House Rule [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

House Rule [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
deviknyte
11-15-07, 12:15 PM Here's a question about some pass DMing. I know your suppose to but, I would never let a buff or magical item count toward most things. Examples, if you didn't have a natural 14 wisdom you weren't going to cast any 4th level spells. If you don't have a natural 13 strenght you can't pick up power attack. Items that give you feats don't let you qualify for requirements for feats or perstege classes. Headbands of Int and Cloaks of Cha don't count toward bonus spell slots.

Natural meant counting racial mods and inherit bonus. Bonuses from tattoos counted in a campaign were tattoo magic was common, since you always had it on. Since you have your familiar all the time it's alertness counted.

Was I being to harsh? Or is my ruling just realistic and or hard core?
Tequila_Sunrise
11-15-07, 01:56 PM Here's a question about some pass DMing. I would never let a buff or magical item count toward most things. Examples, if you didn't have a natural 14 wisdom you weren't going to cast any 4th level spells. If you don't have a natural 13 strenght you can't pick up power attack. Items that give you feats don't let you qualify for requirements for feats or perstege classes. Headbands of Int and Cloaks of Cha don't count toward bonus spell slots.

Natural meant counting racial mods and inherit bonus. Bonuses from tattoos counted in a campaign were tattoo magic was common, since you always had it on. Since you have your familiar all the time it's alertness counted.

Was I being to harsh? Or is my ruling just realistic and or hard core?

Most DMs do allow permanent items (headbands of intellect, cloaks of charisma, etc...) to count towards requirements, and I believe that there have been official rulings to back this practice up. It might seem too easy but consider that once a character gets one of these items it pretty much becomes an integral part of their character and is with them possibly even as they sleep.
deviknyte
11-15-07, 02:14 PM Well yeah it does seem to easy and it never makes any that it's on all day. You gotta let the skin under those gloves of dex or headband of int breath once in a while. You can't change the rest of your close until that cloak of cha and belt of str comes off. What about bathing? It just seems rather weak and lame. Especially for feats. I suddenly forgot how to use mobility because you sundered my dodge item....?

I know that the offical ruling is that they can. I want to know if I'm being to hard on my players by doing this?
kuonji
11-15-07, 02:22 PM Our group plays the same way, items don't count. Never been a problem.
Duzzle
11-16-07, 12:35 PM I've always played with items not counting for class or feat reqs, but they do count for bonus spells and max level of spell able to cast.
Tequila_Sunrise
11-16-07, 12:55 PM Well yeah it does seem too easy and it never makes any that it's on all day. You gotta let the skin under those gloves of dex or headband of int breath once in a while. You can't change the rest of your clothes until that cloak of cha and belt of str comes off. What about bathing? It just seems rather weak and lame. Especially for feats. I suddenly forgot how to use mobility because you sundered my dodge item....?
Of course characters don't wear their gear all the time, but like I said stat boosters basically become an integral part of their possessors. A wizard might not wear his Headband while sleeping, but you can bet that it's the first thing he puts on in the morning before studying his spell book. Taking off your gloves of Dex doesn't mean that you suddenly forget how to use Dodge, it means that you've lost that reflexive edge that is necessary to use that trick. I'm not arguing with you, I'm just making you aware that either ruling can be easily justified.

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"]I know that the offical ruling is that they can. I want to know if I'm being to hard on my players by doing this?

I've never been enamored of official rulings either, but a lot of people here are so it helps to include them when possible.
strenoth
11-17-07, 01:29 AM I also rule that it does not count for prequisites.
Rhialto
11-17-07, 08:38 AM Personally, I'd say it counts only as long as it is being worn. take of your gauntlets of strength, and your power strike feat (and all feats that rely on power strike) become unusuable while you are no longer wearing the gloves. The feat becomes usable again once you regain that strength bonus, either by wearing the gauntlets again, or some other item or enchantment or miscellaneous boost.
Tequila_Sunrise
11-17-07, 08:41 AM Personally, I'd say it counts only as long as it is being worn. take of your gauntlets of strength, and your power strike feat (and all feats that rely on power strike) become unusuable while you are no longer wearing the gloves. The feat becomes usable again once you regain that strength bonus, either by wearing the gauntlets again, or some other item or enchantment or miscellaneous boost.

