Rules Lawyers Unite: How often do you correct a DM?

[TheMilitantOne]

Our DM has played D&D for a long time, so he LOVES 2nd edition. Every once in a while I'll hear a THAC0 out of him and I'll complain a little. The biggest annoyance is that he believes some of the universal truths in 2nd edition still exist. For example, a platinum is still only 5 gold. He said, "That's the way it's always been and the way it always will be." Oh well, he's still a great DM so we can't complain too much.

 

[Mercule]

Simple rules for would be rules lawyers:
1) If you are gonna be a rules lawyer, know the rules.
2) Don't insist on anything. Volunteer to "help" as a "book monkey" or whatever.

Always. Also, always have respect for the DM. I've primarily DMed for the last 20 years and been on the receiving end of the stick far too often. I'm just more of the mindset that if the DM's not using the official rule, I want it to be a conscious decision rather than a brain-fart or a misinterpretation.

Since I'm the only one in the group who seems to know or care that there is erratta and rules discussions online (hey, there are some -- like my wife -- who don't even open books, let alone go out of their way), I'm the only one who has access to the erratta, developer opinions, etc.

I shouldn't say this, but I do take a certain sick, guilty pleasure from lawyering the current DM. Back in college, a decade ago, he was one of the worst rules lawyers I've ever had in my game. He probably would have gotten booted if he wasn't just a blast to game with otherwise, had great character concepts, and one of my best friends. Today, I try to be mature, and I usually am, but every now and then, I enjoy the exasperated look on his face that I know graced mine so often in years past.

 

[Munin]

RL love

I don't presently have a rules lawyer in my group, but I do have two DM's, which is pretty close to the same thing

Personally, I never correct a dm during a game unless I know he doesn't mind. If he makes a ruling, I go with it.

I will bring it up after the game, though.

During my games, I don't mind someone pointing out my rules mistakes, as long as they keep it nice. In fact, it takes a lot of pressure off of me.
My RL house rule is pretty simple:
If you have a dispute, tell me the page number and I'll look at it. Once I make a decison, however, it's final. I don't want to hear any lip about it.
If the player has a major issue with it, we can take it up after the game...not during.

 

[Number47]

I put down once a session, but that's only because I am trying so hard not to quibble over everything. I have usually been the DM over the last twenty-three years and it is very hard to hang up that hat.

 

[Tabarnak Smokeblower]

I answered 2-3 times per session, but I don't "correct" the DM that much. We just get into interpretative arguments over rules that aren't clear.

And I don't do that with every DM, only with the ones I know well.

TS

 

[Henry]

I try to couch rules corrections as innocuously as possible, saying something to the effect of, "I'm not sure, but I think according to the rules, this is the way it should happen, but your call, of course." I defer to the DM, because he may have a different plan, but if he's genuinely interested, we will look up the rule, or we'll play it the way it is at the moment, and we'll make a note to clarify it for later.

When I'm DM'ing, the same applies toward me. We recognize both the rules, and DM fiat, with DM fiat having final veto.

 

[Barak]

Depends on the DM. There's one who asks me when he isn't sure about something. There's one who likes it when I correct him (he really wants to run stuff by the books, but doesn't know the rules all that well) and there's one who I never correct, as he hates it and would just "house-rule" stuff in our disfavor if I did. And, of course, that last one barely knows the rules, and those he does know, he modifies.

 

[KB9JMQ]

I have pointed out one thing one time.
I had reread a paragraph in the DMG and it dawned on me I was doing it wrong. When the next time I was a player the then DM also made the same mistake.

I felt bad for bringing it up during the game afterwords so I guess I am not a good ruleslawyer.

 

[MarauderX]

The whole reason I brought this up is because I also feel bad when mentioning the rules, as it tends to undermine the absolute authority the DM has. He can overrule at any time of course, but most of the time a DM tries to follow the rules, whether someone elses or his own.

Also if (when) I DM again, I will have a better idea of how good I will have to know 3.5 so I don't get derailed by small debates on the rules.

 

[Voadam]

It has been about once every game for the last three out of four tabletop games and none for the last 20 or so e-mail sessions.

I've handled it by bringing up the actual rule, trying to point out the rule reference in the PHB, and then letting it drop once the DM says "this is how I'm ruling right now during the combat."

Even though the DM later said I was right and changed the rule from then on, I believe that the middle of combat is the wrong time story dramatics-wise to get bogged down for extended amounts of time on rules disputes. A quick raising of the issue, a ruling, and then acceptance so you can move on to fight the bad guys with adrenaline rushing.