Down with the negativity! Tell me what you like about 3E.

[EricNoah]

Templates

Mix-and-match abilities = high level of customization

Adding classes to monsters

Metamagic (thought not necessarily its implementation -- the costs are a little high in my opinion)

Making magic items

Levels 11-20 are as interesting as levels 1-10

Multiclassing system

Limits on various bonuses (which ones stack and don't stack)

my pet peeve? "Edition wars" -- blech! Play what you want to play and stop whining about those who don't like what you like!

 

[Doug McCrae]

The fact that races are now balanced in power. I really like that. My longest running character prior to 3rd ed was a human thief so I know what suffering is.

There's an element of personal bias there too cause I've always preferred playing humans to any other race. Never been able to understand the elf love. But humans always got the shaft in 1st and 2nd ed. The supposed drawback of non-humans (the level limit) never worked because either you never played that high or if you did the penalty was too severe so the GM had to ignore it.

Another thing I really like is the use of alternating masculine and feminine pronouns. It's the only satisfactory way to handle the issue IMHO.

 

[Doug McCrae]

The culling of the unecessary saving throws
Tactical combat - AoOs, 5-foot steps, flanking rogues. I love all that.
Quality colour artwork in both the core rules and, in 3.5, the splatbooks too.

Thinking about, the correct answer is probably 'everything' or close to it. I don't think there's a single thing in 3rd that isn't an improvement over earlier editions.

 

[KB9JMQ]

Higher is better rolls
No Thac0
Got me back into gaming.
Easier on me as a DM since I was using a cobbled make of all versions to play.
Got me back into gaming.

 

[The_Gneech]

Prior to 3.x, trying to play any version of D&D was pure aggravation.

"A stone block is falling on your head! Make a save vs. Breath Weapon."

"Um ... is that high or low?"

...

"Some orcs pop up out of a hole! They'll surprise you on a 6. (roll) Yup, you're suprised!"

"Except I'm a ranger, I'm only surprised on a 1."

...

"Ack! An undead! The cleric will attempt to turn it! Is it like a vampire or a wight?"

...

"I want to play a paladin." *rolls dice* "Hmm ... not enough 15s. Guess it's a cleric or fighter for you!"

...

3.x got rid of all that nonsense and finally turned D&D into a game that I could comfortably wrap my brain around. It also made humans worth playing (a nice change, since I rather prefer them to be the stars). Thank you, 3.x team!

-The Gneech

 

[Turjan]

Let me see:

Uniform XP chart for all classes
Consistent use of ability modifiers
"Monsters" with classes
OGL - a great source of variety
Balance! (much better than before)

All in all, it's much superior to AD&D2 .

 

[Voadam]

Unified skill system, thieves aren't different.

Multiclassing stacking

Monsters have full stats consistent with PCs

3 save types

classes more balanced

Templates

one xp chart for everybody

simplified die mechanics, high always good.

Spells more balanced.

No multiclassing/racial prohibtions

Better defined touch AC rules

Unified stat bonus mechanics

Every point of stats matters for bonuses

Monster advancement

OGL

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

NO MORE THAC0!!!!
Simplied Saving Throws
Unified Class Advancement Tables
NO MORE THACO!!!!
No Racial Level Limits
FEATS FEATS FEATS
d20 Mechanic for Attacks, Saves, AC, and Skill Checks (A unified system that works the same for everything!!!)
Prestige Classes (Though we're a little overloaded in sheer volume, now)
Level 9 Spells for Clerics and Druids
NO MORE THAC0!!!!

I could probably go on, but Psion really covered my bases. I'm just hitting my high points.

 

[Maggan]

WAR and Sweet EDIT: and Lockwood!

I like the art of Wayne Reynold and Justin Sweet. And a lot of the other art as well. EDIT: And Todd Lockwood, of course!

I like the Basic Set.

I like that they dropped "Advanced" from the name (weird but true, I never did like the marriage of "advanced" to "dungeons&dragons". Didn't sound right to me).

I like the cover design of the PH, DMG and MM.

I like WotC's support on the web page.

I like the Forgotten Realms graphic design. And the actual content as well!

And I like a lot of other stuff related to mechanics, eg what you roll is what you hit, high roll is good roll, unified XP table, the 3 saves, the idea of AoO, level-advancement the same for all with no cap, skills, and feats.

My favourite book of the three core books is the DMG 3.5.

And I love EN World being a part of the development of the whole thing!

Cheers!

Maggan

 

[Quasqueton]

I love this thread.

But, I would suggest that you avoid mentioning earlier editions as a comparison to what you like about D&D3. Mentioning the earlier editions with any derogatory language will start an edition war.

If you like the aspect of "what you roll is what you hit", don't say "no THAC0".

Quasqueton