Non In-Game House Rules. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Non In-Game House Rules. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Will_DM_for_Pizza
05-21-07, 01:21 AM Hey I was thinking of some of the House Rules I'm going to be issuing for the group I will be hosting at my house that don't concern with in-game issues like:

1.) To determine who brings the food and drinks each week we determine who does so first by rolling a d6 (Since there are six of us) for both food and drink and proceed down a numerical line and one person can't be responsible for both food and drink.

2.) If my folks are home no cursing other than that, no holds bar.

But what're some of your house rules? Do they work without you having to exert authority?

Please post some of yours ideas.
Chris_The_Guy
05-21-07, 02:00 AM Everyone has to be out by 7 AM.
Optimized_Commoner
05-21-07, 04:16 AM Out of game "house rules" are determined by the person who owns the house, naturally enough. We respect the limitations of our gaming space.

As for food and drinks, we've never had a session where someone hasn't spontaneously showed up with enough food and drink for everyone. The thing is since we don't organize this, it means we usually have several people show up with enough food and drink for everyone.

This isn't entirely a bad thing.
Archon of Light
05-21-07, 12:20 PM As far as food and beverage duties are concerned, my past experiences have shown that the round-robin treatment rarely ever works so well. There's always that one person who is either really bad about remembering when it's their turn to provide, or skips out by bringing the cheaper stuff or barely enough to go around.

The best thing to do is to get together as a group and make a list of what everyone likes or wants. Keep this list handy and update it regularly. Have everyone chip into a slush fund to help cover the expense rather than rely on one person to fork it out on their turn. Before the next game session begins, have someone do the shopping beforehand and gather the goods for the group. This also works well for those times when everyone wants to order in pizza or something.

Alternatively, you could go with a more 'pot luck' approach and just have everyone bring their favorite food or drink. As a rule of thumb, if you don't bring enough for everyone else to enjoy, then no one has to share with you. This might work better for those who just want a certain snack for themselves and encourages everyone to 'fend for themselves' instead of relying on others to provide for them.

Whatever you decide, just make sure it is mutually settled on as a group. Nothing worse than seeing a gaming group fall apart over something like snack detail. ;)
Evil DM Mk3
05-21-07, 12:27 PM unless you are expecting a vital call, no phones at the table.

If you must drink alcohol never drink so much that you can no longer make sane decisions.
Kamin_Majere
05-21-07, 01:26 PM no falling asleep at the game session and then randomly waking up and wonder why your character isnt doing so hot.

Our group plays sundays from 7pm until 8am monday morning. Everyone that wants to play is told this ahead of time, yet all but the core people we have had from the beginning they all seem to fail to remember this fact... every time we sit to play.

"Ok (insert one of the "day walkers" here) what does your character do as the goblins are sniping you on the rope bridge as you cross"

....:: snore ::......hrm.....:: snore ::...

"ok well then you die as arrows pin cushion your character and you fall off the bridge"... "that is unless you make a balance check DC 1"

...:: snore ::....

"well ok then you die"

:weep:
InkBlot
05-21-07, 02:25 PM That's realy harsh.

My group typically plays from about 7-8pm to 11-12pm. If somebody is too tired to play, they can sleep on the couch and their character will get deus-ex-ed away from the main plot. However, we encourage any sleepy heads to stay home and nap, or to zonk out early so they only miss the very begining of the game. Of course if the person is sleeping through every game, we'll suggest they retire their character untill they get some more free time.

As for food - everybody brings their own food to the game. The rule is to never expect anybody to bring food for you. But people who bring food often enough brings more than they can eat alone. At least one person will usualy grab a bottle of soda and a bag of chips on the way over. Sometimes, we'll all chip in and buy a couple pizzas.
Kamin_Majere
05-21-07, 10:03 PM Yeah its kinda harsh, but our group has been playing the same time for almost 3 years.

2 of the people work nights and I get 2 weeks of vacation a month, and my wife is a stay at home mom right now. So the 2 Sundays a month we play we cramp in as much time as we can.

Everyone that has wanted to join has known that we play long sessions that don't end until the sun is up the next day.

