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Message: <blockquote data-quote="mythago" data-source="post: 1692885" data-attributes="member: 3019">"Rules lawyer" is a good term, because remember that in the lawyer analogy, you, the GM, are the judge. And your word is final, right or wrong.In a real courtroom, the judge makes the final ruling. He or she hears arguments, then issues a decision. Anybody who continues to argue will, essentially, be told to sit down and shut up. You can appeal the decision later, but that's it. The judge doesn't argue back or try to persuade the lawyer that, in fact, the judge is right. So let your player go on for a little while, then say "Nevertheless, my ruling is X. If you disagree, please make a note and we'll discuss it after the game." And that's it. Don't entertain more argument. Don't argue WITH him. Don't let the other players argue with him either. Just make the statement and continue on. That way, if he feels genuinely aggrieved, he can talk to you about it after the game without holding everything up, and at a time when people have had a chance to calm down and think it over. If he's just arguing because he gets off on arguing, that will shut him down.</blockquote>