In many TTRPG games, players may frequently get away with not understanding every single guideline and rule. After all, specific rules are rarely used, and memorizing them would be absurd, especially for something as intricate as DnD.
This isn’t true for rules lawyers, though. Every tabletop role-playing (TTRPG) group has at least one player that knows the whole rulebook by heart and is more interested in rules than anything else. We refer to those people as the ones who like to follow Rules as Written (RAW).
However, a rules lawyer isn’t necessarily a bad thing to have in your party. They all have overwhelming knowledge of the game’s rule system but differ in their approach to specific situations and how they use their information.
Different types of Rules Lawyers
To make it absolutely clear, I am not someone who hates the rules and would prefer to make up his own ones. But the valuable thing to remember here is that the perfect game is always located between the rules and the imagination of the game master (GM).
Naturally, the creators of various RPG games can’t predict every situation their players might be in. Hence, the gameplay depends on the interpretation of individual rules when there isn’t a clear solution.
For example, I will sometimes be a DnD rules lawyer when my players try to shy away from the rules, but I am careful not to spoil their fun and make compromises with them when they make sense.
Nevertheless, from a GM’s standpoint, deciding to interpret a rule in a new way isn’t easy because once it’s done, it will have to apply to all characters and NPCs in the game.
Annoying Rules Lawyer
Also called “Rule Shark,” this is arguably the most well-known type and is the reason why the phrase “Rules Lawyer” is perceived negatively.
They feel that if they can find a rule for something, the people in charge must allow them to do it, even if it makes no sense, interferes with the game itself and other people’s gameplay, or makes the game more challenging to play.
They will try to take advantage of every loophole, strange scenario, and footnote they can find. Most irritating, they tend to be purposefully selective in what rules they recall, excluding ones that do not benefit them.
For example, in one of my DnD games, a player liked to perform ninja kicks on NPC monsters he encountered, and I allowed him to do that.
But, when I tried to attack him in a similar manner with a giant NPC troll he was fighting, all of a sudden, he wanted to check the rules if that type of monster could jump, how high it could jump, if it even has enough athletics points to make such a move, etc.
When dealing with this type of player, you should calmly explain that the game can only have one set of guidelines that everybody should follow and that there are no exceptions. Also, remind them of the rule zero rule of any TTRPG game – the GM is always right.
Dummy Rules Lawyer
Instead of having bad intentions, the dummy lawyer is simply ignorant of the rules and how some things in the game work. They’ll continuously interrupt play to ensure that everyone is obeying the rules, even if it makes no difference to the outcome.
They will not allow any tactic not mentioned in the regulations to be employed, forcing the game to become stiff. If the GM decides to create some well-designed and balanced custom-made rules, this lawyer will erupt.
If you think you will have such a player in your game, you should talk to them before the game and explain that checking the rules every five minutes can eat up a lot of game time.
Honest Rules Lawyer
An honest rules lawyer is an ideal player. They always follow the rules, even if it means that their character will suffer.
They will often use their knowledge to help the new players, thus easing the job of the GM and allowing him to think about the narrative and other story-related details.
When playing with honest rules players, you should remember to encourage their behavior each time they help someone out. This way, other players will see that helping others and pointing out mistakes even when it doesn’t fit you is the desired way of playing RPG.
Use Rules Lawyers to your Advantage
Ultimately, whichever type of rules lawyer you are dealing with, you can make them work for you.
Instead of interrupting the game, they can give you a hint when they think something’s wrong, and you can decide how and when to deal with that issue.
For instance, a DnD lawyer can be beneficial in spotting cheaters, helping others understand the game, or helping out when there are some uncommon interactions since they probably have a lot of field experience with DnD.