We tell them its probably not a good idea because most people work Mondays and there for have to pull a 24+ hour day with out sleep. Yet they insist and we have given in more than denied them. But inevatibly after all the work to DM them into the story and let them get involved as much as the others they will fall asleep or they will drop due to not getting enough sleep

So i have adopted the "goblins of assassination-ification"
they seem to work well :)

As to food. We end up cooking out when we play. We'll grill steaks or make tacos or order pizza, or make chilli, or something. We all buy our own drinks (as none of us drink the same thing) but we'll cook for everyone.
BeefotronX
05-21-07, 10:18 PM No toilet breaks in the middle of the game.
Go before it starts, or at scheduled breaks. Please.
This isn't kindergarten where you need permission, but please exercise a bit of judgment and do not just get up and go whenever you feel like it. Give some consideration to the other players and don't disappear from the table when it would be disruptive.

The same principle applies to smokers.
Flynnwd
05-22-07, 04:04 PM The following are the gaming group guidelines for my personal campaigns.

Hope these help,
Flynn

* * * * *

Gamer's Code of Conduct

1. The core of the Code of Conduct is respect. Respect for others (not just the DM, but for the fellow players and for others around us who are not playing the game) is expected from all gamers of this campaign. Without respect, the game is lessened, and that reduces the fun we all have.

2. Respect the Environment: Please clean up after yourself. If you bring food or drinks to the game, throw your trash away at the end of the night. Flush the toilet when you're done; that kind of thing. If it's my house, I'd prefer not to have to clean up after everyone. If we're gaming somewhere else, I'd hate for us to lose the ability to game at a particular location because we didn't give the host the respect of cleaning up after ourselves.

3. Respect your Fellow Gamers: Show your fellow gamers the same respect you'd like them to show you. When you're not in a scene, please keep your comments to a minimum. They interrupt the flow of the scene, and ruin the fun of potentially good RP. A good laugh is wonderful medicine, but a well-played scene is much more satisfying and memorable than a quick one-liner. Also, pay attention during the game, even if you aren't involved in the scene. Part of the game is enjoying the RP of your friends as well as allowing them to enjoy your own interactions.

4. Respect your Dungeonmaster: Keep your focus on the play of the game. Combat lags when people are reading books instead of watching the fight, and the quality of RP drops considerably when a player isn't paying attention. I easily put in twice as many hours into game prep as we spend playing, and running an enjoyable game is my only reward for it. Please don't remove my reward by finding your "Harry Potter" novel more interesting than the climactic battle against the Beholder Cult.

Gaming Group Guidelines

1. The primary law for Face-To-Face games: Everyone's on their honor in the game. Many of the following suggestions are to help maintain player-player trust within the group, but in general, everyone's on their honor to track their hitpoints, spells, magic items, equipment, et cetera.

2. Non-PC Tomes: No player may reference non-player-oriented tomes (ie the DMG or the various Monster Manuals) during the game without express permission of the DM. It ruins the full impact of the scenario for you and for the DM.

3. Die Rolls: All rolls must be witnessed by at least one other player. No rolls may be made ahead of time, but only when the DM requests it. No warm-up rolls will be accepted.

4. Out-Of-Game Comments: Please try to avoid non-game conversations once the game has started. If you must do so, then I ask that you take non-game conversations away from the table. It disturbs the game.

5. New Members: Once the campaign has started, new members to the gaming group require unanimous approval of current group members, after one session to get a sample of how they roleplay.

6. Attendance: I will not run a game based in the current campaign if more than 50% of the players are not present. (We may still run an isolated one shot, but it won't be to the detriment of the normal campaign.)

7. Absenteeism: During periods where there is a waiting list to play in the campaign, any player that misses three sessions in a row (or three sessions during any rolling period of six sessions) is considered to have voluntarily resigned their seat at the table, and offers to play are extended to those on the waiting list. This automatic resignation can be overridden by unanimous approval of the current group.

8. It is the player's responsibility to create a character that can work and play well with others. If the character can't, then the player shouldn't be playing that character in my game. If the party has to split up, the amount of time each "side" gets will be proportional to the number of members in that group, modified by the importance of the group's activities as they relate to the group's goals. For example, rogues that are always going off for breaking and entering, or pickpocketing, that isn't in line with the party's goals will get very little "air time," compared to the rest of the group and their pursuit of the party goals.
Krusk
05-22-07, 10:52 PM 7. Absenteeism: During periods where there is a waiting list to play in the campaign, any player that misses three sessions in a row (or three sessions during any rolling period of six sessions) is considered to have voluntarily resigned their seat at the table, and offers to play are extended to those on the waiting list. This automatic resignation can be overridden by unanimous approval of the current group.

you have a waiting list? You must be one amazing DM.

our general house rule is "Don't be richard."
Flynnwd
05-23-07, 02:17 AM you have a waiting list? You must be one amazing DM.

