D&D 5E What houserules do we assume is common in the community?

[Vaalingrade]

I ran a surprise round zero before I realized that it wasn't a thing.

I always stop people from wanting the bonus action potion drinking by saying, "Sure. Drinking itcan be a bonus action, if it's already in your hand. But then I am going to enforce every little thing about what is in your hands. Or you can spend an action and we'll assume that you clear your hand, get the potion, drink it, store (or drop) the bottle, and get your weapon/wand back into your hand. Which would you rather? (They usually pick action potion).

I put a potion bottle in my mouth like a cigar at the start of every fight and pull the cork with my tongue.

 

[Lanefan]

I put a potion bottle in my mouth like a cigar at the start of every fight and pull the cork with my tongue.

And risk choking on the cork?

 

[Hussar]

Just putting this here:

 

[Teemu]

I think much to the detriment of the skill system, we often see climbing and jumping use the best of Athletics or Acrobatics.

I use the variant where you can substitute different ability scores for different skills, depending on the circumstances. What happens is that the distinction between Athletics and Acrobatics becomes even more blurred, and it's pretty obvious that the two skills are basically Strength and Dexterity body skills. In practice, there is no tangible difference between a Dexterity (Athletics) and a Dexterity (Acrobatics) check, or Strength (Athletics) and Strength (Acrobatics). Using the flexible ability scores w/ skills variant, I would almost either combine Athletics and Acrobatics into one skill, or go further in the other direction and split them into smaller categories.

I've also noticed that many players tend to want to use spells inconspicuously, ignoring verbal components, and I think it's at least partially a Critical Role influence thing. I'm pretty sure that the players in Critical Role can cast a lot of their spells in social scenarios without making it obvious that they're using magic, even without Subtle Spell. I wouldn't be surprised if many groups were much more relaxed about verbal components (and somatic to a lesser extent), as far as visibility and audibility are concerned.

 

[OldSchoolGamerGirl]

We do the bonus action potion drinking. I've found that potions, and this goes back over many editions, otherwise don't usually get used because there's usually a more productive or attractive action for the character to take. It's one of my ways to encourage more shortish term, expendable magic use. I also put them in more treasure hoards.

I often see and have even played under this. I however don't use it because I always think of potions as "After fight" healing because I can't imagine taking a glass vial out in melee

 

[billd91]

I often see and have even played under this. I however don't use it because I always think of potions as "After fight" healing because I can't imagine taking a glass vial out in melee

The rule I apply is not just for healing potions - it's any potion. Sometimes, once a fight has already started, it's a good idea to slug one down.

 

[jmartkdr2]

I don't assume that any house rules are so common that I do not need to ask the DM for their house rules.

I find I need to ask about house rules because a lot of dms don't realize they're using house rules or optional rules. I've met quite a few who think flanking is core, or auto-successes apply to saves RAW, or who don't realize the hand-switching limit exists. Also the number of people who don't understand the bonus action spell + cantrip rule, but that's because it's a confusing rule.

 

[jmartkdr2]

When I DM? No. I ban a few things for thematic reasons - no resurrection, raise dead and plane shift have other requirements and so on. Those are obviously not common. It's always up to the DM to decide if we use optional rules, which includes common things like multi-classing.

I've considered house ruling sharpshooter because if feels overpowered, I know some others set limitations on it as well.

Actually I would add "no resurrections" to the list - I haven't played with it much but it comes up a lot in fora. Usually because now they have an anticlimactic pc death and they don't know how to deal with it.

 

[ad_hoc]

It seems that all the common house rules here are about ignoring rules and allowing characters to do things the rules say they can't (like cast spells with weapons and shield and read in darkness).

Are there any common house rules that go the other way?

We use only standard array no rolling. Also no rolling for HP because I don't want someone to get a low result and then just die.

We use feats but not GWM, SS, or Resilient. I don't consider that a houserule though because feats are already optional.

 

[Laurefindel]

I’ve seen many groups (including mine) using inspiration as a re-roll after the fact rather than advantage before roll.