Player Rules

## Section 1: Creation

### Overview

The Grove only uses Standard Array for character generation starting at level 1 for all character and Standard Equipment for starting gear. All characters are to be built with the standard 5e rules, within the accepted rules of the server.

### Character Slots

Players are allotted 3 character slots. They can purchase with in game gold additional slots for 1500 gold each. When doing this, post into the #account-wide-purchases channel within the server. One of the staff members will assign a role to you which will show you have an additional character slot.

Any Player can have at most 6 character slots at their disposal.

### Attributes at Creation

Racial Ability Score Increases can be freely modified as per the Race's individual rules. This feature is known as Custom Origin within the Tasha's Cauldron of Everything.

> Take any ability score increase you gain in your race or subrace and apply it to an ability score of your choice. If you gain more than one increase, you can’t apply those increases to the same ability score, and you can’t increase a score above 20.
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> For example, if the Ability Score Increase trait of your race or subrace increases your Constitution by 2 and your Wisdom by 1, you could instead increase your Intelligence by 2 and your Charisma by 1.
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Additionally we only allow Standard Array on creation, which means you have 6 set values that must all be assigned to an Ability Score. These are as follows;

15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8

The only allowed change using the Custom Origin rules on the server. Changing out skills and other racial traits are not allowed within the scope of the server.

### Allowed Races

The Following Races are permitted for play with the above settings, anything not on this list is considered Banned:

* Aasimar - Fallen
* Dwarf - Hill
* Dwarf - Mountain
* Elf - Drow
* Elf - High
* Elf - Wood
* Half Elf - Drow
* Half Elf - High
* Half Elf - Wood
* Halfling - Lightfoot
* Halfling - Stout
* Human (Non Variant)
* Leonin
* Lineage - Dhampir
* Lineage - Hexblood
* Goliath
* Goblin
* Orc
* Tabaxi
* Tiefling (Non Variants, Non Feral)

### Allowed Classes

The following subclasses are allowed with the settings above, if a subclass does not appear on this list it is considered Banned:

#### Barbarian

* Ancestral
* Berserker
* Beast
* Totem Warrior
* Zealot

#### Bard

* Glamour
* Lore
* Swords
* Valor
* Spirits

#### Cleric

* Forge
* Grave
* Life
* Peace
* War

#### Druid

* Circle of Dreams
* Circle of Land (X)
* Circle of the Shepard
* Circle of Spores

#### Fighter

* Battle Master
* Cavalier
* Champion
* Purple Dragon Knight
* Samurai

#### Monk

* Mercy
* Drunken Master
* Kensei
* Open Hand

#### Paladin

* Conquest
* Devotion
* Crown
* Watchers

#### Ranger

* Beast Master
* Hunter

#### Rogue

* Assassin
* Inquisitive
* Mastermind
* Scout
* Swashbuckler
* Thief

#### Sorcerer

* Clockwork
* Divine
* Draconic
* Shadow
* Wild Magic

#### Warlock

* Archfey
* Great Old One
* Undead

#### Wizard

* School of (X)
* War Magic

### Backgrounds

The following backgrounds are allowed on The Grove. While you can create a custom background, the feature must come from one of the below:

* Acolyte
* Athlete
* Celebrity Adventurer's Scion
* Charlatan
* City Watch / Investigator
* Clan Crafter
* Cloistered Scholar
* Courtier
* Criminal / Spy
* Entertainer
* Faceless
* Failed Merchant
* Far Traveler
* Fisher
* Gambler
* Gladiator
* Haunted One
* Hermit
* Inheritor
* Investigator
* Knight
* Mercenary Veteran
* Noble
* Outlander
* Pirate
* Sage
* Sailor
* Shipwright
* Smuggler
* Soldier
* Urban Bounty Hunter
* Urchin

### Alignments

The Grove will allow most Alignments, but characters of Evil inclination can only be Lawful. Chaotic Evil and Neutral Evil are forbidden within the Server.

