A Hackmastery of D&D

[ewheeler]

What suggestions do you have for making D&D more like Hackmaster? What house rules would you make? What existing rules and classes from d20 supplements would you use?

I know the "Unearthed Arcana" book has at least one (seemingly) blatant Hackmaster-style rule: Honor.

Thanks... and please keep the "OMG D20 KILLED RPG" or "WTF HACKMASTER IZ A JOKE GAME" type of comments to yourself if you don't mind.

-e

 

[Agamon]

What suggestions do you have for making D&D more like Hackmaster? What house rules would you make? What existing rules and classes from d20 supplements would you use?

I know the "Unearthed Arcana" book has at least one (seemingly) blatant Hackmaster-style rule: Honor.

Thanks... and please keep the "OMG D20 KILLED RPG" or "WTF HACKMASTER IZ A JOKE GAME" type of comments to yourself if you don't mind.

-e

Seeing as Hackmaster is pretty much AD&D, I'd say play Hackmaster.

Seriously. The things that make Hackmaster different from D&D are what make it Hackmaster and not D&D. IMO, anyway.

 

[Tar Markvar]

You need everything that adds chunk onto D&D. That means Comeliness, Honor points, social class, piety, etc. Use the Hackmaster random background tables to help your players figure out how many siblings they had in what order, how many were illegitimate, and whether their parents are still alive.

Then add in ludicrous monsters. Convert the Hacklopediae of Beasts. I mean dire armadillos. Swack iron dragons.

Toss in whatever goofy gawds you want.

Create a metamagic feat: Spelljack. You can bring a spell "online" and cast it as a free action with but a word by maybe jacking the spell level up by 1.

Convert all of the classes and races. Bring in the grel (grunge elves) and pixie-fairies.

The rest of it is up to you. You have to make the game as goofy as possible. Make fun of yourself and the hobby while also running a playable game.

Good luck.

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

Forget about all that "+5 is the be-all end-all, and +6 is EPIC". You're going to have players who will want to know what feat they need to make a +12 Hackmaster-class blade.

 

[Voadam]

Add in a 20 point kicker for everybody. (+20 hit points for all PCs and all monsters with at least one hit die for extra hacking fun).

Figure out damaged armor rules.

Throw in an intense critical hit system, perhaps apply rolemaster's one straight.

Make a lot of crap jokes.

Be real clear that the DM is against you.

Use lots of creatures from the Tome of Horrors.

 

[Remathilis]

Add reputation, Mechanical Honor, Some manner of beauty rating, etc to the game.

Basically, if you think it has even the SLIGHTEST hint of being important, make a mechanic for it.

"A barwench? I seduce her!"
"Ok Bob, make a diplomacy check, modified by your reputation as a seducer (a negative) + your comilness (a postive) vs. her sense motive + her base honor."
"Ok... 22. Does that work?"
"Sorry Bob, she smacks you in the face for 1 point of nonlethal damage"
"Dude. She was ugly anyway."

 

[Kae'Yoss]

I know the "Unearthed Arcana" book has at least one (seemingly) blatant Hackmaster-style rule: Honor.

Nope. It's from Oriental Adventures/Rokugan.