Dragon magazine is considered official!

[Grazzt]

Yes, but it's okay since the subject appears on the "Official EN World Subject Rehash" schedule. I'd send you a copy so you can be informed, but I'm not scheduled to be helpful for another few days...

Now let's talk about something totally new, like which D&D edition is best...

...or perhaps we could debate about the usefulness of the BoEF...

LOL-

 

[maddman75]

The term 'official' really has no meaning. Other than 'well we weren't kidding, they are actual rules'. Doesn't mean you have to use them. How can one determine what is official or what is not?

What if I'm running a greyhawk game. Are the forgotten realms feats and classes "official" and should be allowed? If so, you're going to have nonsensical results, such as a Red Wizard in Oerth. What if I'm in a scarred lands game - would material from that source be official? Now we have two games with different lists of what's in and what's out.

Therefore you should only use the rules that are right for your game. I don't care if someone proclaims Master of the Wild as Official, you aren't using Miasma in my game.

 

[Pants]

use the rules that are right for your game. I don't care if someone proclaims Master of the Wild as Official, you aren't using Miasma in my game.

Damn straight. I banned that in my game.

 

[dcollins]

As far as I know, Dragon material has been official ever since the magazine started some 300+ issues ago.

Back in the 80's it was very explicitly spelled out that Dragon magazine material was "unofficial" until it was put into some later hardcover publication. If Gygax published an article, then that could be labelled "official".

That situation has changed over the years, apparently.

 

[cildarith]

My gaming group only uses the official rules and we try to use all the official rules. We run a tight ship, and we like it that way.

If you include every rule included in Dragon, your ship will not be very tight.

IYKWIM,AITYD

 

[CaptainCalico]

I wonder if someone’s degree of concern about “official” vs. “unofficial” correlates closely with how often one switches gaming groups. I got totally flamed on the WoTC boards simply for mentioning a house rule my DM allowed, on the grounds that it was “not official” and I therefore could not use my character in a tournament at a convention or in a game with a different group. Since I a) have been playing with the same group for >2 years and b) would not bring a pre-existing character to a convention game, I did not see what all the fuss was about – but maybe other people have different experiences where the definition of “official” does have greater relevance.

 

[CaptainCalico]

double post - erk!

 

[Gothmog]

Originally posted by Grazzt:

"Whatever book I allow at the table is official for me. My word overrides and overrules ANY supplement, magazine, book, or rules lawyer (be it a WotC book, Dragon, Necromancer book, SSS book, it doesnt matter). I am the DM. MY word is official in my campaign."

I knew there was a reason Grazzt was my favorite demon prince. Seriously, official only means squat at conventions or Living Games. Otherwise, I toss it out the window. I use the rules my group and I like, and the hell with the rest. I have better things to worry about than whether I am using the latest errata version of the SRD in my game- like making a good story for my game, or real life issues.

 

[The Sigil]

Now there's an image for ya -- a bunch of lawyers playing D&D before they issue a formal decision on whether certain rules and aspects of the game are fodder for the SRD.

"For pain and suffering due to the bard's slanderous comments about my character, I'm asking for an judgment of 3,000 bonus experience points and a random minor magic item. ...
"Touch my dice again, sir, and you'll be slapped with a lawsuit faster than you can say 'Orc and Pie.'"
"I'm serving the beholder with a summons..."
"I'll appeal that monster's attack on the basis that the DM sucks my briefs..."

You, sir, owe me another root beer to replace the one that is now on my monitor and keyboard.

--The Sigil

 

[Nifelhein]

I wonder if someone’s degree of concern about “official” vs. “unofficial” correlates closely with how often one switches gaming groups. I got totally flamed on the WoTC boards simply for mentioning a house rule my DM allowed, on the grounds that it was “not official” and I therefore could not use my character in a tournament at a convention or in a game with a different group. Since I a) have been playing with the same group for >2 years and b) would not bring a pre-existing character to a convention game, I did not see what all the fuss was about – but maybe other people have different experiences where the definition of “official” does have greater relevance.

Well I trried answering later but lost my long post... so here i try again.

I believe people forget that even when using the same books and rulesets you can actually be using different interpretations of what is written, such is the nature of things, what makes that kind of atitude even more unnecesary.

In case you are thinkng not just remember what the rules forum is around for, explanations aside the discrepance between many understandings of the rules are enough to make a complete set of rules as an alternative.