D&D 3E/3.5 Differences between 3.0 and 3.5

[Delta]

Agreed that lots and lots of spells got changed in big ways and small ways. Personally I think there were less spell changes in all of 1E->2E->3E than there were in 3.0->3.5 by itself.

 

[irdeggman]

Don't forget swift and immediate actions.

Although added via subsequent books (Complete Arcane, Spel Compendium) they do exist in the SRD (under the psionics section).


Actions in combat is another change - much more clearly (and in most cases more logical) defined in 3.5 than 3.0.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I figured the trade off was the range, 2-5, instead of a flat +4, and the spell slot that is always used for it. I liked that as a choice. In 3.5, it's better to have the item because the spell can't do what the item does.

I can't speak for why they made the changes they did, but things to note about the 3.0 versions of the buff spells.

a) no mental buff spells, eliminating spell DC inflation

b) the variable range meant that they could be maximised and empowered. Or since metamagic stacked in 3.0, multiple-empowered (so a wizard might prepare a 6th level double-empowered cats grace to get +4-10 on their Dex, a 9th level maximised double-empowered one would give +7-10. it was common for high level wizards to get a lot more mileage out of their buff spells in those days.

c) the possibility of an 'odd number' bonus benefited those who hadn't min-maxed their abilities to all be even numbers.

 

[evildmguy]

I can't speak for why they made the changes they did, but things to note about the 3.0 versions of the buff spells.

a) no mental buff spells, eliminating spell DC inflation

b) the variable range meant that they could be maximised and empowered. Or since metamagic stacked in 3.0, multiple-empowered (so a wizard might prepare a 6th level double-empowered cats grace to get +4-10 on their Dex, a 9th level maximised double-empowered one would give +7-10. it was common for high level wizards to get a lot more mileage out of their buff spells in those days.

c) the possibility of an 'odd number' bonus benefited those who hadn't min-maxed their abilities to all be even numbers.

Wow.

Good points. I don't think I have seen any of my previous rules lawyers, or myself, think about anything other than extending, or maybe maximizing, the buff spells. Hmm.

Thanks!

edg