incognito
First Post
Hi All,
Here are all my house rules. Pat me on the back or berate me as needed:
Character Creation:
1. Please submit a 1-2 paragraph back story on each PC: these will be read by the players, but not known to PCs
2. Players begin play at party average, or one level below party average (1/2 way through), in the case of PC death.
3. Players will have 80 points to assign to ability scores on a 1-1 basis.
a) Race adjustments only apply to ability scores in terms of MAX/MIN starting score (ie ½ Orc max starting STR 20, max INT/CHA 16)
b) Do not forget to add +1 any ability score for L4, L8, etc.
4. Charisma, in addition to all the current wonderful bonuses will add +/- 5% any XP granted per point of Bonus/Penalty
5. Players will have their level equivalent GP to spend on equipment.
a) Players may select equipment from PHB and DMG, with exceptions.
b) Players may not begin play with hand selected magic items. Instead, FWD your DM a copy of a wish list, and I will FWD you a series of groups, from which you may select a single group. The groups will tend to reflect class, back-story, and meta game meta game concerns (ie – don’t count on mithiril, arcane casters!)
6. Please submit two PCs: this serves two purposes.
a) it allows players to organize a balanced party
b) in the case of character death, a new character is already generated.
7. HP up to level 3: First Level MAX, L2/L3 75% of MAX
8. Only PHB core classes (no Psi-handbook, etc)
9. Only PHB core races (no ECL +N)
10. It's a Greyhawk world (Greyhawk deities, cities, etc)
11. Splat books (Sword and fist, etc) FEATS will only be available on request/approval from me. Before anyone asks; Spell Casting Prodigy is out. If your new character wishes to take a feat from a splat book, please email me: I have most of them.
a) The same is true for Prestige classes – if/when that time comes. Please note that I would like to see the player role-play into a prestige class, not simply fulfill the PC requirements.
12. Character death and abandonment: in 90% of the circumstances, the new PC will start play at 1 level below the party average.
13. If there is a TPK, all party members will come back at the level they die at. This is the “new” lowest level in the game
Leveling Changes:
1. You cannot save skill points or feats from one level to the next.
2. Rogues/High skill point PCs: no more than 4 skill points assigned to a skill per level (when new level is gained).
3. Alternate HP on leveling: d12 can use d8+3, d10 can use d8+1, d8 can use 6d+1, d6 and d4 no change
Class Changes:
1. 1/2 Orcs get weapon proficiency in Orc weapons if they have martial weapons prof. Other races get their proficiency in their respective double weapons.
2. A Barbarian Rage does not end when dropped (-1 to -9)
3. Bards: 6 skill points/level
4. Paladins are considered a Prestige Class, players may not begin play as a Paladin
5. Clerics may not chose Plant and Animal domains
6. There are no Godless Clerics
7. Druids add Ride, and Climb as a class skills
8. Monks: @ L2 can swap Deflect Arrows for Dodge or combat reflexes
9. Monks: @ L4 can swap Improved Trip for Improved Disarm
10. Rangers do not get track until L2,
11. Rangers may substitute, as virtual feats, Point Blank Shot and Prec Shot, for AMBI and TWF at L1. Light armor still required
12. Rangers may use staff as a double weapon
13. Rangers damage Bonus works on all creatures, however creature type for creatures immune to criticals must be more sharply defined (ie – not, undead, instead: zombies).
14. Sorcerers get 2 class skills that may be picked at L1 from a list based on skills tied to CHA
15. All Charisma based casters get the feat: Eschew components for free at level 1 (no need for material components whose cost is 1 GP or less).
Skills Changes:
1. Know (Monstrous) is a new class skill for every class, this skill covers character know of the monsters they encounter.
a. Players get +1 rank/level as bonus ranks.
2. Tumble: must be rolled separately for each threatened area. You may not move through an enemies square with a failed Tumble check
3. Spellcraft: Divine caster get a -4 circumstance penalty when using this skill on arcane spells. Arcane casters get a -4 circumstance penalty when using this skill on divine spells .