### Starting Equipment

Starting equipment will be given to a player on creation based on their background feature and starting class. This will also give them in most cases a coin pouch with their starting gold.

Players are free to roll on the trinkets tables contained within the Player Handbook, or freely on the Gothic Trinkets table. These items will have no value within the world, but can be used for Roleplay purposes.

### Minimum Age

Player Characters must be of at least adult age for their race. For humans this is considered 18 years old, for Elves this is 100.

### Submissions Cooldown

To prevent the Moderation team from being overwhelmed, there is a 1 week waiting period between approvals of a player character. Once your character has been approved, we ask that you wait 1 week before submitting another character for review.

### Determining Health

A character's health is directly linked to their Constitution Score. That is to say for each point of Constitution a character has their Maximum Health Total increases by 5, then the player can add their CON Score to the value. So a Character with 8 CON will have 48 Health Points ((5\*8)+8), and a Character with 15 will have 90 Health Points ((5\*15)+15). The only real way to change this value permanently is via the Tough Feat which grants an additional 2 hitpoints per CON value, or via increasing your CON score within play.

### Sexual Themes

We as a living community and leadership recognise that Dungeons and Dragons can explore some dark / mature themes. The ultimate bounds of what is acceptable will always be subjective based upon the group and DM. In the case of our community, we strive for a standard that takes the setting and material seriously and allows for exploration of grittier themes while considering the comfort of the maximum amount of people.

To this end, submitted characters may not solely be vehicles for the exploration of sexual themes. This includes character art.

Cropped versions hardcore or softcore pornography remain unacceptable after cropping due to their "bedroom eyes" quality. Discretion lies within the Staff team of The Grove.

### Advisement

**Strength Ability Score** Since The Grove uses Variant Encumbrance, it is advised that all players take at least 10 within strength. This is because carry weight is directly calculated from a character's strength ability score. Players can freely ignore this advisement however, but take this as a warning.

**Constitution Ability Score** Since The Grove uses a static Health Pool system based entirely off Constitution, it is advised that all players try to prioritise Constitution as this stat now directly affects the character's health pool.

**Grapple Checks** It is advised that you have at least some skill in Athletics or Acrobatics to avoid grapple attempts. Athletics is used for grappling another, and either skill is used to attempt escape.

## Section 2: Maintaining

### Gaining Experience

 Players will need to perform a number of encounters per level in order to level up. These encounters are determined by each session that the character attends and the table for levelling up is below. Upon each level a character is also granted additional gold to help curve the income of the character as they increase in level. You can roleplay this as the city giving you income for proving your skills over time.

As per the below it will take a character 6 encounters to level from level 2 - 3 and 22 encounters to level from 3 - 5. Basically put a character will need to undergo 169 encounters to reach level 20.

### Training Times

Training in a new skill or language will take 12 training points. As such the cost for such will be increased significantly. A character can only be training with 1 skill or language at a time and to a maximum of 3 total skills or languages being trained per character. For more information see Downtime Rules.

### Delivery Times

Players who purchase their weaponry from a merchant on the server will typically obtain the item instantly. However, special requests can be made which can take a few days or even have required session counts placed on them before the player can pick them up. This type of request is typically reserved for items without a set sale price. Where in the Server staff will discuss the item, and then get back to you. Thus it can be assumed within a roleplay environment that the merchant in question would have to check back with you and can be roleplayed as such.

### Medical Needs And Downtime

A character can undertake 1 long rest per 24 hour period, and must cease roleplaying 8 hours prior to or after the command is logged. Dungeon Masters may run multiple day encounters due to time or difficulty, in which case it is up to the DM at the time to determine the ruling and what occurs within their pocket dimension.

Alternatively after an encounter takes place a character may undertake a short rest following all the standard rules of such. A character can only benefit from 3 short rests per 24 hour period.

