What are your table rules?

[Desdichado]

I think Thanee's Rule should become a ubiquitous term in the field of gamer academia now; like Keppler's Law in astronomy or Grimm's Law in linguistics.

We have only a handful of table "rules" -- if the dice falls off the surface you're rolling on, or lands "cocked" on a book or whatnot, you reroll it.

Once a night, you can call "cursed die" when you've been having a string of bad luck with a single dice. You put that die away for the rest of the night, and can reroll the action that prompted the "cursed die" call.

 

[Allanon]

1. The DM is always right.
2. Rules discussion and general game discussions should be handled outside of the game.
3. Running late, give us a call. No call, 100 xp/level substracted from current XP pool.
4. If one cannot attend, email the group at least 4 days in advance or call the DM. Any later will earn you a red mark (except when the reason is sufficiently good that the DM waves it. Examples include sickness, death in the family, etc.), two red marks is removal from the game.
5. At the beginning of the session a recap (In short tell what happened in the last session)is asked by the DM from a random player, failure to recap results in 50xp/level substracted from XP.
6. Everyone is asked to bring drinks, failure to do so for two consecutive sessions results in having to pay a €15,- which will be used to pay for drinks the next session.
7. Clean up after a session. Leaving a mess result in 50xp/level substracted from XP.

That's all the rules we have. Some have never been used (the recap one for instance) and the beverage one has only been used once. The most important ones are rule 1, 3 and 4.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

Dude, how can you NOT allow munchies at the table? That's like, part of gaming...

I'm on a very strict diet, and I'm the host. It's thankfully temporary, but until it's over, it basically comes down to: "you can eat, or you can roleplay in my dedicated gameroom." So far it hasn't been much of an issue; actually, without the distraction of food people are concentrating more on the game.

Last person to arrive gets an XP penalty?

Last person to arrive if late gets an XP penalty. I.e., one person holding up an entire group.

See, some of those rules, while interesting, are REALLY hard to institute in an existing group. My group is well established, very friendly and for the most part is well trainied on behavior, decorum, etc.

As is mine. Some are simply much more casual about gaming and punctuality and so on. The rules emphasize that, for example, they are affecting more than themselves by being late.

And so far the rules haven't been hard to institute in the existing group, and the list has been very handy to be able to give to new players. (Although, to be fair, most of those rules already existed ... they simply weren't codified.)

Whenever I have DMed, I have had a house rule of no evil characters. It is just counterproductive. (It's more than that, but that is the bottom-line practical reason.)

I have that rule as well, but it's not really a "table rule," so it's not in this list. I've personally never understood the appeal of playing evil characters, and I can't stand DMing them. I fully understand the appeal of the anti-hero -- Elric, or Michael Chiklis' Lawful Evil cop on The Shield, or Jack Bauer on 24, for instance -- but roleplaying and drama or fiction are different animals.

I don't like DMs who give in-game bonus/penalties for out-of-game behaviour, such as doing extra work for the game or showing up late.

I've heard people say this before, and it makes very little sense to me. First, XP is arguably more "out of game" than "in game." Second, many of the same people who wouldn't reward player assistance with XP see no problem in making a player create a replacement PC with lower XP than the one that died. Third, what, exactly, is the problem with the practice? Nobody ever seems to be able to spell that out.

Obviously, I appreciate it when players help me out as DM. I express my appreciation by giving a tangible reward that is meaningful in the context of the shared activity. I suppose I could offer cash, but I'm cheap. (And unlike cash, I can withhold XP for behavior that makes my life as DM harder.)

 

[Ruined]

Common courtesy and respect cover most of the situations for my group. The only rule we've had to institute, or rather clarify, is the attendance policy. Not for how often you miss games or anything like that. It's more along the lines of will the game still go on if this many people are absent. Currently with six players, we'll still run if two are absent, but if half the group is gone, so is the game. We also had to address rescheduling, which is an option since we run on Thursdays. I tell ya, its tricky business scheduling these games when people are all grown up and have lives away from the table!

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Biggus Geekus' House Rules[/u[

1) Mrs. Geekus does not game, but she does enjoy potato chips especially the kind with vinegar. This rule is more important than one might initally think.

2) Given that the group gets to gether once a month, we will level at 1/3 of a level's worth of exp per game. Period.

3) If you do not attend, you level up at a rate of 1/3 of a level's worth per game. You do not get the phat l3wt however. This is to make sure the people with busy schedules can still participate without penalizing the regulars from showing up.

4) Smoke outside.

5) If you arrive after 8pm, remember we have a baby. Please be quiet until you enter the Mancave ... er ... basement.

6) Crash space is available to those who request it before hand. This is not a dorm, but we don't want people driving home very sleepy.

7) No evil characters. Chaotic Neutral is frowned on. All characters must be group/team oriented.

8) Curtosey will be extended to those with a less-than-perfect knowledge of the game. This may mean that druids cast spontaneously while the player learns what spells are available.

9) Powergaming is permitted. If you want to spend five hours min-maxing your character, that is time well spent and every bit as valid as the role-player who writes is own poetry in elvish.

10) If we make a mistake in the rules, we move on and correct it the next game.

11) Thanee's Rule: maturity is cool.

