So You Want to Make a Homebrew? (Advice from Vetran Homebrewers Welcome!)

[Morph Bark]

You know what we also need? A general homebrewer chat thread. We are almost a sub-community on here, and I know that this is the board where I spend the most time.

Ever since the Tiering thread really got going, I thought this might be a good idea indeed, especially since how many different things came up in the Tiering thread (some of which were started by me because I was poking around for ideas on what kind of stuff might be good to Tier next or what style to post my next Special Homebrewer Feature in, hence the questions about anime, for instance).

That, plus the Base Class Challenge, Prestige Class Contest, Mixed Ultimate Homebrew Arts and Pathfinder Grab Bag Challenge could be advertised in there (something which I had also been doing in the Tiering thread so far).

[Welknair]

Ever since the Tiering thread really got going, I thought this might be a good idea indeed, especially since how many different things came up in the Tiering thread (some of which were started by me because I was poking around for ideas on what kind of stuff might be good to Tier next or what style to post my next Special Homebrewer Feature in, hence the questions about anime, for instance).

That, plus the Base Class Challenge, Prestige Class Contest, Mixed Ultimate Homebrew Arts and Pathfinder Grab Bag Challenge could be advertised in there (something which I had also been doing in the Tiering thread so far).

Perhaps we could make such a thread and petition to have it properly stickied, as opposed to added to the Important Threads post?

[SamBurke]

Perhaps we could make such a thread and petition to have it properly stickied, as opposed to added to the Important Threads post?

Definitely ./agree.

[Welknair]

Definitely ./agree.

Any objections to me making the thread?

And which Mods should we be messaging?

[SamBurke]

Any objections to me making the thread?

And which Mods should we be messaging?

Roland, I believe.

[Lord_Gareth]

Balance - Have a consideration for it. No, really. Munchkins happen, it's true, but it's easier to avoid a problem in the first place if content is both balanced AND fun. Most people around here aim for T3 with regard to classes (which I suggest as well) and will judge accordingly, but if someone brings up a combo with some piece of content or another ignore it only at your own peril. Remember, houserules and fixes are different from table to table, so the only way you can assure that your work is okay is to make it so yourself.

[Djinn_in_Tonic]

Perhaps we could make such a thread and petition to have it properly stickied, as opposed to added to the Important Threads post?

We tried this previously. Roland stated (correctly, I think) that the Homebrew forum is used often enough that each stickied thread basically knocks another homebrew off the first page, and into relative obscurity. As such, we have a single stickied Important Threads topic, and that's it.

I must admit...I think he's right on this one.

[TheWombatOfDoom]

That makes a lot of sense. Noted. I'm fine with any of these threads being nominated for the list, in any case. I'm so happy this has inspired further commmunity building sites, as that was much my intention to begin with.

On another note, I've added many of the new threads and done some house cleaning on some faulty coding on the links. Sorry I was MIA this weekend. I got pretty sick and am still slightly under the weather.

[Debihuman]

Is there a way to add this to the already stickied Notable Threads? Who do we have to ask to do this?

Debby

[Morph Bark]

For something like that you need to PM Roland.

[SamBurke]

Is there a way to add this to the already stickied Notable Threads? Who do we have to ask to do this?

Debby

PMing Roland would fix that in short order.

[TheWombatOfDoom]

Anyone have more advice to add to the list? It's been awhile and it's time to unbury this, dust it off, and help people again! Anyone have any questions who are just starting off? Ask it here!

[inuyasha]

I actually have developed a system for calculating CR that works fairly well, but I will post it tommorrow because I need to dig it out and im tired :p. So is it ok if i post it here?

[Omnicrat]

I don't do a lot of homebrew anymore* (my laptop died and most of my homebrew was lost), but I do read a lot of it and try to help people who post.

So, here's my two cents:

If you are asking for peach, when people explain how your idea is not good mechanically, already exists in a better form within the rules or in another homebrew, or provide fixes for broken aspects, do not summarily dismiss them with "They don't get it" or "That's not the point," even if you only do it in your head. Those can be true and they can be valid, but when you have made your goal clear (for example, improving natural healing with non-magical items) and everyone tells you your item is both overpriced and not effective at the goal you are trying to achieve, hear their comments and either decide your stated goal was not your actual goal then reassess to determine what your actual goal was, or accept that your idea which you loved and cherished and wanted to share with the world was not the best it could be and improve it through discussion with the people who posted in your thread.

*New project not withstanding

[TheWombatOfDoom]

I actually have developed a system for calculating CR that works fairly well, but I will post it tommorrow because I need to dig it out and im tired :p. So is it ok if i post it here?

Hm, might want to make it your own post on the homebrew forum and I'll link it!

I don't do a lot of homebrew anymore* (my laptop died and most of my homebrew was lost), but I do read a lot of it and try to help people who post.

