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

[S'mon]

One thing that I do find amusing ... when I have my DM's hat on, I seem to remember the rules (in general) much better. When I am the player, I can't remember squat! It's so silly, but I've seen the same phenomenon with at least one of my players who is also my DM -- when he's DMing he knows it all, and when he's playing he can't remember something fairly basic like how dispel magic works...

Yeah, I'm exactly like that. I've DM'd 3e for years but when I play I play a grunt fighter & I can't remember anything about the rules outside my immediate remit. The other players seem to find it amusing...

 

[Li Shenron]

Players, do you help your DM? If he forgets something -- his critters' spell resistance, or ongoing damage from the round before -- do you remind him? I find myself frequently muttering "spell resistance" to my DMs and they seem to appreciate the reminders.

I don't always tell the DM... Sometimes I really can't shut up, especially if the mistake is serious and threatening some character's life, in which case I don't mind the coming argument. But often I am just afraid to put the DM in the embarassing position of being spot less knowledged than his players, or to annoy the others with game interruptions (many of our gamers find that precision is not at all worth slowing the pace of the action). Therefore, I often let it go, especially when it is just a matter of numbers.

DMs, do you like this kind of help? I know when I'm DMing any assistance in remembering what's going on is appreciated.

A lot. I really need it... I think I know the rules very well, but during DMing I always nervous enough to forget to apply easy things. Outside of the game, I am usually the one who is asked about rules, but when I am on the DM's chair I find it difficult to keep everything in mind. DM's screens don't help, I should better write myself down a few checklists one day or the other

 

[Li Shenron]

One thing that I do find amusing ... when I have my DM's hat on, I seem to remember the rules (in general) much better. When I am the player, I can't remember squat! It's so silly, but I've seen the same phenomenon with at least one of my players who is also my DM -- when he's DMing he knows it all, and when he's playing he can't remember something fairly basic like how dispel magic works...

It is the exact opposite for me: as a player I am relaxed and focused enough to remember how to do my stuff (and sometimes even other player's stuff ), which of course as a character is pretty limited; as a DM I have to worry about many issues besides the rules, such as for example the description of the action and everything, the flow of the plot, the behaviour of the NPC and monsters, keeping the mystery, adjudicating uncovered situations on the fly, handling unexpected players' decisions, keep the music match the moment and the food match the hunger... all of this quite mess up with me being focused on the rules. :\

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

I don't know the rules all that well. I've never been interested in rules, and in some situations, I think they can become cumbersome and even hinder the imagination. To be perfectly honest, if one of my players attempts a grapple, I have to check the book.

But hey, lucky me! My players can't remember the rules either. In fact, I think they might be worse than me in that respect. So in our group, the rule of thumb is "I won't give you the nasty look if you don't".

 

[Buttercup]

I would much rather have a player remind me of something than go through a whole combat and end up with a dead PC because I had forgotten! Also, I not only appreciate, but expect players to know all the details of any spells their character casts.

As a player, I do mention things from time to time, but I hope I'm not obnoxious about it.

 

[Cor Azer]

Players, do you help your DM? If he forgets something -- his critters' spell resistance, or ongoing damage from the round before -- do you remind him? I find myself frequently muttering "spell resistance" to my DMs and they seem to appreciate the reminders.

DMs, do you like this kind of help? I know when I'm DMing any assistance in remembering what's going on is appreciated.

I try to help my DMs on those few times I get to play; mostly because I have the most complete knowledge of the d20 and D&D rules in my gaming group.

And as a DM (more frequently), I've got so much on my mind that those little reminders are welcome.

 

[shilsen]

As a player - I remind the DM about forgotten rules whether they help the party or not. Fair is fair. Unfortunately, the other players don't really see it that way, though they're mostly kidding with their responses. Mostly

As a DM - I really appreciate reminders about things I may have forgotten. I'm a pretty decent rules lawyer, but keeping track of NPCs, PCs, animal companions, mounts and everything else that's going on makes it easy to forget something.

 

[Barak]

It depends greatly on the DM. I have one who really gets upset, even though he barely knows the rules. I know that, so I don't say squat. It makes for weird games, but it usually balances out, so it doesn't matter.

And I have a DM who frequently -asks- me, so in his case I don't hesitate.

And when I DM.. Well, I know the rules much better then my players, so it virtually never happens, but if it does I'm glad to be "corrected".

 

[diaglo]

When I am the player, I can't remember squat!...

this is me, too. i get so wrapped up in playing my character sometimes (most of the time really) i forget the mechanics of the game...(actually i usually forget the edition and remember it wrong if i do think about it )

it will hit me later and then i'll remind the DM.

 

[Liolel]

As a player you could describe me as a minor true neutral rules lawyer. I'm pointing out changes in 3.5, and other rules errors fairly frequently. But I point them out no matter who it benefits and sometimes I regret pointing things out later.