 

[BlueBlackRed]

Here's our list of unwritten, but understood rules:
1) Under no circumstances are illegal drugs allowed in the house. I am near-psychotically anti-drug. I do not budge on this one. We have a player that has smoke a lil something in the past & he is aware of this.
2) Drinking alcohol is allowed but heavily discourage.
3) Smoking is to be done in the front yard, preferably during a thunderstorm. Be considerate of where you place the butts & related trash.
4) Bring your own food. Feel free to share, but you are not obligated to do so.
5) Pizza is usually ordered, but not always.
6) Be considerate of others.
7) No one under 18 allowed unless a son/daughter of a current member, and then only for a one-shot.
8) If you will not be able to attend, please let us all know the day before.
9) Do not hog tablespace. There is too little as it is.
10) At the end of the evening, return the room to its original condition.
11) Please only use the furniture in the manner it was intended. If you're 300 pounds and sitting on the arm of the couch, my 2" 20 sider will find your forehead from across the room.
12) Cocked and on the floor dice are rerolled.
13) Cheating is not allowed, but I do not feel I should have to watch you. If you feel you need to cheat, then obviously we chose poorly when we allowed you into the group.
14) I have cats. My cats love pizza and dice. They will go to great ends to get either. You have been warned.
15) All dice that are lost under the couch will be returned to their owner IF found.
16) Please no laptops. They're noisy & take up too much space on the table.
17) After 11:00pm, volume of voices need to be kept under control. If the wife comes after me with a rolling pin, I come after you with my medical bill.
18) Ordering players around is not allowed, but suggestions are fine.
19) No powergaming & no munchkinism - unless we're actually playing Munchkin.
20) Rule #0 "The DM is always right." is always in effect. BUT considering there have been multiple DMs in the past and many in the future, we shall try to remain using the same rulings. If this is not done, all the players need to know before something bad happens.
21) It's only a game. If you are going to lose your temper, count to 10. If that doesn't work, time to take a week or 2 off.
22) Try to keep OOC conversations to a realistic minimum.
23) New members get an inspecified trial period. If any established member does not like the new player, he is not invited back.
24) My wife has dictated to me that this is a "guys only" night. If we ever get a female gamer, a new location is required.
25) Everyone must be, not act as, a mature and considerate adult. (this covers several of the above rules )

 

[Crothian]

Don't be an ass

You'd be amazed how much that one simple rule actually covers. I'm not big on listing all sorts of table rules. We are there to have fun and as long as being are pretty polit and use common curtisy we'll do alright.

 

[KB9JMQ]

1. Have Fun
2. Dice on the floor and cocked dice are rerolled.
3. Random drinks will be provided (tea, pop, water) Though you can bring your own.
4. I will normally have snacks unless I forget. Bring some to share if you want.
5. Smoking is allowed outside.
6. Unknown rules will be looked up after the game. The DM will make a call.
7. I like a hack & slash game. That is how I DM. If you want something else I will play in your game when you DM on your gameday.
8. The above rule doesnt mean you can't roleplay heavily it just means don't get mad at me if I suck at it
9. Please be ready on your turn, pay attention and at least own the PHB if you use spells.
10. Be mature and have fun.

 

[Ibram]

I've never realy codified my rules, but there are unsaid rules that we like to stick to

1) Roll dice on the table, dice that fall are rerolled

2) have your character sheet with you

3) know your characters abilities (and any rules you are going to be using like triping or disarming)

4) smoking can only be done outside

5) no listening to music with headphones on

6) whoever sits near the door is obligated to let the cats in/out when ever the cats wish, and must stand there holding the door open while the cat decides to go in or out.

7) only the DM can sit in the daddy chair

8) the DM has final say on what is allowed in game, it does not matter if your previous DM allowed half celestial minotaur barbarian/paladins with holy flaming burst vorpal greatswords if the DM says no then that is it.

9) cheaters will be executed, and a bill for the bullet will be sent to the next of kin.

10) for the sake of those living in the house political statements supporting the current president will not be spoken in the presence of my mother.

11) b33r is allowed, but only if enough is brought for the entire group

though it has never come up the use of illegal substances would never be permited.

 

[sjmiller]

Wow, I think there are a number of groups here that I could not game with, simply because the rules are much more uptight then I feel are required for a game. I have been gaming for just over 25 years now, and over the years I think I have come up with very few rules for the players. The last game I started, just over a year ago, I gave out the following rules. This is because I have never DMed for this group, so I wanted them to know what I expected.

0. Please respect the DM and the other players. This one was primarily unspoken, but was brought up later. This covers things like: not interrupting when people are talking; calling if you are going to be late or absent; allowing people to play their character instead of telling them what they should do; and similar activities. In my world respect and maturity go hand in hand. This is not really a problem, since the average age in our group is about 38.

1. While the DM may make mistakes, he is never wrong. Rulings are applied immediately, and will be changed if necessary later.

2. Please roll dice where we can see them. I would appreciate this, so that any uncertainties can be eliminated. If a die is cocked, I will let you know and it will be rerolled. Dice that leave the table are rerolled as well. Please, no extra tiny dice, hard to read dice, or electronic dice rolling devices. If you need dice, I have a ton of them.

3. If, for whatever reason, you have to miss a game, feel free to contact me to schedule a solo session. I like to keep the party XP equal, so that means you will need to do something to make up for it.

4. Since I am the DM we are playing at my house. This is more a convenience/laziness issue than anything else. I would rather not pack up all my stuff and haul it around if I do not have to. Plus, the DM and two of the nine players live in the same house. My house also has cats. We will do our best to reduce the allergen level, but remember your meds.

5. Have fun. It is a game, after all. If you are not having fun, talk to me after the game and maybe we can go over why this is and fix it.

6. Bribing the DM with food, drinks, or toys is never a bad thing. I do not expect it, but I do like it.

I think that was all I told them. Most of them are commonsense, and since we are all adults they pretty much go without saying.

I figure that since it is a game the rules for the players should be kept light. There are too many rules in life as it is.