D&D 3E/3.5 3 vs 3.5 which is better for a newbie?

[krunchyfrogg]

I'm not a newbie to D&D, but my experience is mostly with 2e. I plan on playing some PBP or PBEM games, and most of them I see are these versions (3 & 3.5).

Which of the two is a better system, and will work better in the format I've detailed?

TIA.

 

[Li Shenron]

The work pretty much the same.

But if you want to play online, you'll find that 90% of the games are 3.5, as most people cannot stand playing something earlier than the latest edition (unless it's vintage).

Furthermore, it depends if you're planning to buy many supplementary books afterwards. If you are, 3.5 is better for you since they'll be releasing more and more books in the next year, while 3.0 supplements are only those published so far.

With one caveat tho... If you want to play Forgotten Realms, I think you'd better join 3.0. The reason is the cost: FR was the #1 supported setting when 3ed came out, so there are many FR books written for 3.0. You need the FR Campaign Setting, Monsters of Faerun and Magic of Faerun, plus I'd suggest Faith & Pantheons. If you play FR in 3.5 you still need the 3.0 books because the setting information is not reprinted anywhere else, but you'll also need the 3.5 books where spells and character material is reprinted, and you'll end up spending a lot on obsolete stuff.

For example, the newest Spell Compendium is NOT a Forgotten Realms product, and yet it's the only source for many FR spells in 3.5 version. So while in 3.0 you'd just need FRCS + Magic of Faerun to play a wizard, in 3.5 you kind of need FRCS + Magic of Faerun + Player's Guide to Faerun + Spell Compendium, but you'll be using the first 2 only for flavor text and not game mechanics, and you'll be using Spell Compendium for only a bunch of Faerun spells.

 

[ThoughtfulOwl]

The differences are in the details; as far as the learning curve and the application to PBP are concerned, they are the same.

As to which is better, let's just say that it spawned lots of flamewars: it always comes down to personal preference. Personally, I would suggest 3.5 for the sole reason that it is the current one.

Anyway, you can read the key differences here.

 

[irdeggman]

3.5 is generally written better - that is to say it is easier to understand and less vague.

Go with 3.5.

 

[Patlin]

I am of the opinion that 3.5 is better balanced and in some ways more intuitive. That's an advantage to a newbie.... one might otherwise make a mistake, like playing the front loaded 3.0 ranger class to high levels, or thinking that a two handed weapon is an obvious choice for power attack.

Though I do miss stacking empower spell a few times on bulls strength and having it last for hours. Is it coincidence that so many of my favorite and most abusive tricks don't work in 3.5?

 

[Sigurd]

Certainly 3.5 or whatever is the dominant ruleset in the group you play. Most people I know are moving forward, why start further back.

Sigurd

 

[was]

They're pretty much the same. I'd suggest the most current version.

 

[Goolpsy]

If you are used to 2e.. i would clearly suggest 3.0 is it so much closer to 2e. I might even say that 3.0 and 3.5 is nearly as far apart as 2e and 3e.. the system is the same.. but htey are NOT the same in gameplay.
3.5 sacrificed alot of flavor and changed alot of things that's been the same since the first edition. It completely changed the d&d universer in search for more balance seen by nerd eyes that search book for abuse.
If you want a true 'epic' gameplay close to your normal thought of the d&d universe from 2e, then 3.0 is diffinitly the way to go.
The others think well of 3.5 cause its suposed to be more balanced, but as long as there are people to find the loopholes no system is perfect.
You won't really experience any unbalancing things with either of the system if your 'new' at them.

 

[Infiniti2000]

In terms of rulesets, it'd be better to go with 3.5. Although 3.0 and 3.5 are very similar, as others mention, 3.5 will be more prevalent on-line and at the Cons and so forth. As for arguments for/against either version, you're looking at a hot potato, so I'd encourage you not to go there.

As to what they should buy (if anything, the SRD is an option), they can purchase whichever books they can get or afford. If a player can only afford a used 3.0 PH (or gets it free -- I'll gave all mine away for free on another board), then they can use the downloadable 3.5 update booklet.

 

[Nifft]

3.5e is better for newbies. Fewer house-rules needed.

-- N