ADnD 2nd ED VS. 3.5

[Kanegrundar]

2nd Edition drove me away, screaming for the hills. 3E brought me back to D&D and there is no other game that I prefer playing when I'm in the mood for fantasy gaming. D20 in general is my preferred system for eveything from Modern to westerns to Supers. It's not that I don't like other systems, it's just easier on everyone to not have to learn or relearn a new system for every game. D20 is a simple system to grasp, but one that has enough options to make me feel like there's always something new to try.

Kane

 

[reanjr]

3e game system is more intuitive, easy to remember, doesn't require books as much, and allows for just as much diversity in rules as 2e.

That said, it is my opinion that the rules are presented horribly in 3e (i.e., as rules) and intones the entirely wrong mood for role-playing into the players. 2e was way better at this.

I think it is optimal to play a 3e game with 2e players.

 

[reanjr]

For me, 3E was love at first sight.

To be specific, what I fell in love with was the ability bonus table. In 2E, you had a different table for each ability, and only the extreme values were really interesting. In 3E, the table is the same for all attributes, even less than spectacular ability values bring some bonuses, and the table is so simple that you don't need to refer to it unless you are playing a spellcaster!

I never looked back. Everyhing is more streamlined and makes more sense.

Chapter 1 MAKES 3e.

 

[reanjr]

I do admit, though, that I'm puzzled that some people seem to be saying that "munchkinism" is a problem only with 3e. Do they not remember some of the class kits and player options found in 2e?

But 2e wasn't so much an exercise in statistics as a role-playing game. It didn't matter. I'm not so sure I could say the same about 3e...

 

[BOZ]

i prefer OD&D.

no way... i mean, you never told me about that!

 

[BOZ]

now, here's an odd question... how many people who say they left D&D because of 2E would *not* have left if D&D went straight from 1E to something exactly like 3E or 3.5? i think the drastic change would have scared off more people than 2E did. 3E seems to become acceptable in many people's mind as a refreshing change after a long period of time, rather than a sudden one.

 

[WSmith]

I prefer the Original Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (as Gary calls it) over all other versions, with the sole exception of the Basic / Expert 1981 sets, for which I love equally for different reasons. For AD&D, I stick with the PHB, DMG, and MM, maybe a slight rare reference to FF or DDg.

I don't like 3e, and 2nd ed is just okay.

It all comes down to personal preference.

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

I prefer the basic/expert sets to either version of AD&D. Aside from races-as-classes, they were my system of choice for the entire AD&D era, although I ran Spelljammer rather than Greyhawk with them (yes, that took a lot of work; no, I don't know where my conversions are ).

After Spelljammer was cancelled (Damn you, Planescape! Damn you to hell... oh, wait. Nevermind. ), I wrapped up that campaign and the family campaign died off, so I drifted away from pen-n-paper RPGs for several years.

3e brought me back. The ability modifier chart did it for me, too.

Someday, perhaps someday soon, I'll convert Spelljammer to 3.5, d20 Modern or Silhouette Core. Then I'll have no more need for anything 2e.

 

[Kanegrundar]

now, here's an odd question... how many people who say they left D&D because of 2E would *not* have left if D&D went straight from 1E to something exactly like 3E or 3.5? i think the drastic change would have scared off more people than 2E did. 3E seems to become acceptable in many people's mind as a refreshing change after a long period of time, rather than a sudden one.

I likely would have stayed around. A lot of the changes made in 3E were very similar to my own houserules, houserules that were partly made when I first started playing with my girlfriend's (at the time) father's copy of the 1E PHB. If they would have moved directly into 3E, they may have lost a few gamers, but they likely would have gained even more since, compared to 1E and 2E, 3E is coherent and makes sense overall.

Kane

 

[Voadam]

I prefer 3e

More consistent mechanics,

More balanced classes

Unified xp chart

unified stat bonuses mechanic

CR to evaluate combat worthiness of foes

ECL to evaluate race power

monsters have full stats

stats are not capped

attack bonuses vs THACO

3 saves that are intuitive vs multiple arbitrary ones

More balanced magic prices

Item creation

Guidelines for starting wealth/magic item worth past 1st level

feats are generally pretty cool

Better multiclassing rules

No level limits

No race/class restrictions

Templates to make monsters different

Advancing monsters by HD or by character class

HD do not stop at certain class levels.

Cyclical initiative

Six second combat rounds

Spontaneous casters

Fighters can be individualized more and be built for a variety of effective builds and styles.

Interesting melee combat options.


Things I prefer about 2e

Ease of character creation

Customization of specialty priests

monster descriptions are more in-depth, providing better information on portraying and running monsters in roleplaying rather than just in combat

Easy stat blocks for monsters

Easy to convert stuff to use to 2e from other systems

Can use 1e and basic D&D materials straight (and now Hackmaster ones with minimal conversions).