Combining Arcana Unearthed and D&D

[Red Wyrmling]

I'm going to GenCon UK next month and I'm wondering about picking up Arcana Unearthed (I mean the book by Monte Cook, not the WOTC book). I've liked the book since day one but never bought it because of compatability concerns.

I would like to ask all people who use the AU book if they have used it as a replacement of the original Player's handbook or as an addition? I'm probably only going to buy it to give my players access to the classes in the book, but are they balanced in perspective to the Player's Handbook or not?

 

[Staffan]

AU classes are slightly more powerful at low levels, and slightly less at high levels. If you use AU spell-casting classes, you should not allow them to use regular D&D spells - part of the balance of their flexible spellcasting system is that the spells themselves aren't as powerful as in D&D.

I'll be using the AU Unfettered class in my Eberron game, don't know yet how it will work out.

 

[Darklone]

Just don't allow too many AU feats.

 

[Varianor Abroad]

I allow both. The AU classes use the AU book and the D&D classes use the PH. It works fine.

I do recommend giving the bonus feat to the D&D characters or taking it away from the AU PCs and using one table though.

 

[devilish]

Excellent thread -- I'm starting a new campaign and wanted to
allow anyone to choose any class/race from any published work
and someone wanted to use AU.

How would AU work with other published 3.5 products, WOTC or
otherwise? Would just "leveling" the xp table like Varianor stated
work?

Big Thanks!

 

[Staffan]

Just don't allow too many AU feats.

I'm allowing Bloody Strike, Crippling Strike, Defensive Move, Defensive Stance, First Strike, Low Blow, Modify Combat Style, Paralyzing Blow, Rapid Strike, Shield specialization, and Stunning Blow.

 

[satori01]

The only feats I restrict are the metamagic feats and spell templates, those feats are usable only by the classes in the same book,(ie no empowered AU spells, no Modify spell on D&D spells). My campaign has ran for around 6 months now and I have had no problems what so ever in terms of use.

 

[JoeGKushner]

I allow both. The AU classes use the AU book and the D&D classes use the PH. It works fine.

I do recommend giving the bonus feat to the D&D characters or taking it away from the AU PCs and using one table though.

I agree with the first statement though.

However, the second part, no. The AU characters need more XP to gain levels so they need a little boost. Plus, their generally weaker at higher levels. Plus, some of their feats aren't as good. For example, they still have Ambidexterity, but as a talent instead of a feat.

 

[The_Warlock]

I'm actually incorporating several of the AU spellcasting classes and the Akashic into my Forgotten Realms campaign...with a few edits I fit them to the core D&D mold, while keeping the unique abilities the classes have. They seem to balance fine. Because many of the options in AU are so close to Core, it's really easy to integrate. For instance, I really like AU's alternate disabled/dying/death thresholds, and have put them in - it really allows tough heroes the chance to pull of heroic actions when things are at their worst. Like others have said, you can just have people use the AU book as their core and there will be little problem, or you can integrate what you like, and any slight incompatibilities (like weapon size if you are trying to compare AU to 3.5) usually are easy to smooth out with a few moments thought.

 

[satori01]

Joe do you seriously charge a different rate for experience in your hybrid campaign? I would reccomend everyone just use the chart from the PHB. The XP chart is not OGL, thus Monte changed it slightly and published it. I would not want the extra hassle of different XP charts especially as this would in all practicality eleminate multi-classing between the books,(which from personal experience works fine).

For feats like TWF and Sunder which are slightly different just decide which rule set you would like to use. I use 3.5 TWF, AU power attack and Sunder, and simply allow the Ambidexterity talent to take -2 off an two weapon penalities when combined with TWF,( yep a no penalty TW warrior).