Post/Author/DateTime	Post
catsclaw 01-09-07, 05:16 PM	I've seen a couple people suggest a week's delay on implementing Dispel Confusion rulings in LG, and I just wanted to start a discussion on whether that was a good or bad idea. It sounds like a good idea, but I think the problems outweigh the benefits. For one, it's just another rule to try and remember (was that Dispel Confusion issued 6 days ago or 8 days ago)? Second, and more importantly, players helped by a particular Dispel Confusion are going to argue for adding things immediately; it's somewhat arbitrary to prevent them from taking advantage of the clarification, while players harmed by a ruling can automatically delay the pain.
LCJJohnson 01-09-07, 05:52 PM	For one, it's just another rule to try and remember (was that Dispel Confusion issued 6 days ago or 8 days ago)? Second, and more importantly, players helped by a particular Dispel Confusion are going to argue for adding things immediately; it's somewhat arbitrary to prevent them from taking advantage of the clarification, while players harmed by a ruling can automatically delay the pain. For one, print the date it takes effect right on the Dispel Confusion. The last one came out on 12/19/06. Replace December 2006 with December 26, 2006 and both problems are solved. LCJJ
catsclaw 01-09-07, 06:17 PM	For one, print the date it takes effect right on the Dispel Confusion. The last one came out on 12/19/06. Replace December 2006 with December 26, 2006 and both problems are solved.Not quite. I'm better at remembering the rulings than at remembering the dates attached to them -- you'd have to have a printout of the thing to refer to. And as to wanting rulings to take effect immediately, the last one clarified that you could pay an NPC to cast atonement on your paladin. If my paladin needed one to regain his abilities on the first day of a convention, and that dispel confusion wouldn't take effect until after the end of the convention, I would certainly raise holy hell to have that ruling take effect immediately.
LCJJohnson 01-09-07, 08:32 PM	Not quite. I'm better at remembering the rulings than at remembering the dates attached to them -- you'd have to have a printout of the thing to refer to. So for you individually, make a point of not reading the rulings until the listed date. I personally make a habit of having the PH, LGCS, Dispel Confusions, BoBSS, FAQ, Errata, and BKMG (my regions meta-org guidebook) with me if I don't know for certain that someone else at the table will have them. And as to wanting rulings to take effect immediately, the last one clarified that you could pay an NPC to cast atonement on your paladin. If my paladin needed one to regain his abilities on the first day of a convention, and that dispel confusion wouldn't take effect until after the end of the convention, I would certainly raise holy hell to have that ruling take effect immediately. If you, individually, make a point of not reading the rulings until the date they become effective, then there will be nothing for you to raise holy hell about. I guess for some ignorance is bliss. For everyone else, I would hope they'd display the maturity and self-discipline to not conduct themselves in that manner. On the positive side, the delay would allow everyone time to troubleshoot in case corrections need to be made before a lot of people waste a lot of paper and ink printing only to have to reprint a few days later when the corrected version comes out. It would also allow time to analyze the ramifications and plan for necessary adjustments. Remember when Leap Attack was restricted (Dispel Confusion 1.3)? How about when many spells changed levels with the addition of the Spell Compendium (Dispel Confusion 2.1)? Rebuilding one or more characters and/or spell lists between slots at a con when the needed books may or may not be present is not my idea of fun. Having a week to do the rebuilds and having them in the character folder ready to be switched out when the change takes effect sounds a lot more reasonable.
bitznarf 01-09-07, 09:18 PM	Perhaps one method that may be worth looking at (for drastic changes such as the aforementioned spell compendium issues) would be some sort of realistic 'conversion period' and a little common sense and give and take between the players and judges.
frupton 01-10-07, 02:11 AM	There's merit on both sides of this one, IMHO. I can see not wanting a delay period on most issues, since the problems they solve will just persist through the delay period. The problem that a delay period really is designed to solve is for specific DC's that require you to rework a character, like the Spell Compendium one. I would suggest that a transition period be provided on DC's that require a character to be reworked. For example, a DC is issued on the 1st of Sunsebb which says that feat X is now restricted. It could perhaps say that characters must replace feat X with a valid feat by the 7th of Sunsebb, or (if date of DC postings is not known in advance), "within 7 days after the date this DC is posted, players must replace feat X with a valid feat. This gives players time to finish the con they're playing or whatever and rebuild when the have a bit of free time. Most DC's wouldn't necessarily need a delay like this. For example, paying an NPC for atonement doesn't need a delay period. You only would need one when it's likely to require an affected character to spend a bit of time workout out a rebuild.