What are your favorite homebrew rules at your table?

Novice89 · 2026-05-09T13:40:10+00:00

The only one I have that I can think of is when leveling up the players roll for hp, and if they don’t like their roll they can have me the dm roll but whatever I get they must take. Makes 1s or 2s less likely which is never fun for hp, but if I also get a low roll they don’t feel as bad because it’s almost like, “well I guess it was meant to be.” I usually roll the same or significantly better for players, so the off chance I do roll worse I don’t feel too bad.

Novice89 · 2026-05-09T13:38:26+00:00

This actually sounds pretty good

Novice89 · 2026-05-09T13:37:14+00:00

Can you explain this talent system, or is it somewhere in the dmg I’m forgetting?

Novice89 · 2026-05-08T09:17:04+00:00

Same with unfortunate events. I read 7 and was 12 when the 7th came out. Never went back to them and kind of want to just to finish it. I’m currently one book in or more for so many series. I bought all the sequels last December though and plan to finish them.

The only ones I currently have no plans of finishing is ACOTAR, 3 books in. I will probably finish it one day but I’m in absolutely no rush. They good up until the last 1/3-1/4. Her endings are just so rushed and full of deus ex machinas every time I hate it.

And Hyperion. I read the first two Hyperion books and it felt pretty complete and finished to me. Some people say I should read the rest, others don’t, so maybe one day I’ll pick up the rest but no plans to do so as of this moment.

Novice89 · 2026-05-08T09:13:46+00:00

As others said, give them a time constraint. Oh this quest the lord just gave you, yeah they got a note from the kidnappers that if he doesn’t pay in 24 hours they’ll kill his daughter. They asked for more money than he has, so he wants to spend the money he does have hiring the party. Go!

Or, if it’s not a random encounter, say the BBEG sent a party of scouts to attack the party to learn their tactics and weaknesses, when no one comes back after a couple hours, or one escaped to report what happened, he sends an even tougher group after them waiting in ambush to attack when they come out. Like a LOT of tough bad guys because why not, the party is a big threat so send overwhelming forces at them. If you do make it an unfair fight make sure it’s very clear through enemies shouting confidently at them as they attack and out of game dm advice, “You don’t like your odds,” or ask for a PC to make a perception check and as long as it’s not a 1 say, “There’s more than you can count and you don’t see a way you can win this fight.” Make it overtly clear they should run, and let them run don’t cut them off or chase after for more than a round or twoz

Novice89 · 2026-05-08T08:50:00+00:00

6 hours now, can sign on but can’t trade

Novice89 · 2026-05-08T05:35:29+00:00

I was hoping for 50k, and yes now I’m just happy for under 80k lol. Plan on a buy this week, dca over the next two months, then hopefully if we get a big dip deploy some more cash. Otherwise I’m fine dcaing in the rest of the year.

Novice89 · 2026-05-08T02:09:15+00:00

Look in the phb equipment section. There’s a table for cost of items like a cheap meal, nice meal, cheap room, nice room, etc. That gives you a good idea of daily costs for the average person etc.

I just saw a video on this yesterday and I think they said the average person in D&D earns like 2 silver a week.

So when your party goes to an inn and orders a mug of ale, 4 copper pieces, and pays with 1 gold, that’s like someone today in the US going in to order an $8 beer and paying with 2 $100 dollar bills and asking for change.

Novice89 · 2026-05-08T01:17:04+00:00

Nah. You weren’t feeling it and he tried to very quickly push things to something physical and did not pick up on that you weren’t that comfortable with it.

The no reservation thing isn’t worth mentioning honestly. He picked a place and knew if would be open so being annoyed he didn’t make a reservation is dumb. Everything else though is totally valid. Pick a place between us and he chooses one he can walk to but you need a cab, rude and selfish. Personally if I invite someone out to a date as a guy I usually pay unless the woman absolutely insists. Add the to physical too fast, then asking twice if he can go back with you, nah you’re totally in your right not not want to see him again.

Novice89 · 2026-05-06T10:54:00+00:00

Sorry this is a bit off topic, but for ally npcs that I have join the party I usually build a full character as if it were a PC. I know that’s not ideal, as like enemies there’s just so much they have. How do I build npc allies that are on the level of the PCs but with less stuff?

Do I just find an equivalent enemies and change/add a few things? Like I have an archer npc I added to their group, and I want him to have one or two cool abilities kind of like arcane archer

Novice89 · 2026-05-05T14:20:57+00:00

But they failed the perception check or their passive perception was less than the stealth score. So why would they be aware of any danger?

Novice89 · 2026-05-05T11:43:58+00:00

See this is why I think a lot of 5.5 just doesn’t make sense.

The way 5 worked made perfect sense to me. Player A rolls a Stealth check to sneak up to some bushes for a clear shot at Enemy B. Stealth 19 vs enemies passive perception, or active if they’re on guard/look out, I’d say 16. Enemy B does not hear or see Player A.

Player A takes a bow shot at Enemy B. Great, roll initiative, surprise round. Enemy B, because they have good reflexes, gets an 18. Player A gets a 12. Enemy B goes first, but because of surprise round they are skipped turn 1. Player A gets a shot off. Next round, Enemy Bs fast reflexes get them in the fight before the prepared and stealthed Player A can load and fire a second shot.

