My [Current] D&D House Rules

Here are the house rules I'm using going into this year's after school D&D campaign:


Character Generation

• roll stats 3d6 in order ("roll em and weep")
• stat bonus range of -4 to +4 (3rd edition style), just because it is easy for me to remember
• race-as-class is the default (but I'll make exceptions)
• no level limits (not that it's likely to matter)
• two human classes: fighter and magic-user (all rangers, barbarians, swashbucklers, paladins, etc. = fighters; all mystics, wizards, sorcerers, witches, etc. = magic-users ... players can still call them whatever they want of course)
• B/X races (gnomes = halflings, half-orcs = ugly humans)
• 1d6 for hit dice, fighters & dwarves get 1d6+2
• no weapon restrictions by class (weapons do 1d6, two-handed 2d6)
• no armor restrictions by class (but metal armor prevents casting)
• 3d6 x 10 starting money or chain mail and four pieces of gear

SYSTEMS

Combat

• fighters and dwarves add their level to hit rolls, magic-users do not
• ascending AC (leather +2, chain +4, plate +6)
• most shields grant +2 to AC
• natural 20 always hits
• natural 20 = double damage, 1 = broken weapon (unless it is magical)
• fighters can forfeit 5 points of attack bonus to take an additional, unmodified attack

Saving Throws

• single, universal saving throw, starting at 15+ for all classes
• poison inflicts damage (e.g. 1 hp/round until successful save, 3d6 after 2 rounds, etc.)
• natural 20 always saves

Experience

• no xp bonuses for stats / prime requisites
• retainers take a full share of xp, but only advance at half-rate
• 100 xp / hit die for monsters defeated
• 1 xp / gp spent

Other Bits

• no skills (roll under stat on d20 or saving throw if vaguely class-related)
• death checks at zero hp (1 fail = d6 days to recover, 2 fails = maimed/stat reduction, 3 fails = dead)
• advantage/disadvantage vs fiddly situational modifiers on attacks or saves for things like cover
• no encumbrance, characters can run and fight while bearing 4 "regular" items, more than that incurs disadvantage 
• no declaration phase (spells never get interrupted)
• retainers pass morale check at end of each adventure or retire
• halfling sneakiness: this is just a Dexterity check.  Most halflings have high Dex.
• elven door-spotting: this is just a Wisdom check.  Most elves have high Wis stats.
• dwarf trap spotting:  this is just a Wisdom check.  Most dwarves have high Wis stats.

Magic

• magic-users begin with Read Magic + Int mod random level 1 spells in their books.  They have to go out and find others.
• magic-users can cast 5th ed. Prestidigitation cantrip at will, no other cantrips exist
• no "chance to learn" rolls for spells found
• magic-users have spell slots equal to their level, so a level 3 M-U could cast 3 Charm Person spells or one Fireball (3 hit dice of course) if those spells are in his book
• magic-users spells include everything from the B/X cleric lists (except Continual Light, which is deleted)
• Sleep affects 1D6 HD per level slot used to cast it, Magic Missile hits automatically (if you are lucky enough to have it)
• only magic-users can use scrolls
• magic-users can use spellbook like a scroll in a pinch
• metal armor grants advantage on saves vs magical enchantments
• wearing metal armor prevents casting
• Raise Dead only works on humans, and reduces the recipient one experience level (Normal Man types cannot be raised)

• elves have a smaller spell list.  They cannot use scrolls and do not utilize spellbooks.  Instead, elves spontaneously learn one random spell each time they level up.

Elf spell list:

Charm
Fear/Remove Fear
Invisibility 
Light/Darkness
Mirror Image
Phantasmal Force
Sleep
Ventriloquism

Equipment, Treasure, and Such

• plate mail is expensive (c. 600 gp)
• scrolls/potions can be purchased for 500 gp / level (minimum)
• scrolls/potions can be created for 500 gp / level AND a successful saving throw (rolled when the item is used).  Read Magic or Brew Potion must be cast along with the target spell when scrolls or potions are created.
• +1, +2, +3 magic items don't exist, but weapons of quality do
• coins weigh about 50 per pound
• no flaming lantern oil, but alchemist's fire at potion cost
• hoards of coins are described by weight, value is determined back in town

Monsters

• d6 for hit dice
• number of hit dice = monster's attack and save bonus
• breath attacks do 1d6 per hit die
• no level drain, instead attacks from wights, wraiths, and vampires cause permanent hp loss
• only 7 types of "true undead" exist; mindless, animated corpses are merely magical constructs and cannot be turned
• turning intelligent undead: anyone can attempt to turn (creature gets a saving throw)

Still Pondering ...

• pondering 1/10/500 values on copper, silver, gold ("silver standard")
• how to handle picking locks? Dexterity check?  I like the idea of traps, secret doors, and locks having "levels."  Perhaps the lock gets a save?