All the old accessory books, and 3.5 [Archive] - Wizards Community

All the old accessory books, and 3.5 [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Dxfour
11-18-04, 04:11 PM How compatible are the books released prior to 3.5 and the 3.5 core rules? How much converting would I need to do for something like Masters of the Wild or MM2? How do you go about converting? I'm still somewhat new to this, and started with 3.5, so I don't have any of these older books yet, just wondering if they will mesh well into 3.5 or not. Thanks in advance for your help on this.
Zherog
11-18-04, 04:34 PM You can find official conversions for Monster Manual 2 HERE (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20030718a).

Stuff not listed on that page usually isn't difficult overall - though you need to look at each item, class, spell, etc on a case-by-case basis.
Seeker95
11-18-04, 04:55 PM The splat books are probably the "least convertible" only because so much of the material was broken (ridiculously over- or under- powered) that conversion would require serious re-write. But most of the other stuff is just fine. Monsters are the easiest... change a few Feats, Update DR, and make all "Face" measurements squares.
Stardrake
11-18-04, 11:07 PM Oh, and BTW--the new "Complete" series is the replacement for the earlier splatbooks. So you'll save yourself headaches by just getting the new books.
D_Martin
11-19-04, 12:18 AM The splat books are probably the "least convertible" only because so much of the material was broken (ridiculously over- or under- powered) that conversion would require serious re-write. But most of the other stuff is just fine. Monsters are the easiest... change a few Feats, Update DR, and make all "Face" measurements squares.

IMO, the splatbooks are easy to convert. I don't see what was broken or over-powered in them at all. :thinks: Maybe it has just been a while since I looked closely to the PrC within.
amethal
11-19-04, 06:50 AM How compatible are the books released prior to 3.5 and the 3.5 core rules? How much converting would I need to do for something like Masters of the Wild or MM2? How do you go about converting? I'm still somewhat new to this, and started with 3.5, so I don't have any of these older books yet, just wondering if they will mesh well into 3.5 or not. Thanks in advance for your help on this.
If you are starting at 3.5, I'd suggest not getting any of the 3.0 stuff, and then you won't have the nuisance of converting. (Converting is pretty easy, but its just an extra hassle I don't need.)

Stuff like Masters of the Wild is being reproduced in the Complete series; some of it is changed, some of it is deliberately left out in the new books, so I tend to think of the old ones as being superseded. (I also never bought any of the old ones so I don't feel ripped off at having to buy it twice!)

MM2 and Fiend Folio are not being updated, but I'd definitely get MM3 first as that is 3.5.
Drammattex
11-19-04, 02:29 PM How compatible are the books released prior to 3.5 and the 3.5 core rules? How much converting would I need to do for something like Masters of the Wild or MM2? How do you go about converting? I'm still somewhat new to this, and started with 3.5, so I don't have any of these older books yet, just wondering if they will mesh well into 3.5 or not. Thanks in advance for your help on this.

Many D&D Second Edition books were full of useful and/or factual information that are still very useful in any edition you play.

Namely...

The Sourcebook & Catacomb Guide (tells you how to run a game; my favorite book ever written by TSR)

The Castle Guide (tells you how medieval/castle life was, who does what, the kinds of events that are likely to happen, the sorts of issues that medieval/castle life involved)

The Arms and Equipment Guide (actually tells you about each of the weapons, items, and equipment within, along with illustrations and some historical notes)

Anyway, the DM series of books from Second Edition was very good. I prefer the old Arms & Equipment Guide to the new (which I just don't understand).
Dxfour
11-19-04, 05:06 PM "splat" books?? What are splat books?
Morwen
11-19-04, 05:54 PM "splat" books?? What are splat books?
It's a pet name for the 3.0 series of character books (Defenders of the Faith, Masters of the Wild, Tome and Blood, Sword and Fist, Song and Silence). I believe they're called that partly because they're softcover.
Monteblanco
11-22-04, 09:15 PM It's a pet name for the 3.0 series of character books (Defenders of the Faith, Masters of the Wild, Tome and Blood, Sword and Fist, Song and Silence). I believe they're called that partly because they're softcover.

I believe the term "splat book" was created to designate a series of books with the players (and not the GM) in mind published by White Wolf to their Vampire RPG line. Latter, the term was adapted to any roleplaying game supplement with additional rules to improve the character and thus, propelling a competition between players to get the most powerful character and promoting book's sales.
DarthRandal
11-23-04, 09:39 AM I believe the term "splat book" was created to designate a series of books with the players (and not the GM) in mind published by White Wolf to their Vampire RPG line. Latter, the term was adapted to any roleplaying game supplement with additional rules to improve the character and thus, propelling a competition between players to get the most powerful character and promoting book's sales.

Heh... The version I've heard is that "back in the day," some RPG supplements (usually softcover releases) were designated in product catalogues with an asterisk (*), which looks like a "splat" (a bug which has been squashed). Hence, "splatbooks."

