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<blockquote data-quote="Azul" data-source="post: 2583680" data-attributes="member: 11779">Or doing what our gaming group has done, which is to evolve a set of house rules in response to 1) dealing with issues that arose in game and 2) fitting new material (e.g. new WotC books) into the existing campaign.&nbsp; Sure, each campaign gets a set of house rules designed to fit that campaign's particular flavour and those rules are presented up front.&nbsp; However, many more of our house rules come from times when a player asks &quot;How could I do this?&quot; or &quot;How would that action be resolved?&quot; or &quot;Why is this (insert nonsensical gamist element)&nbsp; this way?&nbsp; We could do it that way (insert interest and simple alternative) instead?&quot;.&nbsp; They evolve to meet the needs of the players, the DM and the group's playing style.&nbsp; In my group's case, most of our house rules are the result of five years of slowly learning what particular elements in the d20 rules we found unsatisfying, objectionable or otherwise in need of change.All that being said, while the DM is indeed the final arbiter of his or her game, that isn't a licence to be a capricious sod who doesn't know the rules.&nbsp; The DM should be well versed in the rules and only change those rules in ways he feels are necessary.&nbsp; Those changes should be discussed up front with players so as to avoid unnecessary surprises and arguments.Sure, an unexpected and unusual event might force you to ad lib a mechanic to resolve it but if you already have decent tools to resolve a problem, it only makes sense to use them.&nbsp; If you have to drive a nail in, you use the hammer you've got.&nbsp; It's only when you realize that what you really have is a screw that you need to start rummaging for a screwdriver instead of using your trusty hammer.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Azul, post: 2583680, member: 11779"] Or doing what our gaming group has done, which is to evolve a set of house rules in response to 1) dealing with issues that arose in game and 2) fitting new material (e.g. new WotC books) into the existing campaign. Sure, each campaign gets a set of house rules designed to fit that campaign's particular flavour and those rules are presented up front. However, many more of our house rules come from times when a player asks "How could I do this?" or "How would that action be resolved?" or "Why is this (insert nonsensical gamist element) this way? We could do it that way (insert interest and simple alternative) instead?". They evolve to meet the needs of the players, the DM and the group's playing style. In my group's case, most of our house rules are the result of five years of slowly learning what particular elements in the d20 rules we found unsatisfying, objectionable or otherwise in need of change. All that being said, while the DM is indeed the final arbiter of his or her game, that isn't a licence to be a capricious sod who doesn't know the rules. The DM should be well versed in the rules and only change those rules in ways he feels are necessary. Those changes should be discussed up front with players so as to avoid unnecessary surprises and arguments. Sure, an unexpected and unusual event might force you to ad lib a mechanic to resolve it but if you already have decent tools to resolve a problem, it only makes sense to use them. If you have to drive a nail in, you use the hammer you've got. It's only when you realize that what you really have is a screw that you need to start rummaging for a screwdriver instead of using your trusty hammer. [/QUOTE]

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