Pathfinder House Rules (Credit to demonac for ALOT of these rules)

Martial Lore, though it in many ways resembles Spellcraft (for identifying maneuvers/disciplines being used), has been renamed Knowledge[Martial], and though its function has not changed from its description in Tome of Battle, it is considered a Knowledge skill in all other ways. Knowledge[Martial] is added as a class skill for the Psionic Warrior, Divine Mind,and for ALL classes and PrCs with full (+1 per level) Base Attack Progression.

Knowledge[Local] is always considered a Class skill. Because it is limited to a specific region,skill points placed in Knowledge[Local]are DOUBLED at any level where the character spent any time in the locale they are putting points into (and doubled for ANY region at character creation). For example, a Halfling who advanced to a new level after adventuring (partially) in Telauras could spend 2 points to gain 4 ranks Knowledge[Local:Telauras].

In addition, ALL characters are considered to have Knowledge[Home] (in other words, Knowledge[Local] relating to their region of origin), for FREE with Ranks equal to their character level (continuing to advance even if they are far from home). So a 9th level Halfling would automatically have 9 ranks in Knowledge[Home] (normally that would be Knowledge[Laric] because that's where most halflings come from). Any character can invest 1 skill point, at any level, to upgrade their home knowledge to instead be maxxed out (and for that one time cost, the skill will continue advancing to be maxxed at all levels going forward).The home location is tied to the backstory, not race, so a halfling who grew up in (or spent the last 5 years in) Vistria could chose to tie this skill to Vistria rather than Laric if he wished.

Intimidate can be used as either a Strength or Charisma-based skill. A character can choose each time they use it which skill to base it on, however, Strength-based Intimidate (bullying) has VERY different situational modifiers than the Charisma-based version. In any given situation, one version may be grossly inappropriate, where the other may be well-suited, and large penalties often apply when using the "wrong" one.

Diplomacy will use a completely different set of DCs than the PHB version. Of note; the new DCs will factor in the overall power level of the target, sometimes resulting in MUCH more difficult checks (for example: convincing a dragon not to attack, or a great wizard to change his mind). As a social skill, however, circumstance bonuses (and penalties) based on the specific circumstances and any clever (or abnormaly foolhardy) tacts from the players will have a much greater impact than they tend to have on non-social skills. Rest assured that (for example) convincing a powerful king to do something that is in his own interest should always be a relatively easy task; however a high or low diplomacy check in such a situation may have a variety of other consequences.

The PHB description states that a Disguise takes 1d3x10 minutes to create. That's crap. Assuming that you have the appropriate materials (which vary based on the particular effect you are trying to achieve, and how quickly you want to do it), Disguise now uses the time chart below. While your number of skill ranks determines the speed at which you can create a disguise, you can increase the speed by one level on the time chart by taking a -5 penalty, or two levels on the time chart by taking a -20 penalty. To accelerate your skill by three levels on the skill chart is a -40 penalty, making it effectively an epic skill result. Note that in addition to the penalties, disguises will often take pre-planning and preparation in order to be able to apply them in 2 rounds or less.

Ranks: Time:

1+ 4d6 minutes

5+ 2d6 rounds

10+ 2 rounds

15+ 1 full-round action

- 1 standard action

- 1 moves action

- 1 swift action

SPELLS

Zero'th level spells (a.k.a. Cantrips) are not expended when cast. In other words, memorized cantrips can be cast as often as you like.

Due to the above change, Cure Minor Wounds and Repair Minor Damage are banned. There is now a new spell named Stabilize, which simply stabilizes someone at negative HPs and stops them from bleeding to death. It is otherwise identical to and replaces, Cure Minor Wounds.

GAMEPLAY

• All NPCs and Monsters die at zero hitpoints. I can break this rule for plot-critical NPCs of my choosing.
• The XP requirement for the fabrication of magical items may be supplied by any one willing person.
• Spells or powers that you have made permanent on yourself (using Permanency) are never truly dispelled. When affected by Dispel Magic or a similar spell, the effect is simply suppressed. To reactivate the permanent effect, the original effect spell (not Permanency) must be re-cast by you. Re-casting this spell does not cost any XP. You must have Permanency or Incarnate on your list of known spells for this to work.
• Permanent spells you cast on other people, or cast on you by other people, are completely dispelled as normal.
• You can take a Full Round action to rise from Prone. This does not provoke attacks of opportunity. (Standing from Prone as a Move Action is still allowed and still draws attacks of opportunity.)
• Diagonal movement will only cost 1, as per 4th Edition.