When I run D&D, yes, I only let a max of five play at the table, and I get a waiting list that is usually from four to ten people in length. I cannot say if it is because of my skill as a DM, but I would like to think it was.

With Regards,
Flynn
RobbyPants
05-23-07, 03:03 PM unless you are expecting a vital call, no phones at the table.
Yeah, I have a player who's real bad at this. The problem is what she considers vital is different than what I consider is vital...

No toilet breaks in the middle of the game.
Go before it starts, or at scheduled breaks.
I don't think I would play at your game! :P

This isn't kindergarten where you need permission, but please exercise a bit of judgment and do not just get up and go whenever you feel like it. Give some consideration to the other players and don't disappear from the table when it would be disruptive.
Well, what is "disruptive" is highly dependant on the situation. If you can't hold it 5 minutes to finish the combat, then yes, you're being rude. However, if you're at a town, have bought and sold what you need, and are waiting on the wizard to buy all his components and scrolls, then I don't see what the problem is.
loki_de_carabas
05-26-07, 05:02 PM Flynn,

I'm just getting ready to launch a new Campaign (Planescape/Ghostwalk/Spelljammer) and have some new players coming in. Your house rules are fantastic and I wanted to let you know that I am stealing them outright and will be inflicting a (slightly modified) version on everyone prior the start up in thre weeks.

You have made my day much better, sir!
Flynnwd
05-26-07, 07:43 PM Flynn,

I'm just getting ready to launch a new Campaign (Planescape/Ghostwalk/Spelljammer) and have some new players coming in. Your house rules are fantastic and I wanted to let you know that I am stealing them outright and will be inflicting a (slightly modified) version on everyone prior the start up in thre weeks.

You have made my day much better, sir!

Thank you for the honor, my friend. I have had them "borrowed" before in times past, and I've always considered it confirmation that I'm on the right path when people do that. :)