Hehe... onomatopoeia is fun! SPLAT!!!!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dxfour 11-18-04, 04:11 PM	How compatible are the books released prior to 3.5 and the 3.5 core rules? How much converting would I need to do for something like Masters of the Wild or MM2? How do you go about converting? I'm still somewhat new to this, and started with 3.5, so I don't have any of these older books yet, just wondering if they will mesh well into 3.5 or not. Thanks in advance for your help on this.
Zherog 11-18-04, 04:34 PM	You can find official conversions for Monster Manual 2 HERE (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20030718a). Stuff not listed on that page usually isn't difficult overall - though you need to look at each item, class, spell, etc on a case-by-case basis.
Seeker95 11-18-04, 04:55 PM	The splat books are probably the "least convertible" only because so much of the material was broken (ridiculously over- or under- powered) that conversion would require serious re-write. But most of the other stuff is just fine. Monsters are the easiest... change a few Feats, Update DR, and make all "Face" measurements squares.
Stardrake 11-18-04, 11:07 PM	Oh, and BTW--the new "Complete" series is the replacement for the earlier splatbooks. So you'll save yourself headaches by just getting the new books.
D_Martin 11-19-04, 12:18 AM	The splat books are probably the "least convertible" only because so much of the material was broken (ridiculously over- or under- powered) that conversion would require serious re-write. But most of the other stuff is just fine. Monsters are the easiest... change a few Feats, Update DR, and make all "Face" measurements squares. IMO, the splatbooks are easy to convert. I don't see what was broken or over-powered in them at all. :thinks: Maybe it has just been a while since I looked closely to the PrC within.
amethal 11-19-04, 06:50 AM	How compatible are the books released prior to 3.5 and the 3.5 core rules? How much converting would I need to do for something like Masters of the Wild or MM2? How do you go about converting? I'm still somewhat new to this, and started with 3.5, so I don't have any of these older books yet, just wondering if they will mesh well into 3.5 or not. Thanks in advance for your help on this. If you are starting at 3.5, I'd suggest not getting any of the 3.0 stuff, and then you won't have the nuisance of converting. (Converting is pretty easy, but its just an extra hassle I don't need.) Stuff like Masters of the Wild is being reproduced in the Complete series; some of it is changed, some of it is deliberately left out in the new books, so I tend to think of the old ones as being superseded. (I also never bought any of the old ones so I don't feel ripped off at having to buy it twice!) MM2 and Fiend Folio are not being updated, but I'd definitely get MM3 first as that is 3.5.
Drammattex 11-19-04, 02:29 PM	How compatible are the books released prior to 3.5 and the 3.5 core rules? How much converting would I need to do for something like Masters of the Wild or MM2? How do you go about converting? I'm still somewhat new to this, and started with 3.5, so I don't have any of these older books yet, just wondering if they will mesh well into 3.5 or not. Thanks in advance for your help on this. Many D&D Second Edition books were full of useful and/or factual information that are still very useful in any edition you play. Namely... The Sourcebook & Catacomb Guide (tells you how to run a game; my favorite book ever written by TSR) The Castle Guide (tells you how medieval/castle life was, who does what, the kinds of events that are likely to happen, the sorts of issues that medieval/castle life involved) The Arms and Equipment Guide (actually tells you about each of the weapons, items, and equipment within, along with illustrations and some historical notes) Anyway, the DM series of books from Second Edition was very good. I prefer the old Arms & Equipment Guide to the new (which I just don't understand).
Dxfour 11-19-04, 05:06 PM	"splat" books?? What are splat books?
Morwen 11-19-04, 05:54 PM	"splat" books?? What are splat books? It's a pet name for the 3.0 series of character books (Defenders of the Faith, Masters of the Wild, Tome and Blood, Sword and Fist, Song and Silence). I believe they're called that partly because they're softcover.
Monteblanco 11-22-04, 09:15 PM	It's a pet name for the 3.0 series of character books (Defenders of the Faith, Masters of the Wild, Tome and Blood, Sword and Fist, Song and Silence). I believe they're called that partly because they're softcover. I believe the term "splat book" was created to designate a series of books with the players (and not the GM) in mind published by White Wolf to their Vampire RPG line. Latter, the term was adapted to any roleplaying game supplement with additional rules to improve the character and thus, propelling a competition between players to get the most powerful character and promoting book's sales.
DarthRandal 11-23-04, 09:39 AM	I believe the term "splat book" was created to designate a series of books with the players (and not the GM) in mind published by White Wolf to their Vampire RPG line. Latter, the term was adapted to any roleplaying game supplement with additional rules to improve the character and thus, propelling a competition between players to get the most powerful character and promoting book's sales. Heh... The version I've heard is that "back in the day," some RPG supplements (usually softcover releases) were designated in product catalogues with an asterisk (*), which looks like a "splat" (a bug which has been squashed). Hence, "splatbooks." Hehe... onomatopoeia is fun! SPLAT!!!!