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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mallus" data-source="post: 3311706" data-attributes="member: 3887">I do this. It works great, especially since I don't own every WoTC supplement  (and I'm not always so clear on the material in the ones I do own).A DM should have a good basic understanding of the rules. They don't need to be the most knowledgeable person at the table (though that assumes a fair amount of trust exists in the group).After that, I think other skills are more important; people skills, the ability to manage the group's expectations, their time in the spotlight, the level of challenge, the ability to characterize, etc.Someone earlier in the thread brought up 'DM authority' and how it 'earned' by rules mastery. It's an interesting point, and wrong, IMHO. 'DM' authority is better thought of as 'given' by the players. And I've never seen it given based on how well a DM knows the rules. I've seen it given, and received it, for providing the players with an entertaining experience.</blockquote>