What is the point of the Rules Compendium?

[Herzog]

Mmmmm.

When 'house rules' are actually the original rules, but now replace by rules from a newer book, are they house rules?

Anyway, I think I recognize the 'rule 0' 'put the book down' scenario.
It arises when almost every ruling by the DM is being taken into question, and looked up, slowing the game down, and maybe even foiling the carefully prepared battleplan of the DM, which rested on a specific rule working a certain way. In those cases, DM, for the sake of the game, SHOULD have the final say, AT THAT MOMENT.

After the game, you should re-evaluate the rule(s) that were misinterpreted by the DM, and as a group decide which ruling to take.

It sounds like in your case, the first part was done, but the second part never came up....

 

[pawsplay]

I'm wondering why the Rules Compendium exists. Can someone explain what it adds? It appears to be redundant if you already have the PHB & DMG.

Having said that, I have a suspicion that the answer I'll get is that it contains errata. If that's true, my question would be, how much? Does it have ALL the errata, every single line from every single PDF on the WotC 3.5 errata page?

If it's not for errata, what's the point/advantage to having it?

Own it, and you will understand. Imagine being able to find rules for cover without having to look at pictures of Hennet.

 

[TessarrianDM]

No more going to different books for different rules. The only two books I have at the table now are it and the Spell Compendium (which I will eliminate once I get all of the spells programmed into DMGenie). Much easier than having to have two or three (or more) books open to run one encounter.

 

[Kristian Serrano]

No more going to different books for different rules. The only two books I have at the table now are it and the Spell Compendium (which I will eliminate once I get all of the spells programmed into DMGenie). Much easier than having to have two or three (or more) books open to run one encounter.

A PDF copy of this book is even better. I've actually used it on a number of occasions and it makes searching for a rule very fast, particularly with the full search in Adobe Reader. Even using the ToC in the book with the PDF is fast as I can simply type the page number and I'm there.