That is the standard rule, which can make Dispel Magic very useful.
Neutronium_Dragon
11-17-07, 09:47 AM Something like a Headband of Intellect counting towards your bonus spells is pretty explicitly spelled out, and the fact that it allows you to access higher level spells is also rolled into that - as long as you keep wearing it.

Not allowing it effectively neuters the value of the items when it comes to spellcasting stat boosters. Using them for that purpose is the primary reason to have one in the first place.
blade265
11-18-07, 12:55 AM Here's a question about some pass DMing. I know your suppose to but, I would never let a buff or magical item count toward most things. Examples, if you didn't have a natural 14 wisdom you weren't going to cast any 4th level spells. If you don't have a natural 13 strenght you can't pick up power attack. Items that give you feats don't let you qualify for requirements for feats or perstege classes. Headbands of Int and Cloaks of Cha don't count toward bonus spell slots.

Natural meant counting racial mods and inherit bonus. Bonuses from tattoos counted in a campaign were tattoo magic was common, since you always had it on. Since you have your familiar all the time it's alertness counted.

Was I being to harsh? Or is my ruling just realistic and or hard core?If you aren't allowing them to be used towards most things, why have them in your game at all, ban everything they are not much use to your players anyway. IMO your being a bit harsh, but as long as the other players think that you are being fair and agree to the rules, there shouldn't be a problem.:D
Arco Versipellis
11-18-07, 01:18 AM I thought it was in the book that those item did not count towards bonus spells. The do count towards Save DC though.

