[d20 Modern] House Rules?

Back on topic, one of the house rules I'm implementing in the current game I'm running involves Psionics. The Wild Talent feat is essentially available to everyone for free. However, you don't automatically have access to it. There is also another Psionic feat that's available to everyone for free, and it's called Mental Defense. You can only have one or the other.

The game I'm running allows psionics in a limited fashion, like ESP. Only mind effecting powers are available, with some exceptions, like Detect Psionics, Clarivoyance/Clarauidience (sp?), Telekinesis and its similar powers, and some others. The Battle Mind advanced class, and what I call "fireball-like powers" are not available. Also, aside from Crystal Capacitors (I think they're still called that, DHMBIFOM), psionic items do not exist for the most part (no items that bump up stats, saves, skills, etc).

The Mental Defense feat grants you a bonus to saves vs psionic effects of 1 + 1 per 5 character levels (maximum +5 at 20th level). This is to offset the fact that aside from your save increases from class levels, or ability bonus increases from character level, there is no easy way (i.e. powers or psionic items) to increase them.

When you create your character, you have the option of selecting one or the other. If you select the Wild Talent feat, you're locked into it. You can't switch back. Non-psionic characters (i.e. those who choose not to take the Wild Talent feat), automatically gain the Mental Defense feat. However, you are not locked into it, as everyone has the potential to unlock the powers of the mind.

This is not to say, however, that choosing to become a Psion when you started out as a non-psionic character is easy. Not at all. It's no easier than suddenly proclaiming to your DM that your Fighter wants to all of the sudden take his first Wizard level when he has shown no substantial inclination to such a thing during roleplay.

In the end, psionics is available to everyone, but if you didn't start out with it, you must be taught how to unlock your mind. This means that it requires some effort on the player's part.

Anyway, that's another house rule. :D
 
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At present my likely list of house rules looks like this:

1. Armour provides DR equal to its value. Archaic armour only gives half DR against Ballistic attacks. It doesn't give any resistance against energy/concussion attacks.

2. In melee, you can parry. Use up one of your attacks from next round as an opposed check. Same mechanism as I use in D&D, a more detailed version of which is on my website.

3. Burst Fire has Str 13+ prereq instead of Wis 13+

4. Double tap and Burst crits: the extra damage is doubled rather than added on afterwards.

If I use magic in a campaign it will be taken lock, stock and barrel from Call of Cthulhu d20, along with the psychic rules from there.

Cheers
 

No house rules for me until I actually run a game with the stock rules. I don't see any reason to get all obsessive about rules that aren't 'realisitic' until I see how they play.
 

Unseelie said:
I don't see any reason to get all obsessive about rules that aren't 'realisitic' until I see how they play.

If you have an obsessive personality, then you have all the reason in the world. :p
 



Unseelie said:
No house rules for me until I actually run a game with the stock rules. I don't see any reason to get all obsessive about rules that aren't 'realisitic' until I see how they play.

That's an interesting option.

The two big changes from above are things that I've either done (or intend to do) in my D&D game anyway. I like to balance realistic, fun, internal consistency and logic.

Me, I've been a rules designer and tinkerer for decades, and I'll naturally change things. I never have taken games as if "tablets of stone delivered from the heavens" and I don't think I ever will.

One of the best things IMO in 3e is that the designers have moved completely away from the "don't change anything, you'll ruin your game" stance, and into a "change what you want to make your campaign unique and fun. Be aware of the implications though".


Cheers
 

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