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Message: <blockquote data-quote="fba827" data-source="post: 4895419" data-attributes="member: 807">Here is my guideline that I tell people when it comes to rulesThe order of authority is roughly ...(from least authority to most authority)1.Character Builder2.Books3.Customer Service/Faq/Clarifications4.Errata5.Your DM's decisionFirst I would recommend at least (honestly) listening - does he have a valid point (he may have a valid point even if just one out of a hundred times in there).Then, in response to something you don't necessarily agree with or is too complex to look at that moment, respond with something like "Possibly.  But for the sake of keeping things moving, we'll play it like this for now and then I'll look at it later on how to do it in case it comes up again ..."After that, I'd suggest rather than making it about "who is right and who is wrong" in interpreting the rule, you instead state it as "that may be the case, but for this campaign we're doing it like this ..."  BUT , be prepared at that point to have responses about why do it one way over the other.  It can be vague stuff like "it will work better for stuff planned for this game."  or "it works simpler" etc.If all else fails, you can invoke PHB p8 "DM's role" is also listed as referee when "the rules/situation is unclear then the DM's job is to adjudicate what would happen." And, in this case the situation must not clear if you're having a conversation about it.  Warning, using this tactic is a make-or-break tactic. It will either quiet the rules lawyer down (because you used text to support your statement) or it will fire him up (because you used text to support your statement so he must go back and find more text to support his).If it gets really really bad, consider just telling him (in private ) that it is starting to get a little distracting for everyone when he's questioning everything all the time. So could he be a bit more particular about which topics he chooses to question... etc  (again, this could go in either extreme direction depending on the person himself).If it just gets worse then you'll have to consider asking him to DM the next campaign or to simply not come back to the game.Disclaimer: just my ramble based on the information presented here.  obviously, there are aspects of the social dynamic and personalities that i don't know about.  So to it for what it's worth.</blockquote>

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