Helpful Unwritten Rules of DnD

[Venger]

XO4)Don't include riddles in your game. No, not even then. I don't care what they were in. Playing "guess what the dm's thinking" is a game that no one enjoys.

[Blackhawk748]

XO4)Don't include riddles in your game. No, not even then. I don't care what they were in. Playing "guess what the dm's thinking" is a game that no one enjoys.

Caution Ignoring Rule XO4 may result in being pelted by Player's books.

[Rater202]

Don't play kender unless it's a silly game or both you and your character have a wisdom score greater than 15.

[Blackhawk748]

Don't play kender unless it's a silly game or both you and your character have a wisdom score greater than 15.

No, not even then.

[Fouredged Sword]

Never make a problem with only one solution. The party will miss the giant neon lights pointing to the answer you created for the problem and solve it with something you never considered. This is a feature, not a bug.

- Sub-rule - Never make a plot that won't allow for any given player character or NPC to die unexpectedly. If it has stats, it can die. The party will find a way.

[StoneCipher]

When in doubt, always use the ultimate escape plan - a portable hole inside a bag of holding.

[Blackhawk748]

When in doubt, always use the ultimate escape plan - a portable hole inside a bag of holding.

I thought it was a Sphere of Annihilation in The Well of the Worlds?

[weckar]

53) If your inventory list is shorter than your class feature list, buy more utility gear.

[dascarletm]

XO4)Don't include riddles in your game. No, not even then. I don't care what they were in. Playing "guess what the dm's thinking" is a game that no one enjoys.

PSSSH!

Riddles man riddles!

XO4-$) Riddle contests between player and NPCs are chill.

Think riddles in the dark.

[Blackhawk748]

PSSSH!

Riddles man riddles!

XO4-$) Riddle contests between player and NPCs are chill.

Think riddles in the dark.

Rule XO4 may be ignored if one of the following are satisfied 1)the riddles are good 2) the NPC is a Sphinx 3) His name is Gollum

[dascarletm]

Rule XO4 may be ignored if one of the following are satisfied 1)the riddles are good 2) the NPC is a Sphinx 3) His name is Gollum

you forgot

4) a sentient train that loves riddles.

That one needs to include the gunslinger class from Pathfinder though.

[Heliomance]

Rule I-Don't-Even-Know-What-Number-We're-On) Never use a ten foot pole. Far too many things have a ten foot blast radius. Use an eleven foot pole. Or better yet, a summoned Celestial Monkey.

[Pilo]

++nb) Low magic campaign means no spell at all and spellcasting classes lose the ability to cast spells.

[nakedonmyfoldin]

?) Never make a totally empty room. Players will not leave until they discover the super secret treasure.

[nimmo0110]

if your dm gives you a home ruled spell or magic iteam listen or read about it VERY carefully

[Curmudgeon]

30. If you're trying to be stealthy, Detect Magic and Arcane Sight shouldn't pick up you or your gear. Nystul's Magic Aura is your friend.

[Asrrin]

X) If your DM asks you, "Are you sure you want to do that?" think about what you are about to do, and reconsider.

[evangaline]

X) If your DM asks you, "Are you sure you want to do that?" think about what you are about to do, and reconsider.

After reconsidering you keep doing what you intended to do. After the unfortune befalls you, proceed to blame the DM for being unfair.

[nimmo0110]

After reconsidering you keep doing what you intended to do. After the unfortune befalls you, proceed to blame the DM for being unfair.

so true so true

[StoneCipher]

When cheesing, never tell your DM more than he needs to know. It's his job to know what to ban.

Also, when cheesing, make sure to have a backup character handy, because 9/10 your first will meet an angry and confused mindflayer or something.

[Gnome Alone]

Now that I think of it, on a more serious note:

15) Elect a party leader you trust, and stick with them. Nothing slows a game down as much as an argument about what to do next.

Do people really do this? Seems weird to me; methinks me prefers antihierarchical cooperationing. Kind of a shame to impose rulership into one of the areas of life where it is not automatically done so anyway.

X) If your DM asks you, "Are you sure you want to do that?" think about what you are about to do, and reconsider.

This, on the other hand, is like Unwritten Rule 0. Rule square root of zero, I don't know.

[Lightlawbliss]

This, on the other hand, is like Unwritten Rule 0. Rule square root of zero, I don't know.

I thought it was rule (0^(0/0))/0

If the DM doesn't give details about a room, get the details they aren't giving you

If you kill something where part of the body (bones, poison, hide, meat...) is worth something: HARVEST IT.
exception: at mid to high levels, feel free to ignore the stuff with terrible weight to gold ratio (yes, I'm looking at you 500 lbs of magical beast steaks)

[OldTrees1]

Never make a problem with only one solution. The party will miss the giant neon lights pointing to the answer you created for the problem and solve it with something you never considered. This is a feature, not a bug.

- Sub-rule - Never make a plot that won't allow for any given player character or NPC to die unexpectedly. If it has stats, it can die. The party will find a way.

Addendum
You shall always place at least 3 independent clues/ways if you want the players to do something. 2 clues/ways is asking for them to ignore/miss it.

Addendum 2
Since 3 is the theoretical limit and nobody wants to make plans at the theoretical limit, the real limit is 4 independent clues/ways.

[Urpriest]

35 (I think): You are never obligated to make the game less fun for the other players. No, not even if your alignment is CE or if you are a Paladin.

[Shining Wrath]

++N: Players, remember not every 'monster' is there to fight
++N: DM's, if your players enjoyed railroads they'd be at the Lionel website rather than your dining room table
++N: Stealing the Wizard's spell book is so 1972 as a plot twist

[georgie_leech]

Addendum
You shall always place at least 3 independent clues/ways if you want the players to do something. 2 clues/ways is asking for them to ignore/miss it.

Addendum 2
Since 3 is the theoretical limit and nobody wants to make plans at the theoretical limit, the real limit is 4 independent clues/ways.

I see what you did there.


#%: Everything can be (ab)used to make money.
a) Even that.
i) Especially that.

[IAmTehDave]

++N: Stealing the Wizard's spell book is so 1972 as a plot twist

INCREMENT N: Always have a decoy spellbook.

INCREMENT N: Always make sure what you kill stays dead.
Corollary: It might take a while, but holding a torch to the unconscious Troll is the only way to be sure.

[Amphetryon]

INCREMENT N: Always have a decoy spellbook.

INCREMENT N: Always make sure what you kill stays dead.
Corollary: It might take a while, but holding a torch to the unconscious Troll is the only way to be sure.

INCREMENT Na: If you're holding a torch to the unconscious Troll and the DM is just grinning at you, the Troll may have an alternate vulnerability.

[Shining Wrath]

INCREMENT N: Always have a decoy spellbook.

... SNIP ...

Especially if you are a sorcerer.

[OldTrees1]

INCREMENT Na: If you're holding a torch to the unconscious Troll and the DM is just grinning at you, the Troll may have an alternate vulnerability.

INCREMENT Nb: If the body is not getting destroyed, the troll is not dying.