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This is a list of behaviors that all players at Brent's game (including Brent) follow.
This document exists to keep the game fun. Acceptable and unacceptable behaviors should be clearly communicated, and unacceptable behaviors should only be those that slow down the game or otherwise make it not fun.
While at the table, all cell phones should be set to vibrate or turned off, so the game's not interrupted by a squawking hip-hop tune.
If anyone has to leave the table, he or she should announce where they're going, so others can deal appropriately with that player's absence.
If a player is away from the table during combat when their turn comes up, other players may take their turns. The player who's away will maintain his or her overall initiative order, and may take his or her turn immediately upon returning to the table. If the other players go through a full turn, the returning player loses that turn, but remains in initiative order. A player may certainly leave instructions with other players as to what to do with his or her character during his or her absence.
During combat, each player gets 1 minute to decide on their action, starting at the beginning of their turn. If a player hasn't decided after 1 minute, play may continue to the next player in initiative order while the first player decides, but the player will maintain their overall initiative order. Note that players may spend the entire combat round (outside their turn) thinking about their next actions.
If the game has to stop while someone looks up a rule, we'll wait a few minutes. If, after a few minutes, the situation hasn't been resolved, the DM may come up with a temporary ruling and continue the game. The rule can still be checked, and retroactively applied if possible.
The DM may ask to keep any player's character sheet, if that player frequently forgets to bring it. This is not to shame or judge the player, just to keep things working smoothly.
Players should be very familiar with their characters. Even if they're not, they're encouraged to use the rule of cool. If a player tries something cool, the DM should always reward it.