Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 greysunday Aug 29, 2009 9:36:39	I have a new game comming up and the players are all well versed in 2E, should I run a 3.5 or 4E game with them? I have some great old 3.5 stuff, but I would need help with some basic outlines for a 4E adventure. Anything helps. Thanks
#2 garner_adam Aug 29, 2009 12:23:18	Here's what I would do if you already like and love 3.5. Generate some sample character builds and one of the sample combats for 4.0 (you can find these online). Run a combat encounter or two with the new characters. If the players are absolutely jazzed about the new character building rules and how much more complex combat is 4.0 all the way friend.   (Which by the way as a GM I prefer 3.5 but I did this sample with my players and they were estatic about 4.0 so I've pressed on and never looked back and they seem happier for it.)
#3 humanmind Aug 29, 2009 16:06:50	I agree with garner adam, a "test" encounter is the best way to find out which ed to play. 4th ed adventures are pretty simmilar to 3.5, the CR is now simply monster levels and some monsters are better for differant levels of play now (orcs and trogs are a good example). But all you need is a good idea and then follow the guide lines of the DMG. Is there something in perticular you are unsure of? Best of luck.
#4 Grimbus Aug 29, 2009 18:26:49	I'd skip 3.5 and go straight to 4e, assuming you do not have to outlay anymore cash. There is more to learn coming from 2e to 4e (feats, new skills system and powers) but the fact that all of the characters get to do more from level 1 upwards (warriors in particular)in 4e with the powers makes the game a bit more fun. If you go to 3.5e, assuming nobody knows anything about the system, everyone has to learn about feats, the new skills system and so on - it is almost just as much work as moving to 4e, but with still more to do if you eventually move to 4e. I'd run one of th equests from using Shadowfell so everyone can get a feel for the game and decide if it is for them. Go slow on the first couple of combats as the wording on the powers can be a bit tricky. That way nobody has committed a lort of time to the new system and it isn't quite so bad if the players decide they don't like it.
#5 greysunday Aug 30, 2009 18:39:29	Well, thanks for the help. A friend of mine let me borrow his 4E core set, and after reading it all, I think I'm going with a 3.75 game. I want to use the basics of 3.5, but add in alot of the new flavor of 4E. It's going to take some work to back up the 4E stuff, but I think this is the way I want to go with it. Thanks again.
#6 garner_adam Aug 30, 2009 21:30:44	Hey for 3.75 take a look at this- paizo.com/store/downloads/pathfinder/pat...
#7 greysunday Aug 31, 2009 12:49:46	Pathfinder, hmmmmmmm. Never really messed with it. Any reviews +/- about it? Can I still use my 3.5 stuff? Is it like a campaign relm, or it's own stand-alone game? Stupid quetions, I know.
#8 garner_adam Aug 31, 2009 14:40:30	Pathfinder, hmmmmmmm. Never really messed with it. Any reviews +/- about it? Can I still use my 3.5 stuff? Is it like a campaign relm, or it's own stand-alone game? Stupid quetions, I know. There's plenty of reviews out there if you take a look. Most of those who liked 3.5 but felt there were issues that needed to be corrected liked it unless they had a lot of free time then they said "why would I pay for some one else's house rules?". Pretty much it's an overhaul of large and little changes of the 3.5 system. One of the most notable is that the base classes are a lot better now so it's not necessary to pick up a prestige class at level six. Just about all your 3.5 stuff is still compatible with only minor adjustments. It has some setting assumptions but it's actually a system and not a setting.
#9 greysunday Aug 31, 2009 21:03:51	I'll have to try and find a used copy of it somewhere.
#10 garner_adam Sep 01, 2009 7:41:30	I might add that you can download the full .pdf for less than the cost of going out to eat.
#11 greysunday Sep 01, 2009 20:35:21	Does that include printing costs? If so, sign me up! If not, then I'll keep up the search. Found one on eBay, but lost the bid at $15, I know, I'm cheap.
#12 dave_the_DM Sep 01, 2009 21:57:04	Can I say, as a 30 year player that I find 4E to be the easiest combat system to run yet? In 3.5 Monsters were built like characters, and from a DM's standpoint that's a little insane. 4E has gone back to the "short form" for monsters, but in a very creative way that keeps them "inscale" with PC abilities. ddi I helps a lot here. For scaling, you can't beat the monster builder. Want skelly archer minions? NP... boot the Builder, bring up the skeleton archer, change the role to minion, and the Builder does all the math for you... print. It takes 15 seconds! I also use the computer at the table to keep track of initiative, EVERYBODY's hit points, etc, but it isn't required. Character actions are more defined and abilites are more balanced than 3.5, and I find the system to be much cleaner... with clear explanations that define character status and combat conditions that make running the game a real pleasure. The players will find the game to be a breeze too. Use the character builder to create characters, and the character sheet prints out with power cards and everything needed to play the character very handy. Trust me, I resisted 4E for some time... and I'm really kinda glad I did. I've come into it just as the software applications are showing their promise.
#13 garner_adam Sep 02, 2009 0:26:14	Does that include printing costs? If so, sign me up! If not, then I'll keep up the search. Found one on eBay, but lost the bid at $15, I know, I'm cheap. You would have to print the parts that you needed to reference. If you printed the whole thing it would probably be better to just purchase the book.