RULE VARIANTS & HOMEBREW EXPANSION GUIDELINES
The High Fantasy is a system built to evolve, just like a well-loved strain. Whether you want to shift the tone of your campaign, rebalance mechanics, or grow your own homebrew content, this section empowers Dungeon Masters and players to bend, break, remix, and remix again.
Tone & Intensity Modifiers
Customize the vibe of your game by adjusting how you present cannabis themes in mechanics and story.
| Tone | Gameplay Focus | Adjustments |
| Chill Comedy | Light roleplay, improv, stoner jokes | Low combat risk, high SP rewards, forgiving High Check DCs |
| Spiritual Epic | Mythic journeys, vision quests | Emphasize the Smoke Plane, divine strain lore, and legacy arcs |
| Rebel Noir | Crime, resistance, tension | Introduce scarcity mechanics, cartel power struggles, and consequence stacking |
| High Fantasy Classic | Balanced combat, faction politics, legacy | Stick to published rules, integrate faction systems & growhouse wars |
Strain Creation Tools
Give DMs and players tools to create original strains for story, crafting, or encounter flavor.
Strain Creation Steps:
- Name It: Choose a tone, pun, or lore-based name
- Assign a Strain Type: Indica, Sativa, Hybrid, Ruderalis
- Primary Effect: Choose or roll from High Effect Table or class-based bonuses
- Secondary Trait (Optional): Flavor buff, passive bonus, or utility power
- Infusion Style: How it’s consumed (joint, concentrate, edible, tincture, spiritual ritual)
Strain Generator Table (d10 x2)
| d10 | Base Flavor | Effect |
| 1 | Moonrock | +1 AC for 3 turns |
| 2 | Zesty | See invisible creatures for 1 round |
| 3 | Earthy | Heal +1d6 on rest |
| 4 | Frosty | Add cold damage to next attack |
| 5 | Skunky | Enemies must reroll attacks against you once |
| 6 | Sweet | Auto-succeed one saving throw |
| 7 | Spicy | Gain +10 ft movement |
| 8 | Citrus | Gain one reroll on next roll |
| 9 | Diesel | Blast of smoke causes confusion |
| 10 | Fruity | Vision quest trigger roll |
Combine two results for hybrid strains or unique mutation profiles.
Infusion System Customization
For DMs looking to offer deeper crafting and spell-boosting systems, allow tiered infusion effects based on potency.
| Potency Level | Bonus Example |
| Low (Leafy) | Small temp HP gain |
| Mid (Sticky) | Advantage on 1 ability check |
| High (Crystaled) | Enhanced spell effect or bonus die |
| Legendary (Divine) | Access to strain spirit, or spell echo |
Infusion Recipes can be researched or gifted by NPCs. Incorporate rituals, rare components, or vision plane ingredients.
Optional Mechanics
These add depth or challenge based on player preferences.
Cannabis Addiction System (Grit Mode)
- Failing 3 consecutive HC rolls on the same strain causes dependence
- Must roll Wisdom (DC 12 + tolerance level) each morning
- Fail = Disadvantage on Wisdom-based checks until next dose
- Tolerance breaks (48 hours no use) reset this system
Strain Decay
- Unused flower or concentrate degrades over time unless stored properly
- Each long rest, roll d20 for each strain jar:
- 1–2 = potency drops
- 20 = flavor profile mutates (new side effect)
Spiritual Alignment Perks
Once bonded with a Strain Spirit:
- Add +1 SP cap
- Your spells flavored by the spirit type gain minor terrain effects
- Spirit may offer prophecy or act in place of your unconscious self for 1 round
Homebrew Integration Guidelines
Want to import The High Fantasy into another system or vice versa? Use these tips:
Cross-System Adaptation
- 5E Players: Convert SP to Inspiration or Action Surge lite
- OSR or Dungeon Crawl: Treat strains as treasure and magic items only
- Modern/Post-Apoc Settings: Reframe cannabis as biotech, add legality layers
- Sci-Fi: Introduce planetary strains, terraformed growships, and bio-data fusion
Thematic Consistency Tips
- Keep strain types meaningful: They should affect not only mechanics but world perception
- Treat cannabis with depth: Use it as a mirror for freedom, rebellion, healing, and culture
- Encourage expression: From character design to Circle play, let creativity shine
- Blend seriousness and silliness: Even in the Smoke Plane, laughs and lessons coexist
Custom Class & Faction Templates
Want to add your own classes, factions, or spirit beings?
Class Template:
- 1 core mechanic (e.g., “Infused Combos”)
- 3 unique class abilities
- 1 SP-based synergy skill
- A strain tie-in (e.g., “Only gains full power when high on Sativa”)
Faction Template:
- Name & Base
- Primary Motive (e.g., Preserve purity, control all hash tech, abolish growers)
- Faction Perk: +1 bonus when working under their banner
- Faction Ritual: Unique group spell or celebration
- Faction Curse: Cost of betrayal or failure