Thanks,
Flynn

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Will_DM_for_Pizza 05-21-07, 01:21 AM	Hey I was thinking of some of the House Rules I'm going to be issuing for the group I will be hosting at my house that don't concern with in-game issues like: 1.) To determine who brings the food and drinks each week we determine who does so first by rolling a d6 (Since there are six of us) for both food and drink and proceed down a numerical line and one person can't be responsible for both food and drink. 2.) If my folks are home no cursing other than that, no holds bar. But what're some of your house rules? Do they work without you having to exert authority? Please post some of yours ideas.
Chris_The_Guy 05-21-07, 02:00 AM	Everyone has to be out by 7 AM.
Optimized_Commoner 05-21-07, 04:16 AM	Out of game "house rules" are determined by the person who owns the house, naturally enough. We respect the limitations of our gaming space. As for food and drinks, we've never had a session where someone hasn't spontaneously showed up with enough food and drink for everyone. The thing is since we don't organize this, it means we usually have several people show up with enough food and drink for everyone. This isn't entirely a bad thing.
Archon of Light 05-21-07, 12:20 PM	As far as food and beverage duties are concerned, my past experiences have shown that the round-robin treatment rarely ever works so well. There's always that one person who is either really bad about remembering when it's their turn to provide, or skips out by bringing the cheaper stuff or barely enough to go around. The best thing to do is to get together as a group and make a list of what everyone likes or wants. Keep this list handy and update it regularly. Have everyone chip into a slush fund to help cover the expense rather than rely on one person to fork it out on their turn. Before the next game session begins, have someone do the shopping beforehand and gather the goods for the group. This also works well for those times when everyone wants to order in pizza or something. Alternatively, you could go with a more 'pot luck' approach and just have everyone bring their favorite food or drink. As a rule of thumb, if you don't bring enough for everyone else to enjoy, then no one has to share with you. This might work better for those who just want a certain snack for themselves and encourages everyone to 'fend for themselves' instead of relying on others to provide for them. Whatever you decide, just make sure it is mutually settled on as a group. Nothing worse than seeing a gaming group fall apart over something like snack detail. ;)
Evil DM Mk3 05-21-07, 12:27 PM	unless you are expecting a vital call, no phones at the table. If you must drink alcohol never drink so much that you can no longer make sane decisions.
Kamin_Majere 05-21-07, 01:26 PM	no falling asleep at the game session and then randomly waking up and wonder why your character isnt doing so hot. Our group plays sundays from 7pm until 8am monday morning. Everyone that wants to play is told this ahead of time, yet all but the core people we have had from the beginning they all seem to fail to remember this fact... every time we sit to play. "Ok (insert one of the "day walkers" here) what does your character do as the goblins are sniping you on the rope bridge as you cross" ....:: snore ::......hrm.....:: snore ::... "ok well then you die as arrows pin cushion your character and you fall off the bridge"... "that is unless you make a balance check DC 1" ...:: snore ::.... "well ok then you die" :weep:
InkBlot 05-21-07, 02:25 PM	That's realy harsh. My group typically plays from about 7-8pm to 11-12pm. If somebody is too tired to play, they can sleep on the couch and their character will get deus-ex-ed away from the main plot. However, we encourage any sleepy heads to stay home and nap, or to zonk out early so they only miss the very begining of the game. Of course if the person is sleeping through every game, we'll suggest they retire their character untill they get some more free time. As for food - everybody brings their own food to the game. The rule is to never expect anybody to bring food for you. But people who bring food often enough brings more than they can eat alone. At least one person will usualy grab a bottle of soda and a bag of chips on the way over. Sometimes, we'll all chip in and buy a couple pizzas.
Kamin_Majere 05-21-07, 10:03 PM	Yeah its kinda harsh, but our group has been playing the same time for almost 3 years. 2 of the people work nights and I get 2 weeks of vacation a month, and my wife is a stay at home mom right now. So the 2 Sundays a month we play we cramp in as much time as we can. Everyone that has wanted to join has known that we play long sessions that don't end until the sun is up the next day. We tell them its probably not a good idea because most people work Mondays and there for have to pull a 24+ hour day with out sleep. Yet they insist and we have given in more than denied them. But inevatibly after all the work to DM them into the story and let them get involved as much as the others they will fall asleep or they will drop due to not getting enough sleep So i have adopted the "goblins of assassination-ification" they seem to work well :) As to food. We end up cooking out when we play. We'll grill steaks or make tacos or order pizza, or make chilli, or something. We all buy our own drinks (as none of us drink the same thing) but we'll cook for everyone.
BeefotronX 05-21-07, 10:18 PM	No toilet breaks in the middle of the game. Go before it starts, or at scheduled breaks. Please. This isn't kindergarten where you need permission, but please exercise a bit of judgment and do not just get up and go whenever you feel like it. Give some consideration to the other players and don't disappear from the table when it would be disruptive. The same principle applies to smokers.
