Fraking Rule Lawyers!

Rule Lawyers, every game has them.  From D&D and LARPs to MTG, Poke’mon, Munchkins or even Dominion. Card games, board games, table top or live action: they are everywhere.  For this posting I’ll focus on the area outside of LARP, as that’s a monster all itself deserving its own post.

To some it is another game in and of itself. A MetaGame if you will. They do their best to stretch the rules to the breaking point, but stay within the rules. They simply like to see how far they can go or how “heinous” they can make this combination or that. This brand of rule lawyer usually is just trying to have fun, and not in a way that is at other peoples expenses. Usually they bring up things that are technically within the rules as written, just to prove they can and their own cleverness. Annoyance rating: Eyeroll.

To others it’s more of an issue of truly not understanding the rules. Either they played it before with other people, or were just misinformed. They will explain the rules as they know them, and argue the point endlessly. They may repeatedly bring up something since they’ve learned bad habits elsewhere. At first they may take it personal, or may even think it’s an attempt to trick them, but after showing the rules they generally settle down and realize the truth. With some work they can become great players, unless they succumb to the dark side and become one of the next two categories… Annoyance rating: Heavy sigh

Then there is the type that does it for personal advantage. They use every undotted ‘I’ and uncrossed ‘t’ to their personal advantage and screw everyone else. This type also seems to have a problem with getting called out on the very obvious. They have no problem with grinding the game to a halt just to “make a point.” The fact they are wasting several other people’s time in the process means nothing to them. They quote page numbers of books they may, or may not, have with them currently.  They are the type that very well may pull up a wiki to prove their case. A lot of the time this has to do with the wording* of text/ rule. These types have a tendency of hurting gameplay as a whole as they, more often than not, will repeatedly question and halt the game to make a new point. Annoyance rating: Involuntary Eye twitch.

Then there are the people that are probably used to getting banned / kicked out of games. They argue, scream, yell, and throw a bit fuss about the game. They seem to forget that it’s just a game and they go to any length to PROVE that they are right, with verbal assaults or maybe even threats of physical. They don’t like to lose and they don’t like being WRONG. They quote nonsense from some website they can’t even show and isn’t even affiliated with the actual game. They probably have a habit of “selective reading” (reading things as they want them to be, not how they actually are). Even after being proven wrong, they will continue to push the issue and try to convince you that they ARE right, regardless what the book says. These people, in short, are NOT fun to play with. Sometimes you can’t even tell when a person is like this until they get into your game and show their true colors. Woe to the poor DM that has to deal with this kill-joy. Annoyance rating: “Fraking Player table flip!”

Each of these types of Rule Lawyers has their own way to deal with them. Generally speaking I find it best to keep the table open for questions and suggestions. If it starts becoming an issue, where the game is dragging because of it, I normally would prefer to say something along the lines of “That’s an interesting point. We can talk more about it after the game.” Don’t be too hammer happy with smashing opposition, but explain that the interruptions are hindering the game and they can be addressed at a better time.  Something to keep in mind though is the possibility of a game changer. No one likes to lose because of a bad call. For legitimate issues, you may wish to handle them on the spot. If it’s repeated trivial matters however, you probably will want to redirect back to the game.  But when it comes to the last type mentioned: Ban them. This can range from booting them from the game that instant, calling the game early, and or simply not inviting them back. Use your best judgment but, keep in mind that NO ONE, friend or not, has the right to harass or verbally abuse you or any of the other players.

--DM Kirk