Welcome to the Pawn of Prophecy Dungeons and Dragons campaign! To make sure everything runs smoothly and everyone has a good time, the dungeon master wants to set a few out-of-character rules that he expects to be followed. He doesn’t think these are unreasonable, but if anyone has an issue with one or more of them, please by all means let him know and we can discuss things.
Similarly, if you see a player (or even the DM himself) breaking one or more of these rules, please bring it up and he’ll make sure it’s addressed quickly.
Rule 1: Player Comfort
We’re all here to have a good time, and the DM wants to make sure nothing, either in- or out-of-game threatens that ideal. Characters may have to deal with difficult, perhaps morally ambiguous choices, but we as players should not. If something or someone makes you feel uncomfortable, whether in the game or around the (virtual) table, please tell the DM immediately so he can try to correct it, either by making adjustments to the game or by having a conversation with a player.
This rule is paramount above all others and making others uncomfortable is the swiftest way to not be invited back to Poetics’ table.
Rule 2: Story-Telling
To the DM, the reason we all get together to play silly dice games is to tell and contribute to good stories. Collaborative storytelling is the order of the day, and it is his sincere hope that everyone participates. His game-running style is to present scenarios, opportunities, and situations for the characters to interact with, react to, and explore.
His hope that as players you will take the opportunities presented and run with them; like a comedian telling jokes to a silent room, he doesn’t feel it’s a good time for anyone if he end up monologuing for the entire session. The game is best when every player is an active participant, even if their character isn’t dynamic or outspoken.
This also means that he wants to make sure every character (and player) gets their turn in the spotlight; please do not make the experience all about you, and do trust that you will get your turn when appropriate.
Rule 3: Game Rules are Guides
Dungeons and Dragons has a long set of rules, some of which simulate reality and some of which act as a simplified game mechanic. In either case, while the rules provide a common and consistent framework for play, they don’t perfectly encapsulate everything that can happen in a session.
Almost everyone around the table is (relatively) new to Fifth Edition and while the DM wants people to (eventually) become familiar with how their specific character sheet works, he’s not expecting perfect adherence to every rule—there’s a very good chance he’s going to mess them up with more frequency than he’d like to admit. That said, he tries to ensure all of his rulings are consistent, good for story, and make sense within the context of the scene, and it is hoped that the players trust in that.
If you have a great idea for something your character could logically do or try, feel free to suggest it, and he’ll do my best to accommodate it within the grand scheme of the story and game.
If you disagree with how the DM ruled something, or want to point out how the rules as written actually dictate an outcome, please feel free to bring that up to him after the game. We’re all still learning, but he also doesn’t want to have a deep mechanics debate during a session.
Rule 4: Respect, Cultural and Otherwise
Pawns of Prophecy is a game where players of all backgrounds are welcome, where differences are celebrated and everyone’s unique perspective comes together to create and develop a rich and vibrant story. Before play begins there will be a “session zero” where all of the players set expectations for what they want out of the campaign, what topics or situations they may not be comfortable with, and to ensure that we are able to work together toward a common goal.
We practice a social contract of tolerance and mutual respect, and these are absolutely required at Poetics’ gaming table. As with Rule #1, disrespecting others is not accepted here. He absolutely does not believe this will be a problem, but wants to be up-front with expectations, even before play starts.