3.5 vs. Arcana Unearthed: Which One are You More Excited About?

[Razuur]

Not buying 3.5.

Way to much other stuff to buy that is D20.


Razuur

 

[JacktheRabbit]

Why did you have to bring D20 into the arguement, then?

Pesonally I do not much like Monte's products. The BOEM stuff seems merely average and RTTTOEE is a steaming pile of offal as far as I am concerned.

With that in mind the fact that it is not D20 means he is writing this with basically complete freedom to do whatever he wants.

The two of those together do not sit well with me in expecting this to be a product I will like or want.

 

[Enceladus]

3.5

There's only so much D20 stuff I can stand.

I have more than enough already.


I'm such a book whore I'll probably get both. <sigh>

 

[Henry]

To be fair to DocM, It is definitely different from the Core D&D rules - if it weren't we wouldn't be interested in it.

So, in one sense, it IS d20 (in that it's not a vastly divergent system) but it ISN'T d20 (in that many of its precepts would require you to use certain mechanics differently, such as spells, class abilities, truenaming, etc.)

I'm happy with both, but darn it, I'm torn as to whether to buy 3E revised. One one hand, I would be just as content to download the SRD and note changes, but I'm planning on going to GenCon, and going to GenCon without buying the 3E revised books would be like going to a pub to drink lemonade. I may wind up going for a thumb-through of BOTH at Gencon, and seeing which one I want more, and buying that one on the last day.

Then again, Monte might experience a huge run on the books if they are wildly popular, and my fence-straddling may get me in trouble, and I'll have to order it online, because certainly none of my local stores will carry it.

 

[Zappo]

Arcana Unearthed is D20 in any sense except the legal one. One might argue that it isn't D&D, though.

Me, I'm more exc... well, ok, I'm more excited about AU for what it represents. An alternative PHB is something pretty much unheard of, for what I know. It's a marvel of the OGL.

What I'm going to buy, however, is 3.5E. Standard D&D has still a long way to go before becoming stale for me, and I'll really appreciate the tweaking and rebalancing.

 

[Enceladus]

Then again, Monte might experience a huge run on the books if they are wildly popular, and my fence-straddling may get me in trouble, and I'll have to order it online, because certainly none of my local stores will carry it.

Geez, where the heck do you live? There are 4 mom and pops in my town to get DnD stuff. I know that if one doesnt have it another will.

 

[Quinn]

Actually, I don't think there's any competition "between them". Granted, some of our fellow gamers might be inclined to start 3E/AU debates, but that's those individual gamers. I don't really see any competition between Malhavoc and WotC

True, but there's a couple of things that I've noticed. Monte Cook and Sean Reynolds (particularly Sean) have come out to say that there's a number of things they don't care for in 3.5. Morrus said in his opinion piece that he's looking forward to AU much more than 3.5. I know that these are all individual opinions, but they have some heft behind them (two designers of 3e and the webmaster of ENWorld.)

I don't know, maybe I'm getting a little tired of the buildup, the revision spotlights, the design diaries, the rumors, extrapolation of new rules based on stuff seen in Savage Species, and the constant debates. I just want to get these games in my hands.

 

[Petrosian]

I read the designer diary for UA or Au or whatever it is called last night.

While i have found MCs classes, the sample ranger and reading others comments on the other two, to be overpowered for my tastes, I am fairly impressed by his commentary so far. His designer notes seems to tell me "he thinks like i do" and i have to say one of the most tellingn side comments was his thoughts about putting the GM back in the mix.

So, while i had not planned to, I will likely now be buying Monte's book when it comes out.

*******************

As for 3.5, i will not be buying it. I have already told my people to not expect any significant amount of it to be used in my current campaign. We will continue to use 3.0 with erratta and house rules. I won't be buying those books. 3.0 with my house rules is good enough for me. I had planned with the next game to make some significant changes to classes and the like so it will be a much more customized 3.0 than any 3.5.

Any elements from 3.5 i want to scarf, i will simply take from the SRD.

**********************

As things all shift into 3.5 land, my MNM purchases will die off. Exceptions will be all things MnM, Monte's book, and a dungeaon or two, especially if their modern maps continue.

 

[Fiery James]

Just to chime in, I've read both.

The changes to D&D made me say 1 of three things:

"Cool, that got fixed!"
"Ugh, why did they do that!"
"Hey, that's pretty much the same as before."

Reading AU made me say 1 thing over and over:

"Man, I want to play this!!"

AU won't be for everyone. Heck, D&D Revised won't be for everyone.

But AU makes me want to play like I wanted to back in high school, where we could get together 3 times a week and one entire day on the weekend.

I'm sure it's just that I'm ready for some change and new ideas.

But, right now, for me I'm into D20Modern and AU.

- James

 

[Knight Otu]

Revised Edition for me. There isn't much that I see in the Design Diaries that excites me (truenames seem to be the most interesting part at the moment) or that would "disallow the D20 logo". I just don't see much that is truly exciting or new in it.

Besides, if I want cat people, I just put fur on my elves and I'm done.



But in the end, I guess I'll buy it, too. Despite the sound of my post, I trust Monte Cook to put out a high quality book.