Iron_Chef
First Post
I'm unhappy with 3.5 so far IMO (at least the PHB & DMG). Here's why:
It's basically 3.0 with a little spit and polish, a couple new things, a couple changed things (some good, some bad) and barely any new art! There were not enough changes (from simple things like giving the sorcerer all the Charisma-based class skills--how stupid is that not to incorporate?) to not enough new art. The old 3.0 art is clearly showing its age. Much of it was bad then, and it's even worse paying for it the second time around. The new artists all stink; even Lockwood turns out a crap piece with the new archmage in the DMG (which has been made a worthless PrC anyway or it would make me even more angry). WAR is the only artist to consistently deliver high quality pieces in the new PHB and DMG. The rest look like total amateur hour; who likes the new dragon disciple and duelist prc art? Doesn't make me wanna be one!
I would feel totally ripped off if I'd paid full price ($29.95 each). I still feel a little ripped-off even after getting them for only $17.62 per book from Wal-Mart. Frankly, my group is thinking about returning our copies (2 each) for a refund. I'm tempted to just download the SRD. I'm waiting for the MMs to show up tomorrow before making up my mind. WoTC totally dropped the ball on 3.5, IMO. Just a cheap excuse to stick its customers in the shorts one more time before 4.0 in a couple of years.
Just so nobody says I'm only being negative, here are some of the good things I loved about 3.5: the covers are better looking, skills are actually explained in detail, combat makes more sense, spells and effects were clarified, new PrC's like the thaumaturgist and horizon walker rock, and we finally get an easy to read treasure table. These are not, however, enough to make me want to part with more than the cost of a single book containing all the revisions and new stuff (around $20). The MM being a separate case, as I haven't seen it yet, but am fairly confident it will be vastly improved and (hopefully) worth my $17.62.
In short, the new PHB and DMG did nothing to excite me. I could have designed a better rules revision myself!
It's basically 3.0 with a little spit and polish, a couple new things, a couple changed things (some good, some bad) and barely any new art! There were not enough changes (from simple things like giving the sorcerer all the Charisma-based class skills--how stupid is that not to incorporate?) to not enough new art. The old 3.0 art is clearly showing its age. Much of it was bad then, and it's even worse paying for it the second time around. The new artists all stink; even Lockwood turns out a crap piece with the new archmage in the DMG (which has been made a worthless PrC anyway or it would make me even more angry). WAR is the only artist to consistently deliver high quality pieces in the new PHB and DMG. The rest look like total amateur hour; who likes the new dragon disciple and duelist prc art? Doesn't make me wanna be one!
I would feel totally ripped off if I'd paid full price ($29.95 each). I still feel a little ripped-off even after getting them for only $17.62 per book from Wal-Mart. Frankly, my group is thinking about returning our copies (2 each) for a refund. I'm tempted to just download the SRD. I'm waiting for the MMs to show up tomorrow before making up my mind. WoTC totally dropped the ball on 3.5, IMO. Just a cheap excuse to stick its customers in the shorts one more time before 4.0 in a couple of years.
Just so nobody says I'm only being negative, here are some of the good things I loved about 3.5: the covers are better looking, skills are actually explained in detail, combat makes more sense, spells and effects were clarified, new PrC's like the thaumaturgist and horizon walker rock, and we finally get an easy to read treasure table. These are not, however, enough to make me want to part with more than the cost of a single book containing all the revisions and new stuff (around $20). The MM being a separate case, as I haven't seen it yet, but am fairly confident it will be vastly improved and (hopefully) worth my $17.62.
In short, the new PHB and DMG did nothing to excite me. I could have designed a better rules revision myself!
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