Ten rules for dm conduct
- Thread starter jasper
- Start date
Wombat
First Post
Slightly Revised DMs rules of conduct.
With tongue VERY firmly planted in cheek
0. I will find a group that fits my gaming style as long as I can find them in my area and realizing that I am willing to alter my style to keep my gaming habit going.
1. I will know most of the rules and know how to fake it when necessary to keep the game moving along.
2. I will keep any house rules printed out for all to know and see. Printed? All of 'em? Even the "assumed" ones? Well, we try, but let' not get out of hand...
3. When I make a mistake, I will tell the players and make the correction either in or outside the game as necessary if this is really necessary; sometimes a "mistake" will lead to a better game and sometimes rules get in the way of the game.
4. I will listen to rules challenges and then give a fair judgment as long as this doesn't come down to Rules Lawyers versus Suspension of Disbelief; The Game is more important than The Rules.
5. I will not bring out of game problems into the game provided the players don't bring in too much emotional baggage of their own, which is very, very common.
6. I will be fair to all players and they will be fair to me, or else...[/I].
7. I will be reasonable about using NO. But will use no as necessary. And when I use NO, I expect that the players will accept this, whether they like the ruling or not. It cuts both way.
8. I will tell my gamers my views alignment and play accordingly and if a player complains when their actions fall over into Evil when I say "No Evil PCs in the campaign", I shall laugh as I turn their PC into an NPC.
9. I will not be abused EVER.
10. I will realize it is only a game, but I also will realize that The Game is very important to all of us and I shall keep it going as long as humanly possible.
Okay, a couple are over-the-top, but not unreasonable here
Of course my real list of rules is much shorter and doesn't divide between Gamer and GM
1) The Game is The Game
2) We shall all have fun
3) We shall not take it too seriously
4) Rule provide the framework, but we can ignore the framework if it gets in the way of the fun
With tongue VERY firmly planted in cheek
0. I will find a group that fits my gaming style as long as I can find them in my area and realizing that I am willing to alter my style to keep my gaming habit going.
1. I will know most of the rules and know how to fake it when necessary to keep the game moving along.
2. I will keep any house rules printed out for all to know and see. Printed? All of 'em? Even the "assumed" ones? Well, we try, but let' not get out of hand...
3. When I make a mistake, I will tell the players and make the correction either in or outside the game as necessary if this is really necessary; sometimes a "mistake" will lead to a better game and sometimes rules get in the way of the game.
4. I will listen to rules challenges and then give a fair judgment as long as this doesn't come down to Rules Lawyers versus Suspension of Disbelief; The Game is more important than The Rules.
5. I will not bring out of game problems into the game provided the players don't bring in too much emotional baggage of their own, which is very, very common.
6. I will be fair to all players and they will be fair to me, or else...[/I].
7. I will be reasonable about using NO. But will use no as necessary. And when I use NO, I expect that the players will accept this, whether they like the ruling or not. It cuts both way.
8. I will tell my gamers my views alignment and play accordingly and if a player complains when their actions fall over into Evil when I say "No Evil PCs in the campaign", I shall laugh as I turn their PC into an NPC.
9. I will not be abused EVER.
10. I will realize it is only a game, but I also will realize that The Game is very important to all of us and I shall keep it going as long as humanly possible.
Okay, a couple are over-the-top, but not unreasonable here
Of course my real list of rules is much shorter and doesn't divide between Gamer and GM
1) The Game is The Game
2) We shall all have fun
3) We shall not take it too seriously
4) Rule provide the framework, but we can ignore the framework if it gets in the way of the fun
Desdichado
Hero
I'd tend to agree more with Wombat. Those rules need some revision. Some of them just need to go entirely.
Halivar
First Post
In the immortal words of Graham the DM, "I'm dungeon master; I create worlds... universes! Every potion you drink, I made it! Every magic item you find, I put it there!"Steverooo said:
In all seriousness, if I'm the DM, and I make a final ruling, that's it. It's done. That's Rule 0. And it's really a rule, too.
I also respect my DM's authority to Rule 0. If I don't like it, I can always play a CRPG, where everything is by the rules.
Desdichado
Hero
In fact, here's the detailed list (kinda bored, had time, what the heck.)
DMs rules of conduct.
0. I will find a group that fits my gaming style if possible. If not, I'll be flexible enough to fit into the group I can find. In general, I'm more interested in playing with friends where possible rather than just playing for its own sake.
1. I will know the rules reasonably well, and also know when to not bother with the minutae of the rules when it makes sense.
2. I will keep any house rules printed out for all to know and see assuming that's reasonable for all house rules. For house rules that substantially change the way the printed rules work, I'll certainly do this.
3. When I make a mistake, I will tell the players and make the correction either in or outside the game as necessary maybe. Depends on the nature of the mistake and the consequences of it. Most likely I'll just tell the players I made a mistake and that going forward things will be done differently. I'm very unlikely to retrofit anything because of a mistake.
4. I will listen to rules challenges and then give a fair judgment as long as they aren't bogging down the game. It's one thing for a player to point out I'm doing something wrong, it's another thing entirely for a player to play competitively.
5. I will not bring out of game problems into the game. I will also not ignore dealing with out of game problems though, although it is true that they won't be reflected in the game itself. After all, the game is a group social activity.
6. I will be fair to all players of course.
7. I will be reasonable about using NO. But will use no as necessary.
8. I will tell my gamers my views alignment and play accordingly. Actually, I hate alignment and typically take it out of the game entirely.
9. I will not be abused. Is this a rule, really?
10. I will realize it is only a game. But an important game, and important to the players of the game. I will also not use the "it's only a game" excuse to blow the game off in any way.
DMs rules of conduct.
0. I will find a group that fits my gaming style if possible. If not, I'll be flexible enough to fit into the group I can find. In general, I'm more interested in playing with friends where possible rather than just playing for its own sake.
1. I will know the rules reasonably well, and also know when to not bother with the minutae of the rules when it makes sense.
2. I will keep any house rules printed out for all to know and see assuming that's reasonable for all house rules. For house rules that substantially change the way the printed rules work, I'll certainly do this.
3. When I make a mistake, I will tell the players and make the correction either in or outside the game as necessary maybe. Depends on the nature of the mistake and the consequences of it. Most likely I'll just tell the players I made a mistake and that going forward things will be done differently. I'm very unlikely to retrofit anything because of a mistake.
4. I will listen to rules challenges and then give a fair judgment as long as they aren't bogging down the game. It's one thing for a player to point out I'm doing something wrong, it's another thing entirely for a player to play competitively.
5. I will not bring out of game problems into the game. I will also not ignore dealing with out of game problems though, although it is true that they won't be reflected in the game itself. After all, the game is a group social activity.
6. I will be fair to all players of course.
7. I will be reasonable about using NO. But will use no as necessary.
8. I will tell my gamers my views alignment and play accordingly. Actually, I hate alignment and typically take it out of the game entirely.
9. I will not be abused. Is this a rule, really?
10. I will realize it is only a game. But an important game, and important to the players of the game. I will also not use the "it's only a game" excuse to blow the game off in any way.
