Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Synjin Nov 06, 2014 9:14:05	I've had the PHB and MM since their release, and consider myself pretty familiar with the new rules and mechnics. I'm always learning, but I've got a good grasp on it.   That said, how do you deal with new players, or veteran players new to 5E when it comes to the new system? In my head as the DM, I know what actions I can take, when, etc. They might not have done as much reading as I have.   I'm of the mind that the first few games are going to be very "mechanical" in nature. Meaning if they say they move away from an enemy after attacking, I'll say "Don't forget, unless you take Disengage as your action, meaning only move and no attack action, they'll get an AoO on you." and let them re-evaluate if they want to move or stay put.   I consider it my job to bring the players up to speed with the new rules and system as much as possible in those first few games. See how it goes, and once I see them using actions in tandem with each other, using movement and attacks, bonus attacks, etc to good form, and having a really good handle on the new system...then is when you really start thinking and scheming against them and letting them make mistakes in their movements and actions. Not scheming as a DM set out to kill the party, but letting them make mistakes and hopefully learning from them.   So my question is, do you let your players make mistakes and capitalize on them as the bad guys, or do you remind them if they do what they just stated, they're putting themselves and the party at risk?
#2 iserith Nov 06, 2014 9:23:07	I do not let players make mistakes out of ignorance of game mechanics. I want them to be fully aware of the decisions they are making. If something they want to do is going to provoke an OA, I'm going to tell them that and see if they want to revise. If something I have a monster do is going to provoke an OA from them, I will tell them that and ask what they do.   Note that this doesn't mean the game becomes a discussion of mechanics. All I ask is for the player to state their actions in the fiction and I will adjudicate accordingly. If I have to spell it out, I will, but I don't find that's all that common to have to do it even with new players.
#3 Ansbach Nov 06, 2014 9:50:02	Same here.  I think the first few sessions of learning a new RPG are atypical, in that you probably want to stop play and break down how a new rule works for the group the first time it comes up.  After that, I try to limit game mechanics speech as much as possible.  I kind of see my role as the GM is to be the expert on the rules, not the players, because I just want them to tell me what their characters do and let me worry about the mechanics.  I think that helps greatly with immersion.
#4 GalbraithTelmor Nov 06, 2014 10:24:16	Ansbach wrote:
#5 Synjin Nov 06, 2014 10:56:17	Ansbach wrote:
#6 eleran Nov 06, 2014 12:27:47	Agree completely, I dont want mistakes made by the players because of mechanics either. But to riff off that, as a DM, if you have some plot hook/hint/clue in the partys posssession and they keep glossing over it or possibly forgetting about it, do you remind them?  If so, do you find a way to remind them in game, or in a meta fashion, as in "Hey guys, dont forget you have that maguffin thing you picked up 2 sessions ago".?
#7 iserith Nov 06, 2014 12:31:05	eleran wrote:
#8 Synjin Nov 06, 2014 13:53:20	iserith wrote:
#9 akaddk Nov 06, 2014 14:49:25	I try not to "correct" players choices but I do try to inform them as to the consequences of their actions mechanically speaking and also sometimes RP-wise.
#10 OoftaMeg Nov 06, 2014 14:58:08	Most of my players have a pretty reasonable understanding of the rules but if they do something I don't understand I will ask them to clarify.  In addition if they do something that will provoke an attack I ask them if they know they're provoking before I roll the attack in case they just forgot to let me know some special ability they have.   In addition, there are some gray areas (such as when you can hide in combat) that I try to clarify for the group to let them know how I will run things.
#11 trebor_rjf Nov 06, 2014 15:41:58	i generally let the other players watch out for each other. i don't have to worry about what their current hitpoints are, how many slots they have left, or what spells they prepared because the people i play with are really good at managing their characters.
#12 sleypy Nov 06, 2014 16:29:29	Synjin wrote: