What are your "Group Rules"?

[amazingshafeman]

No farting on the couch. It's suede.

On a similar note, if you're going to vomit, it's better to dive to the floor and wretch on your own stomach than to get any bodily secretions on the couch. It hurts a lot less that way.

One magic missile must be cast at the darkness per night. Also, any girls get done.

Only monkeys are allowed to fling poo. And even then, not at, on, or near the couch.

Any in game conflict should be resolved in game. Bad things happen when the DM discovers a "discussion" was had in the parking lot after the game.

Fun should be had. If fun is not being had, please say so. Immediately. Do not wait three days to inform someone you were insulted, not having fun, about to cry, or feeling plugged up from holding in farts. Girls can fart to and are encouraged to do so. Just not on the couch.

Don't even ask to use someone else's computer. Check your email at home.

Bring music, or don't complain about what's in the player.

We will most likely play at the house with a coffee pot AND good tasting water, but a porch for grilling is a big incentive as well. More often than not, though, the DM hosts.

If the couch is not suede, it's OK to vomit off of it into a bucket, but only if alcohol poisoning is the culprit and you're partially blind.

If you're partially or wholly blind, TELL SOMEONE. Brail game books and puke buckets will be made available.

If you're mixing drinks, mix for the lowest weight in the group. 100 pound girls can not tolerate 280 pound man Mai Tais. Blindness has been known to ensue. (although, some would argue that a mai tai isn't a man's drink anyway)

 

[Shemeska]

The DM, me, being a type 1 diabetic has free reign of anything in the kitchen or at the table if blood sugar drops low. Because well, the game would definately suffer if I passed out, had a seizure, and got brain damage.

If you have final exams or other school work you better damn tell me because I don't want to feel like I contributed to anyone flunking out. This almost happened with one player so I just like folks to use common sense. I appreciate that you really enjoy my game, but schoolwork comes first.

 

[jeffh]

I wrote the following at a time when I was frustrated with both my groups, several of the below issues having happened in each group within a two week period. I've edited it down, and cut out the intro which basically said I thought all of it was simple common sense, but apparently some of it wasn't. I did not and will not actually hand it out, as things improved on their own and it reads a lot harsher than I really wanted it to. Nevertheless, this gives a pretty good idea of what I expect.


Attendance
• Attend every session unless there is a very good reason to do otherwise.
• If you can’t make it, call me or e-mail the list at least 48 hours before the game if possible.
• In general, if two or more people can’t make it, I will call the session off. However, if I only find out at the last minute that we’re going to have that problem (i.e., people are already on the way), we may go ahead and play.

The Mailing List
• Ideally, check the mailing list at least three times a week. One of these should be just before leaving for the game, to make sure there wasn’t a last minute change of plans.
• Each week, I will try to e-mail the list at least 72 hours before the game. Please respond to this message, even if you think I already know your answer.
o If it’s less than 72 hours to game time, and you don’t see such a message, feel free to post one yourself, preferably insulting me in an amusing manner in the process.

Lateness and Leaving Early
• If you’re going to be more than an hour late, or leave more than an hour early (I realize the latter is a tough call), let us know as soon as this becomes obvious.
• If you anticipate arriving within an hour of the scheduled start time, don’t sweat it. If that’s the worst problem I have with you, you’re doing fine.

Distractions and paying attention
• It’s too much to ask (and would probably creep me out after a while) to have everyone’s rapt attention at all times, but try to always be aware of at least the gist of what’s going on.
• Be ready when your turn comes in combat. It goes faster for everyone if I don’t have to update people on the situation every single turn!
• If you have to leave the gaming area during combat (nature calls, etc), the best time to do so is immediately after your turn. Do not ever do this right before your turn.
• Minimize non-game-related side conversations and keep them quiet. Never hold a non-game-related conversation “across” people who are actively playing.

Rules Disputes and Failure to Agree On Reality
• Players can and do catch me in errors, even on rules I wrote. You may question rulings and bring apparent errors or discrepancies to my attention.
• When making such complaints, follow these rules.
o Do not raise your voice
o Do not phrase your complaint in an insulting or disrespectful manner
o Try not to take an inordinate amount of time; in particular, don’t continue to pursue complaints I have already overruled (Exception - if you are convinced I have misunderstood the complaint. Note that disagreeing with you is not, by itself, evidence of this.)
o I sometimes make up a rule on the spot to resolve disputes. Feel free to suggest such a rule. Do not feel free to just make one up unilaterally and expect me to be bound by it!
• If you still disagree with a ruling after I’ve given your issues with it a hearing, accept it and move on unless it’s a complete game-breaker for you. Whenever possible, leave any further discussion of it until after the session at the soonest, or preferably, a couple of days later. (For one thing, see if it still seems important enough to bring up at that point.)

 

[Thanee]

No rules necessary.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Ibram]

not much in the way of table rules...

all characters must be approved by the DM, no using unapproved resorces at all.

dice only count IF they are rolled on the table, in full view of everyone

only the DM can sit in the Daddy Chair

no smoking in the house

who so ever sits by the door MUST open it for the cats, and then wait until the cats have decieded to leave or enter.

 

[MadMaxim]

Have fun

 

[IronWolf]

Not a lot of rules in our group I guess. Let us know if you can't be there, chip in on food and drink, try to get along (which hasn't been a problem).

 

[Mercule]

Oh, forgot one. Doesn't really apply so much, now that everyone is married or engaged, but it started from a very real um... quandry by one player when we were in high school.

IF YOU HAVE A CHOICE BETWEEN A DATE AND MY GAME CHOOSE THE GAME OR I WILL KICK YOUR ASS SIX WAYS FROM SUNDAY.

Considering I had about 100# of muscle on everyone else in the group, the rule stuck. That and "no gender-bending" have been the only actual "official" rules for the last 20 years. By official, I mean the ones that are explicitly told to new players in the group. We assume the others are common sense or explain them as needed.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

I asked a similar question a short while back (and took some flack for it, oddly).

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=115318

 

[Doc_Klueless]

Back in Texas...

when I used to run my group out of my own home, we had several loose rules (many of these are "common sense" rules). Fact is, most of these are "unspoken" rules that people usually live by anyway:

• Drinking alcohol is ok. Being a disruptive drunk, not ok.
• The food in the cabinets and refrigerator is OFF LIMITS unless you brought it or you ask first.
• The game is only a game. Don't take it too serious.
• I supply the main potluck dish (chili, stew, cassarole, etc.), everything else is on the players.
• Absolutely No SMOKING in the house.
• Absolutely No DRUGS. Not only will you be ejected from the house, but the Police WILL be called.
• Call if you can't make it or you're gonna be more than 10 minutes late.
• Rulez Shmulez. We're here for fun based sorta kinda on the D&D rules.
• Don't touch another player's stuff without asking.
• It's a game. You will not be penalized if you can't make it every once in a while. No. I don't need to know the reason. Yes, we will be playing even if you can't make it.
• I have a young daughter. Keep your off-color, insulting, sexual and/or cursing jokes/statements to yourself.

That's just about it.