Why is hitting people with rulebooks encouraged?

[roko10]

I mean, last time I checked, hitting people with thick, heavy things is frowned upon. I don't really think tabletop RPG's are an exception from that.

Unless it is a joke. In that case, I dun goofed.

[AmberVael]

I'm pretty sure its not meant seriously, except maybe in the sense of pretending to do it.

[Silva Stormrage]

Ya its just a standard joke for what to do if your players are just being really really stupid

Its more of slapstick, you could substitute it for "Smack across the back of the head" or something similar if you wanted to. Hit them with flying books is just funnier and its a particular tabletop thing.

[Keltest]

"Throw the rulebook at them" generally means "Tell them with words to quit whatever theyre doing." Nobody actually expects you to hurt the poor rulebook like that.

[Hawkstar]

I mean, last time I checked, hitting people with thick, heavy things is frowned upon.

Eh, not really, especially since Rulebooks aren't really capable of hurting someone (Unless you're really trying to hurt them). It's just a really relevant-shaped slapstick (That goes "Whap" instead of "Slap")

[goto124]

Don't forget 'throw the dice at them'.

Also, I thought rulebook-throwing is done against rules-lawyers.

[Amphetryon]

A few years ago, hammer-guns were in vogue. It's just an RPG trope.

[Kalmageddon]

I mean, last time I checked, hitting people with thick, heavy things is frowned upon. I don't really think tabletop RPG's are an exception from that.

Unless it is a joke. In that case, I dun goofed.

I feel like you have some personal stakes in this.
Has this actually happened to you, by any chance?

[Anonymouswizard]

Eh, not really, especially since Rulebooks aren't really capable of hurting someone (Unless you're really trying to hurt them). It's just a really relevant-shaped slapstick (That goes "Whap" instead of "Slap")

Yeah, hitting people with the rulebook is something I've occasionally done, usually as a 'stop powergaming' joke. I'd never actually throw it because I can't pull the hit.

Don't forget 'throw the dice at them'.

Also, I thought rulebook-throwing is done against rules-lawyers.

Never heard throw the dice at them, but then again dice pelting in my groups either means hurry up or the GM's wife is just feeling a bit mean.

[DigoDragon]

In my old group, throwing books at someone was a ban-able offense. You could seriously hurt someone. >.>

I think the strongest I allowed was a soft-dart Nerf gun and only fired at stomach or below. Still, was a distracting thing so I discouraged people throwing anything at each other.

[goto124]

Should buy some plush books to throw at people's skulls.

Better yet, sew your own. Can even make a cover similar to whatever actual rulebook you use!

[roko10]

I feel like you have some personal stakes in this.
Has this actually happened to you, by any chance?

No, but I'm scared that it will happen to me if I somehow managed to create something that would be considered cheese, even though I didn't intend it that way.

[Psyren]

Unless it is a joke. In that case, I dun goofed.

You dun goofed.

[DigoDragon]

Should buy some plush books to throw at people's skulls.
Better yet, sew your own. Can even make a cover similar to whatever actual rulebook you use!

One of my friends got my daughter a plush dice set. At one point she threw them at people who rolled 1s.

I don't remember how that got started. Thankfully it was short lived because my daughter threw at point blank when it was me rolling 1s.

[TheThan]

I’ve taken proficiency in dice throwing. It synergizes with my gambling skill and allows me to hock my heavy iron dice at people (they're weighted for throwing).

[Strigon]

No, but I'm scared that it will happen to me if I somehow managed to create something that would be considered cheese, even though I didn't intend it that way.

You'd have to be pretty bad to be in any danger. Game-breakingly, or just completely ignorant of common sense (See: Invisible Tower Shield).
But don't forget it's not just about cheese, it's about behaviour. No PVP, and try not to completely derail the campaign.

[Amphetryon]

I’ve taken proficiency in dice throwing. It synergizes with my gambling skill and allows me to hock my heavy iron dice at people (they're weighted for throwing).

Had a demonstration of this technique at my game today, though fortunately not with metal dice or a direct hit.

[Maglubiyet]

Rulebooks are preferable to period-replica weapons. The cleanup with the books is much easier and you won't have your wife keep hounding you about "where that stain came from".

It's ketchup, honey. We spilled a whole bottle of it that night Phil left town and was never seen again.

[Dimers]

Rulebooks are preferable to period-replica weapons.

Particularly when playing Shadowrun or SWSE.

[veti]

In my old group, throwing books at someone was a ban-able offense. You could seriously hurt someone. >.>

I think the strongest I allowed was a soft-dart Nerf gun and only fired at stomach or below. Still, was a distracting thing so I discouraged people throwing anything at each other.

You need some kind of allowed physical impact, and nerf is (by design) about as harmless as it's possible to be unless you start modifying the ammo. I guess you could throw "scrunched-up character sheets" instead, but that's probably about as dangerous as nerf.

[Mr Beer]

If you put 20 or so metal dice in a sock and swing it into someone's temple, someone who is constantly arguing with your perfectly rational and correct DM rulings, then you can concuss them quite badly and they might require medical attention.

That's what I heard anyway.

[TheThan]

If you put 20 or so metal dice in a sock and swing it into someone's temple, someone who is constantly arguing with your perfectly rational and correct DM rulings, then you can concuss them quite badly and they might require medical attention.

That's what I heard anyway.

But do they agree with you afterward. That's the real question

[WolfLordBran]

One of the DM's for my group actually has a Nerf Mace... I've tried to squirrel it away to use when I'm running games, though given one of my players a cattle prod might be more appropriate...

[ShadowFighter15]

Other hobbies have similar jokes - Warmachine players, for instance, joke that the main deterrent for cheating is a Juggernaut in a sock. It had a bit more impact back when the models were made of metal (they're using resin-plastic now).

[Brookshw]

But do they agree with you afterward. That's the real question

Well they sure don't disagree anymore

[Brother Oni]

Don't forget 'throw the dice at them'.

Unless you're throwing d4s, in which case you mean to hurt them in a cruel and unusual fashion.

Well they sure don't disagree anymore

At least, not until they wake up.

[Hawkstar]

In my old group, throwing books at someone was a ban-able offense. You could seriously hurt someone. >.>

Did someone have a medical condition that leaves them vulnerable to severe injury (such as hemophilia)? Or...

(they're using resin-plastic now).

....WHAT?! WHAT IS THIS BLASPHEMY!? WARMACHINE is supposed to be Full Metal Fantasy!

[TheThan]

....WHAT?! WHAT IS THIS BLASPHEMY!? WARMACHINE is supposed to be Full Metal Fantasy!

I'm glad others feel my pain. (long time warmachine player).

[The Glyphstone]

Yeah, it's a travesty. Play Like You Got A Pair...of soft padded rubber gloves, apparently.

[Flickerdart]

This is why every table should own at least one plush mace.