What is a Ruleset?

A ruleset is the complete set of rules for a game system. Every character belongs to exactly one ruleset and is bound by its rules.

A ruleset holds:

• Abilities — Strength, Dexterity, etc.

• Races — size, speed, racial modifiers.

• Classes with their level-by-level progression — BAB, saves, skill points, granted features.

• Skills, including subtypes like Knowledge subcategories.

• Feats with their prerequisites and effects.

• Spells or powers organized into spellcasting pools.

• Items — weapons, armor, shields, gear, magic items.

• Aptitudes — pools of choosable options at certain class levels (Fighter Bonus Feats, Cleric Domains).

• Mechanics — free-form rules the system doesn't model on the sheet (trip, grapple, bull rush).

• Customization — the layer that wires it all together (properties, requirements, modifiers).

The base Core SRD 3.5 ruleset and its sourcebook extensions are read-only — they're maintained by us. To change anything in them, make your own copy. See What is forking?