Additionally players can partake in a number of downtime activities, which include but are not limited to busking, gathering and crafting using a point system that resets on a long rest.

### Character Death

Because of the effort players put into their wiki pages for a character. Adventurer's cannot be killed in the traditional sense. This is to reward creativity and effort being put into characters on creation as much as it is a way to stop inexperienced players succumbing to a sudden death at the hands of an equally inexperienced Dungeon Master. Players can instead opt when their character hits 0hp to have them die through a coup de grace, but this is left entirely up to the player playing the character.

Sometimes however, characters will be forced to die due to story reasons or simple abuse of their power and this rule. In these cases, the death will go through as per normal but the player will be marked for death via a role within the server.

### Resubmit Rules

**Voluntary Resubmit Rules**

At any given time, a player may choose to resubmit an approved character for a respec or full build. The resubmitted character must go through the approval process again. The character can keep all previous items obtained before the resubmit, but will lose all their purchased or trained languages and proficiencies.

Gold invested into the character is not refunded and use of this feature will cost 1200 gold each use.

**Triggered Resubmit Rules**

Occasionally, the rules on The Grove may change. This could be due to the release of a new book, recognition of a mechanic that is problematic, or introduction of a new house rule. When this happens, Staff may allow full or partial resubmits for some or all characters. A player may (or in some instances must) elect to resubmit their character. The resubmitted character must go through the approval process again. The character will also keep **all** proficiencies and languages learnt through training.

If the resubmit caused a previously trained proficiency or language to become part of their innate build, they will be considered trained in the skill or language that was lost instead to the resubmit.

Any event which allows for Triggered Resubmits will be called out explicitly within an announcement. It will specify which characters are allowed or mandated to do so and any other constraints attached to the process.

**Permitted Minor Changes**

Sometimes, purchases are made due to a misunderstanding of the mechanics behind it. Minor changes, such as requesting a language or proficiency change or a change in Spell list, may be permitted. These are handled on a case by case basis. Please submit your request within the #character-submissions channel for moderators to consider.

## Section 3: House rules and Custom Mechanics

### Banned Feats

 There are currently no banned feats on the server.

### Banned Spells

* Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting
* Aganazzar's Scorcher
* Bigby's Hand
* Bones of the Earth
* Clone
* Create Homunculus
* Create Magen
* Creation
* Drawmij's Instant Summons
* Dream of the Blue Veil
* Fabricate
* Finger of Death
* Galder's Tower
* Jim's Magic Missile
* Legend Lore
* Leomund's Tiny Hut
* Magnificent Mansion
* Maze
* Mighty Fortress
* Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion
* Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum
* Nystul's Magic Aura
* Power Word Heal
* Power Word Kill
* Power Word Pain
* Power Word Stun
* Private Sanctum
* Reincarnate
* Simulacrum
* Time Stop
* Wish

### Banned Items

The following items are not permitted to be purchased, or received as loot:

* Alchemy Jug
* Bag of Beans
* All-Purpose Tool

### Banned Mechanic

 Currently there are no banned mechanics on the server.

### Additional Races

 There are currently no homebrew races available on the server.

### Additional Feats

 There are currently a number of additional feats available on the server.

* Dragon's Wings
* Outsized Strength
* Titan's Grip

### Additional Spells

There are currently a number of additional spells available on the server

* Distant Shield

### Altered Qualities

There are currently no altered qualities within the server.

### Altered Class Traits

#### Magic Item Adept (Artificer)

Magic Item Adept will be changed within the server to allow an Artificer 3 extra crafting slots per encounter.

#### Minor Alchemy (Transmutation Wizard)

Minor Alchemy can be used to transmute any Grade F or D Material from gathering or harvesting into another Grade F or D Variant. This feature will not change the quality or grade of the material that is transmuted. Use of this feature will need to be shown within the crafting channel on the server.

