What's the strangest house rule you've ever heard of?

[MeepoTheMighty]

This one isn't all that unusal, but I thought it was pretty grating, although from what I understand, pretty common.

DM starts game at 1st level. Players play game for 8 months. PCs are no between 18-25th level. DM invited new players. DM says: "You start at 1st level". New player starts game. New player makes new PC after 1st round of 1st fight during session. New player introduces new PC. New player makes new PC after 1st round of 2nd fight during session. New player introduces new PC. Repeat.

I'm pretty sure that was in the original 1e rules, and I know for sure that it's in the Hackmaster rules. Of course, under those systems you'd only be maybe 5th level or so after playing for 8 months, so it wasn't THAT big of a deal, but it still sucks to be the new guy.

 

[MindWright]

Initiative Countdown

One game I played the DM thought it was silly that you could move 30' and still attack in "one twentieth of a six second round." So he counted down each initiative, and when he got to your rolled initiative you started moving, and moved 5' or took one action or attack each initiative count until you were out of movement, actions, and attacks.

When the countdown got to 0, any remaining actions or movement were lost, and initiative was rolled for the new round.

Needless to say Improved Initiative was a popular feat.

Mostly, I hated it, but it was kind of amusing watching a bugbear chase a halfling around a pillar in circles all through one round of combat.

I do have to say that I really like the call rule, and I may use it in the future. I've also played at least one campaign where everything said at the table was said ICly, and if you wanted to say something oocly, you had to write it down or leave the table.

 

[Goddess FallenAngel]

I'm pretty sure that was in the original 1e rules, and I know for sure that it's in the Hackmaster rules. Of course, under those systems you'd only be maybe 5th level or so after playing for 8 months, so it wasn't THAT big of a deal, but it still sucks to be the new guy.

Well, the DM had been around to play 1e, so maybe that's where he got the habit. Still, it was a 2e high-power game.... it sucked. I refused to play.

Good news is, now he's running a game where you type up a character history and background (sans class names, stats, etc) and he tells you what level you are and what items you have based on your background. He also adjusts your rolled stats accordingly.

That one's fun, and it's a blast.

 

[Nine Hands]

The Ckicken Dance is the somatic component for the Dance of Ruin spell

 

[Ace]

Here's mine: a DM who is now a good friend and long-time member of my game group once used to roll all the dice for a game session the night before and print them out on a sheet of paper. Then when the session began he'd just consult the sheet every time a die roll result was needed and inform us of the outcome. We found this an extremely odd way to play D&D, with no dice rolling at all, but merely consultations of his prerolled number sheet whenever an attack roll or saving throw result was needed.. We eventually convinced him to let us roll our own dice, but he maintains to this day that statisically it's exactly the same. I suppose it is, but it was just too wierd for us. Rolling dice is a big part of the fun.

I always wanted to try this but never had the guts to ask my players.

Besides dice rolling really is fun!

 

[I'm A Banana]

About the invisible thing: I'm pretty sure the current 'right way to do it' is to allow a spot check to 'notice' the enemy, with a DC of 20. However, knowing what square they're in just means you can target them -- the attacker still suffers a 50% miss chance for total concealment.

So even if they know where you are, they suck at hitting you.

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

There was a rep from WOTC who came to a local con here before 3e came out to run a "preview" game of 3e which I gladly went to. She said she was in editing or something, can't remember. She used the 6 second rule, counting down. Although, she only allowed 3 seconds to choose what you wanted to do, as she said if you didn't decide in that time, then there was no time left to actually DO what you decided.

My old group also had the house rule that whenever the DM raised their hand up with their thumb pointed down everyone had to stop talking. If they didn't, and the thumb hit the table, someone died, smited by a really big hand from the sky.

OT: I don't like players or anyone abusing invisibility for that matter. I play the rules as written. If you are anywhere that someone MAY see you, they get a spot roll, DC 20 to see evidence of your passing. This is just to know there there IS someone invisible around. You need a DC 40 to see exactly where that small puff of dust came from. Luckily you can make a much easier listen check to hear an inviisble opponent. In combat, no one has a facing, so if you are on the battle mat at all without full cover, everyone gets a spot roll each round to see you. As well, no one can make a hide roll at all during combat, because you can't hide while being watched. I normally allow no spot rolls OUTSIDE of combat to something behind you. I believe this is what "flat footedness" simulates, you haven't adopted your "I'm looking everywhere for enemies" stance yet, therefore someone can surprise you from behind and get a sneak attack.

 

[Hypersmurf]

About the invisible thing: I'm pretty sure the current 'right way to do it' is to allow a spot check to 'notice' the enemy, with a DC of 20. However, knowing what square they're in just means you can target them -- the attacker still suffers a 50% miss chance for total concealment.

A DC20 Spot check just alerts you to the fact that there's "something out there". The prickly feeling like you're being watched.

A DC40 Spot check lets you know there's someone invisible right there. You no longer have to guess which square to attack, fire a ray spell, bull rush, or whatever, but they still benefit from the 50% miss chance for total concealment.

Without some way to actually see them, however, you can't designate them as the Target of a spell. No Magic Missiles or Hold Persons, for example. Use a Ray or an Area spell, or cast See Invisible first.

-Hyp.

 

[green slime]

or glitterdust

 

[Mark]

What's the strangest house rule you've ever heard of?

DM: New rule this week...

Mark: What's that?

DM: Mention my ex-girlfriend and it's the wearing of the dress she left behind.

(No one dared...)