Forked Thread: Should players know the rules?

Forked from: Should players know the rules?

Umbran said:

I don't necessarily expect a player to know all the rules for their character at the start, but I do expect them to learn those rules. Once you've played a character for a level or so, you've probably got the basics down pretty solidly, and from there the changes are incremental, and easy to pick up.

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This got me thinking about how I prefer to DM/play/introduce new players and perhaps minor issues with 3.5E as I pretty much agree with Umbran.

With my gaming group we have tended to emphasise the "role"playing aspect while playing a bit fast and loose with the tactical side of combat (although combat occurs quite often). This harkens back to when we played OD&D. As such it feels quite natural for new players to pick up any rules they need to know through play.

I suppose for my personal preference I love the simplicity of OD&D and like the fact that 3.5E allows customisation of characters with skills and feats. So while Castles & Crusades "feels" right it doesn't have enough tailoring of character.

Sorry if this has turned into a bit of a ramble I guess my question is - has anyone modified 3.5E (as far as combat, and feats associated with combat, is concerned to be less tactical). By tactical I guess I mean modified sufficently where you no longer need minatures at all . . .

Linking this back to the original post, I think that if combat were less minatures-driven it would be much more easy for new players to pick up as it they go along aswell as catering for our more freeform style of play.

In D&D I expect people to know the rules, but in some games I don'texpect it or even want it.

Sometimes I get frustrated with a couple of my players. Granted they were new to the game when we started, but it's been 6 months and niether of them seem to know their character at all.

The female n00b is getting a little better, but the male n00b is still falling behind the class. The male n00b has a good excuse though, he's a Jock trying to fit in with the nerds to be cool.

I don't mind if my players don't know the rules, but I DO mind if they don't know their characters (and by extension their characters' powers).

When I ask them "What do you want to do?", I don't expect them to tell me in 'rule-speak'. I can tell them how it works within the rules once they decide on their general actions.

Similarly, when a player seems to have a difficulty with making decisions (quickly), I tend to suggest a couple of options.

I'm also explaining some of the rules as I go along, e.g. movement during combat. But even after 4 years of playing D&D, some players get periodically confused about the basics...