Still playing 3e? Share your 3.0 and/or 3.5 house rules

[Deset Gled]

Why no grappling?

That was a half joke.

The grappling mechanics in 3.x are ridiculously over detailed. It's probably the worst part of the combat system. Initiating a grapple can grind combat to halt, requiring lots of rules-checking and dozens of modifiers and decisions.

Generally speaking, it's easiest for everyone to just agree not to grapple unless there's a really good reason (e.g. plot/drama/whatever). Grappling with really big things, like being snatched by humongous claws, can use some ad hoc rulings to get through things quicker.

There are a few feats, PrCs, etc, built around grappling. It's better to just ignore them.

 

[earthsea_wizard]

That was a half joke.

The grappling mechanics in 3.x are ridiculously over detailed. It's probably the worst part of the combat system. Initiating a grapple can grind combat to halt, requiring lots of rules-checking and dozens of modifiers and decisions.

Generally speaking, it's easiest for everyone to just agree not to grapple unless there's a really good reason (e.g. plot/drama/whatever). Grappling with really big things, like being snatched by humongous claws, can use some ad hoc rulings to get through things quicker.

There are a few feats, PrCs, etc, built around grappling. It's better to just ignore them.

I assumed that was why but you never know. My group has the rules down pretty well so it isn't all bad for us. But I can't believe that a simpler grappling system is one of the few things that I've never seen house rules for 3.5 in a way that is widely accepted.

 

[earthsea_wizard]

Net Book of Feats I think is just feats.

Is there a 3.5 update available online still?

 

[SpellObjectEnthusiast]

I've been considering running original 3.0 at some point soon.

Current list is limiting character creation to PHB+1, and significantly limiting access to prestige classes.

 

[cbwjm]

I've been considering running original 3.0 at some point soon.

Current list is limiting character creation to PHB+1, and significantly limiting access to prestige classes.

If I run it, I'm tempted to limit it to just the PHB (might include the FR campaign book if I set things there) and not worrying about prestige classes, at least initially. I do have all of the 3.0 class books (tome and blood, the other ones) so I could include those, but they'll show all of those prestige classes that might get people wanting to play them.

Side note, I forgot how long it can take to make NPCs in the system, though in the case I'm thinking of I'm creating a god so perhaps not the best example. I did have some basic rules for simple NPC/monster creation, I'll have to see if I can find them again. I think it was just things like only pick skills you think they'll use, don't worry about all of their feats, etc.

 

[earthsea_wizard]

If I run it, I'm tempted to limit it to just the PHB (might include the FR campaign book if I set things there) and not worrying about prestige classes, at least initially. I do have all of the 3.0 class books (tome and blood, the other ones) so I could include those, but they'll show all of those prestige classes that might get people wanting to play them.

Side note, I forgot how long it can take to make NPCs in the system, though in the case I'm thinking of I'm creating a god so perhaps not the best example. I did have some basic rules for simple NPC/monster creation, I'll have to see if I can find them again. I think it was just things like only pick skills you think they'll use, don't worry about all of their feats, etc.

But there are thousands of NPCs and monsters for 3e/3.5/PF just ready to go at your finger tips among the countless print and online materials for this system. For me I make one when I can't find a suitable fit, which is rare enough that when I do have to make one it is nice that it can be an indepth and rewarding process.

 

[cbwjm]

But there are thousands of NPCs and monsters for 3e/3.5/PF just ready to go at your finger tips among the countless print and online materials for this system. For me I make one when I can't find a suitable fit, which is rare enough that when I do have to make one it is nice that it can be an indepth and rewarding process.

Yeah, don't get me wrong, I'll likely just use orcs and goblins and various NPCs as is in most cases, but when I need a gnoll fire brand (from my homebrew setting, they set themselves alight in magical flame when in battle, exploding in a ball of fire when they die) I'm going to need to make some alterations (though in the fire brand's case, that doesn't require a full build, just an ability added to the base gnoll)

 

[Deset Gled]

But I can't believe that a simpler grappling system is one of the few things that I've never seen house rules for 3.5 in a way that is widely accepted.

I think the reason is that it simply isn't needed. The number of times that true grappling (i.e. wrestling) comes up in a game with swords and magic is relatively few and far between. There's occasional grabbing, but that's handled by the disarm rules. And there's times like I mentioned where a person-sized creatures is grabbed by a really large creature, but that's easily handled by a few strength checks.

 

[Li Shenron]

Whether its a few bullet points or a link to a 40 page word doc lets see your house rules for this edition if you're still playing it.

Oh gosh... I haven't played 3ed since 5ed, but maybe around a year or two after 3.5 came out, my group switched back to 3.0 and we had a few years of fun with various house rules. I probably still have them somewhere but I would need to figure out where. Most of them weren't rules changes but rather extensions.

I remember that a couple of my contributions were:

- adding more skills and uses to existing skills, such as rules for using the Appraise skill to bargain for item prices, especially in games with "magic items shops"

- reducing the common cleric spells list to a minimum, while increasing domains spell lists, for the purpose of making clerics more diverse but each one having a more manageable spells list

 

[haakon1]

Oh I read your post wrong. Where is Furyondian Warmaster from?

The 3e splatbook for Fighter types: “Sword & Fist”, p. 37.

The PC with that Prestige Class is a Fighter from Furyondy, with back story that he was in the local militia. A lot of adventuring and role-playing later, two of the PC’s who were now politically connected finagled an appointment to the Furyondian War College for him.

Which naturally led to a later adventure (TOEE), after everyone had some downtime.