Players: do you help your DM? DMs, do you like getting rules reminders?

[MerricB]

When I'm DMing, the rules I'll forget most often are the specific rules for various spells. (Like, mage hand can't pick up magic items). I rely on my players in those cases, and I get quite annoyed when they don't have their PHB open to the spell in question.

Cheers!

 

[Derulbaskul]

I appreciate the players helping with the rules.

Of course, they're players and not to be trusted, but I appreciate the occasional attempts to help.

 

[Shemeska]

If it's something critical and I don't recall it off the top of my head I'll ask my players. There's enough trust at the table so that its not skewed in favor of the PCs or the NPCs, any favorable rulings on rules I don't recall handily.

And if I seriously have something wrong I thankfully expect them to point it out for me, and the same for them using something the wrong way. It's a two way street, but if there's something in game that works around a particular rule or expected outcome of a spell, etc they respect me and my plots enough to accept it. We've been gaming long enough in the same campaign that it works out well almost always. I don't recall a rules based argument actually happening for a long time. I think I'm lucky in that regards.

 

[Morrus]

I couldn't manage without reminders from my players. In fact, Inconsequenti-AL is vital to my DM-ing! I frequently find myself asking "Uh, Al... how does xxxx work?"

One thing that I just can't get into my head is one of the most basic fundamentals of the game - how to calculate the save from a spell. Yes, I know how it works, but I can never, ever, ever remember! Every time (i.e. multiple times per game session), Al has to remind me how it works.

 

[MarauderX]

Yes & yes, please. I, probably like most DMs, forget about some of the finer details that are going on in a fight. Do I mean to? Heck no, I'm not pulling punches, I just plain forgot something really simple that might apply to the BBEG. Then again, I have forgotten some things as a player that makes me scream D'oh! when I remember it after my turn.

My biggest weakness (or is it... )is not knowing the class nuances, such as Animal Companion vs. Familiar. Thank the good players that know their stuff, at least about the classes they are playing as I might not remember it all after reading it three times.

 

[dreaded_beast]

This was actually one of the reasons why I left my former group.

Although I am a DM now and can see how it is from the other end (I was probably a pain-in-the-ass rules lawyer), at the time, I didn't like the double-standard: where it was OK for him to correct us on the rules, but not OK to do the same to him.

Normally, I probably wouldn't mind this part of the DM/Player relationship, but it had already gotten to the point where my relationship with the DM as a whole had detiorated.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I regularly "help" out my DM with minor rule reminders and the like and I hope he appreciates it. I know for a fact that some of the players on the other hand DON'T like it. Stating that such and such can't do something or that the penalty for some such is -4 not -2 tends to bug one or two of my mates.

That's why I prefer to rely on the "eyebrow code"

If someone makes an inaccurate statement, my DM tends to notice the way my brow furrows in disapproval, and looks up the appropriate rule

That way, I'm not drawing the ire of the players by "snitching" on them, but the rules are adhered to. Everyone wins!

Of course, I don't have a lot of trouble saying "Uh, that's not flanking" in all the assorted situations people have tried to claim flanking bonuses...

-Hyp.

 

[FreeTheSlaves]

I do have a tendency to forget my arcane spell failure when wearing armor. But, then again, so does the DM. Now I just use a big post-it note on my spells sheet that says, "10% failure!" That has worked well. The DM has also allowed me to ignore spell failure outside of combat, which is also a nice extra.

Anything that can help you remember stuff is a good thing. Which is a great reason to love post-its. I should really invest in some of their stock.

It is fairly draconian but we play that if you forget to roll arcane spell failure and someone (i.e. me*) points it out, you auto-fail.

* I am a nazi because my sorcerer was getting the beats for a low AC and another player's character was getting the best of both worlds. After a bit of whining i got that rule instituted (and lost a bit of popularity ).

As a player I generally don't volunteer help unless the gm has forgotten a more critical rule such as DR/SR/ASF/forgotten initiative etc. As a gm I am playing a rather open style now, such as telling the guys the numbers and getting a player to record initiatives. I really do appreciate a hand when a rule or detail escapes me.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

That's why I prefer to rely on the "eyebrow code"

If someone makes an inaccurate statement, my DM tends to notice the way my brow furrows in disapproval, and looks up the appropriate rule

That way, I'm not drawing the ire of the players by "snitching" on them, but the rules are adhered to. Everyone wins!

Of course, I don't have a lot of trouble saying "Uh, that's not flanking" in all the assorted situations people have tried to claim flanking bonuses...

-Hyp.

I'm liking this, solves lots of problems!

Apart from the bit about flanking. Both characters are on the same subcontinent, surely the rogue gets a flanking attack?


As a DM, I like it when players speak up about this kind of thing... I find it quite easy to miss a detail here or there, I'd rather they pointed it out! I'll do the same if I feel they're missing something to their advantage/disadvantage. IMO, might as well all play from the same book!

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

One thing that I just can't get into my head is one of the most basic fundamentals of the game - how to calculate the save from a spell.

The elusive spell save, I can always remember that:

10 + Spell Level + Stat Bonus - 38.

Just for NPCs of course!