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Message: <blockquote data-quote="DustTC" data-source="post: 538319" data-attributes="member: 8919">I started DM'ing for a group of new players (new to the game myself) about 2 months ago. At first I had similar problems, they seemed to think it was my job as the DM to learn the rules and then hold their hands. At first I did this, but I always took extra time to thoroughly explain things and prod them to read their books.Then after a few sessions, if they would still make basic mistakes (like forgetting about reach, spells, etc.), I wouldn't allow them to take those moves back. Kick them around a bit. This only took one or two sessions to my feeling, after that everyone was on top of the basics (hey, you can't blame your players for not understanding grapple, even I don't get it after numerous readings <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f61b.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":P" title="Stick out tongue    :P"  data-smilie="7"data-shortname=":P" />).The next phase involved me making a lot of posts (we have our own forum) about rules... basically just the stuff in the DMG and PHB, but rewritten with a little more clarity (this also greatly helped me understand the rules myself). Things like all the different combat actions, etc. Now I actually have players who try to disarm in my game (one even took Improved Disarm, I'm so proud). Next thing I know they'll be wanting to try Sunder <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" /> (suppose I will have to show them a really effective Sunder NPC, just a bit afraid they won't like it if I ruin their weapons).Now the last thing to work on was spells. One player started as a Druid and he's really on top of it. The other started as a Sorcerer but died before things could get complicated. So they knew a little about defensive casting, etc. and had noticed that the Druid was becoming pretty important to the group. Since then I've introduced them to several Clerics, all of which gave them a fair share of trouble. Now I have a player who will drop his Paladin and start a Cleric next game (he's keeping the same name though, we invented a little story around it).The last thing I've done (just last session) was to have them go up against a Wizard (lvl 11 generalist). This was also the first time I used any illusion magic against them. I showed them protection from arrows, stoneskin, haste, fly, confuse, dispel magic, hold person, lightning bolt, etc. Needless to say they were really impressed (got their behinds kicked). So now another player is looking interested in multiclassing to Wizard.So in short: Don't punish them for not knowing something, but also don't feel bad if they do something stupid because they are ignorant of the rules. If you want them to get away from the basic hack 'n slash classes, show them how effective other classes can be (and since you will probably be a much more efficient player then them, you can really leave an impression on them even with a mediocre NPC).</blockquote>

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