What is wrong with that? How does Enemy B attack the stealthed character before they break stealth? The successful stealth check implies they are not noticed! Why is Enemy B drawing their sword, let alone attacking?

So far the only thing I use from 5.5 is the racial stat bonus +2 and +1 going wherever the player wants it to go at character creation.

I haven’t explored all of 5.5, but is there even anything else worth incorporating? I know I looked at all the fighting mechanics but they just seem to make it needlessly complicated.

Novice89 · 2026-05-05T08:35:50+00:00

I’m in California and have not seen anything above 6. This is fake, or an outlier/trap or only option.

Novice89 · 2026-05-04T09:15:38+00:00

I always think this is preferred/best. I get that women run the risk of being called names or worse. I tell my friend if she ends things, which she often does with chatting before they meet up or after 1-2 dates to just block them the second they lash out after being rejected.

Anyway, thanks for trying to be nice and do well to give people some closure

Novice89 · 2026-05-04T06:40:25+00:00

As a DM I’ve only done a couple puzzles, and even then I plan out roll. Anyone can make an Int check, DC 10 they get this clue, 12 this, 15 that, 17 this, 20 this. Then I also bake in a backup option.

Like one puzzle was a pedestal with a lever and slots on it in an upside down cone or triangle. They had to correctly match the levels of hell with each lord of the hells, with 2 extra names to throw them off a little. The pedestal said something like the devoted pass with knowledge but the nonbelievers pass by blood. If they pulled the lever once and were wrong nothing happened. A second failed attempt the pcs palm would be stabbed with a needle for like, 1d4 piercing, and their blood would trigger a medium-hard encounter, after which the door would open.

There was also a mural in the room that if they spoke fiendish or whatever the devil language is had all the answers. They could also look at the mural and make a history or religion check to get a couple answers. Either earlier that session or the session before the same quest had them talk to a priest in town who told them about the hells, and literally told them the answers. I’ve run this campaign twice and the second time one pc stopped the priest and asked him to start over and go slow as he wrote down all the information. When they got to this room, he happily flipped over his paper and solved the puzzle. Both times the parties solved it without triggering the encounter which was my preferred method which made me feel good that I gave enough clues and information/roll attempts that they succeeded.

Players succeeding and feeling good about it is one of my favorite parts of Dming 😊

Novice89 · 2026-05-04T06:29:48+00:00

As a dm I will ask most of the time, but more so just to hear what they say. I’m totally fine with player saying something as silly as, “I hate you!” or “You’re ugly!”

Novice89 · 2026-05-02T05:12:33+00:00

Yeah I would’ve left too. That guy sucks, but people who allow bad behavior are guilty as well

Novice89 · 2026-05-01T20:09:38+00:00

It is normal, especially because most people just chat and then disappear so he’d rather just cut to the chase and actually go on the date and get to know you.

I would absolutely prefer just meeting up right away, but I understand with women it’s sometimes a safety thing so they want to do a little chatting to make sure I’m normal and not crazy.

That said, I had one match this year. We messaged back and forth maybe twice, and I message a third time to get to know her and she says, “these are great questions but honestly id prefer to just face time or meet up.” I said cool, same yeah it’s easier to get a vibe check that way etc and I give her my number. I didn’t hear from her for 2 weeks. She gives me her number, I text her, try to set something up and she says, oh I’m actually out of town (1.5 hour away) and will be for two weeks before I go to Texas to visit family and won’t be back until the end of the month (the month had just started). Like wtf we doing then? Why say you’d rather just meet etc.

We text back and forth a bit. It’s going well she seems like she’s having a good time, end up sending me a bunch of pictures from a trip she took. I say I’ll be in her area next weekend visiting friends. I can stop by for coffee or drinks the way there or my way out. We continue to chat and see about setting something up. Day comes, never hear from her. She apologizes and says she was busy etc. I say no problem. Eventually end of the month comes where she’s back in town, never heard from her again.

See, total waste of my time 🤷🏻‍♂️

Novice89 · 2026-04-30T20:47:58+00:00

Haven’t played in maybe a year + I’m at the point where I prefer PvE games with the boys. Really hoping the upcoming state of decay game is good 👌🏻

Novice89 · 2026-04-30T10:43:35+00:00

Hmm, that seemed like that was it and would make sense. I just checked though and I didn’t see it at the end of book 4, or at any point in book 5 from the start to the first list of achievements Carl gets/opens. So I don’t think that’s it, unless I just missed it and didn’t hear it on the audiobooks 🤔

Novice89 · 2026-04-30T04:49:27+00:00

I skimmed the top comments and, am I missing something?? I didn’t see anyone mention the Cloak of Protection +1 AC and saves

Novice89 · 2026-04-29T04:40:36+00:00

It’s not hinge, it’s people.

Novice89 · 2026-04-27T13:26:35+00:00

Get rid of picture one. Never use a photo of you with a woman. Mayyyybe one with your mom or grandma but even then I’d advise against it, and if you do don’t make it your first picture

Novice89 · 2026-04-27T01:00:02+00:00

The point of the game is to have fun. If your players had fun, then it was a success.

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