Happy belated Birthday! I am 41 myself.
Anyhow, I figured I would just post my entire house rules, but the Runemark is in there, and seeing my house rules about SIEGE checks will help explain a couple of things I did with the Runemark, which is based on the same class TLG presented in the "Winter Runes" d20 product. I will soon be adapting their higher level powers since my daughters Runemark is now 9th level. Plus, who knows, you might like a couple of the things I do. Plus everything I have decided to do is based on our last two years of very regular play.
Here it is:
CHARACTER GENERATION:
Create characters however you wish within the 3-18 range, then racial modifiers. If you want a kind of random method then use either 10+2d4 or 4d6, reroll 1's and 2's until all dice are a minimum of 3, take best 3, arrange stats as desired.
I believe in high stat characters. If you don't I suggest you do for my games. Low stat characters will be very obviously less capable in comparison to high stat characters. So if you want to use low stats, go ahead, but don't complain about it later.
Hit Points: Max Hp's at first level. d4 HD reroll 1's, d6 and d8 reroll all 1's and 2's, d10 and d12 reroll 1-3's. You can also ask me about "take the CK's roll" before you roll for your HP.
Equipment: Max starting gold. Write everything on your character sheet. You don't write it down, you don't have it. Even when I remember you having it. So DON"T FORGET!
CLASSES:
Fighters:
They get to use their BtH to make combat related SIEGE checks, plus their specialization bonuses when using that weapon. All other classes use just their BtH.
Fighters can also learn to master (specialize) a new weapon every 3 levels. So at 4th, 7th, 10th, and so on they can master a new weapon. They only get the +1 to hit and damage. These additional weapons never increase to +2 like your first weapon does. Unless you use one of your additional "mastery's" to do so. So if you want to be +2 with the bow, you can use your 4th and 7th level mastery to do so,
Clerics:
Clerics can do SIEGE checks similiar to Wizards.
Clerics can spontaneously convert spells to damage healing spells (IE restore HP's)
Clerics get to add their level to damage healing spells, which increases the amount healed up to the maximum. For example Cure Light cast by a 5th level Cleric rolls 1d8+5 up to a maximum of 8, not 13.
Rangers:
Get to choose an enemy at 6th level and every level thereafter. IT must be pretty specific, such as Ogres, Frost Giants, Vampires, Worshippers of the "Forest Burners", etc... This allows you to add your bonus to all SIEGE checks against them, including attack maneuvers, AND add your level to the Damage if they didn't qualify for your marauder before. CK approval, of course.
Druids:
They can go one of two paths, animal or elemental. Either path gains the ability to become a Treant at 9th level. At 6th level you choose which path you will follow. Animal can choose animal forms to chang into. Elementalists choose one fo the 4 elementals, earth, air, fire, and water. One form at 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th you get the Treant form.
Your HD and HP will be the same in your animal and elemental form. In animal/elemental form your BtH will equal your HD, and you gain the movement and special defenses of the animal/elemental form you have. Your damage and attacks are the same as the Animal/Elemental form as well.
At 12th level you can assume each chosen form 2/day. It becomes 3/day at 18th.
Paladins:
When they gain the Smite Evil ability they can use it once per day per level. OR they can choose to have "religious enemy" under the same rules as the Ranger's "enemy". Then choose a new one every two levels, like the Ranger does. They can only do one or the other, not both Smite and Religious Enemy.
Assassins and Thieves:
Your BtH progresses as lvl - 2, so your BtH is 0 at first and second level, but increases by one every level thereafter.
Assassins can make a SIEGE check to do their death attack in one round. The check is TN 12 + level/HD of the target.
Wizards:
SIEGE checks can be used to alter spells being cast. A SIEGE check can be made to change the energy type of a spell. For example, to change a fireball to a electric ball, ice ball, etc... you make a TN 12 check + your level to beat a CL = to the level of the spell. So to change the fireball to ice would be a CL 3, so beat TN 15.
Similiar checks can be done to maximize damage, CL spell level +3
To double range, CL spell level +3
To increase number of targets effected, CL spell level +3 per additional target (example spell, Charm Person to effect two people instead of one)
Failure, in all cases, loses you the spell. Roll a natural 1 and pray for survival if it causes damage.
