just seems to me like with AoO combat is in stop motion. That’s why we’re seriously considering going back to 2e combat rules. Any thoughts?