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House rules is a phrase referring to a unique set of rules applying only in a certain location or organization; may also be called "rules of the house." Bars and pubs, for example, frequently have house rules posted. For example, it is a house rule in United States Air Force officers' clubs that if an officer enters the club wearing headgear and is officially noticed (i.e., the bell near the bar is rung), the entering officer must buy a round of drinks for the bar.
Gaming
A common use of the term is in role-playing games to signify a deviation of game play from the official rules. The usage of house rules is encouraged in a number of official game materials (most prominently Dungeons & Dragons), as a way to personalize the game. Many other games do not explicitly encourage house rules, although house rules are commonly used in casual settings. Games that are played in tournaments typically have very explicit official tournament rules that obviate the need for house rules. The anime-based RPG Mekton refers to house rules as "changing the laws of physics."
House rules can range from the tiniest of changes or additions to substantial deviations that alter the entire game play; it's really up to the imagination of the players. Most groups have house rules to some extent.
Most house rules are made up by the members of a particular group of players, and are never published; nevertheless countless of them have been posted on the web or published via other channels. In fact, any rule book which is not a part of the core rule books, even if it's from the original publishers of the game, could be seen as being house rules.
"House rules"