Mastering the rules? Is it really possible?

[MerricB]

See?!?! Nobody played AD&D1e right.

You should see the arguments on dragonsfoot about the initiative rules. There's about one person there who understands the rules and who will apply them in a game, and a lot of people who don't quite understand them and use other systems.

Cheers!

 

[Setanta]

What Crothian said.

When I do need to look up a spell or rule, I use a database I have on my PC that lets me look up anything super quickly, so it hardly affects game flow. One thing I almost always have to look up is the difference between panicked, shaken, and stirred, or whatever the third fear state is.

 

[buzz]

You gonna share this database, Setanta?

 

[Aaron L]

I just have to say that the guy preaching the cosmic destiny of Gygaxia is quite hilarious to read.

 

[caudor]

What Crothian said.

When I do need to look up a spell or rule, I use a database I have on my PC that lets me look up anything super quickly, so it hardly affects game flow. One thing I almost always have to look up is the difference between panicked, shaken, and stirred, or whatever the third fear state is.

ROTFL...'stirred'. Thanks for that one I wonder what monster has the supernatural ability to stir an opponent

DM to Player: Sorry, your player is now stirred.
Player: Ah, bummer...stirred again

 

[Squire James]

It helps to have an excellent memory, and a good familiarity with the PHB and DMG index. If the PC's or important NPC has his life on the line, it's worth taking a 5-10 minute break to find out just how those darn grapple rules work! Just call it a "minor cliffhanger" and leave it at that.

That being said, if you're taking up too much time peering at books, you need to shut the book for a while and start making stuff up for a while. Keep it close to what you think the rules SHOULD be on the subject, and the players might not even notice.

 

[Altalazar]

Mastery comes through use.

If you play enough, you'll find yourself flipping to the book less and less.

You'll probably also eventually go back and read through it again after playing, and some things will make a lot more sense and "click" and stay in your mind when you read them the second time because you'll be reminded of something that happened with you in actual play.

 

[Sir Whiskers]

Mastery comes through use.

I had an instructor tell me recently that the average person has to do something 250 times before it's truly learned. We were discussing software, but seems about right for RPG rules too...

 

[Morpheus]

I had an instructor tell me recently that the average person has to do something 250 times before it's truly learned. We were discussing software, but seems about right for RPG rules too...

There is a rule for education (the middle school type) that something has to be repeated 8 times before it can be learned (not mastered, mind you). 250 times!?! That sounds like mastery level...

 

[Bendris Noulg]

There is a rule for education (the middle school type) that something has to be repeated 8 times before it can be learned (not mastered, mind you).

That was probably my problem in school... Learn something the first time and end up twiddling my thumbs for the rest of the day while the morons around me tried to figure it out with their remaining 7 chances...

Another thing I hated was curved grading; It was like the teacher wanted everyone mad at me for raising the bar on 'em...

(Sorry for the mini-rant... Morpheus struck a nerve... Not that it's his fault or anything...)