A little confused on books... [Archive] - Wizards Community

A little confused on books... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Kersh
04-12-07, 01:44 PM Hello all...

I'm a little confused on the progression of books. I'm new, so please forgive my extremely basic question...

But... I get that 3.0 came out in 2000, and then 3.5 in 2003 (?).... but what's with the "II" series? (Players Handbook II, DM Guide II, etc.).... does 3.5 include all those? Or did the II's come out after 3.5?

Also, I have the 3.0 books... does that mean that I don't need the 3.5 stuff if I download the erratas and all that stuff? Is the reason for the 3.5 books just to have all the information localized in one location... and if so, to any that have bought the 3.5, is it worth the 100 bucks in new books just to have it all in one place?

Thanks for any help you can give... :)
RobbyPants
04-12-07, 01:50 PM The II series are basically expansions on their respective books. They are 3.5.

As for your old 3.0 books, downloading errata will not update them to 3.5. There have been many (some subtle and some large) changes between editions. As for the core 3 books, you'll need to buy the new versions. As for old books not reprinted (Sword & The Fist for example), these are technically considered valid. Anything that has not been reprinted in a 3.5 book, or any mechanic that isn't out dated is still usable.
HermitIX
04-12-07, 01:52 PM All the books that have come out after the release of 3.5 have been 3.5 books. All the II series is 3.5.

You really don’t need to but new books if you have 3ed. But it is nice to have the 3.5s. I would put them on your birthday/Christmas list, but not spend any of your own money on them.
Thomar_of_Uointer
04-12-07, 01:55 PM A "II" book is released every time WotC gets uncreative. The Monster Manual II is 3.0, but the Player's Handbook II is 3.5. Both supplement the "I" version of the book, but are otherwise unrelated.

Because 3.5 and 3.0 both use the D20 System, they're reasonably compatible. You could probably use most of the material in 3.5 books without the erratta. I would say it is not worth the upgrade because you can use the SRD for free.

www.d20srd.org
Kersh
04-12-07, 01:55 PM Ah... okay, thanks.

Could I just buy the Players 3.5 and let my DM worry about the DM 3.5? Or would my rules conflict with his rules?
RobbyPants
04-12-07, 01:57 PM Also, if you're interested, here is a Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Editions_of_Dungeons_&_Dragons) link that describes many of the changes from 3.0 to 3.5.

Again, most of your old 3.0 books are still good. It's just the core three that need updating. Also, if you're using psionics, the psionics system recieved a major overhaul, and the 3.0 Psionics Handbook is useless now. It's been updated to the Expanded Psionics Handbook.
Alac Luin
04-12-07, 01:59 PM Monster Manual II is 3.0, has not and most likely will not be updated to 3.5.

It must be updateded by the download. not the errata, but the "update" booklets
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20030718a
The core books (PHB, DMG, MM) are not actually updated by these, only gives an overview of what the changes are.
the MM2 and FF actually does give the neccesary updates.

Same holds true with the Fiend Folio.

3.5 was a rules revision so incompatabilities can arise if you mix them.
Thomar_of_Uointer
04-12-07, 02:54 PM Ah... okay, thanks.

Could I just buy the Players 3.5 and let my DM worry about the DM 3.5? Or would my rules conflict with his rules?

If it's just the PHB, I would highly recommend doing that and selling your 3.0 PHB. Many of the races and classes were improved in 3.5, and the combat rules are much nicer. I don't think there's anything incompatible between the books.
Pallin Rahl
04-12-07, 03:25 PM Ah... okay, thanks.

Could I just buy the Players 3.5 and let my DM worry about the DM 3.5? Or would my rules conflict with his rules?

Heh what it all boils down to...
To play the game, all you absolutely need is a single copy of the following:
PHB 3.5
DMG 3.5
MM 3.5

As a player (i.e. not the DM), it's handy to have all 3... but all you absolutely need is the PHB.

The DM should have all three books (at very least).

The Player's Handbook II is a 3.5 book that simply gives you additional options, variations, etc... including a ton of great feats. It's totally not needed (though it's a great book that I highly recommend) and doesn't outright contradict anything in the 3.5 PHB (it only offers more stuff or variants).

So too, the DMGII is a 3.5 book that offers further info that can be helpful to the DM and/or suppliments what is already there. It too is totally not needed.

Hope that helps. :)
Escef
04-12-07, 03:38 PM A "II" book is released every time WotC gets uncreative.

But it was sheer genius when TSR did it. (They had a Monster Manual II as well back in the 1e days.)