I wouldn't let them count for prerequisites either. The manuals/tomes would though.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
deviknyte 11-15-07, 12:15 PM	Here's a question about some pass DMing. I know your suppose to but, I would never let a buff or magical item count toward most things. Examples, if you didn't have a natural 14 wisdom you weren't going to cast any 4th level spells. If you don't have a natural 13 strenght you can't pick up power attack. Items that give you feats don't let you qualify for requirements for feats or perstege classes. Headbands of Int and Cloaks of Cha don't count toward bonus spell slots. Natural meant counting racial mods and inherit bonus. Bonuses from tattoos counted in a campaign were tattoo magic was common, since you always had it on. Since you have your familiar all the time it's alertness counted. Was I being to harsh? Or is my ruling just realistic and or hard core?
Tequila_Sunrise 11-15-07, 01:56 PM	Here's a question about some pass DMing. I would never let a buff or magical item count toward most things. Examples, if you didn't have a natural 14 wisdom you weren't going to cast any 4th level spells. If you don't have a natural 13 strenght you can't pick up power attack. Items that give you feats don't let you qualify for requirements for feats or perstege classes. Headbands of Int and Cloaks of Cha don't count toward bonus spell slots. Natural meant counting racial mods and inherit bonus. Bonuses from tattoos counted in a campaign were tattoo magic was common, since you always had it on. Since you have your familiar all the time it's alertness counted. Was I being to harsh? Or is my ruling just realistic and or hard core? Most DMs do allow permanent items (headbands of intellect, cloaks of charisma, etc...) to count towards requirements, and I believe that there have been official rulings to back this practice up. It might seem too easy but consider that once a character gets one of these items it pretty much becomes an integral part of their character and is with them possibly even as they sleep.
deviknyte 11-15-07, 02:14 PM	Well yeah it does seem to easy and it never makes any that it's on all day. You gotta let the skin under those gloves of dex or headband of int breath once in a while. You can't change the rest of your close until that cloak of cha and belt of str comes off. What about bathing? It just seems rather weak and lame. Especially for feats. I suddenly forgot how to use mobility because you sundered my dodge item....? I know that the offical ruling is that they can. I want to know if I'm being to hard on my players by doing this?
kuonji 11-15-07, 02:22 PM	Our group plays the same way, items don't count. Never been a problem.
Duzzle 11-16-07, 12:35 PM	I've always played with items not counting for class or feat reqs, but they do count for bonus spells and max level of spell able to cast.
Tequila_Sunrise 11-16-07, 12:55 PM	Well yeah it does seem too easy and it never makes any that it's on all day. You gotta let the skin under those gloves of dex or headband of int breath once in a while. You can't change the rest of your clothes until that cloak of cha and belt of str comes off. What about bathing? It just seems rather weak and lame. Especially for feats. I suddenly forgot how to use mobility because you sundered my dodge item....? Of course characters don't wear their gear all the time, but like I said stat boosters basically become an integral part of their possessors. A wizard might not wear his Headband while sleeping, but you can bet that it's the first thing he puts on in the morning before studying his spell book. Taking off your gloves of Dex doesn't mean that you suddenly forget how to use Dodge, it means that you've lost that reflexive edge that is necessary to use that trick. I'm not arguing with you, I'm just making you aware that either ruling can be easily justified. [FONT="Comic Sans MS"]I know that the offical ruling is that they can. I want to know if I'm being to hard on my players by doing this? I've never been enamored of official rulings either, but a lot of people here are so it helps to include them when possible.
strenoth 11-17-07, 01:29 AM	I also rule that it does not count for prequisites.
Rhialto 11-17-07, 08:38 AM	Personally, I'd say it counts only as long as it is being worn. take of your gauntlets of strength, and your power strike feat (and all feats that rely on power strike) become unusuable while you are no longer wearing the gloves. The feat becomes usable again once you regain that strength bonus, either by wearing the gauntlets again, or some other item or enchantment or miscellaneous boost.
Tequila_Sunrise 11-17-07, 08:41 AM	Personally, I'd say it counts only as long as it is being worn. take of your gauntlets of strength, and your power strike feat (and all feats that rely on power strike) become unusuable while you are no longer wearing the gloves. The feat becomes usable again once you regain that strength bonus, either by wearing the gauntlets again, or some other item or enchantment or miscellaneous boost. That is the standard rule, which can make Dispel Magic very useful.
Neutronium_Dragon 11-17-07, 09:47 AM	Something like a Headband of Intellect counting towards your bonus spells is pretty explicitly spelled out, and the fact that it allows you to access higher level spells is also rolled into that - as long as you keep wearing it. Not allowing it effectively neuters the value of the items when it comes to spellcasting stat boosters. Using them for that purpose is the primary reason to have one in the first place.
blade265 11-18-07, 12:55 AM	Here's a question about some pass DMing. I know your suppose to but, I would never let a buff or magical item count toward most things. Examples, if you didn't have a natural 14 wisdom you weren't going to cast any 4th level spells. If you don't have a natural 13 strenght you can't pick up power attack. Items that give you feats don't let you qualify for requirements for feats or perstege classes. Headbands of Int and Cloaks of Cha don't count toward bonus spell slots. Natural meant counting racial mods and inherit bonus. Bonuses from tattoos counted in a campaign were tattoo magic was common, since you always had it on. Since you have your familiar all the time it's alertness counted. Was I being to harsh? Or is my ruling just realistic and or hard core?If you aren't allowing them to be used towards most things, why have them in your game at all, ban everything they are not much use to your players anyway. IMO your being a bit harsh, but as long as the other players think that you are being fair and agree to the rules, there shouldn't be a problem.:D
Arco Versipellis 11-18-07, 01:18 AM	I thought it was in the book that those item did not count towards bonus spells. The do count towards Save DC though. I wouldn't let them count for prerequisites either. The manuals/tomes would though.