Dragon magazine is considered official!

[francisca]

I wonder if someone’s degree of concern about “official” vs. “unofficial” correlates closely with how often one switches gaming groups.

Naw. It has more to do with the fact that some people think the way they play the game is *the only* way and anyone else who is different must be an idiot.

Human nature I suppose.

Play the game your group wants to play and enjoy it. If you play with a different crew than the norm, deal with the differences. It's a game for cryin' out loud. People who get into flame wars and pissing contests over what is official and/or what house or 3rd party rules are "better" need to relax and have fun playing the game. Then again, most forums would be pretty quiet.

I understand very clearly the problem conflicting or variant rules can cause, but part of being a DM is making rulings to resolve those sorts of things. If your DM can't arbitrate something like that, it's time for a new DM. If a particular player pouts and whines about the rulings and ruins the fun, give her/him the boot. D&D should be fun.

Repeat after me: Rule 0 rocks.

 

[jgbrowning]

I wonder if someone’s degree of concern about “official” vs. “unofficial” correlates closely with how often one switches gaming groups.

I think it has more to do with marketing. A lot of the people that made the "official rules" are now writing for themselves.

Only thing WotC has, besides a bigger production budget, to give them a "one-up" on the d20 competition is the power of the Dungeons & Dragons name and the mindset that they produce the "official" rules.

Personally, official rules seem silly to me. One way to play isn't better than another when all that's really happening is a lot of grown men are sitting around a table pretending they're "super-heroes" who are saving the world.

Cracks me up everytime i hear it.... official... hehehe

Official is just another way of saying "Buy our stuff!"


joe b.

 

[francisca]

I think it has more to do with marketing. A lot of the people that made the "official rules" are now writing for themselves.

Only thing WotC has, besides a bigger production budget, to give them a "one-up" on the d20 competition is the power of the Dungeons & Dragons name and the mindset that they produce the "official" rules.

Personally, official rules seem silly to me. One way to play isn't better than another when all that's really happening is a lot of grown men are sitting around a table pretending they're "super-heroes" who are saving the world.

Cracks me up everytime i hear it.... official... hehehe

Official is just another way of saying "Buy our stuff!"


joe b.

Good points. Your stuff is "official" in my game.

 

[Agamon]

If they're so official, why can't I use them in Living Greyhawk?

 

[Hypersmurf]

Repeat after me: Rule 0 rocks.

I don't have a copy of the 3.5 PHB, so I could be wrong...

... but didn't Rule 0 get cut from 3.5?

-Hyp.

 

[Nifelhein]

I don't have a copy of the 3.5 PHB, so I could be wrong...

... but didn't Rule 0 get cut from 3.5?

-Hyp.

You mean that 3.5 was cut out of the guidelines for rule 0, don't you?

 

[francisca]

I don't have a copy of the 3.5 PHB, so I could be wrong...

... but didn't Rule 0 get cut from 3.5?

-Hyp.

Dunno. Seems like it should be in the DMG anyway. And if it isn't, it bears repeating: Rule 0 rocks.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Dunno. Seems like it should be in the DMG anyway.

Well, the term comes from the 3E PHB Character Creation section.

Rule 0: Ask your DM first.

It's my understanding that the 0 didn't make it into 3.5.

-Hyp.

 

[francisca]

Well, the term comes from the 3E PHB Character Creation section.

Rule 0: Ask your DM first.

It's my understanding that the 0 didn't make it into 3.5.

-Hyp.

It's still there, just not labeled as Rule 0.

For the record, to me Rule 0 has always meant: "The DM is always right and the final arbitrator of rules for this game."

 

[frankthedm]

Lat time i checked, DMs are the ones who run games.