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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Empirate" data-source="post: 6159306" data-attributes="member: 78958">Have you shown your guy that other bit that is in the rules - the bit that is probably the most important rule in the whole book? You know the one, the actual rule saying that the DM is the final arbiter on the rules, even though everybody gets to say their bit? Let's see him argue with that. I'll quote it:Important parts bolded. That is rules text, incontrovertible, inarguable.Now your problem player obviously hasn't the first idea about what makes the actual roleplaying experience fun, which might be problematic when you quote this rule at him. It might also be enough reason to part ways (different playstyles, and all that - I'd seriously consider this). More problematically, he has no concept of the player/character divide: PC knowledge does not include monster stats, unless an appropriate knowledge check has been rolled. Even then, statistics like HP are unknowables in-game. Players probably ought not have that information at all. Furthermore, arguing a point to the detriment of actually playing the game disrupts the fun for everybody. Even if it only disrupts your fun as a DM, that alone might be enough to make the game worse for everybody else: you're the DM, so much hinges on your motivation to provide a good game! Do NOT let him argue with you (or anybody else) while you're sitting at the table! The simple rule "my word is law at the table, but I'm willing to discuss rules interpretation out of game and change how I handle things in future sessions" might be enough to solve this. That's how a lot of people do it. In my experience, it works to keep player and DM frustration to acceptable levels most of the time.Final point regarding group size: due to a dearth of players in my area, I've been forced to play with only three players for ages now. It's a good game. I'd love to have more players, but our game isn't worse off for the lack. So if the debate with your problem player leads to him leaving, don't worry too much about that.</blockquote>

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