House Rulebook Design & Sample HR Book Template

[Emirikol]

Good Morning, All,
I'm thinking that I would like to use a Blog for my next campaign's website.
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated,
Flynn

You can do the same thing a lot simpler with Yahoogroups. There's a database function that allows you to keep all that information easy-access. There are a lot of people out there with tech-smartz that can probably do more elaborate stuff, but to tell you the truth, half of your players wouldn't read it and the rest would probably glaze it over anyways. If you keep it fairly simple, it's easier to update (so you can spend more time playing) and players are more likely to be able to access it if you request that they research something prior to the next game (for example).

www.yahoogroups.com (create an account and then click"Create a Group"). It's dumb-simple and that's why I was drawn to it

Others?

jh

 

[el-remmen]

For 2E I had a printed book orgainzed along the lines of the PHB - but the constant additions, corrections, deletions, etc. . was a pain in the butt. . . It was about 160 pages long.

I started making one for 3E, but it was getting unmanageably long and then 3.5 came out and for a while I faked it - now I am using a wiki and it is so much more convenient to update and I can have multiple people work on it with me at once - and when something comes up in game we check the wiki or update the wiki if it is something not already covered.

 

[Nyaricus]

I like it. I wouldn't lift the veil however by mentioning Tolkein. Stay in the theme so players keep the feeling while reading it. The other thing you could do is noe that anything in the intro is fair game for reference too (maybe hand out x.p. to anyone who can tell you who the horse lords are (do it online so that everyone has a chance). The intro blurb is always a lot of work, but it seems to only get read once so unless it's part of a useful reference, keep it short or only for new player motivation about your world.

thanks for the feedback . I just want to make sure i am getting what you are saying right though: should i X out any mention of Tolkien, and re-word it or am i missing something here? The "lift the veil" bit kinda confused me, lol. I know that the intro is often left behind - hell i didn't read the Forgotten Realms intro for months after aquiring the book. But i figured I'd have something there, since only one fellow in my upcoming campaign has played in my world before, and i am not even DMing - rather i am working closely with the DM to make sure themes (for player races, classes, PrC's, monsters, weapons, armour, ethnicities, etc) and such are correct. Mentioning Tolkien was purposful to get themes set for my world.

Anyways . . .i must be going - but thank you for the feedback - just clarifying yourself on that one point would be great. Later!

 

[Emirikol]

Is anyone surprised at the number of DM's who've created at least one rule because of a munchkin or rules lawyer?

Anyone here feel like 'some' players have simply forced your hand to be more stringent on the rules?

jh

 

[Uder]

Anyone here feel like 'some' players have simply forced your hand to be more stringent on the rules?

You can't blame the players as much as the game designers... there's always power inflation in rules sets, but add in third parties (where higher power = higher sales), and you start having to get happy with the banhammer. I seriously doubt 99% of the feats, spells or prestige classes published have ever been playtested, much less played, before they hit the stores.

 

[azhrei_fje]

Agreed. Which is why I don't allow 3rd-party rules IMC unless I've had a chance to seriously review them. And that doesn't mean read the text of an expanded skill description (such as Concentration from the XPH) and make a ruling on-the-fly.

If a player wants to add something, the conversation goes something like this: "No. Loan me the book and the answer becomes Maybe. If I think the feature you want is underpowered, the answer will likely become Yes."

 

[Nyaricus]

If a player wants to add something, the conversation goes something like this: "No. Loan me the book and the answer becomes Maybe. If I think the feature you want is underpowered, the answer will likely become Yes."

heh heh. Thats getting added to my sig! thanks man.

BTW, same ruling for me as well. I reveiw it, and decide on whether it will be disruptive or not. They i "yay" or "nay".

 

[Emirikol]

So do you guys then just blanket deny all other books except for WotC stuff?

Just FYI: a great way to see what's overpowered is to take a look at what they're allowing/disallowing for the RPGA campaigns (specifically Living Greyhawk). That stuff is playtested by 14,000 players and the campaign managers keep strict watch for overpowered stuff (they have too or they get 4,000 angry emails). Just download the campaign sourcebook and they list all of the feats, PrC's, items, etc that are allowed or disallowed. In fact, they even make fixes.

Although I don't want to have to have an extra 50 pages in my house rule for 99% of stuff PC's wouldn't ever use anyways (such as PrC's or magic items), it's nice to be able to reference the RPGA's Living Greyhawk guide if someone asks me a question about something.

jh
P.s. Blanket deny: Vow of Poverty Feat

 

[Scorpionfolke]

I was going to attach my house rulebook, however the file is too large. If anyone wants it, just email me.

jh

i'd definately like to seeyour house rulebook

 

[Raven Crowking]

Here are some links to work I am doing for my campaign workbook:

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=151866
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=153689
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=152928
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=151729
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=103041
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=141007
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=141437
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=137567
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=141187
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=88576

RC