The chatkcha returns to a proficient thrower on a missed attack roll. To catch it, the character must make an attack roll v.s. AC 10 using the same bonus they threw the chatkcha with. Failure indicates the weapons falls to the ground 10 ft. in a random direction from the thrower. A non-proficient user who fails in his attempt to catch the returning chatkcha suffers 1d4 damage from the weapon’s sharp edges. Catching the chatkcha is a free action.

MAGIC ITEM CREATION

These changes are an effort to make magic item creation more appealing to PCs and to make magic items to be more meaningful and personal. Note that none of the standard rules have been removed. These rules simply add more options.

• The magic item creation feats are no longer required. A player can optionally use various Craft skills to duplicate the function of these feats.
• A character using a Craft skill must still meet the level requirement of the feat they are emulating. For example, Forge Ring requires Spellcaster Level 12. A character (including a non-caster) would have to be at least level 12 to create magic rings with the Craft skill.
  • Each day that the character works to make an item using the Craft feat, they must make a skill check with a DC of 20 plus the caster-level requirement of the appropriate feat. For example, this would be DC 32 for Forge Ring. Failing a check spoils that day's efforts (and up to 1,000g of materials), but does not ruin the item. You can take a 10 on this check.
• You no longer need to be a spellcaster to craft magic items, whether using the Feat or Craft method. You can do Use Magic Device checks to "fake" it as needed.
• UMD checks can be done at any point during the construction process.
• One check will be required to emulate a spellcasting class, such as "Wizard". This is a DC 20 check.
• Additional checks will likely be required to cast spells from scrolls. This DC varies.
• Failing a check spoils that day's efforts (and up to 1,000g of materials), but does not ruin the item (nor does it use up the scroll or wand charge). If you fail a check, you can't make more checks that day (but already successful checks will not have to be redone.)
• You cannot take a 10 on UMD checks.
• Players can now craft "Soulbound" items. These only function as magical items for the creator. These items effectively have a 25% lower base cost. This stacks with the "_____ Artisan" feats, potentially resulting in an item that costs half the normal gold, XP, and time.

There are no Craft types that directly map to the various magic item creation feats. Instead, players are encouraged to use their imagination (while not going overboard). For example, a Gemcutter/Jeweler could craft a Clasp of Charisma, which is functionally the same as a Cloak of Charisma and would take up the same magic item slot.

All of the Craft skills could be used to craft magical items, though any one skill could not craft them all. Here are some examples:

• alchemy: potions, oils, elixirs
• armorsmithing: all types of armor and shields
• basketweaving: Basket of Holding?
• bookbinding: books, scrolls
• bowmaking: bows
• blacksmithing: any non-weapon, non-armor metal item.
• calligraphy: books, scrolls
• carpentry: any non-weapon, non-armor wooden item.
• cobbling: any footwear
  • gemcutting: gems and jewelry (gold chains, silver brooches, etc...)
• leatherworking: leather armor and clothing
• locksmithing: not much...
• painting: not much...
• pottery: Pot of Holding? There are a few bowl- or cup-like magic items.
• sculpting: quite a few trinkets
  • shipmaking: Apparatus of Kwalish
• stonemasonry: this wouldn't be useful for much that was portable, but good making magical keeps
• trapmaking: magical traps?
• weaponsmithing: all types of weapons
• weaving: clothing, flying carpets

Races

Half-Dwarf

• +2 to One Ability Score: Half-Dwarf characters get a +2 bonus to one ability score of their choice at creation to represent their varied nature.
• Medium: Half-dwarves are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
• Slow and Steady: Half-dwarves have a base speed of 20 feet, but their speed is never modified by armor or encumbrance.
• Darkvision: Half-dwarves can see in the dark up to 60 feet.
• Greed: Half-dwarves receive a +2 racial bonus on Appraise skill checks made to determine the price of nonmagical goods that contain precious metals or gemstones.
• Hardy: Half-dwarves receive a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against poison, spells, and spell-like abilities.
• Weapon Familiarity: Half-dwarves are proficient with battleaxes, heavy picks, and warhammers, and treat any weapon with the word "dwarven" in its name as a martial weapon.
• Languages: Half-dwarves begin play speaking Common and Dwarven. Half-dwarves with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Giant, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, Terran, and Undercommon.

