Post/Author/DateTime	Post
tankmiz 01-21-04, 01:04 PM	I left the came about fifteen years ago to concentrate on my studies (ok girls, D&d cut into my social life). When I came back to it a couple of years ago I got all into 3.0 and was able convert my friends to it. Now 3.5 is out and I need to know if: 1) 3.5 is compatible with 3.0 (cause 2 and 3 weren't) 2) WHat are the main differences? 3) Is 3.5 that much better?
OldFourEyes 01-21-04, 01:20 PM	I'm far from the best person to be answering this, but I'm sure that every little bit helps. To answer your first question: In theory, yes. Understand that while 3.5 is the progression and replacement of the 3E rules, you can still use material written specifically for one edition in the other. So that adventure you've been wanting to try in 3E should work in 3.5, probably with some tweaking. Both rulesets are based on the d20 system. As for questions 2 and 3, there has been (and probably will continue to be) a fair amount of contention. Plenty of flame wars have started over the changes to the system, some of which include: --overhauling weapon size --elimination of partial actions from combat --the extensive use (some say "pushing") of miniatures --changes to some core classes --changes to spells It's difficult to answer number three. People will give you plenty of reasons why 3.5 is the devil's ruleset or why 3.0 is inferior, and that the only people who cling to it are old-fashioned Luddites. There are a good number of folks who take both sets and house-rule 'em into a sort of 3.25 edition. I myself have stuck to 3E, if only for the fact that I'm too lazy and poor the get some new rule books. I intend to eventually get the new PHB (I'm a visual person and can't make heads or tails out of the SRD) and incorporate what I like from it into my campaign. I hope these few lines are somehow helpful to you, tankmiz, and I apologize in advance for any incorrect information.
Mister Mayhem 01-21-04, 04:35 PM	1) About 80-90% compatable - some characters will not mechanically change, some will require small changes, some are majorly different. But in general, stats for (eg) an NPC in a 3.0 adventure will work in a 3.5 adventure right out of the book. 2) See link in sig - 3.0 vs 3.5 Just the Facts 3) This is a contentious issue - there seems to be far more depth of passion about this thatn simple game mechanics ought to generate. Personally, there are changes I love, changes I don't care about, but none I hate. Some of the changes I love, other people hate, though, so its all subjective. Personally, I think *alot* of the "hated" differences you would not give a second glance to if you did not have 3.0 to compare it with. Some spells, for example, are weak compared to their 3.0 counterparts but I honestly believe that an objective view of these spells without comparing them to their 3.0 coounterparts would find them quite commensurate in power with other spells of that level. Others disagree. Strongly. With Vitriol. Probably best not to go there. Read the comparison youself, make your own decision, and don't be swayed by people who seem to be over-emotional on the subject.