Explaining 3.5 to a 2nd Edition Veteran

[Edena_of_Neith]

I was always one of those Anything Goes DMs.
My idea of the ideal D&D is to use most of the rules of 3rd edition, then throw in all the spells from 2nd edition (all of them, period! Unmodified!) and those from 3rd edition the players desire, and let er rip.
I'd use the rules from 3.0 and 3.5 that most favored making all the classes as strong as possible (not balancing them; simply making them stronger, period.)

But, how is 3.5 different from 2nd edition?
Based on what I've read and heard, D&D 3.5 focuses intensely on the nitty gritty of second by second action. And there is a lot more you can do second by second, for the rules are much more comprehensive (rounds are 6 seconds, you have feats and skills, and so on.)
The drawback is that combat is, by necessity and definition, slower since there are more options available.

Consider the film Rocky III as an example. In 2nd edition, one of those boxing rounds between Rocky and Mr. T would be one round in the game, with all the usual rolls made in a combat round. In 3rd edition, each thrown blow would be covered by dice rolls. 3.5 would allow you to cover the boxing match blow by blow (right up to the knockout, first of Rocky, then of Mr. T in the second fight.)

That's the difference I see.

 

[William Ronald]

I was always one of those Anything Goes DMs.
My idea of the ideal D&D is to use most of the rules of 3rd edition, then throw in all the spells from 2nd edition (all of them, period! Unmodified!) and those from 3rd edition the players desire, and let er rip.
I'd use the rules from 3.0 and 3.5 that most favored making all the classes as strong as possible (not balancing them; simply making them stronger, period.)

But, how is 3.5 different from 2nd edition?
Based on what I've read and heard, D&D 3.5 focuses intensely on the nitty gritty of second by second action. And there is a lot more you can do second by second, for the rules are much more comprehensive (rounds are 6 seconds, you have feats and skills, and so on.)
The drawback is that combat is, by necessity and definition, slower since there are more options available.

Consider the film Rocky III as an example. In 2nd edition, one of those boxing rounds between Rocky and Mr. T would be one round in the game, with all the usual rolls made in a combat round. In 3rd edition, each thrown blow would be covered by dice rolls. 3.5 would allow you to cover the boxing match blow by blow (right up to the knockout, first of Rocky, then of Mr. T in the second fight.)

That's the difference I see.

Actually, that is a pretty good analogy for the difference in combat time. A round is now six seconds, not a minute. So, we would have someone simulating that fight in 3rd edition by rolling for the actions of each combatant for a one round (six second) period.

For myself, I believe that any way that a group agrees to play is fine -- as long as everyone has fun. To me, two of the guiding rules at a gaming table are that everyone's character CAN matter and that everyone has fun. These two goals are, I believe, closely related. I think one of the problems on this thread is that many people disagreed with each others' playing styles. However, I think that no single playing style, rules, or even game will satisfy everyone.

However, I would probably convert 2nd Edition spells to 3rd on a case by case basis and determine if they are balanced in regards to spells of similar level. (A DM might want to convert the spells over because of the time difference. If a spell takes one round in 2nd Edition time to cast, it might not be wise to cast it during the middle of a fight in a 3rd edition game. Especially since the other combatants would be acting in six second rounds.

 

[TerraDave]

The one second combat simulation is more like GURPS...

3/3.5 isn't quite there. And you can still play the barbarian who's tacticts consist charging into combat and hacking with his great axe each round, or the wizard who hangs back and cast a spell each round. But if you want to be more tactical you can.

In terms of anything goes..."anything" is different. 3rd edition try's to be more balanced, but then again it can have half-elemental-ninja-frenzied berserkers...