When in doubt, follow the rules

[John Morrow]

I can think of many times over the quarter century of playing where I've regretted breaking/bending/changing/ignoring the game rules for some reason. But I can't think of much where I've regretted just following the rules.

The main reason to use a rules-heavy system like D&D 3.5 or the Hero System is that the rules will do a better job of keeping the game running smoothly than a long series of subjective on-the-spot GM decisions. If you really want subjective on-the-spot GM decisions instead of looking up rules, then you should be using a rules-light system like Fudge because that's exactly the sort of play it's designed for.

 

[TheEvil]

On the spot house rules can also make it look like the GM favors some players.
I was in one game where a number of the GM's on the spot house rules had the effect of making the his wife's character build more effective then other options. These included taking away the option to draw as part of a move action (she had Quickdraw) and saying that Spring Attack didn't negate AoO's caused by moving through reach (her's was the only tank fighter in a party that also had two light fighters). Whether intentionally biased or not, it definately created the appearance of bias.

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

Just wanted to note that I'm not against house rules. My siblings campaign has scads of 'em, from a slightly modded EoM[R] to DanMcS' weapons system. It's just off-the-cuff changes I'm wary of.

 

[werk]

I know one player who joined our high level game with a PC that shot 8 times a round. Let me spell that for you: E I G H T

Limit the amount of free actions that can be taken per round. DM's perogative, really.

 

[TheEvil]

Limit the amount of free actions that can be taken per round. DM's perogative, really.

For the record, I am also not against house rules, just on the fly ones.

That said, you are making house rules to fix house rules. Tends to be a very messy path to go down...

 

[yennico]

I agree with diaglo.

 

[diaglo]

For the record, I am also not against house rules, just on the fly ones.

That said, you are making house rules to fix house rules. Tends to be a very messy path to go down...

it leads to the dark side.

 

[francisca]

it leads to the dark side.

and to new editions, it will.

--yoda spikey

 

[werk]

For the record, I am also not against house rules, just on the fly ones.

That said, you are making house rules to fix house rules. Tends to be a very messy path to go down...

I agree too, the mechanics are too complex to monkey with. I don't have any flanking archers for sure...

I do not think that setting the number of free actions per round is a house rule.

 

[Quasqueton]

The rules are tomatoes.

I follow the tomatoes.



Quasqueton