Did you houserule Hardness back?

[Yair]

I just made my first houserule, after the party blasted trap-statues and vault-doors with artillery and, having discussed the rules (objects having only hp, not hardness or resistance to damage types), realized that one can punch his way out of jail. We didn't make a hard-and-fast new rule, rather simply saying that the DM (me) is gonna arbitrarily use his common sense to determine how objects are damaged, with the understanding that generally they just won't be damageable with ordinary weapons and means.

Part of the idea of our campaign is to test-run the rules, so I like to stick to the RAW as much as possible. But this was just too much to bear.

So, I'm wondering how many are with me? How many have decided to alter the way you treat objects by adding 3.x hardness back or so on?

 

[Henrix]

We didn't make a hard-and-fast new rule, rather simply saying that the DM (me) is gonna arbitrarily use his common sense to determine how objects are damaged, with the understanding that generally they just won't be damageable with ordinary weapons and means.

That's about my take as well. I'll rule on basis of camparing hardness - I'll not just use the old 3e rules either, because they weren't perfect; I got pretty tired of the adamant sword being used as the perfect door opener all the time.

 

[Psion]

Shouldn't this go in the 4e house rule forum?

 

[Yair]

Shouldn't this go in the 4e house rule forum?

Well, I figured that it's a question on whether people house-ruled, not so much a discussion of house-rules as such. So I figure it belongs in General. Sorry if I misunderstood the division of labor.

 

[JeffB]

I haven't had a problem with this yet, but I'd prolly just give certain things "Resist X" or flat out double the HP.

 

[Morrus]

I agree - I haven't intorduced a rule as such, but let common sense dictate that nobody can dig their way out of a steel box with a toothpick.

 

[Haffrung Helleyes]

how about this for a house rule

When you attack something, do damage as normal, but the DM determines whether the thing being attacked, or the thing doing the attacking, takes the damage. IE, smacking a stone wall with your fist hurts!

Ken

 

[chaotix42]

I voted "Other." I've not yet implemented any concrete houserules, nor am I really using the 4e rules - I'm just going with what seems right and what facilitates gameplay. Once the PCs get to higher levels, smashing down walls with +5 weapons may be the order of the day. Right now, at 4th level, beating an iron door down with a longsword is going to be rather difficult, no matter what the rules say.

 

[Victim]

It's not like hardness was a huge barrier to destroying most objects before.

 

[Yair]

Can any of you guys that have not houseruled it say why? Has it not come up? Are you happy with weapons/fists cutting through walls or steel? Do you see the RAW as not implying that? I'd like to understand why I'm finding a need to houserule here, whereas most people apparently don't.