D&D General A glimpse at WoTC's current view of Rule 0

[Belen]

The problem is that they've redefined rule 0. That isn't the rule 0 we've had for literally decades.

We already have a shortage of DMs. You will never override and force a DM to play your campaign instead of his campaign or if you do that DM isn't worth having.

What we should be doing is treating DMs and players like a dating game. Don't try to change people. Just go with the one that fits you.

This is common sense.

Also, when being a DM equals the same amount of work as being a player, then we can talk more about equality.

Players who engage more and help by doing more tend to get more favorable results.

I am happy to work with players on most things but not all things.

WOTC should be looking at how they lower the burden of the customers who are buying all their books. Note: It is not the players…

 

[Umbran]

Rule 0. Rule 0 of D&D is simple: Have fun. It’s fine if everyone agrees to change the rules as long as doing so means the game is more fun for everyone.

Has this been defined in such a manner in any other D&D supplement? If so, I certainly haven't seen it. I find this definition too open ended for my tastes! And also overly ambiguous. Does it mean rules changes must be unanimous? Majority vote? Whatever the most charismatic person at the table is able to convince the rest of the table? To me, this definition, while well intentioned, will/can cause more issues than it solves!

Thoughts?

My thought is that if you are asking these questions about Rule 0, you have not yet understood Rule 0.

If Rule 0 were a line in a movie, it would be from the 1981 comedy film, Stripes: "Lighten up, Francis."

 

[Greg K]

Let’s take one of the simplest changes to the rules that a DM may make. ‘This thing does not exist in my setting’. Leomund’s [not so] Tiny Hut for instance. Which is my most hated spell in the game. Rope Trick comes a close second for me. Conjure Minor Elemental might be another that different DMs dislike. If I say look guys I don’t want that spell in the game, or I’m changing the spell to be more or less powerful, no one can make me run a campaign for a player that demands to have it because they don’t consent to give it up.

Yeah, Leomund's Tiny Hut and Rope Trick are two of the first spells banned when I run.

 

[hawkeyefan]

The problem is that they've redefined rule 0. That isn't the rule 0 we've had for literally decades.

We already have a shortage of DMs. You will never override and force a DM to play your campaign instead of his campaign or if you do that DM isn't worth having.

What we should be doing is treating DMs and players like a dating game. Don't try to change people. Just go with the one that fits you.

I've preferred "our campaign" over "my campaign" for like 20 years at least.

 

[Velderan]

To me this seems like a clear case of nothing WotC could ever print in a book will fix the issue that some people just shouldn't play TTRPGs together.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

I've preferred "our campaign" over "my campaign" for like 20 years at least.

Funnily enough, if I say the former, I'm talking about a campaign I'm playing in and if I say the latter, I mean a campaign I'm running as a GM. And without further clarification that's how I would also understand these phrases when other people use them.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

WOTC should be looking at how they lower the burden of the customers who are buying all their books. Note: It is not the players…

You should also talk to your players about this. We share content through a D&D Beyond Master Tier subscription and everyone collectively kicks in what they can, when they can. It's worked out well for everyone and we've certainly gotten access to more content than if I was being asked to foot the bill alone.

 

[Mort]

I'm just going by what the DMG says. As far as who brings up the idea? Why would I as a DM care? If we like the house rule we'll adopt it.

Also we need to remember that the advice this thread seems to be based on is for absolute beginners. As far as the actual mod, I can't find it on DDB. Maybe @Mort could clarify, or is this only for educators?

It's the free downloadable module under Educator resources in D&D Beyond.

 

[Belen]

You should also talk to your players about this. We share content through a D&D Beyond Master Tier subscription and everyone collectively kicks in what they can, when they can. It's worked out well for everyone and we've certainly gotten access to more content than if I was being asked to foot the bill alone.

Sadly, I foot the bill alone.

When I first started playing. We’d give the DM money to buy adventures but I was never comfy asking others to buy content.

 

[KYRON45]

Here is what rule zero would be if i had any say: Everyone in every group must DM at least once. This way everyone (after a good cry and possibly some therapy) will have a better appreciation for what it is the DM does.