Out of curiosity, what self-imposed rules do you use when playing these games?

I haven't played these games enough to reach the point of applying such rules, but I am curious what rules other gamers apply.

Note that I am not referring to special challenges (like beating the game without leveling up), but rather, what self-imposed rules do you use on your own casual playthroughs?

(Note that you should mention which game and mods (fixpacks count as mods) you use.)

If you want a bulleted list, you won't get one from this player. I do set rules, but they entirely depend on how I aim to play the game in any given scenario. There is only one hard and fast rule I always apply: I never power-game; I won't allow myself to min-max. I've done it in the past, and it felt like cheating, not to mention makes the game/s far too easy. I do things like set myself a maximum amount of rolls to get the character I'm happy with (or not), with no stat redistribution; I may set a rule that if 'xyz' dies (not including CHARNAME), it's game over, usually with specific role-play reasons. A lot of rules I may use on a whim, like no re-charging of wands, etc. I don't have a rule book.

Personally, instead of setting a maximum amount of rolls, I would instead choose a certain total stat value and stick to it. I would consider using the Alt-8 cheat to be acceptable with this rule as long as the character doesn't start with 18/00 strength. (One thing worth noting: you do not have to spend all your stat points to continue: you can intentionally gimp your character if you roll to high or use Alt-8.)

Of course, one issue is that the stats aren't balanced with one another. In particular, Wisdom and Charisma have no combat benefits to most characters. (Intelligence at least allows you to survive brain eating without dying.)

I use only one self-imposed rule, but I apply it on *all* of my playthroughs:
"You shall Roleplay."

I’m playing a team of characters, not some bunch of stats. So I don’t min-max, I try not to meta-game, I do not pre-buff, I do not spam rest, I do not reload after a bad fight, etc.
My choices are done "in character", and not with benefit/profit in mind.

What if your main character's spell triggers a wild surge that confuses her and causes her to walk into a trap that kills her, ending the game? (I saw a video where this happened.)

What if, while in Spellhold, you have your main character use Wizard Eye to scout, the Wizard Eye gets crushed by the trap, and the game then decides that your main character was killed? (This actually happend to me.)

In those cases, reloading is necessary, in the first case because you got really unlucky (but wild magic can be fun!) and in the second, because an attack that was definitely *not* a gaze attack was marked as one?

If I were playing the game as a Wild Mage and decided I wanted the game to be a decent challenge, I would impose:
No putting multiple (Greater) Chaos Shields in sequencers or contingencies
No having clones summon more clones
Try not to use multiple Dweomers in the same round.

On the other hand, I am more likely to do a glitch playthrough. In such a playthrough, avoid doing things the intended way as much as possible. For instance, for the enemy that can only be defeated by healing it, I would avoid casting healing spells on it; I would rather raise its fire resistance to 125% and then burn it. That kind of thing.

(Of note: I do allow myself to stack spells. I have looked through the spell list and found no spell that has a long duration and can break the game if repeatedly stacked. In Icewind Dale (non-EE), however, I might not allow stacking of the same Emotion.)

Absolutely not. I don't want the character's stats in my hands, I want some semblance of 'you get what you're given'. The only reason I set an amount of rolls is because it's totally beyond the realm of believability to end up with a fighter, for example, with 4 STR. Remember, I do not redistribute stats. No it isn't. It's called 'game over'; start again. It's the whole point for role players.

Actually, I believe your specific example can't happen; a fighter has a minimum strength score (I think 9 or 11).

Then again, you can use the Strength spell to set your strength to 18/50 with one casting or 18/00 with two. This spell has a long duration and is even useful outside of combat: it lets you carry more weight without being encumbered. (That's the interesting thing about self-imposed rules; sometimes gameplay elements you other wise ignore become quite useful.)

By the way, a few normally beneficial spells (like Strength and Magic Resistance) can be used offensively, as they set characteristics to certain value. Do you ever do that, or do you consider that to not make much sense and disallow it? Given that the game sometimes isn't fair, I think doing a no-reload game doesn't really make sense. This is especially true if you aren't familiar with the game. It also doesn't help that you can't even check the battle log and see what killed you?

Would you reload if, due to a bug, further progress is impossible? (See also my softlock topic)

Another thing: What if your mage used Shapechange and happened to die during the effect? (If this happens, the Shapechange benefit becomes permanent unless you cast the spell again and let it wear off normally. Also happens with Polymorph Self.)

It was merely an example to make a point. No figures were harmed. A spell which come in very handy for Imoen in BG2, but that's magic. Of course. Magic is part of the game. If a mage has a spell, you use it however you see fit. That's because you're a 'glitch' player. Absolutely. A bug is not role playing cause and effect. I don't do glitches, so I would re-cast the spell.

That’s what’s great with self-imposed rules: you can break them at will ;)
Depending on the situation of the death, I will or will not reload. A memorable death for my main character is for me as good a point to end a playthrough than the death of the end boss.

I don’t play to "beat" the game, but to write a story. A story that can have a sad and brutal ending.

Here's another thing that can make a no-glitch playthrough tricky.

In Icewind Dale (non-EE), if Dispel Magic is used on a shapechanged Druid, the form's natural weapons will be dispelled and the character will then attack with weapons while being shapechanged. So, in order to avoid benefiting from the glitch, just don't cast Dispel Magic on a shapechanged Druid, right?

WRONG!

It is not unlikely that an enemy will cast Dispel Magic and hit the Druid. Now, you have a shapechanged Druid using her normal weapons despite the shapechange.

Here is the question: If this happened to you, and it took a moment to realize what happened, would you reload?

Trying to roleplay works actually better in IWD or IWD2, if you try to roleplay in Baldur's Gate or BG2 you might get punished hard for not doing what the developers want you to do and even miss half the game.

That depends on your definition of role play. I don't role play to rigidly follow the storyline, which you must do in IWD.

I agree with you on this. While Hickory is right to point out that you have no choice but to follow the only path written by the devs, great freedom is given to you about the motivations of your characters and how they will behave in the towns/dungeons.
And despite the overall linearity of the game a lot of situations allow for class/alignment-specific dialogues, which is really nice when you like that your roleplay efforts are acknowledged by the game.

My IWD1 last team was composed of five drow women and their duergar slave, and I’ve had lots of fun showing off my cruelty at any occasion. BG1 doesn’t really allow this, it might be less linear on how the story unfolds but it gives you less freedom for your character archetype.

I don't min max characters. I usually don't travel at night and depending on my class/alignment I won't pick up certain quests or NPCs.