D&d 3.5

Draco

What's the story with the new 3.5 version of D&D?
Me far too lazy to look it up.
Are they worth getting? Or is it just errata and minor tweaks?
Lolth, I'm expecting a good answer from you!

LoLth

Well, you're not going to get one

basically 3.5e is a money spinner. It was planned waaay back when they wrote 3e and was supposed to be released about 2 years from now. There are changes made in 3.5 but they are either very minor (and should have been errata and not a new edition like the spell changes) or sweeping (like the revised races etc. that should be a whole new edition and not an "interim" product).

If you play by the rules as they are written in 3e, then you will notice a lot of "broken" rules (imbalanced classes, underpowered spells, overpowered spells (harm for example)). Then you should buy 3.5e, it fixes a lot of these issues (but the incredibly low difficulty levels for actions are still there).

If, like me, you tinker with the rules and impose your own balance on the game then it's really not worth it. If you want a more balanced set of rules and a much more stable game system that is still d20, I'd recommend Monte Cooks Arcana Unearthed. Should be out at the end of this week.

To see what has changed in 3.5e, you should have a look at the system reference document (SRD) there is a link form the wotc website.

(I'll post a few relevant links later).

wombat

I'm only using the printouts from the race, class, feats and skills documents of the SRD, that fixes most of the problems with broken classes - which was the major part of the fixing IMO. The rest is occasional errata and clarifications of existing rules.

Not worth getting unless you're one of the people who simply must have all the books on nice glossy paper. It's not really a moneyspinner either since the changes are all available for free.

Draco

So is a ranger any cop now or is it still $hite after a few levels?

LoLth

The ranger has been balanced a bit more. Also, you make a choice (through feats etc.) whether to go the two weapon route or the archery route.

IMHO, monte's alternate ranger is still better.

Some links:

Monte cook's review of 3.5e

Wotc System reference document for 3.5e

Previews of Arcana Unearthed

List of Wotc posted 3.5e previews

Monte Cook's Ranger variant

wombat

This is all in the SRD, so it's safe enough to reproduce here I guess.


Level and Class Ability.
L1 1st favored enemy, Track, wild empathy
L2 Combat style
L3 Endurance
L4 Animal companion
L5 2nd favored enemy
L6 Improved combat style
L7 Woodland stride
L8 Swift tracker
L9 Evasion
L10 3rd favored enemy
L11 Combat style mastery
L13 Camouflage
L15 4th favored enemy
L17 Hide in plain sight
L20 5th favored enemy

and then they get the spells per level and throws, attack bonuses and so on, the usual stuff. Combat style is something you select either for bows or two weapon fighting I think, it's like a specialisation in either... sort of.

Most classes now get something at almost all levels, be it feats, class features or spells, fighters are largely unchanged, as are spellcasters of all types, paladins aren't so hot at turning and monks lose base fighting ability but their flurry of blows has improved.

I'd definitely reccomend updating to 3.5, even if you only use the PHB section of the SRD it makes a definite improvement, even then you can just use the character areas of skills, feats, classes and races (and maybe spells if you wanted to go the whole hog but it's not AS necessary) since that's where the greatest changes are and characters made with that set are perfectly compatible with the 3.0 MM and DMG. I tried it last night on our group with a simple dungeon crawl and it was grand.

nesf

I started a 3.5 games a few weeks ago, I'm a player in a "return to the Temple of Elemental Evil" campaign. I find 3.5 to be quite good.

I purchased the 3 basic rulebooks, but tbh I only did this because I didn't bother getting the 3rd ed books, I had easy access through flatmates and friends. If you have the 3rd ed books and don't DM/GM alot, then I'd recommend not getting the 3.5ed books, it's alot of cash for just a few extra clarifications, that won't effect you too much. But if you're a GM/DM you will need them as there are quite a few changes that you will need to know about.


Apart from that it's ok, some of the changes seem to work well, others I'm not so sure about. But Lolth coverd the majority of what I'd say anyways so I won't bother repeating what he said.

-Pádraig

LoLth

Return to temple huh? hehe.... if you're Dming you'll love it

if you're playing.. well, ask Draco

Draco

Originally posted by LoLth
Return to temple huh? hehe.... if you're Dming you'll love it

if you're playing.. well, ask Draco

hatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehate
hatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehate
hatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehate

Still have to go back, get my body and kill Seldon.

Did I say that out loud...

crowl

I think the new 3.5e is pretty good and it sorts a lot of the problems with 3.0.

3.5e is a money spinner

This is kinda true but as you can get it free in the SRD anyone with internet access can get it for free (though it is nice to have the books:D ).

I also think the new ranger is a lot better and more balanced than it was before.

I am not sure about the gnome favoured class bard though.

Naar

It seems like a lot of mostly unnecessary changes.

Spell Focus and GSF to +1: Why?
Bizarre weapon size system: Why?
Holy Word now based on caster level: Hello, TPK.

And so forth.

Well, at least the Monster Manual is nice.

nesf

Originally posted by Draco
hatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehate
hatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehate
hatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehate

Still have to go back, get my body and kill Seldon.

Did I say that out loud...

Well we've cleared out the moathouse pretty much, just a trogladyte left he he he... Everyone still alive. And it's only the third game


And to think it all started with my cleric wandering into Hommlet explaining to the "they were still normals and not cultists at this point" and explaining how fire cleanses heresy...

Draco

Originally posted by nesf
Well we've cleared out the moathouse pretty much, just a trogladyte left he he he... Everyone still alive. And it's only the third game

Wait until you get to temple proper....

alucard

Can anyone explain what its all about. i'm completely lost. how do you play it?

Seldon

Originally posted by Draco
hatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehate
hatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehate
hatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehate

Still have to go back, get my body and kill Seldon.

Did I say that out loud...

Whaaaaa i do!!!

You wern't using that soul anyway.....
and you died really cooly!!!!!1
just wait till i get my beaaaattch after you....

By the way, where did eddy go?