My Rules
Here is my "Rules and Policies Document" I give to new players.
In order to create a better role-playing environment for all of us, I have decided to enforce the following rules:
(DISCLAIMER – These rules may have a harsh tone because they were written when we had a “problem” player. Rather than revise them, however, I am leaving them as-is to emphasize my strong feelings in these matters. Please do not take offense. Thanks)
1. I’m going to spell it out, so there is NO confusion: I am the Dungeon/Game Master. While the game belongs to all of us, as it is a cooperative fantasy, I am in charge of interpreting and enforcing the RULES. That means, if it is convenient or desirable for me to bend or break a rule, I WILL. If you have a concern, you may certainly voice it; politely and rationally. However, my judgment is final. Your only recourse should you not be able to abide by my decisions is to leave the game. There are times I allow things because they are dramatically pleasing to me. I refer anyone who disagrees with this sentiment to read the first page of ANY edition of D&D or AD&D, and read the paragraph that always says that the rules are guidelines only.
2. Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated. You get caught cheating, you’re gone.
3. Read carefully. Each player comes to the game because they enjoy playing their character. HOW they play their character is of NO ONE’S CONCERN BUT THEIRS AND MINE. I refer you to Rule Number One above. AT NO TIME will any unsolicited comments about how ANYONE is playing their character be tolerated. Neither will everyone’s actions be questioned each time they make a move. No two players in this, or any other group, are the same. Each person enjoys different aspects of the game, and it is my job as DM to insure that everyone feels like they are contributing in their own way. If someone wants to play the game like Diablo without a computer, then I allow them to do that. If someone else wants to play in full role-playing mode with character accents and motivations, then that is fine too (but see Rule Number Four below). No particular way of playing D&D is right or wrong in MY GAME. If you feel you could do a better job playing someone’s character, too bad. It’s not your decision. Keep your opinions to yourself, or at the very least bring up your concerns to be privately. But don’t expect me to act on your advice. See Rule Number One.
4. There is one compromise we must ALL make to have a good time. My games are run as HEROIC FANTASY, in the tradition of Tolkien and Fritz Lieber. That means a group of adventurers working towards a common goal. While they may have differences, each knows they need the others to succeed in the tasks they have taken on. Therefore, if you want to play in the game, your character should not have actions or motivations that directly oppose the group, nor should you put them in harm’s way constantly just because “it’s what your character would do.” I’m sorry if that sounds like I’m limiting how people role-play. But conflict within the group is not fun for me, and is not fun to the majority of the people at the table. If you want to create a tragic Shakespearean character that is constantly at odds with the universe and everyone around him or her, go write a novel. If you are as good a role-player as you claim, you can come up with character motivations that are still fun to play, but allow good cooperation within the group of HEROES.
5. During combat, I would like to keep the discussion to each person being able to say one short phrase per round “in character”. This is to avoid there being long discussions during combat. General tactics should be worked out during your in-game discussions. Questions to the DM are always allowed any time.
6. Each character decides their own actions. You may, of course, ask for advice from the other characters (keeping in mind the in-game rules above), but you should base your actions on what your character would do in a particular situation. There are no absolute right and wrong decisions, and you will never learn if everyone but you is running your character.
7. The best way to survive is to try to become immersed in the action, to be in touch with what is going on around your character. Do not “metagame”. In other words, don’t try to outguess me and act on knowledge your character could not possess. Not only does it detract from the “role-playing” aspect of the game, but also you could be horribly wrong. Go with your instincts. See things from your character’s point of view. Act as your character would act.
8. The best campaign I was ever involved in borrowed elements from many different sources, such as movies and books. I sometimes do the same. If you think you recognize something, please keep it to yourself. First, the person next to you might not recognize the same things you do, and you would be detracting from their enjoyment of the setting. Second, and most importantly, I might be using a name, a look, a single event from something, and changing it drastically. Again, if you try to outguess me and use information your character doesn’t know, you could end up being wrong. Dead wrong.
9. We all like to joke around (god knows I’m guilty of that). But please refrain from making fun of things like names and such. D&D is best when it is immersive, when the players forget for a moment that they are in a game and actually live the adventure. The joke might be funny, but it could break a mood and pull everyone out of the story and back around the kitchen table. Work with me here, and we can all have more fun.
10. Character death is a real danger in my campaigns. Be prepared to occasionally lose a character. It’s part of the excitement, really.
11. Just like the song says, “Know when to walk away; know when to run.” You will occasionally run into something you can’t handle. There is no shame in running away, screaming like a cheerleader. Character death, is most of the time, permanent, and unpleasant. So be careful and use your head for something other than a place to keep your helm. Low-level characters can’t always be as heroic as they would like to be. Use hit-and-run tactics when necessary. Live and become more powerful. Evil will still be there when you are higher level.
