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Message: <blockquote data-quote="EyeontheMountain" data-source="post: 3417196" data-attributes="member: 32338">A player in one of my games asked the question quoted at the top and I replied with the section below. What is the line for you? How do you feel about my breakdown in to the three areas?> First from a non rules centered guy what is the difference between> interpretation and house rule.It is a fine line.I see three versions1. An interpretation2. A house rule for game 'feel'3. A house rule to change something the DM doesn't likeTo me an interpretation is where there is not a clear rule, or thesituation is not handled well in the D&D rule set. This could be settingthe DC for a nonstandard use of a skill, or deciding on the fly howsomething works. A good example is Shapechangers (Werewolf and such)They are one kind of monster that was left off the Knowledge skillstables in the PHB. Obviously they should be on there, but is it nature,local or even arcane? I could make a good argument for all three. Butthe DM needs to decide. To me this kind of thing is clearly not a houserule.House Rule for game feel.Most of you on this list is a member of the Scaled Empire game I juststarted up. In that game I restricted Stone to Flesh and BreakEnchantment because I have major sub-plot involving ways to turn peopleback from statues into human beings. And I definitely do not want someyahoo running around changing them back like taking a walk inthe park. So they are restricted. Same as saying playerscannot play races, classes or take feats because they do not fit theworld or the DM doesn't own the book. These can be annoying to players,depending on what is taken out.House rules due to DM dislikeTo me these are th most problematical, as the DM can easily run wild bybanning this, that and those over there. Or even worse by changingthings wildly. This can be unbalancing and can make the game confusing.On the other hand sometimes the DM just doesn't want to deal with aproblem, or considers its downsides too much. I routinely ban; CNalignment, Monks, warlocks, 3.5 power attack, spiked chains,Wraithstrike, Natural Spell, among other game features. I either don'tlike the ability, or the effect it has on the game.On the other other hand (See, told you I was not human!) it has been myexperience that players rarely complain about house rules that make themmore powerful. Like in this game you get an 84 buy for stats (crazyhigh), a bonus feat (nice), Action points (life-savers) and two extraclass skills (nice versatility) but I hear no complaints about theseclear House Rules.Sorry for the bit of a rant, this is a bit of a pet peeve with me.</blockquote>

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