Game Notes

In general official clarifications will be used e.g. Sage Advice . Encourage you to know them for your character and call out anything the DM should know before its needed.
Mistakes made in the rules/implementation will, in most cases, not be backdated, E.g. you realise that you had the shield spell up and you shouldn't have been hit. However if you discover you have made an error in record keeping, you can rectify it, just let the DM know. E.g. You realise your healing potion should have given you 5 more hp.
The properties of magic items generally can't be established by handling during a rest. The exception might be a few simple items that dont need attuning.
The process below is intended to provide a sense of discovery and exploration about magic items.
This is as follows:
An Identify spell will provide a rough idea of what the item does, any command words and if the item needs attuning to work. E.g Better in combat and the power of storm. Needs attuning, no command words.
Further information will them only be available upon attunement, Then more detailed information will be provided, however the character is likely to also need to experiment to find out the detailed use. The character will need to provide details of the experimentation. For example the attuning may provide that the item will hit with the power of storms when a really good hit is made, and tell the character that the blade length can be changed at will.
With experimentation this might resolve as, a lightning strike against the opponent when a critical or a 20 is made. (Not necessarily the same). The blade length can vary from one inch to three feet. The colour of the handle can also be changed.
Optional flanking rules will be used (DMG 257)
The better a description of how you intend to use a skill, easier the roll will be
Passive skills will be used across the board, not just perception
There is no assumption that the party will behave as heroes
New characters will need to use the point buy technique.