Is the DM breaking the rules if......

Bill Bisco: Isometric Imp · Sun Dec 20, 2009 12:26 am

Is the DM breaking the rules if s/he states that

1. Fighters get a feat every level of their class? Why or why not?
2. The Player's Handbook is written in orange ink. Why or why not?

I welcome your thoughts,
Bill

A Man In Black · Post by **A Man In Black** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 12:30 am

Regarding #2, I don't recall any RPG that has a rule against false statements or requiring true ones.

tzor · Post by **tzor** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 12:40 am

Regarding #2, I don't think the DM is at fault, but the editor of the Player's Handbook should be shot! (Preferably with a paintball gun loaded with orange ink.)

Judging__Eagle · Post by **Judging__Eagle** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 12:56 am

The DM isn't breaking any rules. He's merely changing them, and telling people in advance what these changes are.

Anyone using anything from these boards has to do the same.

Josh_Kablack · Post by **Josh_Kablack** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 4:45 am

That's going to depend on context.

In situations like an RPGA sanctioned event or something, then #1 is breaking rules that the DM has signed on for, and #2 is just a sign of physical or mental deficiency (like colorblindness or pathological lying).

However in the more relaxed and common situation, "hey come join the game I'm running at the Student Union/Dave's House/The FLGS" then #1 is not breaking the rules so much as overwriting them with houserules and #2 is probably just a sign of orneryness.

Kaelik · Post by **Kaelik** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 6:23 am

1) is not breaking the rules, but changing them. But changing the rules is also a bad thing.

If you change the rules from what the players expect, they need to have full and complete knowledge of the change before they make any decisions which might be influenced by the change.

And that often includes class choices.

How you choose to deal with energy resistance matters to the Sorcerer when picking spells.

Likewise, anything you do to affect any class is likely to matter to someone, since it might have changed whether they play that class.

Killometer · Post by **Killometer** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:30 am

Bill Bisco: Isometric Imp wrote:Is the DM breaking the rules if s/he states that

1. Fighters get a feat every level of their class? Why or why not?

No, but it would be bastardly to not tell everyone in advance. I would also want to know if they get regular feats every level or bonus feats every level.

2. The Player's Handbook is written in orange ink. Why or why not?

No, but he is probably lying.

ragoftag · Post by **ragoftag** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:36 am

'Fighters get a feat every level of their class? Why or why not?'

As long as the GM lets her/his players know of any house rules, etc. BEFOREHAND, I have no problems with modifying the game. Any notion that the writers of 3.0 were perfect should have been dismissed with the release of 3.5. Anyone harboring such delusions after 4th edition needs professional help.

Bill Bisco: Isometric Imp · Mon Dec 21, 2009 6:16 am

Thanks for the responses. Just for reference, you can see the responses to a similar thread in a 1st edition forum. http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewt ... 61&start=0

Peace,
Bill

Killometer · Post by **Killometer** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 6:34 am

Bill Bisco: Isometric Imp wrote:Thanks for the responses. Just for reference, you can see the responses to a similar thread in a 1st edition forum. http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewt ... 61&start=0

Peace,
Bill

A rapid read through that thread revealed responses much like the one's here, but my favorite post from that thread doesn't even address your question:

Kent wrote:I have noticed that newbies are granted some freedom of expression for a time before they are rejected by the <expletive deleted> mob here. I don't think you are using that time wisely.

TOZ · Post by **TOZ** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:42 pm

Kent wrote:I have noticed that newbies are granted some freedom of expression for a time before they are rejected by the <expletive deleted> mob here. I don't think you are using that time wisely.

All of that guys posts seems to be that way. Thank heaven I never have to interact with him.

Crissa · Post by **Crissa** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 6:48 am

I remember when Frank went all, 'I gave Fighters a feat every level and they still sucked.'

-Crissa

Judging__Eagle · Post by **Judging__Eagle** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 8:02 am

Well, yeah. Most feats really do suck in 3.5.

TOZ · Post by **TOZ** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 5:06 pm

So he beat Pathfinder to yet another thing.

RandomCasualty2 · Post by **RandomCasualty2** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 6:04 pm

Judging__Eagle wrote:Well, yeah. Most feats really do suck in 3.5.

Yeah, the problem is that you get in a diminishing returns scenario. You've got maybe 3-4 feats you want. You also need like 2-3 feats to act as prerequisites to get there.

And after that, you're taking the junk you didn't want.

This is the exact opposite of spell progressions, where the stuff you want comes at later levels and you have to settle for weaker stuff early on. And that's pretty much the problem.

4E almost had it right with tiered feats I think.

CatharzGodfoot · Post by **CatharzGodfoot** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 7:15 pm

You sure managed to grab a lot of posts in the 1e forum.

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