[AU] Help needed with integrating AU magic into a standard 3.5 campaign

[ForceUser]

I want to port AU to one of my campaigns, and ideally I want to use the magic system alongside the standard D&D magic system, similar to the way D&D psionics integrates. I think the AU system is very cool, but I have a concern: without altering either system - i.e. merely allowing them to coexist - will the standard 3.5E casters be at a disadvantage compared to the AU casters, or vice versa? I need to know before investing a ton of effort into merging AU with my D&D world.

Thanks!

 

[ForceUser]

Found the answer I was looking for over on Monte's boards. Here's the man's response to a similar question:

I'd make AU classes use the AU experience point table, and 3E classes their tables, although if you don't want the hassle of having two, it's not that big of a deal.

As playtests have shown, the power curve for level advancement of AU is a bit steadier than in D&D. That is to say that AU classes start out around where D&D classes do, and then through low levels get more powerful faster than D&D classes, but then don't skyrocket in power the way D&D classes do at the top end (particularly spellcasters).

I guess I could have tried to make the balance over levels follow the D&D curve, but that curve has more to do with game history than design intent. When starting from scratch, it seemed the wrong thing to do.

Having played a lot of AU, I don't think that the difference is going to actually throw anyone's game out of whack (or I wouldn't have done it).

Monte