D&D 5E D&D 5E Does flanking grant advantage ?

[Hriston]

I didn't think it necessary, as you already did in your prior post.

But I hadn't actually. I'd called it out in a passive/aggressive way, which I have a tendency to do without thinking. To address it directly would have felt like I was admitting being annoyed by it, which I didn't want to do. But you're right. It's better to be direct.

As for the optional rule/house rule conversation, which is pretty much a ridiculous topic to care or fret about.. House rules are created by the table to modify a game beyond given rules within official sourcebooks. I would rule that using a sidebar optional rule isn't a houserule, as it is still provided by the rules. But that also doesn't mean it HAS to be used, like some DMs say, and force every letter down their table's throats. Now, using those optional rules out of context is, of course, a house ruling.

Everything isn't black and white. Some things are in the middle, but people like to think simple.

I'm not sure if any of this is directed at me, as I haven't said whether I think the decision to use an optional rule is a houserule, but to weigh in, I agree that if you got it from a book it's not a houserule. Also, I think some people, on this thread and others, are calling the way other people choose to play "house ruling" as a way of belittling or delegitemizing their preferences. Optional rules are options contained within the game and are distinct from house-rules, which are made up at the table. The fact they are optional means of course you don't have to use them. The game works just fine without them, because they aren't part of the default "standard" rules. What I've pointed out is that the use of this particular optional rule doesn't change the way the default rules operate one bit. It's simply a case of the DM granting advantage in a circumstance s/he decides is advantageous to one party over another. Them's the rules.

 

[Awesome Adam]

Optional rules are something the D&D designers put in the game that may or may not be needed, based on playstytle.

House Rules are when individual DMs come up with a rule to cover something not included in the rules, or when an individual DM thinks it should be handled differently than in the official rules.

They are not equal

When you show up at a gaming table, you shouldn't be suprised to see an optional rule in play.

 

[Ovinomancer]

Optional rules are something the D&D designers put in the game that may or may not be needed, based on playstytle.

House Rules are when individual DMs come up with a rule to cover something not included in the rules, or when an individual DM thinks it should be handled differently than in the official rules.

They are not equal

When you show up at a gaming table, you shouldn't be suprised to see an optional rule in play.

When I show up at a table, I would expect to be informed of all optional and house rules in play, though, as both deviate from the base game.

 

[Arial Black]

I'm not invoking "rule 0". I'm invoking this rule from page 173 of the Player's Handbook:

"The DM can also decide that circumstances influence a roll in one direction or the other and grant advantage or impose disadvantage as a result."

This is one of three ways you can gain advantage or disadvantage under the standard rules.

Oh, I agree that the DM can decide to give advantage/disadvantage to any d20 roll, but that doesn't make any and every such use a 'standard' rule.

For example, a DM might rule that:- "anyone wearing a blue sash around their waist has advantage on all attack rolls, while anyone wearing a red sash has disadvantage on all attack rolls".

Now, just because the advantage/disadvantage mechanic is part of the game, and just because the DM is expected to apply them when they see fit, this does not make the "blue sash/red sash" rule a 'standard rule'.

If the DM included that rule (or any other not published by WotC) then it would be a houserule, not a standard rule. (I don't mean this disparagingly; there are some great houserules about)

Similarly, if the DM includes the optional flanking rule from the DMG, it would not be a 'standard' rule, nor a houserule, but an 'optional' rule.

In this context, 'standard', 'optional' and 'house' rules are mutually exclusive terms.

 

[Hriston]

Oh, I agree that the DM can decide to give advantage/disadvantage to any d20 roll, but that doesn't make any and every such use a 'standard' rule.

I never said it did.

 

[aramis erak]

Optional rule in the DMG p 251.

Note that its use in AL play requires making use of the PHB allowance for GM's whim on page 173 of the PHB, as flanking isn't one of the default DMG rules in force.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

Unless one has a different definition of a "house rule" than the established norm of a rule that was created by the group for localized implementation, than an optional rule from an official sourcebook is not a house rule.

House rules are home-brewed rules, and are completely optional, of course. But an official published optional rule cannot be considered a house rule (once it is published, that is).

One is free to have some sort of variant definition of what they think counts as a house rule, but you're going to have to explain what it is before you can constructively use it in a discussion.

I'm not weighing in on the actual debates going on, I just wanted to comment that.

 

[Ovinomancer]

Unless one has a different definition of a "house rule" than the established norm of a rule that was created by the group for localized implementation, than an optional rule from an official sourcebook is not a house rule.

House rules are home-brewed rules, and are completely optional, of course. But an official published optional rule cannot be considered a house rule (once it is published, that is).

One is free to have some sort of variant definition of what they think counts as a house rule, but you're going to have to explain what it is before you can constructively use it in a discussion.

I'm not weighing in on the actual debates going on, I just wanted to comment that.

See, I've always been under the impression that 'house rules' are the, well, rules that the house plays by. These include the standard rules, but also any variants that the house prefers. In this light, options on the standard rules are definitely house rules -- the house has chosen to implement them.

But I may just be odd here.

 

[Hriston]

H

See, I've always been under the impression that 'house rules' are the, well, rules that the house plays by. These include the standard rules, but also any variants that the house prefers. In this light, options on the standard rules are definitely house rules -- the house has chosen to implement them.

But I may just be odd here.

Hey Guys,

I just came up with a great houserule! Let's have one of us be the DM and everyone else play a character that has six ability scores, a race, and a class. I'm sure our D&D game will improve when we implement this houserule.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

See, I've always been under the impression that 'house rules' are the, well, rules that the house plays by. These include the standard rules, but also any variants that the house prefers. In this light, options on the standard rules are definitely house rules -- the house has chosen to implement them.

But I may just be odd here.

I find that a perfectly reasonable interpretation, and probably pretty close to a more general usage. However, I don't mean that when I talk about it in the sense of D&D, because of years of tradition.

But we now have nothing to argue about (and probably some of the other people on this thread also). Oh well, there are plenty of other threads left.