Alejandro
2014-02-25, 12:49 PM
For fun, inspired by the Declaration of Independence from a Bad GM, let's try:
The Bill of Rights of the Gaming Table (as interpreted from the American Bill of Rights, or the first ten amendments to the US Constitution)
1. Gamers shall make no law respecting an establishment of a certain type of gaming, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of players to control their characters, or of their roleplaying; or the right of the players peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Game Master for a redress of grievances.
2. A well regulated Game Master, being necessary to the security of a healthy gaming group, the right of the Game Master to keep and bear responsibility and respect, shall not be infringed.
3. No Gamer shall, in time of gaming be required to host the game, without the consent of the Gamer.
4. The right of the Gamers to be secure in their persons, houses, character sheets, and dice, against unreasonable searches and dice borrowing, shall not be violated, and no Rules Lawyering shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or Sourcebook, and particularly describing the rule to be searched, and the PC or dice to be banned.
5. No Gamer shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous Gaming Crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Gamer's Jury, except in cases arising in such times as the Gamer is causing public danger; nor shall any Gamer be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of forced rerolling or ban; nor shall be compelled in any gaming criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of dice, liberty, or property, without due process of the Game Master; nor shall private property be taken for public use, especially dice or pizza, without just compensation.
6. In all gaming criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the Gaming Group wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by the Gamers, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation (and the sourcebook and page in cases of rules disputes) to be confronted with the witnesses or random encounters against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining henchmen or other NPCs in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Gaming Forums Such As the Order Of the Stick for his defence.
7. In suits at common gaming law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars or two pizzas, the right of trial by gamer jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the Gaming Group, than according to the rules of the common gaming law.
8. Excessive apologies shall not be required, nor excessive fines of treasure and magical or otherwise valuable loots imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted, unless the Gamer is unanimously agreed to be a right douchebag by their Peers.
9. The enumeration in the Constitution of the Gaming Table, or within the listings of any sourcebook, of certain rights, feats, talents, or other such powers, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the Gamers.
10. The powers not delegated to the Gaming Group by the Game Master, nor prohibited by it to the Gamers, are reserved to the Gamers respectively, or to the Gaming Group.
The Bill of Rights of the Gaming Table (as interpreted from the American Bill of Rights, or the first ten amendments to the US Constitution)
1. Gamers shall make no law respecting an establishment of a certain type of gaming, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of players to control their characters, or of their roleplaying; or the right of the players peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Game Master for a redress of grievances.
2. A well regulated Game Master, being necessary to the security of a healthy gaming group, the right of the Game Master to keep and bear responsibility and respect, shall not be infringed.
3. No Gamer shall, in time of gaming be required to host the game, without the consent of the Gamer.
4. The right of the Gamers to be secure in their persons, houses, character sheets, and dice, against unreasonable searches and dice borrowing, shall not be violated, and no Rules Lawyering shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or Sourcebook, and particularly describing the rule to be searched, and the PC or dice to be banned.
5. No Gamer shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous Gaming Crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Gamer's Jury, except in cases arising in such times as the Gamer is causing public danger; nor shall any Gamer be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of forced rerolling or ban; nor shall be compelled in any gaming criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of dice, liberty, or property, without due process of the Game Master; nor shall private property be taken for public use, especially dice or pizza, without just compensation.
6. In all gaming criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the Gaming Group wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by the Gamers, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation (and the sourcebook and page in cases of rules disputes) to be confronted with the witnesses or random encounters against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining henchmen or other NPCs in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Gaming Forums Such As the Order Of the Stick for his defence.
7. In suits at common gaming law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars or two pizzas, the right of trial by gamer jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the Gaming Group, than according to the rules of the common gaming law.
8. Excessive apologies shall not be required, nor excessive fines of treasure and magical or otherwise valuable loots imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted, unless the Gamer is unanimously agreed to be a right douchebag by their Peers.
9. The enumeration in the Constitution of the Gaming Table, or within the listings of any sourcebook, of certain rights, feats, talents, or other such powers, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the Gamers.
10. The powers not delegated to the Gaming Group by the Game Master, nor prohibited by it to the Gamers, are reserved to the Gamers respectively, or to the Gaming Group.