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House Rules and RAW interpretations.

Posted by DMFor group 0
DM
GM, 1 post
Thu 14 Jun 2018
at 21:42
  • msg #1

House Rules and RAW interpretations

A small collection of such things as would come up in every game. A quick reference section, basically.

Posting schedule, here at the top, where it should be easy to find:

I will generally post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for official updates to move things along. Tuesday/Friday if Monday is a holiday in the US.

Anyone who hasn't logged in for two weeks (14 full days) without some sort of word will be replaced sometime around Day 15.

Combats will be a bit quicker: a 24 hour turn around (more or less, but generally at least that long, and rarely more than 36 hours). Generally in private threads set up for this use. I'm not a fan of metagaming, so I don't want the guy going last to post first and have everyone else post as though they know what he's planning on doing. It's happened enough to cause me to institute not only this solution, but to make all die roller rolls secret as a default.

People that check in during combat but don't post may find that the 14 day rule applies to a lack of posting, also.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:47, Thu 14 June 2018.
DM
GM, 2 posts
Thu 14 Jun 2018
at 21:49
  • msg #2

What's In a Name?

While this game will be using firm D&D 5e rules, the names have been changed to suit the sources I've used to stitch together this setting, both Real World Legends and Myths as well as semi historical fantasy literature.

I've addressed this elsewhere using "Troll" as an example. It's a word that can refer to any of 6 creatures ranging from gnome to hill giant, depending on where you are and/or who you're talking to.

"Artifact" is a similar word. In this setting it falls somewhere between Legendary Item and the D&D use of the word Artifact. Generally it refers to an Intelligent item of Legendary power levels, and further customized using DMG pages 142-143. less powerful than a standard D&D artifact, and without the usual downside. However, as Intelligent Items, they will have mind of their own and may refuse to cooperate.
DM
GM, 3 posts
Thu 14 Jun 2018
at 21:50
  • msg #3

Character Sheets

Character Sheets are locked, as they are my master copies, but I'll make any updates and/or needed changes per the player's choices (with in limits for class and setting). Just let me know if something isn't right, or needs tweaked.

Skills are marked with letters. This is to let you (and me) know the source:
F: Feat
R: Racial
C: Class
B: Background

If the letter (usually a C) appears twice in one entry, it means a class or path ability gives you double proficiency/Expertise.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:18, Thu 26 Mar 2020.
DM
GM, 4 posts
Thu 14 Jun 2018
at 21:56
  • msg #4

Long Distance Travel and Rests

A general day of background or travel time has a standard of 2 short rests, one 1/3rd the day along, the other 2/3rds the day along. Lunch and Dinner, basically, although, if you're traveling, it's more likely two smaller meals or snacks, with the two main meals bracketing the day.

This is important for a couple different uses:
At some point, some you may have multiple magic items in need of analysis and attunement (each of which is a separate short rest). You can't just take a day off and go through multiple items. Well, you could, but then you're not traveling and you'll be doing other things which will also fill your day. It may take awhile, and you may have to prioritize if you have multiple items in need of figuring out. Identify would be quicker. THAT you can all day if you have the components.

More normally, there are powers that may be of use during travel and only renew during short rest (and, of course, long ones). Druidic shape changing comes to mind, allowing the 2 changes per rest to be 6 changes a day of travel, for a potentially large boost to travel speed, especially if the druid can do flying shapes and ignore terrain modifiers.

Again, this is background limits on time keeping and activity options. In a dungeon crawl it's probably not possible to take an hour break after every combat, but three or four in a day could work, if the time could be found. Battle can be exhausting.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:47, Wed 24 June 2020.
DM
GM, 5 posts
Thu 14 Jun 2018
at 22:00
  • msg #5

Tool Skills/Proficiencies

First off, Xananthar's rules about what's in a tool kit and how tool knowledge can help other skills and die rolls applies. You need to remind me you have the tool skill and, if needed, the kit.

Tool proficiencies are still proficiencies, they just aren't tied to a specific Attribute.

Anyone can try them, assuming they have the tools, but without training you're at whatever Attribute is appropriate, in my opinion. That can vary widely, of course, by application as well as by tool.

Also, a Tool proficiency CAN be used without a tool set in some cases, and, in some cases, it simply can't. Without the tool set there will usually be a penalty, based on situation:

Some examples:
Cooking: Without a tool set, an Int roll will allow remembering recipes and determining what spices are best to use, etc. at full value.

Thieve's tools: You MIGHT be able to fake it with a bit of wire or flat piece of metal, at a penalty.

Chess: You can play without a board, but, unless you have some sort of memory ability, it will be at a penalty as you try and keep track of where the pieces are.

Cards: No deck, no game and no way to fake it. You need a deck of cards.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:44, Sun 05 Dec 2021.
DM
GM, 6 posts
Thu 14 Jun 2018
at 22:00
  • msg #6

Color and Flavor in Posts

Orange is for OOC
Blue is for Speech
Red and Green are for the DM.


Folks, you have to be careful with posts designed to give a little flavor or style to your posts. Nothing that confers abilities or bits of magic that don't actually exists.

Mundane weapons that glow when you throw spells won't work. If I allow that sort of precedent, then, the next time you're in the dark, you can through a spell and get a free Light effect, all because I've been letting you do it previously.

On the other hand, an Undead Slaying Weapon that detects undead and glows in their presence COULD be described as bursting into ghostly flames in their presence. This would be a flavor application of the Glow AND the extra Slaying damage both. And still provides the light it was meant to provide.

Most spells and effects don't actually have a lot of "leakage" that manifests as odd side effects. Some CLASSES, such as some Sorcerer power sources, DO, however have that sort of effect. All the more reason to restrict them to the folks that have paid for them in their class selection.

Flavor is fine...just be conservative rather than overly liberal in your enthusiasm for a colorful visual.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:18, Wed 04 Jan 2023.
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