What would you do if one of your new players said this?
‘It’s not the players job to know the rules. It’s the Dungeon Masters. All the players have to do is tell them what they do.’
There's a give and take to that.
On the one hand it would be unreasonable to expect a new player to know all the rules. And so there's some point to the idea of the DM should have an idea to help out where rule misunderstandings occur.
But that seems a different situation from what you're describing.
And it absolutely is a duty of the player to at least try learning the rules. There's a lot of class-specific mechanics that are integral to deciding what to do. And knowing what you can do, aka learning the rules, is how you'll decide what to do. To use an example, a lv 1 ranger saying "I run into the room, stab all 20 guys with my sword, and do a backflip 60 ft into the air onto a perched pedestal" isn't going to progress anything because instead of being something the DM can work off of, it just leads to "No. You can't do that." And if you have to continuously tell a player their ideas can't be done it will both slow the game down and make the player feel like none of their ideas are getting accepted.
Whereas a player that knows the rules, and therefore can work within the realm of possibility for their character, will have a much better chances of seeing their ideas work and having quicker gameplay because they already understand what they can do. Plus it allows for a more nuanced discussion of when you do want to do something that bends the rules.
Knowing the rules also allows a player to be able to correct the DM when the DM accidentally puts a kibosh on something the player actually can do. If you're a rogue the DM might forget you can dash as a bonus action. So it's important to know how the rules work so that if the DM says "No. You can't dash and attack." you can respond with the rogue-specific rule as a friendly correction.
There's limitations to what a character can do and therefore it is the responsibility of a player to have an idea as to what those limits are.
What would you do if one of your new players said this?
‘It’s not the players job to know the rules. It’s the Dungeon Masters. All the players have to do is tell them what they do.’
Slap them upside the head with the player's handbook.
What if the only physical book you have is LMoP and SotDQ?
Then use your computer but make sure the tab is open for the player's handbook or the basic rules. If that doesn't work, a wallop with Lost Mines of Phandelver will be acceptable.
The very same player just asked me if horses can turn into demons. ???
Valid question.
Why does everybody think that horses are demons? Nope. Moving on. Like turn into a literal demon in dnd.
I mean standard horses no? But like demons can probably take the shapes of horses to sew chaos. And if a demonic ritual was done to a horse, I’m sure it could turn into a demon horse of some kind.
But by DND 5e rules, no, horses can not turn into demons.
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— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fanδ — making a smoothie for meta ——————| EXTENDED SIG |—————— Φ • happily married to my lovely redpelt, minmaxer, microbiology undergrad, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
The very same player just asked me if horses can turn into demons. ???
Valid question.
Why does everybody think that horses are demons? Nope. Moving on. Like turn into a literal demon in dnd.
I mean standard horses no? But like demons can probably take the shapes of horses to sew chaos. And if a demonic ritual was done to a horse, I’m sure it could turn into a demon horse of some kind.
But by DND 5e rules, no, horses can not turn into demons.
The very same player just asked me if horses can turn into demons. ???
Valid question.
Why does everybody think that horses are demons? Nope. Moving on. Like turn into a literal demon in dnd.
I mean standard horses no? But like demons can probably take the shapes of horses to sew chaos. And if a demonic ritual was done to a horse, I’m sure it could turn into a demon horse of some kind.
But by DND 5e rules, no, horses can not turn into demons.
I know that. The question is why did they ask it?
Because this is Dnd. It's a fantasy world, anything can happen. Your treasure chest could be a mimic. That dog could be a jackalwere or a werewolf. That person could be a doppleganger, a changeling, an incubus/succubus, lycanthrope, dragon, etc. That stalactite could be a piercer or a roper. That brick wall could be a gray ooze. Anything could be a toothy monster that wants to devour you alive.
Got most of the basic rules for my RPG done. I still need to make weapons, armor, tools, conditions, enemies, two more classes, all the subclasses, spells, weapon arts, and studies.
In other words, I have the groundwork set up, but nothing beyond that.
The very same player just asked me if horses can turn into demons. ???
Valid question.
Why does everybody think that horses are demons? Nope. Moving on. Like turn into a literal demon in dnd.
I mean standard horses no? But like demons can probably take the shapes of horses to sew chaos. And if a demonic ritual was done to a horse, I’m sure it could turn into a demon horse of some kind.
But by DND 5e rules, no, horses can not turn into demons.
I know that. The question is why did they ask it?
Maybe they’re being goofy or trying to annoy you
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fanδ — making a smoothie for meta ——————| EXTENDED SIG |—————— Φ • happily married to my lovely redpelt, minmaxer, microbiology undergrad, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
The very same player just asked me if horses can turn into demons. ???
Valid question.
Why does everybody think that horses are demons? Nope. Moving on. Like turn into a literal demon in dnd.
I mean standard horses no? But like demons can probably take the shapes of horses to sew chaos. And if a demonic ritual was done to a horse, I’m sure it could turn into a demon horse of some kind.
But by DND 5e rules, no, horses can not turn into demons.
I know that. The question is why did they ask it?
Because this is Dnd. It's a fantasy world, anything can happen. Your treasure chest could be a mimic. That dog could be a jackalwere or a werewolf. That person could be a doppleganger, a changeling, an incubus/succubus, lycanthrope, dragon, etc. That stalactite could be a piercer or a roper. That brick wall could be a gray ooze. Anything could be a toothy monster that wants to devour you alive.
