D&D 3.x 3.0 to 3.5

[Voadam]

I'd say reconstruct to the new edition with the same character concept.

My ranger/monk/wizard/loremaster went to a ranger/wizard/eldritch knight with Improved unarmed strike when we switched to 3.5. The mechanics matched the viking warrior turned mage who studied under a martial arts master along the way history/concept better. He started out as a 2e character who switched classes and picked up 1e martial arts in game, then made it into a homebrew 1e system, then into a 3e then 3.5 game. Same character, slightly different mechanics each time, same history and roleplay.

He's even been used as an NPC in a modern vampire game recreated with the rules for that system.

 

[Griogre]

Here's my problem the crying has begun and everyone who does not like what there feat becomes in 3.5 are saying that would never have took it as it now sucks.

So what should I do let them pick all over again? please help!

Depends on how much crying you can take. As you asked for advice I suppose you want to do something.

Others have suggested just let them re-pick all their feats. Pro: No whining from players. Con: Characters will get more powerful. Characters are always more powerful when they are build from the ground up. During the course of a campaign players often take non optimum feats and skill because it makes "sense" at the time in the campaign. IE I ran a Dungeon Module "Depths of Rage" and the party level during the course of the adventure and almost everyone who could took Escape Artist skill simply because it is used extensively in that dungeon.

The other extreme is just say "No!" and let the characters whine. Tell them "Life is tough when your are an adventurer and the world changes." An extreme position and as others have pointed out the object of gaming is for everyone to have fun - not to just annoy your players (though that can be fun too ).

Some compromise positions. Let them swap out one feat. Pro: The players won't think you are totaly arbitrary. And it probably won't change the optimization of the characters that much. Con: Players will still whine. And you still have to decide what to do if they change out something that is the perquisite of a bunch of other feats.

Easiest:
Grandfather their feats. IE feats they already have are 3.0 any new feats are 3.5. Pro: This will shut up whining. Hard for the players to argue you are shafting them. You could also let each player choose whether they convert their current feats or not. I suggest all or nothing though. Con: The characters will be "non standard" and it will be a little extra bookkeeping. If you give them choice of conversion then the overall character power will probably increase some, though nothing like if you just let them re-pick all the feats.

Edit: Fixed typos

 

[jeffh]

It looks like we are switching from 3.0 to 3.5
all members in the group are 9th or 10th lvl

Here's my problem the crying has begun and everyone who does not like what there feat becomes in 3.5 are saying that would never have took it as it now sucks.

So what should I do let them pick all over again? please help!

When I had this problem, I let people grandfather in the old versions, but confined new characters to the new versions. I wouldn't have a problem with letting people swap one or two feats and even one or two class levels, if they want.

Having said that, I should point out that most Feats that changed are more powerful in 3.5, not 3.0. The only core Feat that's straightforwardly worse now that I can remember off the top of my head is Spell Focus. In formerly non-core stuff that's in the 3.5 PH, Greater Spell Focus is worse while Improved Shield Bash and Improved Grapple changed beyond recognition and may or may not seem as attractive now to people who had the old versions. For just about everything else, though, your players should actually be pretty happy, especially those that had things like Improved Trip.

 

[irdeggman]

What we did was to rebuild to match the essence of the character and get the DM to approve the "New" character.

Did the same with Star Wars. A few of us had West End made characters that we converted to d20 and then converted them again to the revised d20 rules. Real pain in the arse process - problem was 2 of us had really really cool and very much interactive characters so we wanted to keep them true to their theme.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Yeah, give us a list of stuff they cry about.

 

[Shellman]

Having converted to 3.5 and played it since its introduction I have to say that I understand a players resistance to the change. I felt the same way initially.

On the other hand, IMO there really isn't any feats that significantly cramp a pc.

I will say that I think ambidexterity should be brought back.

Thank god simillar bonuses of the same name do not stack anymore for the most part. That was so way out of hand.

One last thing, I think you will really dig the new feats that are out there in 3.5. Once you get used to the new system and see whats available, you will really be excited.

As far as revamping the characters from scratch, I would handle it by addressing each players issues with his character on a case by case basis.

 

[Whimsical]

Consider allowing a rebuild an appeasement for your decision to change the rulesset against their wishes. If they can rebuild their characters, they can feel good about the change instead of resenting it, and they will put up with having to re-learn all of the D&D rules that they thought they knew. Right now the rule revision has negative value to them. You can use the rebuild option to buy some goodwill from your players which will be necessary when everyone realizes that they will have to check every single rule in the game during play just to make sure that they are doing everything 3.5 kosher.

In the RPGA when 3.5 came out the living campaigns (greyhawk, city, arcanis) allowed a complete character rebuild. You could choose new stats, race, class builds, feats, and skills. They only asked that you keep the character's name the same.

In several of the home games I play, the DMs have created ways for players to rebuild their characters to some degree. This has greatly reduced the number of character changeovers that some players go through because they are bored with their character, and provided a method to incorporate new material as its been released.

In Monte Cook's Arcana Evolved, you can swap a feat out at 10th and 20th level.

The characters may become more powerful than they used to be, but...so what? I know that living with your decisions and working with what you have is part of the challenge of the game, but you are asking your players to adapt to an "unnecessary" change of rules. It may be worth sacrificing that part of the game in exchange for some player goodwill. Don't think of it is giving into whining. Just regard it a savvy marketing maneuver that will get everyone back to the business of enjoying the game.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

A minor question to all of your: Does anyone else have the vague suspicion that his players, or some of them, sought the most ridiculously broken feats 3.0 ever had, and now whine that they have to put up with fair stuff?

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

I'd definitely let them pick all over again. Heck, I'd let them rebuild the PC from scratch if they wanted, but that's just me.

That's what we did and it worked out just fine.

 

[Griogre]

A minor question to all of your: Does anyone else have the vague suspicion that his players, or some of them, sought the most ridiculously broken feats 3.0 ever had, and now whine that they have to put up with fair stuff?

Wondered that myself. But you have to admit players always whine some. Sometimes they actually are serious though.