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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Raven Crowking" data-source="post: 2747818" data-attributes="member: 18280">PC "action cards" are written and printed prior to the game, known about by the players and DM, and in all ways handled above board.  Each PC may gain a different "ability" during a given session, but the possibilities are static, not dynamic, in that they are part of a house rule set that exists prior to play.  If, for example, a player gains the ability to force a re-roll, that is known ahead of time, and it is known by everyone at the table when that abiltiy is used."House rules" are not cheating because they are rules changes, known to all ahead of time, no matter how extensive or small they may be.  The closest online definition I could find was from Wikpedia:House rules is a phrase referring to a unique set of rules applying only in a certain location or organization; may also be called "rules of the house." Bars and pubs, for example, frequently have house rules posted. For example, it is a house rule in United States Air Force officers' clubs that if an officer enters the club wearing headgear and is officially noticed (i.e., the bell near the bar is rung), the entering officer must buy a round of drinks for the bar. A common use of the term is in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game (or other role-playing games) to signify a deviation of game play from the official rules. The usage of house rules has actually been encouraged in official game materials as a way to personalize the game. House rules can range from the tiniest of changes or additions to substantial deviations that alter the entire game play; it's really up to the imagination of the players. It is interesting to note that most groups do not stick in 100% to the official rules. Most house rules are made up by the members of a particular group of players, and are never published; nevertheless countless of them have been posted on the web or published via other channels. In fact, any rule book which is not a part of the core rule books, even if it's from the original publishers of the game, is a form of house rules.Another definition is "House Rules- Rules, especially betting, agreed upon by the players."What you will notice is that there are two portions to the term, House and Rules.  House defines where the Rules apply.  Within a D&D context, your House could be your gaming group ("We all agree no sorcerers no matter who runs the game") or your own campaign ("In my world, there are no sorcerers"), for example.  The second part, Rules, means exactly that:  "Established standards, guides, or regulations set up by authority."  That authority can be WotC, the DM, the gaming group as a whole.  It doesn't matter.  What matters, strongly, is that word "established".  I.e., it is not rules if you are making it up on the fly.The result of a die roll is not rules.  "If the result equals or exceeds the target number, your character succeeds. If the result is lower than the target number, you fail." is rules.  If you establish that you are changing that rule, so that you now have an agreed-upon new house rule, you are not cheating by any reasonable standard.  Which means that those of you who  are upfront to your players and tell them that you are going to fudge some rolls are not cheating.  "The DM reserves the right to change your roll or the target number after the fact" is a valid house rule.Again, though, would you accept "The players reserve the right to change your roll or the target number after the fact" as a valid house rule?  Or, going back to those of you willing to answer the question, I noted statements along the line of "I have allowed players to fudge rolls on occasion."  However, no one said "I let players determine when they should fudge rolls."  Again, a telling point.  Why not?RC</blockquote>

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