For Bran's games: Wizards are "sorcerors, and can use Illusionist spells as well, and they "know" all spells automatically, and are limited to casting the "spells per day". Yeah, its broken as hell, but he is still young.
RUNEMARKS:
Are a rune based wizard. Plus everything class related is based off of their Wisdom, not intelligence.
Why? Because rune magic is literally based on word fragments of the "Words of Creation". So rune magic, and the fragments of the words of power used, are the ultimate source of all powers, divine and arcane. So they are treated as Divine, but might be able to use arcane items. Arcane item use is explained later.
Advantages: You only need to have your rune in hand to cast the spell and be able to speak the word of power associated with that spell. So all spells are verbal and material only, with the only material being the spell specific runestone.
So Runemarks can be tied up, but as long as they have the runestone in their hands, and can speak, they can cast the spell. If they do a successful SIEGE check CL=spell level +4 they can cast the spell by will alone. The runestone is still required to be in hand. So even gagged they can still cast a spell if the SIEGE check is successful. Wizards can do this, but to do it bound and gagged would be a CL=spell level +8 to do so.
Runestones are made out of expensive materials, but are reuseable. Runestones cost 25 GP for first level, 35 GP for second level, 50 GP for third level, and 100 GP for levels 4 to 6, then 50 GP per level for levels 7 to 9 (350 GP to 450 GP per spell), with certain price exceptions for spells like Wish, etc... Those costs will be double of what is in the PH, but the runestone is not consumed.
Biggest drawback: Unlike a mage losing a spellbook, if you lose your runestones you can't cast another spell until you make new runestones for the spells you know/have memorized.
Plus Runemark's cannot use Wizard or Illusionist magic items easily. They must make a SIEGE check versus TN 12 + level the item is made at to use it successfully. If they fail the SIEGE check they can never use that particular item until later. If they succeed they can use that particular item, or item power, from then on. Scrolls can never be used in this manner. Potions can be freely used like any other class. Fail the SIEGE check and they can never use that particular item, or item power, until they make another level to get another SIEGE check to try and figure it out.
Rune magic items:
Runemarks cannot cast arcane or divine classed scrolls, nor do they make scrolls. Runesticks are made in place of scrolls, but for all intents and purposes works just like a scroll. Costs of a runestick are twice that of normal scrolls, but otherwise is the same in terms of time to make them.
They use rods, staves, and wands (very similiar looking to runesticks), but they are all rune based, so called Rune Rods, Rune Staves, and Rune Wands. They can also make potions, but the container is used to empower the fluid inside, so rune potion containers are typically bigger than normal potion vials because of this.
Runemark Skills: Runemarks are very good at engraving and carving, as well as identifying metals and gemstones, since they are so crucial to the basics of making runestones and rune items. All checks, when related to runecasting and making rune items, are WIS based. Otherwise it will be related to DEX, or whatever stat the CK considers relevant.
SIEGE Checks:
As you probably guessed, I allow SIEGE checks to be used for a lot of things other than skills. They can be used by fighters to try and get extra attacks, to get an extra attack when you take an opponent down, to transfer points from your BtH to your damage roll, if you think of it, ask me if you can do it. If you have played 3E many of their feats are good ideas for SIEGE checks.
IMPORTANT: If you successfully use a SIEGE check frequently enough to perform a specific kind of action I will eventually, when I decide to do so, award it as a "signature move". This will mean that as long as your opponent is no more than 3 levels higher than you, or lower, you will not need to perform a SIEGE check to do the "signature move". You can have as many "signature moves" as I decide to award you with.
SKILLS:
Not only do you have any skills specified in the class description, and treat all such skills as if you have a Prime in the related stat for purposes using that skill, you can create a list of 10 more skills for your character to have beyond those specified for your class. You can also add one more skill per point of INT bonus.
Clerics and Druids can use their WIS bonus instead, if it is higher than their INT, for purposes of extra skills.
