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Message: <blockquote data-quote="KarinsDad" data-source="post: 302609" data-attributes="member: 2011">Actually, there is a rule covering this.DMG page 9 on adjudicating.If two casters Ready to cast a spell on the same trigger, then I rule the spells go off simultaneously. As a DM, the DMG encourages me to adjudicate this in a reasonable manner.I then turn around and have the two casters do an initiative roll off so that I know who goes first in future rounds.There are house rules because you do not like some aspect of the game and you change it.And, there are adjudications because the rules do not cover a given situation.I distinguish between the two because the buy in is different, at least for my games. House rules get published ahead of time and the players agree to play by those rules, just like they agree to play by the rules in the PHB, DMG, etc. We have nixed DM house rules due to dissent from players.But, adjudications are totally different. They are on the fly decisions that the DM attempts to make in a reasonable manner. The players sometimes discuss these in game, but eventually the DM rules one way or the other and we move on.Sometimes, adjudications move into the realm of house rules and are published (as per the definition of house rule on page 9 of the DMG), but I consider them to be two unique concepts.So, my take on the simultaneous discussion is that in some circumstances, it can happen, but as a general rule, it is a turn based system and it will not happen. Hence, the exception when it can occur (such as the Ready Action or the Time Stop) is a DM adjudication and falls under that big umbrella of DM Adjudication Rules.On a side note, I think the concept of house rule gets pulled out and waved about as a:"You cannot do that according to the rules""Yes I can""No you cannot. You're talking about a house rule"In reality, there are rules that disallow certain things in the rules and in those cases, unless you change the rules with a house rule, you are not allowed to do something.But, there are rules of omission which are not covered by the normal (non-adjudicating) rules. For example, nowhere in the rules does it state that without magic, that you can walk on water. On the other hand, it doesn't state that you cannot walk on water.The reason I picked such a ludicrous example is that common sense has to prevail when adjudicating. Otherwise, you get anarchy and the game is not fun (at least for most players).Hence, saying that you cannot walk on water is NOT a house rule. Rather, it is a reasonable adjudication.There is a distinct difference, even if two DMs make two different adjudications on the same thing.</blockquote>

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