Half-Gnomes

• +2 to One Ability Score: Half-Gnome characters get a +2 bonus to one ability score of their choice at creation to represent their varied nature.
• Small: Half-gnomes are Small creatures and gain a +1 size bonus to their AC, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, a –1 penalty to their Combat Maneuver Bonus and Combat Maneuver Defense, and a +4 size bonus on Stealth checks.
• Slow Speed: Half-gnomes have a base speed of 25 feet.
• Low-Light Vision: Half-gnomes can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light. See Additional Rules.
• Gnome Magic: Half-gnomes add +1 to the DC of any saving throws against illusion spells that they cast. Half-gnomes with a Charisma of 11 or higher also gain the following spell-like abilities: 1/day—dancing lights, ghost sound, prestidigitation, and speak with animals. The caster level for these effects is equal to the gnome's level. The DC for these spells is equal to 10 + the spell's level + the half gnome's Charisma modifier.
• Large Build: you may treat yourself as being one size category larger if it would be advantageous to you.
• Weapon Familiarity: Half-gnomes treat any weapon with the word "gnome" in its name as a martial weapon.
• Languages: Half-gnomes begin play speaking Common, Gnome, and Sylvan. Half-gnomes with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Giant, Goblin, and Orc.

Half-Halflings

• +2 to One Ability Score: Half-Gnome characters get a +2 bonus to one ability score of their choice at creation to represent their varied nature.
• Small: Half-gnomes are Small creatures and gain a +1 size bonus to their AC, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, a –1 penalty to their Combat Maneuver Bonus and Combat Maneuver Defense, and a +4 size bonus on Stealth checks.
• Large Build: you may treat yourself as being one size category larger if it would be advantageous to you.
• Slow Speed: Halflings have a base speed of 25 feet.
• Fearless: Halflings receive a +2 racial bonus on all saving throws against fear. This bonus stacks with the bonus granted by halfling luck.
• Halfling Luck: Halflings receive a +1 racial bonus on all saving throws.
• Keen Senses: Halflings receive a +2 racial bonus on Perception skill checks.
• Languages: Halflings begin play speaking Common and Halfling. Halflings with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, and Goblin.

Thri-Kreen

• +2 Wis, +2 Dex, -2 Str, -4 Cha
• Humanoid (Insectoid)
  • Weapon Familiarity: Catchas and Gythkas
• 30' movement
  • Immunity to Sleep: Thri-Kreen do not need sleep and are immune to sleep effects. You still need to rest for 8 hours to regain spells/PP.
  • Socially Inadept: All Thri-Kreen take a -2 penalty to all Diplomacy and Sense Motive checks.
  • Psionic Aptitude: All Thri-Kreen get Wild Talent as a bonus feat. Then, if a Thri-Kreen takes levels in a Psionic Manifester class, you also gain Psionic Talent as a bonus feat.
  • Multi-Limbed: Fitting their insectoid physiology, Thri-Keen have two sets of arms. However, similarly to a human's handedness, a Thri-Keen typically specializes in one set of limbs. The second set can perform mundane tasks, but in the stress of combat, a Thri-Keen cannot use their additional limbs for any purposes, including using spell components, wielding weapons, or making unarmed attacks, but can still do extremely basic things like hold onto (but not use) items. Passing an item from one hand to another is a free action, but the recieving hand(s) must be free. A Thri-Keen's additional limbs do grant it a +2 bonus on Acrobatics and Escape Artist checks, however. In addition, a Thri-Keen's multiple hands allow it to qualify for the Multiattack feat, even though it wouldn't normally. A Thri-Keen cannot take the Multiattack feat unless they have a Dexterity of at least 15 and a base attack bonus of +3 or more. Upon gaining the multiattack feat, the Thri-Keen can use their additional hands to wield weapons, following the normal rules for Two-Weapon Fighting and Multiweapon Fighting. They can also use their additional hands to make unarmed attacks and they grant the Thri-Keen a +2 bonus to their Combat Maneuver Bonus and Combat Maneuver Defense; they cannot use their additional hands to make combat maneuver checks, however.

GODS

Clerics can choose any Core domains they wish, provided they justify them based on their choice of deity (note they can choose a spirit instead of a god to worship). "My domains are Destruction and Air, because I worship the Storm aspect of Larethal (a weather god)", or "My domains are Luck and Travel, because I'm a munchkin... erm, I mean, because I worship a mischievous cloud spirit called Velin, who goes where the winds take him"

The gods don't commonly walk around in mortal guise as they once did, however, most of the gods have a physical sanctum - a place in the world where you can theoretically actually go, even meet them They are also part of a landscape that contains many spirits, usually tied to an object or a location. Individual spirits may or may not have a "stat block", but although they are immortal and their influence is very real, they can become stronger with time, or weaker to the point of almost fading away. Many problems arise simply from mortals 'trampling' on a spirit's domain without ever realizing.