Flynnwd 05-22-07, 04:04 PM	The following are the gaming group guidelines for my personal campaigns. Hope these help, Flynn * * * * * Gamer's Code of Conduct 1. The core of the Code of Conduct is respect. Respect for others (not just the DM, but for the fellow players and for others around us who are not playing the game) is expected from all gamers of this campaign. Without respect, the game is lessened, and that reduces the fun we all have. 2. Respect the Environment: Please clean up after yourself. If you bring food or drinks to the game, throw your trash away at the end of the night. Flush the toilet when you're done; that kind of thing. If it's my house, I'd prefer not to have to clean up after everyone. If we're gaming somewhere else, I'd hate for us to lose the ability to game at a particular location because we didn't give the host the respect of cleaning up after ourselves. 3. Respect your Fellow Gamers: Show your fellow gamers the same respect you'd like them to show you. When you're not in a scene, please keep your comments to a minimum. They interrupt the flow of the scene, and ruin the fun of potentially good RP. A good laugh is wonderful medicine, but a well-played scene is much more satisfying and memorable than a quick one-liner. Also, pay attention during the game, even if you aren't involved in the scene. Part of the game is enjoying the RP of your friends as well as allowing them to enjoy your own interactions. 4. Respect your Dungeonmaster: Keep your focus on the play of the game. Combat lags when people are reading books instead of watching the fight, and the quality of RP drops considerably when a player isn't paying attention. I easily put in twice as many hours into game prep as we spend playing, and running an enjoyable game is my only reward for it. Please don't remove my reward by finding your "Harry Potter" novel more interesting than the climactic battle against the Beholder Cult. Gaming Group Guidelines 1. The primary law for Face-To-Face games: Everyone's on their honor in the game. Many of the following suggestions are to help maintain player-player trust within the group, but in general, everyone's on their honor to track their hitpoints, spells, magic items, equipment, et cetera. 2. Non-PC Tomes: No player may reference non-player-oriented tomes (ie the DMG or the various Monster Manuals) during the game without express permission of the DM. It ruins the full impact of the scenario for you and for the DM. 3. Die Rolls: All rolls must be witnessed by at least one other player. No rolls may be made ahead of time, but only when the DM requests it. No warm-up rolls will be accepted. 4. Out-Of-Game Comments: Please try to avoid non-game conversations once the game has started. If you must do so, then I ask that you take non-game conversations away from the table. It disturbs the game. 5. New Members: Once the campaign has started, new members to the gaming group require unanimous approval of current group members, after one session to get a sample of how they roleplay. 6. Attendance: I will not run a game based in the current campaign if more than 50% of the players are not present. (We may still run an isolated one shot, but it won't be to the detriment of the normal campaign.) 7. Absenteeism: During periods where there is a waiting list to play in the campaign, any player that misses three sessions in a row (or three sessions during any rolling period of six sessions) is considered to have voluntarily resigned their seat at the table, and offers to play are extended to those on the waiting list. This automatic resignation can be overridden by unanimous approval of the current group. 8. It is the player's responsibility to create a character that can work and play well with others. If the character can't, then the player shouldn't be playing that character in my game. If the party has to split up, the amount of time each "side" gets will be proportional to the number of members in that group, modified by the importance of the group's activities as they relate to the group's goals. For example, rogues that are always going off for breaking and entering, or pickpocketing, that isn't in line with the party's goals will get very little "air time," compared to the rest of the group and their pursuit of the party goals.
Krusk 05-22-07, 10:52 PM	7. Absenteeism: During periods where there is a waiting list to play in the campaign, any player that misses three sessions in a row (or three sessions during any rolling period of six sessions) is considered to have voluntarily resigned their seat at the table, and offers to play are extended to those on the waiting list. This automatic resignation can be overridden by unanimous approval of the current group. you have a waiting list? You must be one amazing DM. our general house rule is "Don't be richard."
Flynnwd 05-23-07, 02:17 AM	you have a waiting list? You must be one amazing DM. When I run D&D, yes, I only let a max of five play at the table, and I get a waiting list that is usually from four to ten people in length. I cannot say if it is because of my skill as a DM, but I would like to think it was. With Regards, Flynn
RobbyPants 05-23-07, 03:03 PM	unless you are expecting a vital call, no phones at the table. Yeah, I have a player who's real bad at this. The problem is what she considers vital is different than what I consider is vital... No toilet breaks in the middle of the game. Go before it starts, or at scheduled breaks. I don't think I would play at your game! :P This isn't kindergarten where you need permission, but please exercise a bit of judgment and do not just get up and go whenever you feel like it. Give some consideration to the other players and don't disappear from the table when it would be disruptive. Well, what is "disruptive" is highly dependant on the situation. If you can't hold it 5 minutes to finish the combat, then yes, you're being rude. However, if you're at a town, have bought and sold what you need, and are waiting on the wizard to buy all his components and scrolls, then I don't see what the problem is.
loki_de_carabas 05-26-07, 05:02 PM	Flynn, I'm just getting ready to launch a new Campaign (Planescape/Ghostwalk/Spelljammer) and have some new players coming in. Your house rules are fantastic and I wanted to let you know that I am stealing them outright and will be inflicting a (slightly modified) version on everyone prior the start up in thre weeks. You have made my day much better, sir!
Flynnwd 05-26-07, 07:43 PM	Flynn, I'm just getting ready to launch a new Campaign (Planescape/Ghostwalk/Spelljammer) and have some new players coming in. Your house rules are fantastic and I wanted to let you know that I am stealing them outright and will be inflicting a (slightly modified) version on everyone prior the start up in thre weeks. You have made my day much better, sir! Thank you for the honor, my friend. I have had them "borrowed" before in times past, and I've always considered it confirmation that I'm on the right path when people do that. :) Thanks, Flynn