I'm not saying that this is what you're saying, Thomar. I'm just saying that gamers tend to ignore other game companies blatent money grabs, but blast WotC for every product they make. (Did you know there are still creatures from 1e monster books that have not been officially updated to d20?)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kersh 04-12-07, 01:44 PM	Hello all... I'm a little confused on the progression of books. I'm new, so please forgive my extremely basic question... But... I get that 3.0 came out in 2000, and then 3.5 in 2003 (?).... but what's with the "II" series? (Players Handbook II, DM Guide II, etc.).... does 3.5 include all those? Or did the II's come out after 3.5? Also, I have the 3.0 books... does that mean that I don't need the 3.5 stuff if I download the erratas and all that stuff? Is the reason for the 3.5 books just to have all the information localized in one location... and if so, to any that have bought the 3.5, is it worth the 100 bucks in new books just to have it all in one place? Thanks for any help you can give... :)
RobbyPants 04-12-07, 01:50 PM	The II series are basically expansions on their respective books. They are 3.5. As for your old 3.0 books, downloading errata will not update them to 3.5. There have been many (some subtle and some large) changes between editions. As for the core 3 books, you'll need to buy the new versions. As for old books not reprinted (Sword & The Fist for example), these are technically considered valid. Anything that has not been reprinted in a 3.5 book, or any mechanic that isn't out dated is still usable.
HermitIX 04-12-07, 01:52 PM	All the books that have come out after the release of 3.5 have been 3.5 books. All the II series is 3.5. You really don’t need to but new books if you have 3ed. But it is nice to have the 3.5s. I would put them on your birthday/Christmas list, but not spend any of your own money on them.
Thomar_of_Uointer 04-12-07, 01:55 PM	A "II" book is released every time WotC gets uncreative. The Monster Manual II is 3.0, but the Player's Handbook II is 3.5. Both supplement the "I" version of the book, but are otherwise unrelated. Because 3.5 and 3.0 both use the D20 System, they're reasonably compatible. You could probably use most of the material in 3.5 books without the erratta. I would say it is not worth the upgrade because you can use the SRD for free. www.d20srd.org
Kersh 04-12-07, 01:55 PM	Ah... okay, thanks. Could I just buy the Players 3.5 and let my DM worry about the DM 3.5? Or would my rules conflict with his rules?
RobbyPants 04-12-07, 01:57 PM	Also, if you're interested, here is a Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Editions_of_Dungeons_&_Dragons) link that describes many of the changes from 3.0 to 3.5. Again, most of your old 3.0 books are still good. It's just the core three that need updating. Also, if you're using psionics, the psionics system recieved a major overhaul, and the 3.0 Psionics Handbook is useless now. It's been updated to the Expanded Psionics Handbook.
Alac Luin 04-12-07, 01:59 PM	Monster Manual II is 3.0, has not and most likely will not be updated to 3.5. It must be updateded by the download. not the errata, but the "update" booklets http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20030718a The core books (PHB, DMG, MM) are not actually updated by these, only gives an overview of what the changes are. the MM2 and FF actually does give the neccesary updates. Same holds true with the Fiend Folio. 3.5 was a rules revision so incompatabilities can arise if you mix them.
Thomar_of_Uointer 04-12-07, 02:54 PM	Ah... okay, thanks. Could I just buy the Players 3.5 and let my DM worry about the DM 3.5? Or would my rules conflict with his rules? If it's just the PHB, I would highly recommend doing that and selling your 3.0 PHB. Many of the races and classes were improved in 3.5, and the combat rules are much nicer. I don't think there's anything incompatible between the books.
Pallin Rahl 04-12-07, 03:25 PM	Ah... okay, thanks. Could I just buy the Players 3.5 and let my DM worry about the DM 3.5? Or would my rules conflict with his rules? Heh what it all boils down to... To play the game, all you absolutely need is a single copy of the following: PHB 3.5 DMG 3.5 MM 3.5 As a player (i.e. not the DM), it's handy to have all 3... but all you absolutely need is the PHB. The DM should have all three books (at very least). The Player's Handbook II is a 3.5 book that simply gives you additional options, variations, etc... including a ton of great feats. It's totally not needed (though it's a great book that I highly recommend) and doesn't outright contradict anything in the 3.5 PHB (it only offers more stuff or variants). So too, the DMGII is a 3.5 book that offers further info that can be helpful to the DM and/or suppliments what is already there. It too is totally not needed. Hope that helps. :)
Escef 04-12-07, 03:38 PM	A "II" book is released every time WotC gets uncreative. But it was sheer genius when TSR did it. (They had a Monster Manual II as well back in the 1e days.) I'm not saying that this is what you're saying, Thomar. I'm just saying that gamers tend to ignore other game companies blatent money grabs, but blast WotC for every product they make. (Did you know there are still creatures from 1e monster books that have not been officially updated to d20?)