Players don't need rules !

Using the rules to adjudicate the game is the referee prerogative.

Gygax wrote in the introduction of his Dungeon Master Guide (DMG) :

“This book is the exclusive precinct of the DM”.

He followed his statement by instructions on how to properly punish a controverting player. It is quite adversarial as was the custom in 1979. To put things in context S1 Tomb of Horrors was published in 1978. This module is still highly rated by classic RPG enthusiasts.

I’m not here to explain the 70’s culture of play. You either get it or you don’t. Yes, it was just nerd acting tough. But we can still get some wisdom out of it. Explaining takes timerules is a time investment. to justify this investment it needs to payu offexplanationdont comes up again what happened not the rules

not to reguse teaching the rule but not during gameplay

Good player is good at listenning visualizing and decision making

Rules mostly for futur referee

aplaining to answer suspicion

Your main focus as a referee should be ensuring that the game progress at a steady rhythm. Game session were nothing happened are the worse.

Confused player lose more time

lessen the risj of talking about rule instead of narrating their action

Teaching the rule is secondary

Easier to change adapt the rule when it comes out instead of trying to anticipate everything