Aely's Home Table Rules

At my tables I utilise a few rule adjustments or additions to try and make the games more immersive or fun. I have listed the important ones below.

Adjusted Names/Titles

Some of the names/titles of subjects within D&D5e have been changed or renamed within the setting. This is predominantly an aesthetic or technical choice on my (Aely's) part, typically related to etymology or historical/mythological accuracy.

Mage = D&D Wizard

Pact Keeper = D&D Warlock

Warlock = A title used to denote someone that has broken a sworn oath or pact. See Warlock

Fisdragua = D&D Dragonborn

Bantamfolk = D&D Halfling

Navian = D&D Tiefling

Electus = D&D Aasimar

Avisulo = D&D Arakocra

Ginnaya = D&D Genasi

Bogill-Mòr = D&D Hobgoblin

Kaftar = D&D Gnoll

Nekoto = D&D Tabaxi

Serpensia = D&D Yuan-Ti

Kawako = D&D Tortle

Graphick = D&D Warforged

Calling = A zero level set of options dependant on what Vocation is desired

Vocation = Class

Path = Subclass

Skill and Ability Checks

Natural 1s and 20s do not auto-succeed or fail; DCs are there for a reason! However, there will be an additional benefit or penalty depending on the situation.

Combat

Critical Hits

Critical Hits will do the following dice damage: Max. Dice + Dice Roll + Modifiers

Natural 1s

Natural 1s result in a roll on the Critical Combat Fail table below:

Flanking

Flanking offers Advantage, but be aware that you too can be flanked by enemies.

Magic System Adjustment

Magic in A'arde is based upon a Mana Pool system, however the D&D5e rules do not typically allow for that kind of playstyle. Therefore, I have introduced a rule that will allow a similar concept to occur: Slot Sacrifice.

Spellcasters can sacrifice spells of greater level to regain spell slots of lower levels equal to the slot spent. For example, a Mage (Wizard) could sacrifice a 5th level spell slot to regain three 1st level slots and one 2nd level slot.

Likewise, spellcasters can combine/expend lower level spell slots to regain a higher level slot. For example, a 2nd level slot and 3rd level slot could be combined to regain a 5th level slot.

These actions can be taken in combat as a Special Action on the spellcaster's turn, and therefore do not have an Action Economy cost. They can also be completed outside of combat at any time. The Player should announce their intention to utilise Slot Sacrifice before adjusting their available spell slots.

Bond Points

Bond Points are a system of rewards that can be earned by engaging in social endeavours with fellow PCs. Bond Points can be general (used with any PC) or specific (used with only one PC) and can be tracked on a table laid out in a manner as below. The table should be read from top to bottom, by finding the appropriate PC's name along the top row, then moving down the column until the associated PC is reached. When adding Bond Points, they should be added to each PC's name individually, ensuring that associated cells in the table are identical (e.g. PC1-PC3 and PC3-PC1 will be the same). This can be done in Excel or other such spreadsheets for ease of tracking.

	PC 1	PC2	PC3
PC1	X	2	3
PC2	2	X	1
PC3	3	1	X
General	1	4	3

Unlike Inspiration, Bond Points stack, so can be collected over time, however there are limits on how they can be used. They are awarded for engaging in meaningful social interactions with other PCs, either on a one-to-one basis, or as a group. This can include having deep conversations with each other, helping another PC with a personal goal, or engaging in activities together outside of typical adventuring.

Bond Points can be spent to eliminate a single skill or ability check when an action is performed by two or more people assisting each other in some demonstrable way. Alternatively, they can be used to give yourself advantage in a situation where you would otherwise not have it without a fellow PC resorting to expending a Help Action.

Points can only be spent when performing an action with a PC with which you currently have Bond Points, or by the use of a General Bond Point. You must be able to describe how you are utilising your Bond with each other before the Point can be spent.

Skill Check Elimination Example

Using Colossus and Wolverine's Fastball Special as an example, under normal circumstances, Colossus would need to make a Strength Check to throw Wolverine, while Wolverine would need to make a Dex. Acrobatics check to not fall flat on his face upon landing. Using a Bond Point, the two could eliminate one of the checks and turn it into an automatic success, leaving only one check to be made and allowing the other PC involved to utilise a Help Action to improve their chances of success. Only a single Bond Point can be used per interaction, and only when such points are available (i.e. Points between specific PCs or a General Bond Point).

Advantage Example

The characters Cuilean and Fenriz are facing off against a creature; due to the terrain they cannot flank it and therefore cannot gain advantage in the typical manner without one of them expending a Help Action. Neither player wants to sacrifice an Attack Action, as their foe is particularly resilient and they need as many attacks as possible. They choose to spend a Bond Point to perform a "Castling" move, where one of them flips over the other as a distraction to the creature as they attack, allowing the one that was flipped over to attack with advantage. For this, they must both move on the same turn, which would normally require the Hold an Action request and make them unable to use their Movement or Bonus Actions. However, by spending the Bond Point they are allowed to both perform a full set of Actions, Bonus Actions, and Movement on the same Initiative as whoever was lower in the turn order.

Note on Meta-Gaming

While I utilise the 5th Edition D&D System, my games in A'arde are heavily homebrewed, with creatures going by different names, having altered statblocks, and even being upgraded/completely rewritten depending on the situation. From this point of view alone, Meta-Gaming is a pointless endeavour.

While I understand that it is likely that some players have encountered certain opponent types before, and may therefore know stats or facts, I consider overt OOC Meta-Gaming quite rude (especially if you calculate things audibly for everyone to hear) and I DO NOT allow it at my table. If you know how a creature or opponent behaves, what its hit points are, or what weaknesses it has, keep it to yourself.

Likewise, if your character wouldn't know about a certain creature or ability, do not use OOC knowledge to give yourself an advantage. It is unfair to other players and shows poor integrity.

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