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Message: <blockquote data-quote="pming" data-source="post: 8144787" data-attributes="member: 45197">Hiya!Yeah, as I said, a "newbie DM" is best served by sticking to the rules he/she thinks they understand (which, chances are, they don't). This is the "First Stage of Dungeon Mastering". Don't have much of a clue what the game is or has in it now or for the future...but if'n it ain't a helluva lotta fun! <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" />Second Stage of DM'ing is the "That did NOT turn out well! Ok. Lets stick to the books so we can't possibly mess it up". This invariably leads to the stark realization that no, a DM should NOT "stick to the Rules As Written" and never deviate...because that works just as "well" as when they first started and thought "Bonus to Attack Roll" meant you got that bonus for EVERYTHING related to Attacking....leading to PC's declaring they were "hitting the wall forcefully as they climb it...so they can get their Attack Bonus!", sticking the RAW regardless of situation will often make no sense at all (especially with bad interpretations of the English language).Then they get to the Third Stage of DM'ing. This is where all DM's end up (hopefully!) Where enough experience, highs and lows, wins and losses, good rulings and bad, all start to fall into place. This, as time goes on and a DM's experience goes up, results in a DM with a "style" of DM'ing. Not all DM's are the same, some excel at the RPG/acting side, some at the technical side, some at the combat side, others at the creative side...but all DM's develop a "style".And that is why I am always weary of DM's that don't have any house rules; it tells me they haven't gotten out of Stage Two yet. So when the Magic-User picks up the Fighters two-handed sword and says "I attack!", the DM says "No, you can't. Magic-Users can't use two-handed swords! You do nothing this round. Next...", well, yeah...not a positive trait for a DM, imnsho.House Rules = DM who is at least attempting to move into Stage Three. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />^_^Paul L. Ming</blockquote>

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