3.5 rules? Help please! [Archive] - Wizards Community

3.5 rules? Help please! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Paper_Tygur
09-25-06, 11:17 AM Where I can find an explanation of the 3.5 rules? I learned how to play using 1st and 2nd edition and I find many of the new additions in the 3rd edition intriguing but I simply can't understand the structure. I tried playdnd.com which runs you through a very basic game but it left a lot of things unanswered. One thing I don't understand how do you calculate to hit in 3rd edition? :confused: Any help would be greatly appreciated!

-Paper Tygur
RobbyPants
09-25-06, 11:38 AM Long and the short of it... you'll have to read a PHB. There are too many questions to answer any other way.

In regard to calculating how to hit:

Each class has a base attack bonus (BAB). This is sort of like THAC0, but it counts up from 0 instead of down from 20. AC also counts up from 10 instead of down. To find if you hit, add your BAB plus your Str or Dex modifier (Melee or ranged respectively) plus any other modifiers (cover, flanking, etc...) to the roll of a d20. This number must meet or exceed the defenders AC.

Example:
If a character has a +2 BAB, +2 Str mod, he'll add +4 when he attacks. If he rolls a 13, he effectively can hit AC 17 (13 + 4) or lower.

That probably confused things more, but like I said, you'll want to read a PHB.
Seeker95
09-25-06, 11:39 AM Same place you learned the 1st and 2nd edition rules:
The Players Handbook.
cog_and_taz
09-25-06, 11:41 AM I agree with them. However, in the mean time, this is a huge help: www.d20srd.org
Seeker95
09-25-06, 01:25 PM in the mean time, this is a huge help: www.d20srd.orgI disagree with the SRD being helpful to someone unfamiliar with the rules. It is a reference tool, not a rulebook. I believe the SRD is a huge help to those who know the rules, or explicitly know what rules they don't know.
The_Jester
09-25-06, 01:53 PM First thing you need to do is find the stat modifier, the plus or minus related to each statistic (str, dex, etc). For example, a strength of 14 has a +2 modifier. All the modifiers for each stat are the same, just one big set of numbers.

Then you find the bonus granted from your class, equipment and/or skills. You add this to the bonus then roll a d20.

stat + skill + d20 = result. If you equal or exceed the DC you suceed.

You may have additional modifers from any number of sources on top of that.

That's how it works for skills, attacks, saves, everything.

For attacks you take the relevant stat (Str, Dex) and then add the Base Attack Bonus from the class. For example, a level 4 fighter with 14 strength adds 4+2+d20 to hit.

For skills it's the ranks in the skill plus the relevant ability plus a d20. For saves its your base save bonus plus the relevant ability plus a d20.

Get it?
kenneth832
09-25-06, 03:41 PM i have just bought dnd books, i car,nt get started on a charactor. please help:)
kenneth832
09-25-06, 03:43 PM :P i have just bought dnd books, i car,nt get started on a charactor. please help:)
Daxis07
09-25-06, 04:22 PM An easy way to learn the 3.5 rules is to play ToEE
MarkB
09-25-06, 04:50 PM An easy way to learn the 3.5 rules is to play ToEE
A good tip for helping people trying to get a handle on the game is not to throw out undefined acronyms.

Temple of Elemental Evil is a reasonable game if you can get past the bugs, but in terms of value for money as a teaching instrument, a Player's Handbook is probably a better way to start.
Inigo Carmine
09-25-06, 05:42 PM Same place you learned the 1st and 2nd edition rules:
The Players Handbook.

That combined with a patient friend who knows the rules well is your best bet.

We here at the boards are good at answering individual questions, or at least questions geared towards a single aspect of the game.

As for explaining the rules in general, we really can't do a better job than what's written in the first few chapters of the Player's Handbook.

Go give the book a thorough reading, and we'll be here when you come back.

Goodluck,
Inigo
cog_and_taz
09-25-06, 11:08 PM i have just bought dnd books, i car,nt get started on a charactor. please help:)

Okay, what kind of character are you looking for? What kind of personality, looks, powers, etc. Tell me what yer looking for and I'll point you to some stuff.
Thwyvylyn
09-26-06, 04:13 AM Okay, what kind of character are you looking for? What kind of personality, looks, powers, etc. Tell me what yer looking for and I'll point you to some stuff.

