Allowing stuff beyond the core books.

[Ogre Mage]

Allowing stuff beyond the core books

And a word to the wise: do NOT allow the Persistent Spell feat.

 

[Arnwyn]

I'm seeing all kinds of neat and interesting things in the supplemental/expansion books for D&D3 that I'd like to incorporate and use in my campaign (the class books, MMII, FF, SS, BoVD, A&EG, etc.), but it doesn't seem quite fair to the Players to keep them restricted to just the PHB. I also know that as a Player, I've enjoyed looking through the class books to find feats and spells for my PCs. So, I'd like to open up these books for my Players to use and enjoy in my campaign.

But, I also don't like the idea of having to house rule a bunch of stuff to restrict or modify problematic additions. I like things neat and tidy -- I'd prefer to say, "you can use Sword and Fist for your PCs," instead of "you can use Sword and Fist with this list of errata, updates, and house rules." I don't like making house rules at all, much less having to go through book after book, feat after feat, spell after spell, class after class, to make sure everything is sensible and compliant with the revised system.

Well, here's the short answer, and unfortunately you're not going to like it: You're screwed.

IMO, you cannot increase the variety and not increase the headaches and amount of houseruling - it's just not going to happen. Every new thing you allow will force you, as DM, to spend the time looking it over and approving it for your campaign. It's just not going to happen any other way.

The more you open up, the more you're going to houserule. Sorry.

Well, if you have the time, you can do what I'm doing with my Arcana Unearthed campaign- make a campaign bible that contains the additional options for your campaign. Take a binder, and put in a few sheets of "options"- rules outside the core that you're using, prestige classes or references to books, feats, etc. For instance, my campaign bible contains a map of the Diamond Throne setting, a calendar for the setting, the Prestige Class section from the Diamond Throne book (containing both prestige classes and a list of appropriate ones from other sources that can be referenced on their own), as well as a few additional spells and new options for humans.

I have to concur with Tyler. This is pretty much exactly what my group has done. It certainly does take some time (and time is a luxury DMs don't have), but it is well worth it. *Well* worth it. The results have been so rewarding that I don't regret even 1 second of the time I spent creating our group's campaign bible. It's a "one-stop-shopping" sourcebook that any player can reference to see exactly what is allowed, and how it works. The players don't have to bring any of their books - it's all in one, consistent location.

 

[barsoomcore]

The big question is: Do you enjoy poring over Prestige Class descriptions, lists of feats, spells and equipment?

I do, so for me, owning lots of supplements is a source of entertainment. Curling up on the couch and leafing through Arms and Equipment Guide is kind of a fun night for me. It may not be for you.

If you want to maintain your campaign's style, however, you're going to have to (no two ways about it) go over ANY rules you plan to use. It's the only way you can possibly keep things to the flavour you want.

Now if you don't care about campaign flavour, then open the floodgates and see what happens. It's fun to experiment, and it's the best way to learn what works and what doesn't. Like somebody said, you can always recall a rule that seemed okay on paper but in practice is clearly screwing things up. Don't worry about it.

That said, my advice is to start out cautiously. Expand your ruleset as the need arises -- either as a player wants to acquire some non-core ability or as you the DM want to goose an NPC or monster in some non-core way.

You don't have to make all your decisions before the first session.

Edit: "Now", not "No"