Many people feel that the DM should have absolute power when it comes to the rules. That in order to prevent arguments from getting in the way of playing the DM should have the final say on everything.
This idea has created a policy that many groups follow concerning arguments about rules. Let me illustrate with an example of play.
DM: OK, the hill giant turns towards the wizard who just casted fireball on him and throws one of his javelins.
Player: But I'm 700 feet away, he can't throw it at me. That's too far.
DM: I disagree. But I don't want to waste the session looking up rules. We'll say it works this way for now and look it up afterwards.
After the session.
DM: Well look at that! Javelins CANT fly 700 feet. I guess I was wrong. Well at least now we know for next time.
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The problem with this system is that all players end up getting screwed at one point or another. Often times this means that the players will feel cheated and there is some loss of resources or glory at the least. It's nice that the correct rule is found but it doesn't change what already happened.
As a DM I do something different with my players. If there is a rules debate between me and one of them then unless I know 100% for sure that they are wrong and it says in clear writing that they can't do x, then I have the rule work how the player says it does. Can player's take advantage of this system? Yes. But I trust my players to not to, just like I trust my DMs to follow the rules.
Kinda crazy right? My thinking is that a player feeling cheated (or their character dying) is far worse then one of my bosses dying unfairly, even if that boss died in such a way that made it un-epic.
What do you think of the way rules arguments are handled? How do you handle rule disputes in your group? Would you feel worse if your character died or was taking out because of a bad ruling? Or if the BBEG died or was taken out because one?
Note that I'm not talking about when DMs make up their own rules or give a ruling when there is clearly nothing in the rulebook that covers a certain topic, that is a whole new can of worms.
