Differences between 3rd and 4th Edition

[Davaris]

Is there a major difference between the 3rd and 4th edition rules?

The reason I ask is I bought quite a few books this year that use the 3rd Editon rules and I want to know if I can use them with 4th Ed.

One book I have is A Magical Society Beast Builder. It was published in 2005, uses the OGL license and refers to the SRD in quite a few places.

I haven't played D&D since the 1980s and don't understand the difference between OGL and D20. Are they the same rules, but with a different licence? Its very confusing.

 

[burntgerbil]

The books, as is, will not port to 4th edition. However 4e is so modular, that you could implement the parts of the books you like with relatively little work.
The game systems are different - but with respect to your beast builder, between that book and the guidelines in the 4e DMG and MM, it should not be too hard to make cool baddies !


Dm's and players that I have spoken to in real life tell me the prep time for 4e is much less as a whole.

 

[mattdm]

Is there a major difference between the 3rd and 4th edition rules?

Yes. They're not compatible.

The reason I ask is I bought quite a few books this year that use the 3rd Editon rules and I want to know if I can use them with 4th Ed.

Game ideas and setting, yes. Crunchy numerical bits, no.

One book I have is A Magical Society Beast Builder. It was published in 2005, uses the OGL license and refers to the SRD in quite a few places.

Not much use numerically, but some of the monster ideas could translate. I haven't seen that book, but much of the other Magical Medieval Society book is still fine.

I haven't played D&D since the 1980s and don't understand the difference between OGL and D20. Are they the same rules, but with a different licence? Its very confusing.

Yes. One just paid more for a pretty sticker. (In short.)

 

[blargney the second]

Technically, no they're not compatible. That being said, I've run monsters from 4e pretty much as-is in 3e. It worked surprisingly well.
-blarg