D&D 3.x 3 vs 3.5 which is better for a newbie?

[Shin Okada]

Example:

3.0 sleep; affects 2d4 HD of creatures, no save.
3.5 sleep; affects up to 4 HD of creatures, Will save negates.

And don't get me started on Sanctuary.

3.0e Sleep had will saves, too. The differences are, number of HDs affected and casting time.

IMHO this was a very good change, especially thinking the fact that NPC opponents can use the same spell. Average PC party can hold the line with fighters and clerics, while an arcane caster is casting a full-round spell. So sleep is, still a very strong spell at starting levels. And from a point of view, 3.5e version is slightly more reliable as it affects fixed number of HDs in total. On the other hand, this change reduces the probability of accidental one-turn TPK. Even if PCs are surprised by a Kobold Sorcerer, some PC may attack the sorcerer before the Sleep spell takes effect.

Onto the main topic. IMHO differences between 3.0e and 3.5e are relatively minor, especially if you play only with core rules. But at this moment, 3.5e is more popular. And new supplements are all based on 3.5e (until WotC publishes 4.0e, or maybe 3.75e, in future). So I suggest 3.5e.

 

[ARandomGod]

From a complexity point of view they're both pretty much the same, but 3.5e is much clearer, more consistent, and generally from a rules point of view an improvement. I'd go for 3.5e. Besides, it's also the current version, so supported by most publishers.

Pinotage

Yea, I have to vote 3.5 too. For all I think they took a few steps backwards (messed up some things), overall they fixed a lot with 3.5 that did need fixing, and it's the most current, etc.

 

[MonsterMash]

Egad, man, bite your tongue! If you want vintage, use 1e.

Surely you mean OD&D - the only true game

I'd vote 3.5 as it's current edition, the For dummies book is on this edition as is the starter stuff, and most product now is in 3.5 versions. Rule differences are not so huge that either has fundamentally different mechanics just details (spell durations, weapon sizes, etc).

 

[Infiniti2000]

Surely you mean OD&D - the only true game

There's a difference between vintage and prehistoric.