Haha not anything. I would never be a narzugon waiting for you to be at your weakest so I can offer you a deal and claim your soul. Hahahaha. That would never happen.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fanδ — making a smoothie for meta ——————| EXTENDED SIG |—————— Φ • happily married to my lovely redpelt, minmaxer, microbiology undergrad, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
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What if the only physical book you have is LMoP and SotDQ?
Hi, I’m DrakenBrine, here’s my Sig and characters
I am The Grand Envisioner!
There's a give and take to that.
On the one hand it would be unreasonable to expect a new player to know all the rules. And so there's some point to the idea of the DM should have an idea to help out where rule misunderstandings occur.
But that seems a different situation from what you're describing.
And it absolutely is a duty of the player to at least try learning the rules. There's a lot of class-specific mechanics that are integral to deciding what to do. And knowing what you can do, aka learning the rules, is how you'll decide what to do. To use an example, a lv 1 ranger saying "I run into the room, stab all 20 guys with my sword, and do a backflip 60 ft into the air onto a perched pedestal" isn't going to progress anything because instead of being something the DM can work off of, it just leads to "No. You can't do that." And if you have to continuously tell a player their ideas can't be done it will both slow the game down and make the player feel like none of their ideas are getting accepted.
Whereas a player that knows the rules, and therefore can work within the realm of possibility for their character, will have a much better chances of seeing their ideas work and having quicker gameplay because they already understand what they can do. Plus it allows for a more nuanced discussion of when you do want to do something that bends the rules.
Knowing the rules also allows a player to be able to correct the DM when the DM accidentally puts a kibosh on something the player actually can do. If you're a rogue the DM might forget you can dash as a bonus action. So it's important to know how the rules work so that if the DM says "No. You can't dash and attack." you can respond with the rogue-specific rule as a friendly correction.
There's limitations to what a character can do and therefore it is the responsibility of a player to have an idea as to what those limits are.
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny
Eggo Lass, Bone and Oblivion | Tendilius Mondhaven Paxaramus, Drakkenheim
Karl Erikson, No Guts No Glory | Chipper, Curse of Strahd
Silverwood Group 1 | Silverwood Group 2
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 52, 12/23/25, O Holy Night
Then use your computer but make sure the tab is open for the player's handbook or the basic rules. If that doesn't work, a wallop with Lost Mines of Phandelver will be acceptable.
The very same player just asked me if horses can turn into demons. ???
Hi, I’m DrakenBrine, here’s my Sig and characters
I am The Grand Envisioner!
Aren't they already?
You guys are awesome and mean so much to me. And mean so much to each other.
Like literally. In dnd.
Hi, I’m DrakenBrine, here’s my Sig and characters
I am The Grand Envisioner!
That's an... interesting question?
You guys are awesome and mean so much to me. And mean so much to each other.
Valid question.
I know
Hi, I’m DrakenBrine, here’s my Sig and characters
I am The Grand Envisioner!
Why does everybody think that horses are demons? Nope. Moving on. Like turn into a literal demon in dnd.
Hi, I’m DrakenBrine, here’s my Sig and characters
I am The Grand Envisioner!
I mean standard horses no? But like demons can probably take the shapes of horses to sew chaos. And if a demonic ritual was done to a horse, I’m sure it could turn into a demon horse of some kind.
But by DND 5e rules, no, horses can not turn into demons.
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fan δ —
making a smoothie for meta
——————| EXTENDED SIG |——————
Φ • happily married to my lovely redpelt, minmaxer, microbiology undergrad, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
Ever heard of a Nightmare? A Nuckelavee? A Kelpie? A Tikbalang? A...*shudder*... Unicorn?
I know that. The question is why did they ask it?
Hi, I’m DrakenBrine, here’s my Sig and characters
I am The Grand Envisioner!
He must’ve seen art for a Nightmare or something.
Hi, I’m DrakenBrine, here’s my Sig and characters
I am The Grand Envisioner!
Because this is Dnd. It's a fantasy world, anything can happen. Your treasure chest could be a mimic. That dog could be a jackalwere or a werewolf. That person could be a doppleganger, a changeling, an incubus/succubus, lycanthrope, dragon, etc. That stalactite could be a piercer or a roper. That brick wall could be a gray ooze. Anything could be a toothy monster that wants to devour you alive.
Maybe they're thinking of hrulgin from David Eddings' Belgariad? Not exactly demons, but flesh-eating predator horses are kind of scary.
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny
Eggo Lass, Bone and Oblivion | Tendilius Mondhaven Paxaramus, Drakkenheim
Karl Erikson, No Guts No Glory | Chipper, Curse of Strahd
Silverwood Group 1 | Silverwood Group 2
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 52, 12/23/25, O Holy Night
Got most of the basic rules for my RPG done. I still need to make weapons, armor, tools, conditions, enemies, two more classes, all the subclasses, spells, weapon arts, and studies.
In other words, I have the groundwork set up, but nothing beyond that.
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
Awake, impure, divine
Breathgiver of the Strugels
Maybe they’re being goofy or trying to annoy you
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fan δ —
making a smoothie for meta
——————| EXTENDED SIG |——————
Φ • happily married to my lovely redpelt, minmaxer, microbiology undergrad, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
hi cyno
edit: why did they put autocorrect on my coumputer. I hate it so much
Haha not anything. I would never be a narzugon waiting for you to be at your weakest so I can offer you a deal and claim your soul. Hahahaha. That would never happen.
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fan δ —
making a smoothie for meta
——————| EXTENDED SIG |——————
Φ • happily married to my lovely redpelt, minmaxer, microbiology undergrad, and lover of anything colored red • Φ