Spells Changes:
1. Harm: does it’s damage over time, no save remains the same. Since it is high level, players will vote on amount of damage as we get nearer
2. Divine Power is now a L5 spell. Righteous Might is now a L4 spell.
3. Druid spell list gets: Cat’s grace, Bulls Strength, Wind Wall, Daylight, Water Walk, Air walk, Control Water
4. Shout: now does 3d6 rather than 2d6
5. Greater Magic Weapon lasts 10 min/level instead of 1 hour/level
6. Wall of Force may not be used to trap opponents (with no save)
7. Polymorph self: making the transformation is a 1 full round action (that begins on the same round the spell is cast). Troll is a magical beast NOT a GIANT
8. Shadow spells can counter regular spells. The “real” spell caster get s a Will save. Shadow spell is still used if save is successful.
9. Clerics of We-Jas may not Animate, create, create greater undead (We-Jas is the god of “final” death).
a) Mindless undead (Skel/Zom) are considered evil by the general populace, even though they are "neutral." Animating dead is an evil act.
Game Play Changes:
1. To resolve disputes, there is a 2 minute time limit set, in which the dispute is resolved. DM is the final arbiter.
2. Please try to separate Player knowledge from PC knowledge
3. Many skill checks are hidden.
4. Skill Focus gives +2 to one skill, these points count as ranks. These ranks do not count towards the 3 + level skill rank maximum.
5. Spellcraft: Determining a being cast or in place, etc has the difficulty increased by +4 if the spell is Arcane, and the character is a divine caster or vice versa.
6. Hide Skill requires a Std. Action
7. Additional XP will be granted for good role-play/following story line
8. Item Creation: Only Brew Potion, and craft scroll can be used as written. Other crafts magic items are limited to 2+1 item/level from the time you acquire the feat. You cannot be "forced" to miss out on crafting and item by earning XP to fast (ie trapped in a dungeon)
Here are all my house rules. Pat me on the back or berate me as needed:
Character Creation:
1. Please submit a 1-2 paragraph back story on each PC: these will be read by the players, but not known to PCs
2. Players begin play at party average, or one level below party average (1/2 way through), in the case of PC death.
3. Players will have 80 points to assign to ability scores on a 1-1 basis.
a) Race adjustments only apply to ability scores in terms of MAX/MIN starting score (ie ½ Orc max starting STR 20, max INT/CHA 16)
b) Do not forget to add +1 any ability score for L4, L8, etc.
4. Charisma, in addition to all the current wonderful bonuses will add +/- 5% any XP granted per point of Bonus/Penalty
5. Players will have their level equivalent GP to spend on equipment.
a) Players may select equipment from PHB and DMG, with exceptions.
b) Players may not begin play with hand selected magic items. Instead, FWD your DM a copy of a wish list, and I will FWD you a series of groups, from which you may select a single group. The groups will tend to reflect class, back-story, and meta game meta game concerns (ie – don’t count on mithiril, arcane casters!)
6. Please submit two PCs: this serves two purposes.
a) it allows players to organize a balanced party
b) in the case of character death, a new character is already generated.
7. HP up to level 3: First Level MAX, L2/L3 75% of MAX
8. Only PHB core classes (no Psi-handbook, etc)
9. Only PHB core races (no ECL +N)
10. It's a Greyhawk world (Greyhawk deities, cities, etc)
11. Splat books (Sword and fist, etc) FEATS will only be available on request/approval from me. Before anyone asks; Spell Casting Prodigy is out. If your new character wishes to take a feat from a splat book, please email me: I have most of them.
a) The same is true for Prestige classes – if/when that time comes. Please note that I would like to see the player role-play into a prestige class, not simply fulfill the PC requirements.
12. Character death and abandonment: in 90% of the circumstances, the new PC will start play at 1 level below the party average.
