Rules and their Interpretation ?

[Hypersmurf]

Somehow, I find that this is the most effective technique possible for demonstrating the sheer ludicrousness of an absolutely absurd proposal: Make the player actually attempt it.

Heh.

"By the wording, 3.5 Darkness cast in a dark room actually brightens the area!"

Norfleet goes into one of his many closets full of stuff, finds a pinch of bat fur and a piece of coal, gives them to the player, and says simply, "Show me.".

-Hyp.

 

[hong]

Norfleet goes into one of his many closets full of stuff, finds a pinch of bat fur and a piece of coal, gives them to the player, and says simply, "Show me.".

Bat guano. Mmmm.

PS. Re the original question: "what the rules say" vs "what the designers intend" is just another one of those features of online mass debating, coming just after "the Sage agrees with me therefore I'm right" vs "the Sage disagrees with me therefore he's wrong" in terms of popularity. You gotta love mass debating.

 

[Darklone]

I don't quite understand your question. You ask why we don't go by the meaning of the rules. We do.

But there are some unbelieving idiots out there who disagree

Interpretation is everything. Sometimes the intent of the game designers may be clear, sometimes not. Take a discussion about Two Weapon Fighting for example... I know some guy who really read it that way that he can always make his offhand attacks extra to whatever he did...

 

[Emerald]

I know some guy who really read it that way that he can always make his offhand attacks extra to whatever he did...

Something in this sentence doesn't make sense.... He thought what now?

 

[Nail]

Heh.

"By the wording, 3.5 Darkness cast in a dark room actually brightens the area!"

Norfleet goes into one of his many closets full of stuff, finds a pinch of bat fur and a piece of coal, gives them to the player, and says simply, "Show me.".

-Hyp.

Yep.

I especially enjoy those who bring out their real experiences to demonstrate fantasy principles.

 

[Voadam]

Which brings up the topic of obvious errors in the text. If there's something in the books that is just stupid, but there is no official errata, should we be bound by the letter of the rules? Who gets to decide whether a particular rule, as printed, is just plain dumb?

That's obvious isn't it? The DM running the game.

 

[Darklone]

Something in this sentence doesn't make sense.... He thought what now?

Yeah, German brain typing English...

He thought that having the feat gives him an extra attack. No matter what he did. AoOs, partial actions, .... he didn't think about spellcasting yet.

 

[smetzger]

A quick question about rules and their interpretation.

Why do people feel that rules should be interpreted "as they are written" and without regard for what was "meant" by game designers?

I feel that because this is the _Rules_ forum that answers should concentrate on what the actual rules are.

Once the meaning and effect of a rule has been determined and a person doesn't like it, they should take their question to the _House_ Rules forum.

Because of the distinction between the two forums on EN World, you will get disections of what the rules are when you are in the Rules forum. However, when you go to the House rules forum you will get help with trying to make 'better' interpretations of the rules. This distinction is not a bad thing, posters just need to realize the purpose of each forum. If you want to find out what the 3.5 Darkness spell does by the rules then ask in the Rules forum. Now that you know, go to the House Rules forum and try to hash out a fix that is balanced and to your liking.

Often times I respond to posters with what the official rules are, even though I find them not to my liking. If the person had asked in a different forum, I would have given them different advice.

 

[Artoomis]

A quick question about rules and their interpretation.

Why do people feel that rules should be interpreted "as they are written" and without regard for what was "meant" by game designers?...

If you are referring to folks like me on this forum, the answer is almost blindingly obvious - this is the RULES forum. Here we primarily discuss what the rules are as written, with secondary discussion on designer's intent. This is not the HOUSE RULES forum, after all - though, even there, knowing what is in the rule books is really a requirement before developing variations to the rules.

As always, the idea is to understand how is written, and then apply it as you will in your own games, for which designer's intent is certainly relevant. Designer's intent is useful if the rule is truly ambiguous, but is not relevant where the rule is clear in the published text.

Keep in mind that the reason we have rule in the first place is so we can all play the same game. Also, for tournaments, the way the rule is written is what counts, unless the tournament publishes special rules of their own.

 

[AeroDm]

Yep.

I especially enjoy those who bring out their real experiences to demonstrate fantasy principles.

While inane, worthless, and all together foolish, I do it every chance I get. Players wants to throw his backpack 30', I set a DC, he disputes... what to do? Find a 50 lb salt bag and tell him to toss it as far as he can. It was one of the most exciting moments of the session.