House Rules
Created Monday 19 May 2014
This is a list of house rules applicable regardless of setting.
For setting-specific rules, see Custom Rules.
Also see subpages:
- House Rules:Banlist
- House Rules:Items
- House Rules:Particular Spells
- House Rules:Spellcasters
- House Rules:Tome of Battle Errata
Standard House Rules
Spot + Listen = Acuity.
Spot and Listen are combined into one skill called Acuity, keyed off Wisdom.
- Anything that gives a bonus to Spot or Listen gives a bonus to Acuity.
- Anything that requires Spot or Listen as a pre-requisite now requires Acuity.
- Anything that grants Spot or Listen as a class skill now grants Acuity.
- Bonuses to Spot and Listen from the same source (i.e. Competence bonus to both Spot and Listen) do not stack.
Hide + Move Silently = Stealth.
As above. Hide and Move Silently are combined into one skill called Stealth, keyed off Dexterity.
Recursive skill synergy bonuses.
Having 5 ranks in Jump gives a +2 bonus to Tumble. Having 10 jump gives +4 Tumble. And so on.
Hitpoints:
Max at first level. 1/2 your hit dice + 1 at all subsequent levels.
Multiclassing:
There is no multiclassing XP penalty.
Fractional base bonuses:
Base attack bonus and base save bonuses for multi-class characters are worked out using the 'fractional base bonuses' rules from Unearthed Arcana (pg. 73.) This grants multiclass characters higher BAB and saves than they would otherwise have.
AC bonus stacking:
If you have multiple sources of Armour AC, only the highest applies. If you have multiple sources of Shield AC, only the highest applies.
Dodge feat and friends:
- The Dodge feat grants a flat +1 to Dodge AC.
- The Mobility feat grants +10' move speed in addition to the usual effect (+4 Dodge AC vs. attacks of opportunity.)
- The Spring Attack feat allows you to make two five-foot steps in the same turn as a full-attack action. This replaces normal effects.
AC bonus from ability bonus:
Any abilities that provides an untyped AC bonus keyed to an ability bonus (Monk Wisdom to AC, Duellist INT to AC, etc) do not stack with each other. Only the highest applies.
However, any ability, bonus, feat, modifier etc. that applies to one such ability also applies to all - so the Carmendine Monk feat (Champions of Valor pg. 28; use INT instead of WIS for Monk AC bonus and abilities) can be used to allow Swordsage wisdom AC bonus to key off INT instead of WIS.
(Related: Some justification for this houserule from WotC's errata for Swordsage WIS AC Bonus.)
Warshaper:
Limited to a number of additional natural attacks equal to Constitution modifier + Warshaper levels, minimum +1.
Actions per round:
Per round, you get NO MORE THAN, BY ANY MEANS:
- Two Full Round actions OR two Full Attacks
- Three Standard actions
- Three Move actions
- Two Swift AND/OR Immediate actions
- Two Free actions
Unusual House Rules
Spellcasters: (see House Rules:Spellcasters)
Includes:
- Buffs to 0th-level spells.
- Versatile Spellcaster feat
- Sorceror adjustments - illiterate, but more powerful
- Favoured Soul and Warmage - spell progression adjustments
- Ultimate Magus - entry requirement adjustment
- Familiars - consequences of familiar's death
Particular spells: (see House Rules:Particular Spells)
Includes:
- Power Word: Pain
- Wings of Cover
- Launch Bolt
Items: (see House Rules:Items)
Includes:
- Nightstick
- Beekeeper's Suit
- "Buttons" and other custom magic items
Natural 1's on attacks
If you roll a natural 1 on an attack with a weapon, roll a DEX check (DC 10) to hold on to your weapon. Failure means the weapon drops at your feet.
Poison
There is no chance of poisoning yourself when applying poison to a weapon outside of combat or when drawing a poisoned weapon for use.
A character who rolls a natural 1 on an attack with a poisoned weapon still faces the usual DC 15 Reflex save to avoid poisoning themselves.
Dragonfire Inspiration
(feat, Dragon Magic pg. 17)
Change #1: The elemental damage bonus is reduced from multiples of 1d6 to multiples of 1d4.
Change #2: A creature may only benefit from one Inspire Courage or Dragonfire Inspiration bardsong - they do not stack.
If a creature would be affected by more than one Inspire Courage or Dragonfire Inspiration song, the bardsong from the highest level bard applies. In case of a tie between bards, the first bard to sing takes precedence.
Note: Dragonfire Inspiration is a 'specialisation' of Inspire Courage, which is my reasoning for why they do not stack.
Tome of Battle Errata
See House Rules:Tome of Battle Errata for a list of the most pertinent errata that apply. Particularly White Raven Tactics.
Banlist
See House Rules:Banlist for full list of things banned in this game.
Revision Log
2014-05-19
First revision.
2014-05-20
Allow a modified version of Dragonfire Inspiration.
2014-06-07
Split into multiple smaller pages for readability.
2014-06-13
Add rules for death of wizard's familiar.
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