Are you Kidding me!!!

[Nebten]

I have all 3 of these special edition 3.5 books and they are definatly worth the price at the time ($75 each). They are much more durable then my previous standard PHB/DMG/MM book which the bindings broke after a few years of use. They do have all the errata that there ever was because they produced these a few years after the first 3.5 run. This is in comparison to the 4th edition ones that came out 6 months after 4th edition came out with (at this point in time) a small amount of errata included. (I fell for the PHB and realized how worth less the "deluxe" was). Holding the books just feel right even those the covers are faux leather. You feel like you are holding a classic tome. Plus they are durable as all get out. You don't have to worry about the corners bending or fraying.

So if they are new, still wrapped up. I would say paying $366 for 3 out of print books, brand new that orginally costs $225 +(tax, which could be about another $22 here), is just about right price . . . if you are still playing 3.5 D&D and plan to do so for some time.

 

[GreyLord]

I have all 3 of these special edition 3.5 books and they are definatly worth the price at the time ($75 each). They are much more durable then my previous standard PHB/DMG/MM book which the bindings broke after a few years of use. They do have all the errata that there ever was because they produced these a few years after the first 3.5 run. This is in comparison to the 4th edition ones that came out 6 months after 4th edition came out with (at this point in time) a small amount of errata included. (I fell for the PHB and realized how worth less the "deluxe" was). Holding the books just feel right even those the covers are faux leather. You feel like you are holding a classic tome. Plus they are durable as all get out. You don't have to worry about the corners bending or fraying.

So if they are new, still wrapped up. I would say paying $366 for 3 out of print books, brand new that orginally costs $225 +(tax, which could be about another $22 here), is just about right price . . . if you are still playing 3.5 D&D and plan to do so for some time.

Yep, my special edition 3.5 books are now the ones I play with. They are completely awesome. I got lucky and got them for much less then the $75 retail price, so even better.

The 4e ones were a major disappointment in comparison.

 

[Theone0581]

I look at the special edition books in a way for collectors to enhance their profile. If you ask me, if you are a true hardcore d&d fan and want to play 3.5 until you grand kids pick up the books with them in great condition, then I would say get 'em. From what I have read, they will last a whole lot longer than the normal hardcover core books, which is good, because if you play D&D on a week to week basis for years, then I am sure a lot of you would agree with me that those books will gain some nasty wear and tare, which don't get me wrong, is not a bad thing. Wear and tare just shows me that we have got some dedicated D&D players! I said that to say this, if you are a hardcore D&D player and want to keep your books in great condition along with the satisfaction of impressing your group for years to come or just want add to your collection, then I would think that the special edition core books are well worth the money. On the other hand, If you are just looking to play D&D whenever the opportunity arises then you would probably recommend to just stick with the basis and buy the normal books for around $20-30.

As to what "GreyLord" was talking about in regards to the high price for the "Three book slipcase set" I completely agree with you, they are well over priced for what the consumer will be achieving. On the other-hand, the slipcase that contains all three books may be considered a rare find bringing supply low. I am unsure of this fact, as I have not seen them sold in my local comic book store (back when they were selling 3.5) Again, the case along with the three books inside may indeed be a rare find that a collector may value. It would also make a great gift if you have that kind of disposable income.

 

[Sorrowdusk]

On a side note-did anyone actually like 3.x's covers in comparison to 4E?

 

[GreyLord]

On a side note-did anyone actually like 3.x's covers in comparison to 4E?

Hmm, I did like the artwork on 4e better then the stuff on 3.X core books. However, I like the covers of the 3.5 special edition books much better then either. Simple, and yet they stand out.

I really liked the cover of dungeonscape perhaps the best of all the books, and I like how evocative the cover of Player's Hanbook II was. I also really liked all the covers to the 3.5 Forgotten Realms books as well as the Expedition series.

Overall, I'd put the latter few above most of the covers for 4e, but on a whole I probably prefer the artwork in 4e. I think 4e artwork is purposefully made more colorful in general than the 3e artwork, and with less anime influence (hence not as many spiky hairstyles, etc). I think this appeals to many who didn't like the more generic fantasy (anime, cartoon, heroic, blend) of early 3.0 edition. On the otherhand, those who enjoy early 3.0 edition artwork more...probably would find the artwork for 4e too loud, or trying to distract the eye from the main composition with too many flashes of other items (such as brighter colors off to the side instead of centering on the character).

As I stated though, I prefer the style of artwork for 4e overall in my personal taste.

This was a trend however, and you can see this style starting in the later 3.5 books, which are where some of my favorite pieces of 3.X artwork come from.

 

[Uber Dungeon]

Amazon is most defiantly not the place for buying 3.5 books. Personally if I didn't have my massive collection of 3.5 books I'd buy them on ebay. For example; right now there is a bid for $150 that is ending in 1 day, it includes phb and dmg +11 other books (4 complete, expanded psi + 6 other amusing books) that I would/might buy anyways. with a budget of $400. I'm sure you'll win that bid for maybe just under or over $200. then cuz it does not have you can do a buy it now for $26.72 on ebay for Monster manual, then you got your self a lovely set.
Theres even a 3.5 lot including PHB DMG MM for a $100 buy it now.
those are some more realistic prices.

 

[Thurbane]

The cost of the core 3.5 books went up through the roof a while back, after they'd ceased printing. It's just crazy...I'm glad my group has got all we need.