LANGUAGES:
If you take a race other than human you automatically get the listed bonus languages. Humans can have common and an additional language per point of INT bonus. If they want more than that they can burn one of the 10 base skill slots to do so. However, languages do not use up INT bonus points for purposes of skills. So if you have an INT of 18, you get 3 languages as well as 3 additional skill points. This is the same for non-humans. IE an 18 INT gets them 3 more languages of their choice, as well as gives them 3 more skill points.
LUCK POINTS:
You get one luck point +1 per level.
Luck points are used to:
Get a re-roll on an attack roll, save, or SIEGE check. Only 1 re-roll allowed.
To turn a death attack to near death. If an attack outright kills your PC you can permanently burn a luck point to put your character at death's door instead.
You don't refresh your Luck points until your goal/mission is accomplished. This is defined as whatever over all goal your party is working towards. Such as recovering an item, escorting this person/caravan from point A to point Z, finding the daughter of the merchant, etc... NOT when short term goals are accomplished.
Lost/permanently burned luck points are regained anytime I witness you roll 3 Nat 20's to hit, make a save, or SIEGE check in one game session. So make sure I keep track of them, and make sure I witness your rolls. Otherwise its up to me to trust/believe you. I may just deny the validation simply to encourage/motivate you to make sure I witness your rolls.
Online games must use the online dice roller to get this benefit.
GOD CALLS:
This rule is to be used when your character, or group, are about to die. IE to prevent TPK's and character death. Its a long shot, but I have seen it save a character and group from a TPK often enough to recommend remembering this when the party or your character is going down.
Specific Rules changes:
Spellcasting: Unless I declare otherwise, you must declare what spell you are casting when initiative is rolled. If you are hit you can make a Concentration check (CL=damage rolled) to not lose your spell and still cast the spell. Parameters of the spell (target, location, etc...) are established when the spell is cast.
You can half move and still cast a spell in the same round.
Crits and Fumbles:
Criticals: A natural, unmodified roll of 20 on the 20 sided dice is consdiered a "critical hit". If it is with a non-missile weapon this means you get a free extra attack roll. If it is a missile type weapon it means you mulitply your damage by 2.
When rolled on a save versus spell it means no dmage is taken if it is a damge type spell. It means you saved versus any spell if the TN was to high for you even to succeed otherwise.
Fumbles: Are one a natural unmodified roll of a "1" is rolled. These cannot be rerolled with luck points. Results of such a roll are usually bad. Such as a save versus a spell is failed. If so you automatically take double damage.
For weapon attacks, it means you lose your attack for that round at the very least. I'll have you roll a DEX save and depenidng on your roll I'll determine some kind of detrimetnal result, or nothing more at all.
If your weapon is a feathered edge weapon you may cut off one of your limbs.
Movement: I allow 30 foot moves (or whatever your normal move is) in combination with attacks. Not 15 foot. So a charge covers 60 feet, but still allows +2 to hit and -2 to AC.
SPELL CHANGES/CLARIFICATIONS:
Dismissal and Repulsion are on the Wizard spell list at the same level.
All items are the minimal caster level required to cast the most powerful spell on the item. Still a minimum of 9th level if a wizard item, or 12th level minimum for Clerical items. The rule of needing 3 levels for every + bonus of weapons, armor, etc... still stands. So +5 items will require 15th level.
Only potions change the casting time of a spell, all other items follow all spell parameters as if being cast normally. With the exception of spell components/somantics. Verbal commands are required for all staves, wands, and rods.
Custom designed items can change these things, but it will cost considerably more. At least 30% more.
GRAPPLING:
When grappled a target can make either a STR or DEX save, whichever is better. While Grappled they can either struggle to break or slip free, or they can draw a dagger, wand, or use some kind of magic item that needs only a command word to be spoken.
A dagger can be used to attack, but at a -2 to all attacks, and only to attack the creature grappling the wielder. Wands can be similarly used, and they do not have to attack their grappler, but can attack other targets within their line of sight.
Two Handed Fighting:
If you want to be a two weapon Fighter take DEX as Prime. This cuts the penalties in half to -2 for primary hand and -3 for the off hand. Dex bonus' offset these penalties, so an 18 DEX would change these to +1/0.
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The Ruby Lord, Earl of the Society
Next Con I am attending:
http://www.neoncon.com/
My House Rules:
http://www.freeyabb.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... llordgames