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Message: <blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5698290" data-attributes="member: 92511">Just some final thoughts (from me, I mean) on the topic.It seems from the poll results, that very few people actually engage in "RAW." As noted elsewhere in this thread, quite astutely, the RAI (Rules As Intended) seem much more popular.Taking into account the stipulation, by the Great and Powerful Gygax, himself, n the original DMG (I'm sure someone knows the page number off hand, I don't and don't have my book handy), the rules are there to supply guidelines! They are not "intended", as previously mentioned here and other threads, to be "straightjackets."This is a game after all. And the "Golden Rule"...what it is we all are playing the game for is to have fun.As such, house-ruling is not only encouraged, but expected. Yes, "house-ruling" and "DM fiat" are two different things. More on that later (if I remember to come back to it <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />But the RAW, for original D&D and AD&D at least, are not intended to be used as an "end all, be all."Now, that said, house-rules (at least in my understanding of them) should only be instituted for a few reasons.1) It makes things easier and/or faster.2) It "makes sense" to the DM and the group as a whole. However, as said, again, by Gygax and many a volume after, the DM is the final adjudicator. The "referee", as Shaman (was it?) points out, is in place specifically to make these kinds of calls. But they should be balanced and "fair" to the PCs. 3) Again, it is a game. To be enjoyed by all at the table. The DM shouldn't institute house rules ad hoc. But, "as necessary" to a given situation. And yes, in play, things do arise from time to time that either a) do not have any RAW or b) don't make sense to the situation by following the RAW.We've all been there (as DMs and/or players):"What?! How is that possible!?" "It's in the rules!""But it disrupts the game. It doesn't make sense [It shatters immersion.]""But it's what the rules say." In the case of "b", DM fiat is absolutely justified. "DM fiat" should not be the modus operendi. FUN is the modus operendi.Sitting "house rules"  instituted (those applicable across the board/every session a particular DM sits) should be made clear from the beginning of play, as much as possible.But it isn't always possible. The BEST DMs/referees out there can not be prepared for every contingency (spells of the same name aside <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />. If a call is necessary that the RAW "don't apply" to a given situation, then they don't.  Again, DM=referee and thus, final say. Having spent much time, recently, watching "European football" (a.k.a. soccer, for my American readers), there are plenty of "calls" that get disputed...but if you don't want a "red card" then you just let it slide. The referee makes their call, and that's the end of it.Is that "houseruling"? No, I wouldn't say it is. But it is "DM fiat"...and it is totally justified.No one likes to have their character "die"...but it happens. That is (or should be) an accepted realistic possibility of the game.Death aside, bad things will happen to you in play. They are supposed to! Sometimes they will be overcome...sometimes they won't. If there's no challenge...where's the game? Where's the point in playing? If one (even me, as a player) always gets their way...because the rules say so, it sounds like a damn boring game to me. In closing...I suppose I can only add..."GIVE ME HOUSERULES OR GIVE ME DEATH!!!"Thank you and good night. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" />--SD</blockquote>

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