### Altered Mechanics

#### Multi-Classing

Players who wish to make use of the addition of multiple classes within a build will be limited to a maximum of 1 additional class. This will allow for 2 classes to exist on 1 character at any given time. Use of additional classes past the 2nd is strictly forbidden.

#### Wizard Spellbooks

Ordinarily a Wizard will have a spellbook containing 6 1st level spells. Then they will gain 2 spells in the book for free each wizard level for a total of 44 spells. A wizard can forgo this level up feature for a Pre-Determined Spellbook. This will give greater flexibility early game, at the expense of a defined list of spells.

A Wizard who wishes to take this spellbook can simply take all the listed spells when they gain access to that level of spell casting, and treat them as known spells. To reflect this on the character sheet their spellbook will need to be named "School Issued Spellbook". The Wizard then cannot gain additional spells via level up. They must seek out the new spells and write them into the spellbook as per normal.

A School Issued Spellbook as a value of 200g.

#### Flanking

Flanking is a feature within The Grove, however it is not as simple as granting advantage. Allies who are considered to be flanking in melee are considered to have a +2 bonus to their to hit rolls with their melee attacks. If there is at least three allies flanking a creature from opposing sides, then they are considered to have a +5 to their to hit rolls.

#### Healing Potions

Potions and ointments are considered to always heal at the maximum value that they are able. They still however take a full action in order to use.

#### Inspiration

Inspiration can be issued to a player during an encounter. The standard rules of which are kept exactly as intended, where a singular player can hold inspiration at a time. However, this does not carry across encounters. Should the player not use their GM given inspiration in the encounter, at the end of the encounter it is lost.

### Gear Acquisition

 Players can come across Magical Items in their adventures, this will usually be told to the player at the point of acquisition. But keep in mind that any magical item obtained in this fashion will remain wholely unknown to the character unless they make use of an identification spell, or have the item appraised. Alternatively, brave ~~or stupid~~ adventurers can simply spend an hour with the item inspecting it and discover it's properties. If this item is cursed however, you will likely find yourself forcefully attuned to it.

Should this forced attunement cause a player to exceed the limitations of their attunement slots, the last item they attuned to will be overridden. If this cannot be overridden due to a curse, it will continue up until all the players attunement slots cannot be overridden with the cursed item. At which point the forced attunement will fail as per normal.

Players who wish to purchase their gear, will find many stores across the cities that can cater to their needs. Purchasing of magical items may be allowed, but this will usually take some time in the form of sessions required to be played before the item can be collected from the store.

### Subcontracting Other PCs

Players wishing to get assistance from other players can do so by roleplaying and working out a deal. Though it would be best to work out the actual deal through means of Private Messages to prevent clogging up the public chats with back and forth detailing.

Staff will not be involved in the discussion of creating player to player deals. But will happily mediate if need be to get an understanding of a disagreement.

Character exclusive items, like learning slots or crafting slots cannot be traded between players to gain an upper hand.

### Player vs Player

D&D 5th Edition is not geared toward Player vs Player. That being said, sometimes situations between players does call for it. In the instance of Player vs Player engagement, both parties must agree before any action can be taken.

Player vs Player is inclusive, but not limited to:

* Damaging another player on purpose with a single target attack.
* Damaging another player with an Area of Effect attack.
* Pickpocketing or otherwise looting an alive player.
* Any other activity that can render damage, or alter the character's inventory.

In the instance of agreement - it must be shown within the channel of which it takes place that both parties agree, and if it is to the death or not. In the instance of the engagement being deathless, when a character hits 0HP they instead cower and surrender instead of falling unconscious.

### Misc. Lifestyle Rules

At the end of every tenth encounter the character undertakes the player must remove their lifestyle costs from their gold income. Should the player lose all their gold from this, and still owe money. That player simply reverts to having no money. They do not accrue debt, but their lifestyle will be forcefully changed to Wretched (0GP).

## Section 4: Acknowledgement

The development of these house rules benefited from discussions with and content generated by the staffs and members of the World Builder team.