3.5 PH & DMG necessary for 3.5 campaign?

[Belegbeth]

I have resisted purchasing the 3.5 versions of the PH and DMG since they came out. Every so often I decide to buy them, but when I go to my FLGS to make the purchase, I look through them and balk at the idea of shelling out $60 for books that look overwhelmingly similar to the 3.0 books I already own. I can afford them, but I cannot help but feel like it is a rip-off, and I'd rather spend the money on something new.

However, I have just started a new campaign (as DM), and it is 3.5. This is fine with me, as most of the changes I know about (fixed spells; easier combat; better ranger and bard) I like. But I am still loathe to pay for books that contain so much content already in my 3.0 books.

So am I correct in thinking that I can run a 3.5 campaign with 3.0 books (including *The Manual of the Planes* and *Deities and Demigods*) and the SRD? (I can print up the SRD for free at work.) I think I can do this, but I'm worried that there might be something that I'm missing. I have no idea what, but perhaps people with more familiarity with the 3.5 books might know.

(FYI the campaign is in a homebrew world in which magic is moderately rare, so the Greyhawk stuff is not needed.)

Thanks for any advice!

 

[CRGreathouse]

I don't see any problems running 3.5 with the 3.0 PH and DMG.

I would be careful with the basic classes, which had many changes players will care about (especially the monk, bard, ranger, and paladin), but otherwise it's no big deal.

If you don't want the 3.5 books, just don't pick them up; the editions/flavors/revisions are similar enough.

 

[tauton_ikhnos]

Absolutely. The 3.5 books primarily offer two things: more advice, and the rules changes from 3.0. Since the campaign advice is just as banal than it was before (from an experienced gamer's point of view), the books are primarily useful for the feel of a new book in your hands.

 

[jerichothebard]

So am I correct in thinking that I can run a 3.5 campaign with 3.0 books (including *The Manual of the Planes* and *Deities and Demigods*) and the SRD? (I can print up the SRD for free at work.) I think I can do this, but I'm worried that there might be something that I'm missing. I have no idea what, but perhaps people with more familiarity with the 3.5 books might know.

As long as you remember to turn first to the SRD for rules questions, then, no, there is nothing there that you really need. I bought the 3.5 PHB and DMG, although I think I could have done without the DMG. I haven't bought the Monster manual, and I probably never will. I can do without the few monsters that are not in the SRD (beholders, illithid... meh.)

I do suggest either running a game with a laptop at the table, with the SRD up and running on it, or printing it out. You will have to look stuff up.

jtb

 

[billd91]

The books are necessary if you are using the SRD, but they are quite helpful. I bought the new ones and sold my old ones in local used bookstores so I didn't take a very big monetary hit. I could use the SRD on my laptop, but the convenience of having the actual books has trumped that tactic for me, particularly with the DMG which has a much better organization than the previous edition's DMG.
I will say that the update guides that WotC put out are useless for actually running the game or penciling in updates in your 3.0 books. You really need the SRD to run a non-3.5-book 3.5 campaign.
It's all a question of how much convenience you're going to pay for, really. I was willing to pay for the convenience to a certain point. If I didn't have a good network of used bookstores around, I might not have done it.

 

[barsoomcore]

My group bought me the 3.5 PHB as a gift and it's been very useful. I use it with the 3.0 DMG and MM and never have any troubles.

 

[Belegbeth]

... the convenience of having the actual books has trumped that tactic for me, particularly with the DMG which has a much better organization than the previous edition's DMG. ...

Is there really anything useful in the DMG? In my last campaign, I rarely used it (mainly in order to find the occasional magic item and quick NPC stats). Are there more useful things in the 3.5 version?

 

[billd91]

Is there really anything useful in the DMG? In my last campaign, I rarely used it (mainly in order to find the occasional magic item and quick NPC stats). Are there more useful things in the 3.5 version?

The special ability and condition glossaries are pretty useful because I don't really feel like memorizing the differences between shaken, frightened, panicked, and the other statuses out there. And it's now easily located at the end of the reference rather than somewhere in the middle.
Otherwise, I use it mainly outside of the gaming session.

 

[Arnwyn]

The special ability and condition glossaries are pretty useful because I don't really feel like memorizing the differences between shaken, frightened, panicked, and the other statuses out there. And it's now easily located at the end of the reference rather than somewhere in the middle.
Otherwise, I use it mainly outside of the gaming session.

Those are in the 3.5 PHB too (in the glossary in the back).

But in any case, if you have the SRD along with your 3.0 books - you're laughin'.

 

[Belegbeth]

Thanks for the advice, everyone! It's appreciated (especially since I now feel somewhat reassured in my decision not to sink $60 into 3.5 PH & DMG).