Editing Rule Zero

[[Category:Roleplaying]]
Rule Zero is supposed to be the most important rule of any RPG game.  It's called the "zero-th rule" because it is so fundamental that it comes before even the first rule stated in any rulebook.  It's also a meta-rule, so it doesn't really fit into any numbered lists of rules.

Sometimes this rule is confused with the [[Golden Rule]]: "whatever the DM says, goes."

= Definition =
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{|border=1 cellpadding=5
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|align=center|'''Rule Zero:'''
''"Roleplaying games are entertainment; your goal as a group to make your games as entertaining as possible."''
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If that means breaking the rules temporarily, or permanently as a house-rule, then so be it.

Good RPGs will mention it or something like it in the game-master's section, usually something wishy-washy like ''"these rules are only a guideline."''  

= Citations =
* In [[Dungeons_%26_Dragons#Basic_Dungeons_.26_Dragons|Basic D&D]] in 1980, the book says on the first page:
:''"Anything in this booklet (and other D&D booklets) should be thought of as changeable -- anything, that is, that the [[Golden_Rule|DM thinks]] should be changed... The purpose of these 'rules' is to provide guidelines that enable you to play and have fun, so don't feel absolutely bound to them."''
* In AD&D, the player's handbook has on page 8:
:''"This game is unlike chess in that the rules are not cut and dried. In many places they are guidelines and suggested methods only."''
*Dungeons & Dragons 3e doesn't explictly state the rules can go hang, but it does have a section for changing the rules to suit your group (DMG, pg 11).
*D&D 4e also has a section on creating house rules (DMG, pg 189).