Difference between v. 3 and v. 3.5? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Difference between v. 3 and v. 3.5? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
fishstick
01-02-06, 10:57 PM Having just come back to d&d and the new system, I just realized that the dmg and phb that I bought were the 3rd edition not 3.5. What are the major differences for these two books between the two editions and is it necessary for me to buy them? :confused:
Edymnion
01-02-06, 11:00 PM 3.5 rebalanced a class or two (ranger and bard), totally rewrote the entire damage reduction system, messed with weapon sizes, and nerfed any magic spell that could be used for more than one thing.

To cut to the short of it, anyway.

But yeah, if you're going to be getting new books, you should probably update. Thats how WotC makes it's money. But there's nothing wrong with the books you've got, and they've got plenty of 3.0 material out for them. Its just all the new stuff that is 3.5.
Board_Rider
01-02-06, 11:03 PM Not necessary and maybe cheaper.
Vaalingrade Ashland
01-02-06, 11:20 PM I came here to say what Edy said.

Also, no matter what they tell you, its not reverse compatable. An alchemy rogue, social-based sorcerer, halfling fighters who can find gear past level 5 -- simply does not exist in 3.5
Sosthenes
01-03-06, 05:10 AM If gamers weren't accustomed to frequent software upgrades, there never would be a version 3.5. The updates were all pretty minimal and some big issues still remain. But it gave them a good reason to reprint the splatbooks. Which didn't neccesarily improve their quality.

That said, my group switched pretty easily over to the new version. I (the DM) bought a box with all three core books (got it pretty cheap) and I had to get new books anyway...
The players get by fine with their old books and the SRD (original (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35), nice hyperlinked version (http://www.d20srd.org/))

I'm pretty happy with the changes they did, but some of that was fixed with house rules anyway. Some spells needed the change (bring me some of what they drank before revising Haste for 3e), some didn't (almost-but-not-quite-Darkness), some could've used more attention (Polymorph et al).

The new DR system is quite okay. The +X needed to hit mechanism is a relic of previous editions, good riddance. And while many cried about the so-called golfbag syndrome ("oh, a lycantrophe, away with the +5 holy avenger, hand me my silver pick, squire"), I'd much prefer the flavour of special substances needed to hit certain enemies. And the amount of DR has been lowered, so even with a weapon that isn't quite right, you still have a pretty good chance of overcoming your enemy.

The ranger and the bard are now actually playable.

Some notes are in the conversion booklet (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20030718a), available from WotC.

Now, if they'd just have stolen a little more from Hackmaster ;)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
fishstick 01-02-06, 10:57 PM	Having just come back to d&d and the new system, I just realized that the dmg and phb that I bought were the 3rd edition not 3.5. What are the major differences for these two books between the two editions and is it necessary for me to buy them? :confused:
Edymnion 01-02-06, 11:00 PM	3.5 rebalanced a class or two (ranger and bard), totally rewrote the entire damage reduction system, messed with weapon sizes, and nerfed any magic spell that could be used for more than one thing. To cut to the short of it, anyway. But yeah, if you're going to be getting new books, you should probably update. Thats how WotC makes it's money. But there's nothing wrong with the books you've got, and they've got plenty of 3.0 material out for them. Its just all the new stuff that is 3.5.
Board_Rider 01-02-06, 11:03 PM	Not necessary and maybe cheaper.
Vaalingrade Ashland 01-02-06, 11:20 PM	I came here to say what Edy said. Also, no matter what they tell you, its not reverse compatable. An alchemy rogue, social-based sorcerer, halfling fighters who can find gear past level 5 -- simply does not exist in 3.5
Sosthenes 01-03-06, 05:10 AM	If gamers weren't accustomed to frequent software upgrades, there never would be a version 3.5. The updates were all pretty minimal and some big issues still remain. But it gave them a good reason to reprint the splatbooks. Which didn't neccesarily improve their quality. That said, my group switched pretty easily over to the new version. I (the DM) bought a box with all three core books (got it pretty cheap) and I had to get new books anyway... The players get by fine with their old books and the SRD (original (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35), nice hyperlinked version (http://www.d20srd.org/)) I'm pretty happy with the changes they did, but some of that was fixed with house rules anyway. Some spells needed the change (bring me some of what they drank before revising Haste for 3e), some didn't (almost-but-not-quite-Darkness), some could've used more attention (Polymorph et al). The new DR system is quite okay. The +X needed to hit mechanism is a relic of previous editions, good riddance. And while many cried about the so-called golfbag syndrome ("oh, a lycantrophe, away with the +5 holy avenger, hand me my silver pick, squire"), I'd much prefer the flavour of special substances needed to hit certain enemies. And the amount of DR has been lowered, so even with a weapon that isn't quite right, you still have a pretty good chance of overcoming your enemy. The ranger and the bard are now actually playable. Some notes are in the conversion booklet (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20030718a), available from WotC. Now, if they'd just have stolen a little more from Hackmaster ;)