13. If there is a TPK, all party members will come back at the level they die at. This is the “new” lowest level in the game
Leveling Changes:
1. You cannot save skill points or feats from one level to the next.
2. Rogues/High skill point PCs: no more than 4 skill points assigned to a skill per level (when new level is gained).
3. Alternate HP on leveling: d12 can use d8+3, d10 can use d8+1, d8 can use 6d+1, d6 and d4 no change
Class Changes:
1. 1/2 Orcs get weapon proficiency in Orc weapons if they have martial weapons prof. Other races get their proficiency in their respective double weapons.
2. A Barbarian Rage does not end when dropped (-1 to -9)
3. Bards: 6 skill points/level
4. Paladins are considered a Prestige Class, players may not begin play as a Paladin
5. Clerics may not chose Plant and Animal domains
6. There are no Godless Clerics
7. Druids add Ride, and Climb as a class skills
8. Monks: @ L2 can swap Deflect Arrows for Dodge or combat reflexes
9. Monks: @ L4 can swap Improved Trip for Improved Disarm
10. Rangers do not get track until L2,
11. Rangers may substitute, as virtual feats, Point Blank Shot and Prec Shot, for AMBI and TWF at L1. Light armor still required
12. Rangers may use staff as a double weapon
13. Rangers damage Bonus works on all creatures, however creature type for creatures immune to criticals must be more sharply defined (ie – not, undead, instead: zombies).
14. Sorcerers get 2 class skills that may be picked at L1 from a list based on skills tied to CHA
15. All Charisma based casters get the feat: Eschew components for free at level 1 (no need for material components whose cost is 1 GP or less).
Skills Changes:
1. Know (Monstrous) is a new class skill for every class, this skill covers character know of the monsters they encounter.
a. Players get +1 rank/level as bonus ranks.
2. Tumble: must be rolled separately for each threatened area. You may not move through an enemies square with a failed Tumble check
3. Spellcraft: Divine caster get a -4 circumstance penalty when using this skill on arcane spells. Arcane casters get a -4 circumstance penalty when using this skill on divine spells .
Spells Changes:
1. Harm: does it’s damage over time, no save remains the same. Since it is high level, players will vote on amount of damage as we get nearer
2. Divine Power is now a L5 spell. Righteous Might is now a L4 spell.
3. Druid spell list gets: Cat’s grace, Bulls Strength, Wind Wall, Daylight, Water Walk, Air walk, Control Water
4. Shout: now does 3d6 rather than 2d6
5. Greater Magic Weapon lasts 10 min/level instead of 1 hour/level
6. Wall of Force may not be used to trap opponents (with no save)
7. Polymorph self: making the transformation is a 1 full round action (that begins on the same round the spell is cast). Troll is a magical beast NOT a GIANT
8. Shadow spells can counter regular spells. The “real” spell caster get s a Will save. Shadow spell is still used if save is successful.
9. Clerics of We-Jas may not Animate, create, create greater undead (We-Jas is the god of “final” death).
a) Mindless undead (Skel/Zom) are considered evil by the general populace, even though they are "neutral." Animating dead is an evil act.
Game Play Changes:
1. To resolve disputes, there is a 2 minute time limit set, in which the dispute is resolved. DM is the final arbiter.
2. Please try to separate Player knowledge from PC knowledge
3. Many skill checks are hidden.
4. Skill Focus gives +2 to one skill, these points count as ranks. These ranks do not count towards the 3 + level skill rank maximum.
5. Spellcraft: Determining a being cast or in place, etc has the difficulty increased by +4 if the spell is Arcane, and the character is a divine caster or vice versa.
6. Hide Skill requires a Std. Action
7. Additional XP will be granted for good role-play/following story line
8. Item Creation: Only Brew Potion, and craft scroll can be used as written. Other crafts magic items are limited to 2+1 item/level from the time you acquire the feat. You cannot be "forced" to miss out on crafting and item by earning XP to fast (ie trapped in a dungeon)
Last edited:
