#Don't wait to respond, make it clear that this is the way you are going to rule from the beginning

Instead of coming up with some sort of universal response when approached by players' individual requests for mechanical changes (none of which you will approve) be up front with all of your players and let them know that no such changes will be allowed at any point in the game.

Then, explain your reasoning. And have everyone agree to this ruling. After that, if any requests do still come you can point everyone to the previous discussion that everyone agreed to. Thus you'll only ever have to address the issue once.

This has the added bonus of being very hard for anybody to take personally since all you are doing is addressing a general policy of yours and not negating any one person's changes.

As for what to actually say during this prima facie discussion:

As DM I would really like to keep the number of table rules and exceptions to an absolute minimum. Thus, I'm sorry, but nobody will be allowed to make any mechanical changes to the rules or their characters. I hope you all understand, but this is the way I am most comfortable running the game.

Don't wait to respond, make it clear that this is the way you are going to rule from the beginning

Instead of coming up with some sort of universal response when approached by players' individual requests for mechanical changes (none of which you will approve) be up front with all of your players and let them know that no such changes will be allowed at any point in the game.

Then, explain your reasoning. And have everyone agree to this ruling. After that, if any requests do still come you can point everyone to the previous discussion that everyone agreed to. Thus you'll only ever have to address the issue once.

This has the added bonus of being very hard for anybody to take personally since all you are doing is addressing a general policy of yours and not negating any one person's changes.

As for what to actually say during this prima facie discussion:

As DM I would really like to keep the number of table rules and exceptions to an absolute minimum. Thus, I'm sorry, but nobody will be allowed to make any mechanical changes to the rules or their characters. I hope you all understand, but this is the way I am most comfortable running the game.

#Don't respond, make it clear that this is the way you are going to rule from the beginning

Instead of coming up with some sort of universal response when approached by players' individual requests for mechanical changes (none of which you will approve) be up front with all of your players and let them know that no such changes will be allowed at any point in the game.

Then, explain your reasoning. And have everyone agree to this ruling. After that, if any requests do still come you can point everyone to the previous discussion that everyone agreed to. Thus you'll only ever have to address the issue once.

This has the added bonus of being very hard for anybody to take personally since all you are doing is addressing a general policy of yours and not negating any one person's changes.

As for what to actually say during this prima facie discussion:

As DM I would really like to keep the number of table rules and exceptions to an absolute minimum. Thus, I'm sorry, but nobody will be allowed to make any mechanical changes to the rules or their characters. I hope you all understand, but this is the way I am most comfortable running the game.

#Don't wait to respond, make it clear that this is the way you are going to rule from the beginning

Instead of coming up with some sort of universal response when approached by players' individual requests for mechanical changes (none of which you will approve) be up front with all of your players and let them know that no such changes will be allowed at any point in the game.

Then, explain your reasoning. And have everyone agree to this ruling. After that, if any requests do still come you can point everyone to the previous discussion that everyone agreed to. Thus you'll only ever have to address the issue once.

This has the added bonus of being very hard for anybody to take personally since all you are doing is addressing a general policy of yours and not negating any one person's changes.

As for what to actually say during this prima facie discussion:

As DM I would really like to keep the number of table rules and exceptions to an absolute minimum. Thus, I'm sorry, but nobody will be allowed to make any mechanical changes to the rules or their characters. I hope you all understand, but this is the way I am most comfortable running the game.