Most of the stuff you could do with 2nd Edition, you can still do in a modified (and often greatly expanded) way. Clerics aren't just healers anymore...
cog_and_taz
09-26-06, 07:44 AM Errr... yes, I know, and?
Thwyvylyn
09-26-06, 03:38 PM I wasn't directing that at you Cog, I was directing it at the OP, I should have been more clear.
cog_and_taz
10-01-06, 04:48 AM Doh!Sorry... Anyway, ask away.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Paper_Tygur 09-25-06, 11:17 AM	Where I can find an explanation of the 3.5 rules? I learned how to play using 1st and 2nd edition and I find many of the new additions in the 3rd edition intriguing but I simply can't understand the structure. I tried playdnd.com which runs you through a very basic game but it left a lot of things unanswered. One thing I don't understand how do you calculate to hit in 3rd edition? :confused: Any help would be greatly appreciated! -Paper Tygur
RobbyPants 09-25-06, 11:38 AM	Long and the short of it... you'll have to read a PHB. There are too many questions to answer any other way. In regard to calculating how to hit: Each class has a base attack bonus (BAB). This is sort of like THAC0, but it counts up from 0 instead of down from 20. AC also counts up from 10 instead of down. To find if you hit, add your BAB plus your Str or Dex modifier (Melee or ranged respectively) plus any other modifiers (cover, flanking, etc...) to the roll of a d20. This number must meet or exceed the defenders AC. Example: If a character has a +2 BAB, +2 Str mod, he'll add +4 when he attacks. If he rolls a 13, he effectively can hit AC 17 (13 + 4) or lower. That probably confused things more, but like I said, you'll want to read a PHB.
Seeker95 09-25-06, 11:39 AM	Same place you learned the 1st and 2nd edition rules: The Players Handbook.
cog_and_taz 09-25-06, 11:41 AM	I agree with them. However, in the mean time, this is a huge help: www.d20srd.org
Seeker95 09-25-06, 01:25 PM	in the mean time, this is a huge help: www.d20srd.orgI disagree with the SRD being helpful to someone unfamiliar with the rules. It is a reference tool, not a rulebook. I believe the SRD is a huge help to those who know the rules, or explicitly know what rules they don't know.
The_Jester 09-25-06, 01:53 PM	First thing you need to do is find the stat modifier, the plus or minus related to each statistic (str, dex, etc). For example, a strength of 14 has a +2 modifier. All the modifiers for each stat are the same, just one big set of numbers. Then you find the bonus granted from your class, equipment and/or skills. You add this to the bonus then roll a d20. stat + skill + d20 = result. If you equal or exceed the DC you suceed. You may have additional modifers from any number of sources on top of that. That's how it works for skills, attacks, saves, everything. For attacks you take the relevant stat (Str, Dex) and then add the Base Attack Bonus from the class. For example, a level 4 fighter with 14 strength adds 4+2+d20 to hit. For skills it's the ranks in the skill plus the relevant ability plus a d20. For saves its your base save bonus plus the relevant ability plus a d20. Get it?
kenneth832 09-25-06, 03:41 PM	i have just bought dnd books, i car,nt get started on a charactor. please help:)
kenneth832 09-25-06, 03:43 PM	:P i have just bought dnd books, i car,nt get started on a charactor. please help:)
Daxis07 09-25-06, 04:22 PM	An easy way to learn the 3.5 rules is to play ToEE
MarkB 09-25-06, 04:50 PM	An easy way to learn the 3.5 rules is to play ToEE A good tip for helping people trying to get a handle on the game is not to throw out undefined acronyms. Temple of Elemental Evil is a reasonable game if you can get past the bugs, but in terms of value for money as a teaching instrument, a Player's Handbook is probably a better way to start.
Inigo Carmine 09-25-06, 05:42 PM	Same place you learned the 1st and 2nd edition rules: The Players Handbook. That combined with a patient friend who knows the rules well is your best bet. We here at the boards are good at answering individual questions, or at least questions geared towards a single aspect of the game. As for explaining the rules in general, we really can't do a better job than what's written in the first few chapters of the Player's Handbook. Go give the book a thorough reading, and we'll be here when you come back. Goodluck, Inigo
cog_and_taz 09-25-06, 11:08 PM	i have just bought dnd books, i car,nt get started on a charactor. please help:) Okay, what kind of character are you looking for? What kind of personality, looks, powers, etc. Tell me what yer looking for and I'll point you to some stuff.
Thwyvylyn 09-26-06, 04:13 AM	Okay, what kind of character are you looking for? What kind of personality, looks, powers, etc. Tell me what yer looking for and I'll point you to some stuff. Most of the stuff you could do with 2nd Edition, you can still do in a modified (and often greatly expanded) way. Clerics aren't just healers anymore...
cog_and_taz 09-26-06, 07:44 AM	Errr... yes, I know, and?
Thwyvylyn 09-26-06, 03:38 PM	I wasn't directing that at you Cog, I was directing it at the OP, I should have been more clear.
cog_and_taz 10-01-06, 04:48 AM	Doh!Sorry... Anyway, ask away.