So, here's my two cents:

If you are asking for peach, when people explain how your idea is not good mechanically, already exists in a better form within the rules or in another homebrew, or provide fixes for broken aspects, do not summarily dismiss them with "They don't get it" or "That's not the point," even if you only do it in your head. Those can be true and they can be valid, but when you have made your goal clear (for example, improving natural healing with non-magical items) and everyone tells you your item is both overpriced and not effective at the goal you are trying to achieve, hear their comments and either decide your stated goal was not your actual goal then reassess to determine what your actual goal was, or accept that your idea which you loved and cherished and wanted to share with the world was not the best it could be and improve it through discussion with the people who posted in your thread.

*New project not withstanding

I'll add this to the "welcome critiques" section.

[inuyasha]

well bad news :p cant find it sadly...maybe it was a dream...

[bobthe6th]

Advice? Read tons of other brews, along with the comments. You can see how others do things, and what seems funky.

[inuyasha]

Hey Wombat I'm making a guide to homebrewing, the thread has been started and its coming together slowly, would you like to link to it please?

and advice: no matter how silly or stupid it sounds, it isnt to silly or stupid for us, don't be afraid to post it

May it be possible to nominate this for stickying?

[TheWombatOfDoom]

Hey Wombat I'm making a guide to homebrewing, the thread has been started and its coming together slowly, would you like to link to it please?

and advice: no matter how silly or stupid it sounds, it isnt to silly or stupid for us, don't be afraid to post it

May it be possible to nominate this for stickying?

They don't do sticky nominations anymore. However, eventually I might submit the list to update the notable thread section like i'm doing in the OotS subforum. I'll add your advice...and sure you can send me a link, and when it's done I'll add it if everyone thinks it fits well enough!

So what's the guide going to entail? Did you want to add it here?

[DracoDei]

Also an important thing to keep in mind is the FLUFF-CRUNCH CONNECT. The connection between the fluff (basically everything not related to mechanics, which characters in-game could know) and the crunch (basically all the mechanics) is something many people lose track of sometimes. It is especially important when making classes or creatures, to make sure the two fit together. Otherwise you end up with NPCs saying Rogues can do something that they actually can't, or Fighters having an ability that is very far removed from their fluff (such as any sort of magic ability). It can be one of the harder parts to get right, but the first step is pretty easily taken, and some of the best works on GitP, Minmaxboards and other boards have a very solid fluff-crunch connect.

I'll go a step further here.

Dare to be complicated. Take your vision, and make it into mechanics. Don't leave out any details. If you could turn a hundred words into 10 by compromising your vision "just a little", don't do it. Make something rich, and whose mechanics make the reader go "So THAT is how you do it! I would have sworn that bit of fluff wasn't going to be covered by the crunch."

This having been said, people aren't always going to like that sort of thing... so AFTER you have your perfect vision made words up, THEN go back and add a SECOND version of your idea where you DO simplify it. It will be better for having been realized in a deep way first (maybe those mechanics won't be as complicated as you thought, or maybe you will accidentally invent a really fun subsystem along the way). People can then pick and choose. Most will prefer the simple version.

For example (and BTW, examples are a great way of countering the problems with complexity), one of my creations is really best done with the following damage reduction: "Damage Reduction 5/NON-masterwork AND NON-magical AND NON-Sword AND (Slashing OR non-punching dagger)" but for simplicity people can use "DR 5/light AND slashing"

If you end up needing a 4th degree polynomial or something crazy like that to model a relationship, then give people a chart instead (or maybe as well).

(I hope the above advice actually applies to someone other than me.)


Three other things:
1.)
Understand the rules, and you can make some decent homebrew.

Understand the reasons behind the rules, and you can know when to break them and make something really thought provoking and interesting. At its heart, D&D is "lets pretend" for grown-ups. The rules are only there to help that, by making things more standardized so when you say "I chop of the badguy's head" you can feel a deep sense of accomplishment and that you told an interesting story. And if the path to that sense of accomplishment is that your GM uses some homebrew (or creates their own) that involves a Minor Artifact that let you stack Keen+Improved Critical+Vorpal at the cost of your scimitar exploding in your face the first time you use it, and it was a really difficult quest, then that is good.


2.)
Just because something is silly, doesn't mean that you get a pass on making it balanced. I have stuff that has made a veteran homebrewer tear up with laughter, and I still fretted over the balance.

3.)
A short spoiler (Sidenote: Learn how to use forum codes, they let you make your stuff look more awesome.) explaining the mood or purpose of a given piece of homebrew can really help get people in the right frame of mind. Same for little quotes or vignettes.

I actually have developed a system for calculating CR that works fairly well, but I will post it tommorrow because I need to dig it out and im tired :p. So is it ok if i post it here?

well bad news :p cant find it sadly...maybe it was a dream...

A CR calculation method that is exactly right more than 50% of the time? Yeah, definitely a dream...

[inuyasha]

Well the first thing Im doing for this guide is a system for creating races. Then I will be doing suggestions and tips for classes and feats, then how to construct spells, and then how to accurately make and create monsters and templates, as well as a way to judge CR. All these catagories will have appropriate links to other ways to do it, and other tools to make things a little easier. I would love to add it here when its at least close to being finished (which it isnt right now)