I'm hearing rumblings...

[WSmith]

Here's a DM's perspective: In the intro to the 1E DMG Gary Gygax talks about DMing being part art, part science. I think with 3E there is a somewhat larger emphasis on the "science" part of DMing and playing. If you want to create new monsters or magic items or spells or abilities (feats, skills), there are some fairly complex rules to get under your belt. I can see where a 1E or 2E DM might balk at 3E's attempts to get you to "do it right."

I personally like having some guidelines in areas where there weren't any before, but also feel a little bit of a straightjacket in one sense --

As do I. I love 3e, but when I tried to make magic items and read the rules, Oui! I think it is good and/or bad, depending on your personality type. I came from the "art" DM school as opposed to the "science" school. So, the complexity does make me feel straightjacketed. But while some rules are complex in some ways, more are so simple, at least in my mind, that I can't imagine playing without them: opposed rolls to such things as spot/hide, cyclic initiative, three saves, rolling high is always good, AC always going upwards, just to name a few.

AoO: I agree playing dispells many misconceptions about AoO. However, the way it was written in the PHB adds to the confussion. If you are in Borders or your FLGS, at least read if not buy the WOT RPG book. Reading its entry on AoO makes so much more sense than the 3e PHB.

 

[Wicht]

I think the key to not only being a successful DM with 3E but with any role-playing game is confidence. This confidence comes partially from knowing you know the rules but IMO mainly from the ability to say, "Its my game. I make the rules." You have to be able to make on the spot calls and make them stick whether or not they follow the written rules. There should be no rules lawyering allowed in your game (unless you and the players are all absolute newbies). If you don't know the rule at the time it is needed don't use it. This does not mean you cannot study the rule later at your leisure but in the middle of a climatic fight go with what you know. In my experience with 3E, the bare bones will get you through any fight (bare bones being AC and BABs). As the players learn to use their feats better and the DM learns the feats better the fights become more interesting and challenging (mirroring the ability of the characters to fight better as well). But the time for studying the rules is not in the middle of the game. In the middle of the game is when the DM should shine with his ability to wing tough calls.

 

[Droogie]

An appreciative "bump" to all you swell people who answered my questions; thank you very much.

To answer a few back, yes indeed, we are pretty new to 3e- about 8 months, with some players as few as 4 weeks.

And yep, we have minis, a few homemade counters, and a nice big battlemat. We would be up poo-poo creek without them.

And sorry for ignoring this thread for 24 hours- I only get on here late at nite.

Game on, my friends.

 

[Black Omega]

Don't allow chess players.

Now now, not all of us chess players are like that.