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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Greg K" data-source="post: 6175246" data-attributes="member: 5038">Regarding sticking to the 3e rules rules as written and lots of things spelled out, they are good for new DMs and for organized play.  However, the 3.0 DMG consistently told the DM that they can change the game and also provided numerous variants.  Most of the variants were also in the 3.5 versionRule 0 (3.0 PHB p.4)Sidebar: Access to Skills (3.0 PHB p.60): Tells the player that the DM can prohibit characters from taking certain skillsFrom the 3.0 DMG"Let's start with the biggest secret of all: the key to Dungeon Mastering (Don't tell anyone, okay?). The secret is that you are in charge. That is not telling-everyone what to do sort of in charge. Rather, you decide how the group is going to play the game and "you decide how the rules work, which rules to use and how strictily to adhere to them."(3.0 DMG p.6). "Good players will alway recognize that you have ultimate authority over the game mechanics, even superceding somethng in a rule book" (3.0 DMG p.9)"Every rule in the Player's Handbook was written for a reason. That doesn't mean you can't change them for your own game" (3.0 DMG p.9)The 3.0 DMG even gave a bunch of optional rules for DMs to tailor the game. Tailoring the character (creating class variants): Discusses tailoring the Fighter into an ex-bodyguard for a Thieve's Guild (a revised version appears in 3e Unearthed Arcana)3e DMG Variants: 33 rules variants plus advice on tailoring races, advice on creating new classes and tailoring new ones, firearms and asian weapons for those gms that want to introduce themI. Chapter 2: Characters- Race The section on races discusses altering existing races and creating environmental subraces (the latter is fleshed out in Unearthed Arcana)1. Variant: Monster as RaceII. Chapter 2: Characters- ClassesThe section discusses creating classes and tailoring existing classes. In addition to the variant rules listed below, it discusses turning the ranger into an undead stalker with sneak attack vs. undead and paladin smite evil vs. undead only. (A few class variant examples appear in early 3e supplements, but it does not really get truly supported with plenty of examples until Unearthed Arcana and later supplements)2. Variant: Spell List Variant Spellcasters (covers tailoring divine spell lists to deity, arcane lists to schools, and lists for other variant spellcasting classes). They even provide a Witch variant as an example.3. Variant: Multi-classing at 1st level (covers apprentice level characters and 0/0 level multiclassing at first level).III.Chapter 2- Characters- Leveling 4 Variant: Learning Skills and Feats (learning skills and feats requires Trainers, training time, and training cost. Also, increasing existing skills requires a proper environment and opportunity to have practiced and applied the skill)5. Variant: Learning new spells: wizards finding spells, sorcerers learning from patrons, bards studying with other bards6. Variant: researching spells (creating new spells)7. variant: gaining class abilities (requires a trainer of the same class and training time or the character has to spend twice as much time on his or her own self training)8. variant: general down time9. variant: fixed hit diceIV. Chapter 3: Running the Game- Combat Variants10. Variant: Surprise Round11. Variant: Roll initiative each round12. Variant: Automatic Hits and Misses13. Variant: Defense Roll14. Variant: Instant Kill15. Variant: Softer Criticals16. Variant: Critical Misses (Fumbles)17. Variant: Firing into a crowd18. Variant: Clobbered (taking half of current hit points from a single results in character taking a partial action on next turn)19. Variant: Death from Massive Damage Based on size20. Variant: Damage to Specific Areas V. Chapter 3: Running the Game - Monster Ability Variants21. Variant: Separate Ability Loss (each 2 points of ability damage, the character takes a -1 penalty to ability related rollsNon Magical Psionics Variant.22. Variant: Non-magical Psionics23. Variant: Characters with ScentVI. Chapter 3: Running the Game - Skill and Ability Check 24. Variant: Skills with Different Abilities25. Variant: Critical Success or FailureVIII. Chapter 3: Running the Game- Saving Throws26. Variant: Saves with Different Ability ScoresIX. Chapter 3: Running the Game- Adjudicating Magic 27 Variant: Spell Roll (Save DC = d20 roll + spell level+ caster modifier)28. Variant: Power Components (alternative to spells casting XP)29. Variant: Summoning Individual Monsters (affects Summon Monster and Summon Nature's Ally spells)X. Chapter 5: Campaigns30. Variant: Upkeep (characters are charged a monthly fee based upon their lifestyle)Not a variant, but there is sidebar suggesting cool ways to break the rules and tailor the chararcters to your own settingXI. Chapter 6: World BuildingNot a variant, but suggestions on building a different world talks about Asian Weapons, Firearms, and Futuristic Weapons. With sample weapons.Also, the section on Differing Magic, briefly discusses changing the level of magic to either low magic or high magicXII. Chapter 7: Rewards31. Variant: Faster of Slower Experience (controlling the speed of leveling)32. Variant: Free Form Experience (instead of calculating XP, hand out recommended XP based on encounter toughness33. Variant: Story Awards: Non Combat encounters, Mission Goals, Rolepalying Wards, Story Awards</blockquote>

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