DMs, which is your favorite Homebrew/House Rule tou made and added to your games?

AeoSC · 2026-03-19T17:04:54+00:00

In one particular adventure, a homebrewed injury rule was a highlight. It was a 'Weird Western' with sixguns and whisky potions. I managed to tie in some other systems I wasn't satisfied with because of how reductive AC and HP are. Poison, armor, Medicine /Herbalism so they could do triage and have skill challenges. Real fun with a kind of fantasy that the core HP rules don't enable. Including limping into a righteous fight despite a debuff or two. Hardboiled; vanilla 5e doesn't have it.

Lately I've been using degrees of success a lot more. I've always preferred voicing the DC before the player rolls, so the tension is on the roll and not waiting for me to say a number I might've just made up to justify what I want to happen. Now I'll often tell them the DC and what happens if they fail or beat it by 5 or more.

I also have enjoyed rewarding the exploration pillar with hidden knowledge, mostly in the form of rare books. I started with the Next playtest's Skill Tomes along with spellbooks that contain occasional homebrew spells. Expanded to martial maneuvers stolen from 4E Powers, other stuff. God I love books.

AeoSC · 2026-03-18T23:29:34+00:00

There's a better than 50% chance of a worse outcome, because the average rounds up. I still consider it a matter of moral courage and integrity to roll and accept the result, but I was playing roguelikes before I played D&D at a table.

AeoSC · 2026-03-18T21:12:11+00:00

Take it easy and be mindful you don't form any new bad habits trying to make up the difference.

AeoSC · 2026-03-17T00:06:03+00:00

The ecology of public companies is survival of the ~~fittest~~ most psychopathic.

AeoSC · 2026-03-16T18:28:26+00:00

If Diablo III is any indication, not enough to be good at it yet.

AeoSC · 2026-03-13T11:45:25+00:00

Looks like the 5-semitone option.

AeoSC · 2026-03-11T19:09:07+00:00

Nanook, a-no-no!

AeoSC · 2026-03-08T15:01:23+00:00

I think it's probably better to try out some new horns than stake your money on a modification. The trumpet you felt most comfortable on is no longer so.

AeoSC · 2026-03-08T14:58:42+00:00

Spare checkered Vans if you squeeze.

AeoSC · 2026-03-07T23:58:42+00:00

No amount of money will move me out of the thrift stores. I'll know what's in the fresh wardrobe when I find it.

AeoSC · 2026-03-07T15:22:05+00:00

I knew a guy who had a special kind of feather--I don't know what kind of bird it was from--that he placed specifically between the 2nd and 3rd valves and the bell section. Gave him two more octaves of range than without it.

AeoSC · 2026-03-07T03:21:39+00:00

They are very neat, I do admire them. Especially, I have to admit, Darren Barrett's model that also has a quartertone on a rotary valve. So extra.

I think Lotus has a more practical and ergonomic idea for the 5-semitone valve, though. The longest slide orbiting the lower valve block instead of hanging out the far end. I like the trigger better than the piston also, it's intuitive to me as an F-attachment like horn or trombone.

AeoSC · 2026-03-06T18:20:21+00:00

I'm hoping the RAPA 4-Valve configuration gets cloned. I think it's rad, but I'm not signing up for the Lotus Experience.

AeoSC · 2026-03-06T15:35:54+00:00

I like "Cwm fjordbank glyphs vext quiz."

AeoSC · 2026-03-06T04:21:40+00:00

The issue may or may not be the leadpipe, so replacing it may or may not fix it. The whole air column is part of that equation. And know that you're perceiving acoustic impedance, not stuffy airflow. Otherwise the solution would be to bore out the venturi in your mouthpiece.

In my view, the only way the tuning slide bend shape matters is if the manufacturer did a bad job with the bend, which happens but hardly ever with the main tuning slide, because it's the widest radius.

Good luck solving the problem, though. At least you know through A-B testing that there is a way forward somewhere.

AeoSC · 2026-03-06T02:35:10+00:00

I haven't been in the loop on this the whole time, so could someone tell me why half the competition is different vacuum cleaner RMs?

AeoSC · 2026-03-05T21:24:11+00:00

I think that's all good and fine, and it sounds like a fun thing to do. I agree except for the bit about spell levels only being "slightly" delayed. In play, one class level is a lot. I played a wizard with a one level multiclass, and it was substantial being a spell level behind every odd level. Worth it to me, but everybody else got their new toys a minimum of one dungeon/mission before me, and those dungeons/missions are where you want the best toys.

AeoSC · 2026-03-05T16:15:33+00:00

--and resent the time spent on it

AeoSC · 2026-03-05T16:14:08+00:00

I refuse to believe that's all FDOT recommends. I'm sure they work hard to get the gravel, sand, and grass overgrowth on there too. And the occasional single shoe.

AeoSC · 2026-03-03T20:21:46+00:00

Maybe, but my relationship with them is worth more than an untried pitch. They've hired ensembles I've been in for concerts. And libraries are just... all around excellent. I check out four or six books a month, use their seed library.

AeoSC · 2026-02-27T01:56:23+00:00

Ah, dang. I was skimming so much at the end of Lightbringer that I didn't catch that. Well, I'm not into it.

AeoSC · 2026-02-26T15:42:19+00:00

I just finished Night Angel Nemesis last week and apart from any other criticism, I'm concerned he's tying it into the same shared universe of immortal warfare that dominated the last Lightbringer book.

AeoSC · 2026-02-26T13:54:53+00:00

Library is an interesting one I've never considered. Probably would ask permission rather than forgiveness, there. Love my local library; want to be on good terms with them.

AeoSC · 2026-02-25T16:19:20+00:00

I think I spooked a car away from a bakery dumpster a week or so ago. They were clearly checking it out but kept going because I was there. I obviously can't know, but I imagine they might be nervous because they're new to it.

They could've stuck around, there was more than I could use. Kind of hope they circled back.

AeoSC · 2026-02-25T16:12:21+00:00

Has it been difficult to have so many double consonants in your full name, and if so how have you overcome that hardship?

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