The VCH list (Very Common Houserules)

[MarauderX]

Check out some of the ones we've been using. They save time, are more appropriate as the characters level, and are intuitive.

http://correl.wikispaces.com/Rules

 

[Aries_Omega]

Sorcerers gain Eschew Materials for free.

Sorcerers must choose a bloodline feat (from Best of Dragon) as a free feat. This cannot be changed at a later time.

 

[Imruphel]

- Darkness is, um, darkness. Yeah it's dark. Shadowy illumination? What's that?
- Free multiclassing.
- Int increases add to skill points retroactively.

 

[Cheiromancer]

2. Bards are allowed to choose any spell off the wizard/sorcerer list. Normal: Bards are allowed to choose off of their list only.

5. Wizards get Spell Focus for free. Normal: Wizards must spend a feat to get Spell Focus.

I've never heard of these ones. I don't think they should count as common, let alone very common.

 

[Aus_Snow]

• More skill points (like, +1 or +2 per level / +4 or +8 at 1st), possibly only applying to 'flavour' skills like Profession/Craft/Perform etc., or with more points for those.
  
• More feats (like, 1 at every odd-numbered character level, or 1 every character level).
  
• Strength bonus to 2-handed damage being x1.5, not x2.
  
• Power attack with 2-handed weapons giving 1.5-for-1, not 2-for-1. Sometimes usable with light weapons, giving 0.5-for-1.
  
• Shields providing more protection in one way or another (sometimes simply +1 AC for each type).
  
• Base Defence Bonus, whether class-based, or (for example) simply equal to half of BAB, or even full BAB.
  
• Armour as DR, or half DR and half AC bonus.
  

 

[Dagredhel]

Specialist Wizards get Spell Focus for free.

The summary by the OP just says "Wizard".

 

[Stalker0]

I'm looking to compile a list of very common houserules, so common they could be considered part of the D&D culture. Please post any houserule you know is used with more than one group (at least.) Please list the rule and the "normal" rule it replaces (if any.) Thank you.

Current List:
1. A character's CON score becomes the number of negative points they can reach before they die. EG, a character with a 13 CON can get to -13 before they die.
Normal: Characters die when they are at -10.
2. Bards are allowed to choose any spell off the wizard/sorcerer list. Normal: Bards are allowed to choose off of their list only.
3. When rolling hit points, if the player rolls less than half then the character gets half HP minimum. EG, a barbarian rolls a 2 on a 1d12, so he get 6 HP minimum.
4. Dodge feat give a flat +1 bonus to AC. Normal: You must choose one opponent to gain bonus against.
5. Wizards get Spell Focus for free. Normal: Wizards must spend a feat to get Spell Focus.
6. PC may multiclass without XP penalties. Normal: Multiclassing can incur a 20% penalty.
7. Keen weapon quality and Improved Critical stack, giving an increase threat range. Normal: Keen weapon quality and Improved Critical do not stack
8. Tumble is an opposed check to the target's attack of opprtunity. Normal: Tumble checks are a flat DC.
9. Diplomacy is an opposed check to diplomacy. Normal: It is a flat DC
10. You may substitute STR for CHA in any Intimidate check so long as the subject can see you. Normal: Intimidate is only modified by CHA.

Haven't update all yet.

These are the only ones I would consider so common that they could be considered almost standard. The rest are certainly not THAT common.

 

[starwed]

Yeah, I think that some of these are simply house rules people happened to posted in this thread. ^_^ But once several have been collected, it would be interesting to have a poll on these.

However, although the exact form of 8 is not necessarily common, some sort of opposed check to tumble (often BAB rather than attack) is proposed a lot, and so should probably be mentioned. And I think 1 is quite common, even in previous editions.

Rules which I've personally seen used or proposed a lot, but aren't on the list:

• Using auto-success/failure on a natural 1/20 for all d20 rolls, not just attacks and saves.
• Ties go to defender (even on things like AC, where it's a hit by the rules.)
• Some variant of stabilization checks (DC 15 fort save, for example.)
• Looser alignment/multiclass restrictions on classes (such as monks and paladins)

 

[Greg K]

Monk: Freely multiclass barring alignment conflicts
Paladin: Freely multiclass barring alignment conflicts
Sorcerer: Eschew Materials at first level. Bonus Metamagic at levels 5,10,15,20

 

[Cheiromancer]

I'll echo the free Eschew Materials for Sorcerers.

Treating a natural 20 as if it were 30, and a 1 as if it were -10 is probably fairly common, too. (Sometimes it is worded like "a 20 is a +10 to the roll; a 1 is a -10 to the roll" or something).