RandomUsernamehmimo71
Explorer
Digging in my hard drive lat night, I came across this document from years and years ago.. I had posted it to usenet back in '96 to get opinions, but I'd love to know what, if anything, people have as game rules in their own games.
DEMANDMENTS OF FRP GAMES
I. Don't Know it if you Don't Know it
[Player knowledge is not the same as character knowledge.]
Ex: A player's 2nd level thief, of low to medium intelligence, tries to invent gunpowder
Ex: Although the character is in a different building half-way through a beer, player a overhears the Gm inform a comrade that some strange noise has been heard outside her bedroom door. Player A's character says: "I leave my beer and head back to our rooms."
I. Sub 1 No Game-Mechanics while Role-Playing!
Ex: Character A, speaking in character: "I would never do that; I'm Lawful Good."
Character B, sarcastically: "Is that what that the letters 'LG' on that badge mean?"
[When there is no such badge]
Ex: After meeting a new NPC, the charaters immediatly ask the NPC what level, class, and alignment he is.
II. Ask Not for Whom the Bell tolls; Just Shut Up!
[Out-of-character table talk is fine, but when the GM stys sop, do so!]
Ex: "My other character would use his short sword of wounding"
Ex: "If only phasers existed in this world"
II. Sub 1 Thou Shall Not Snivel About Unfairness.
Ex: "Why are they shooting at ME? I'm farther away than Player B here. That's not faaaaaiiiiiiirrrrrr!!"
III. The GM is Always Right
[This is tough, and not to be taken with idiotic literacy;
NOT : GM: "Night falls."
Player: "Hey, you said it was noon 20 game-minutes ago.
GM: "Shut up. The planets realigned...”
The GM should say "OOPS I forgot. Never mind."
BUT : GM: "Night Falls, surprisingly."
Player: "Hey, you said it was noon 20 game-minutes ago.”
GM: “There's a reason.”
[If the player goes on now he's breaking demandment VII]
III Sub 1 No Game Lawyers!
Ex: "Well, I no that's what it says in the Handbook, but if you look in Spell Law on P. # 6, it could be interpreted to mean this; then I read this article in Dragon.....
IV. If you say it, you’ve said it.
[Do not say things that sound like they are in character, but then retract them when they do not get the reaction you like]
Ex. Player A: “I’m sorry, your majesty, we cannot perform that quest for you.”
GM, as lord: “Well then, GUARDS!”
Player A: “Oh, no! I meant that out of character!!”
[when he obviously did not]
V. Play your own character. Let everyone else play theirs.
Ex: Player A: “Player B's character shoots the wizard!”
Player B: “NO, he doesn’t”
Player A: “Shut up! Like I was saying.....”
Ex: Player A: "I'll use a fireball"
Player B: "No use the ring you found"
[This is acceptable if these conversations are IN-GAME. However, there is not often time to converse while a sword is swinging towards you. Also if made in-game, enemies can respond to your suggestions]
VI. Make your character stay in character!
Ex. A champion of justice, who, up to this point has never killed a man with out a trial, does so for the convenience of plot.
VII. Bust Enemies, not furniture.
[We have a problem with Players leaning back on weak chairs.]
VIII. Inter-player fighting shall not be carried over into in-character situations and vice versa.
Ex: Player A & Player B have recently had a disagreement out of game.
Player A: “My character Shoots Player B’s character”
GM: “Why?”
Player A: “He’s my character, and I said he does!”
IX. Remember the Gaming Day and keep it Holy.
[Be prepared to show up at the appointed time for a game. If you cannot make it, give plenty of notice]
X. Thy shall not monopolize the GM’s time.
[Do not spend the entire night on your character. This rule applies is not meant to apply to role-playing situations, but rather the creation of items, building a castle, researching a new spell, etc. ]
DEMANDMENTS OF FRP GAMES
I. Don't Know it if you Don't Know it
[Player knowledge is not the same as character knowledge.]
Ex: A player's 2nd level thief, of low to medium intelligence, tries to invent gunpowder
Ex: Although the character is in a different building half-way through a beer, player a overhears the Gm inform a comrade that some strange noise has been heard outside her bedroom door. Player A's character says: "I leave my beer and head back to our rooms."
I. Sub 1 No Game-Mechanics while Role-Playing!
Ex: Character A, speaking in character: "I would never do that; I'm Lawful Good."
Character B, sarcastically: "Is that what that the letters 'LG' on that badge mean?"
[When there is no such badge]
Ex: After meeting a new NPC, the charaters immediatly ask the NPC what level, class, and alignment he is.
II. Ask Not for Whom the Bell tolls; Just Shut Up!
[Out-of-character table talk is fine, but when the GM stys sop, do so!]
Ex: "My other character would use his short sword of wounding"
Ex: "If only phasers existed in this world"
II. Sub 1 Thou Shall Not Snivel About Unfairness.
Ex: "Why are they shooting at ME? I'm farther away than Player B here. That's not faaaaaiiiiiiirrrrrr!!"
III. The GM is Always Right
[This is tough, and not to be taken with idiotic literacy;
NOT : GM: "Night falls."
Player: "Hey, you said it was noon 20 game-minutes ago.
GM: "Shut up. The planets realigned...”
The GM should say "OOPS I forgot. Never mind."
BUT : GM: "Night Falls, surprisingly."
Player: "Hey, you said it was noon 20 game-minutes ago.”
GM: “There's a reason.”
[If the player goes on now he's breaking demandment VII]
III Sub 1 No Game Lawyers!
Ex: "Well, I no that's what it says in the Handbook, but if you look in Spell Law on P. # 6, it could be interpreted to mean this; then I read this article in Dragon.....
IV. If you say it, you’ve said it.
[Do not say things that sound like they are in character, but then retract them when they do not get the reaction you like]
Ex. Player A: “I’m sorry, your majesty, we cannot perform that quest for you.”
GM, as lord: “Well then, GUARDS!”
Player A: “Oh, no! I meant that out of character!!”
[when he obviously did not]
V. Play your own character. Let everyone else play theirs.
Ex: Player A: “Player B's character shoots the wizard!”
Player B: “NO, he doesn’t”
Player A: “Shut up! Like I was saying.....”
Ex: Player A: "I'll use a fireball"
Player B: "No use the ring you found"
[This is acceptable if these conversations are IN-GAME. However, there is not often time to converse while a sword is swinging towards you. Also if made in-game, enemies can respond to your suggestions]
VI. Make your character stay in character!
Ex. A champion of justice, who, up to this point has never killed a man with out a trial, does so for the convenience of plot.
VII. Bust Enemies, not furniture.
[We have a problem with Players leaning back on weak chairs.]
VIII. Inter-player fighting shall not be carried over into in-character situations and vice versa.
Ex: Player A & Player B have recently had a disagreement out of game.
Player A: “My character Shoots Player B’s character”
GM: “Why?”
Player A: “He’s my character, and I said he does!”
IX. Remember the Gaming Day and keep it Holy.
[Be prepared to show up at the appointed time for a game. If you cannot make it, give plenty of notice]
X. Thy shall not monopolize the GM’s time.
[Do not spend the entire night on your character. This rule applies is not meant to apply to role-playing situations, but rather the creation of items, building a castle, researching a new spell, etc. ]
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