I may not be switching to D&D 3.5 (Crossposted)

[Aeolius]

While I will be purchasing the revised 3e core rulebooks and passing my existing ones on to a friend, I still think WotC should offer an additional incentive, to encourage gamers to upgrade their books. Put a coupon in the back of each book. Offer a small "prize", such as a set of dice or a limited edition miniature, for those who mail in the coupon. For those who choose to mail in coupons for all three books at the same time, a larger reward could be offered, such as a battlemat or limited edition DM screen.

While I can run Mac OS X, Mac OS 9, Linux, UNIX, and WinXP on my Macintosh, I still use my computer primarily as a DM aid, without the use of programs intended as such. As my current campaign is run online, I use GoLive, to create manage my web pages. I often use CoreDRAW, Bryce, and Poser, to devise graphics for the site.

And it goes without saying, that the internet is the best derned electronic DM's tool there is.

 

[Skullfyre]

*crush, crush*

I will probably get 3.5E when it comes out.
but I would like to see some updates for the E-tools.

*blocking the crushing effect from Severion*

 

[Fenes 2]

Umm... what is the problem with using old rules for computer generated NPCs, and new rules for PCs? Is having the NPC ranger that is attacking the party the correct amount of skill points and the right amount of (maybe) spells really that important?

Heck, we (the DMs as a whole) often homebrew and modify monsters and NPCs anyway, so what about a few more discrepancies?

 

[Ace]

I think it says an awful lot about D&D 3E when there are gamers who wouldn't want to play 3.5E without some kind of computer support.

And you guys wonder why I like OD&D so much.

'STRUTH

JMO but my Dream D&D is something like Rules Cyclopedia+ Companion and thats it

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I think the argument that somehow electronic support makes the process less creative is unfounded. If anything, electronic support relieves the DM of the tedious, uncreative grunt work involved in running a game. I don't see how wanting a program that rolls scores and crunches numbers replaces anything creative. That stuff is simply boring, and takes away from the truly creative side of things. It's like using a word processor to write; prior to such electronic support for writing, did writers find it creative to have to format everything themselves? Figuring out how to do footnotes, citations, and the like is something I'd rather let the machine do. The same principle applies to RPG programs.

 

[DM_Matt]

i can garundangtee that pcgen will be supporting the new books. Heck we are going to be supporting D20 modern soon and since this will all be in the SRD changes anyway we kinda haveto...

but fear not my faithful fellows and fellowettes! you can still use your old data files with pcgen and have the new 3ER files too!

Does anyone really need more than this?

 

[Terraism]

I think the argument that somehow electronic support makes the process less creative is unfounded. If anything, electronic support relieves the DM of the tedious, uncreative grunt work involved in running a game. I don't see how wanting a program that rolls scores and crunches numbers replaces anything creative. That stuff is simply boring, and takes away from the truly creative side of things. It's like using a word processor to write; prior to such electronic support for writing, did writers find it creative to have to format everything themselves? Figuring out how to do footnotes, citations, and the like is something I'd rather let the machine do. The same principle applies to RPG programs.

I agree completely. With any kind of writing, I prefer to use a computer. I hate writing by hand; admittedly, my writing's a mess, and if I did it more often, perhaps it wouldn't be. But I type faster than I write, and make fewer mistakes; for some reason, I mispell things more often on paper, as well. Heck, for years I wanted to keep a journal, but didn't, because I just couldn't bring myself to keep it by hand. (Gotten over that, by the way.)

The thing is, it's not lazy to use a computer for word processing - it's efficient. And it looks nicer, from my point of view. I won't go as far as Eric and say I wouldn't switch to 3.5 - I'm a) a sucker for new stuff, and b) haven't printed out errata for the first printings, so I've got lots of little errors sprinkled around my stuff. But I'm going to be really annoyed if there's no support elsewhere because of this.

 

[Pagan priest]

PCGen should be able to provide support for the new releases in short order. It is a great tool for use in creating characters and such. Once WotC gives permission, PCGen should be able to provide full support for the whole range of D&D products, like Forgotten Realms, Epic Level Handbook, and Oriental Adventures.

 

[Kichwas]

Of course, for most of us, there isn't any electronic support for 3.0 either...

You can only get support if you fall into one of two categories:

1: you use core rules only.
2: You use core rules and any d20 product NOT published by WotC.


Most of us use Core rules, books by WotC, and an assortment of d20 products we've found we like. For this crowd, there is no electronic support, not since PCGen dropped all the non SRD WotC material.

So it really doesn't matter, and 3.5 really won't change anything.

 

[jester47]

I do a lot with monster/class combos, advanced monsters, and classed NPCs, and all of that stuff is made possible because of current electronic tools. So, yeah, lots of number crunching for me -- I don't run monsters straight out of the books very often, and I've never used the NPCs from the DMG tables. I don't like cracking open books during games, and so having that stuff all in my own computer-prepared notes is my preferred method.

I used to be like that, but then I discovered the "designers fiat" squirrled away in an acient library. I stopped doing that because I realised:

1. Most of the computer programs have flaws that add up the numbers funny.

2. My player characters would ussually kill all my hardwork in the matter of a game minute.

Rarely do I need to stat anything beyond the main badguy.

It make life soo much easier.

If PC Gen does get "the blessing" then things will be even easier.

Aaron.