House Rules You Don't Realize You Have

[The_Gneech]

I realized this morning that my group has what equates to a house rule, which both the other GM in the group and I use, which is this: when the party "buffs up" before a big fight, we start counting the rounds of buff duration from the first round of combat, rather than from when the party started buffing. Thus, if the group knows that the big baddie is at the bottom of the stairs, or at the end of the hall, or whatever, they'll take a few rounds to "buff up" in the safe spot, then go to the fight and start counting rounds.

We've never spelled this out as a house rule, we just sorta spontaneously do it this way to simplify life. I'd be curious to hear what other folks may have effectively "house ruled" without actually describing it as such.

-The Gneech

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

If I don't realize its a house rule how can I tell you about it...?

 

[The_Gneech]

Introspection and soul-searching, of course!

-The Gneech

 

[delericho]

I recently realised that I house rule Charisma to have nothing whatsoever to do with appearance. We don't use an Appearance stat, or any rules for it at all: a player can describe his character however he wishes, with no game effect whatsoever.

In terms of gameplay, this has absolutely no effect. But it is a change from the RAW.

I'm also fairly lax on counting rounds for buff spells before combat. But then, I'm also quite lax on counting rounds during combat.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Mrs. Geekus likes vinegar potato chips

The other non-written house rules are frankly of lesser importance.

 

[LogicsFate]

Rolling extra twenties on crits and killing out right

Never even bothered to look it up till a few weeks ago

 

[fusangite]

I recently realised that I house rule Charisma to have nothing whatsoever to do with appearance. We don't use an Appearance stat, or any rules for it at all: a player can describe his character however he wishes, with no game effect whatsoever.

In terms of gameplay, this has absolutely no effect. But it is a change from the RAW.

I'm also fairly lax on counting rounds for buff spells before combat. But then, I'm also quite lax on counting rounds during combat.

Well, that's because it's the players' job not yours. I just discovered one last night; I had not realized that the casting time of a spell being "one full round" is not the same as the spell being a full round action; for targeting purposes, this makes spells like Ice Storm much less convenient.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Funsangite: It really doesn't affect targeting (inasmuch as you still target the spell when you complete it), but it will seriously affect the opposition's ability to disrupt the spell.

 

[TerraDave]

In past edditions, groups that realised and had the inclination could probably right down pages of these, especially if they included rules from other editions (i.e. from OD&D and B/E D&D to AD&D) and what they where omiting.

3rd ed that is a little harder...but still I know there are a few...."take 20" is very much on DM whim, that is one, hmm...charecters with full hands can still use material and focus components, that is pretty minor though (or at least may be RAW)...there must be some more....

 

[Psion]

Sort of the opposite. My players think I have house rules I don't have! I have a few house rules that have to get explained to new players, but my players mistake actual RAW as house rules from time to time.

Dave: "The way Alan does things, you roll d20 again to confirm your crit."
Me: "Actually, Dave, that's in the rules."

One group I used to play with insisted that you could sneak attack with a bow on a non-flat footed target (i.e., that you could flank with a bow). I had to show them the black-and-white off-yellow on that one.