Can anybody bring me up to date? (3.5 etc)

[adndgamer]

I've been absent from the gaming world for some time. Well, about a year or so.

What are the big changes in 3.5 from 3e?

I'm thinking of running a Ravenloft campaign, and have the 3e sourcebook. Do I need to go out and buy a new 3.5 sourcebook or does stuff remain compatible? Sorry, I've been a gamer for a long time (9 years or so) but I feel lost at sea. Somebody throw me a life preserver?

 

[Alzrius]

The changes aren't so numerous that you would find yourself unable to play without them.

Truth to tell, the only Ravenloft books out now that use 3.5E are the RL PHB and RL DMG. The others are all 3.0, though all future RL books will also be 3.5E.

Instead of me summarizing the changes, I direct you to this free download by WotC that does the same: http://wizards.com/dnd/files/DnD35_update_booklet.zip

Good luck and good gaming!

 

[Oni]

With a little time you can see most everything for yourself.

Here is a well organized and easy to use version of the 3.5 SRD
http://3.5srd.com/web/sovelior_sage_srd/Sovelior SRD/home.html

There are alot of little changes, which can be distracting if you were very familiar with 3e, and like to do things by the book i.e. like the rules-a-holic typing this. You'll get most of the big changes if you reread the classes and combat sections.

I don't believe there is a 3.5 Ravenloft book (I may be wrong on this.) Mostly though if you and your players aren't too picky about being strictly by the book, things go back and forth pretty well. For instance I think the biggest change to monsters has been the way damage reduction works, so that might take some ad hoc rulings.

[edit: Looks like Alzrius beat me to the punch and did a better job of it in the process.]