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

Fenes 2 · Jan 20, 2003

Again, why would it be so bad to have NPCs or monsters with, perhaps, not the right amount of skill points? Or one more or less feat? Heck, just imagine your NPC has a bit more Int, or a filler feat like endurance or skill focus (carpentry) if that bothers you.

Celtavian · Jan 20, 2003

Re

I do all my work for D&D on computer. I just don't use E-tools or any kind of computer program specifically made for D&D to do it. Then again, I can calculate nearly as fast as a computer on the fly and I type fast, so it has never been a problem. I understand that not everyone can do this, so I can empathize with Eric wanting his e-tools updated.

I just know for myself, my concern is with content changes. I am hoping they clarify certain game rules (Grappling is a big one for me), change very few spells (Harm/Heal vs. Undead being the big one here), and a few classes (I would like to see a more interesting Ranger and slightly improved Bard and Sorcerer).

My main concern is content, not computer support. I don't feel computers weaken creativity, but they do lead to a lazy mind with weaker math and writing skills.

This is one of the main reasons I make it a point to do my own calculations and spelling corrections. I like to keep my mind sharp rather than let the computer do all the work for me. The computer is just my replacement for the actual pen/paper and file cabinet, I still like to do the calculations myself even for higher end math.

ColonelHardisson · Jan 20, 2003

Fenes 2 said:
Again, why would it be so bad to have NPCs or monsters with, perhaps, not the right amount of skill points? Or one more or less feat? Heck, just imagine your NPC has a bit more Int, or a filler feat like endurance or skill focus (carpentry) if that bothers you.

I could just as well ask "what would be so bad about driving a car without power steering or a heater?" I could certainly live without either - and believe me, I have - but I sure would rather have them.

Fenes 2 · Jan 20, 2003

Perhaps my statement was too unclear: I just want to ask ifone would really forego switching to a - possibly much improved - 3.5E just to keep using a "correct" e-tool.

Or, to consider the car analogy, would you really keep driving an older car without power steering just so that your driving gloves still match the steering wheel? And that is about, imho, the relative importance of having monsters with the correct amount of skill points or feats in a game.

Darius101 · Jan 20, 2003

Why don't they just call it 4th edition?

If the changes are going to be so big then they should.
I also think they should improve the e-tools as well to keep the program current..but I hate that program anyway and will not use it.

I personaly think they are publishing this as a way to make money. They know that we will go out and buy all new books again. Some people would buy the new books no amtter what because their old ones are about due ....spine fall apart....cover scratched....mmmmm loook shiny new book ...cha ching.

Zappo · Jan 20, 2003

Fenes 2 said:
Perhaps my statement was too unclear: I just want to ask ifone would really forego switching to a - possibly much improved - 3.5E just to keep using a "correct" e-tool.

Or, to consider the car analogy, would you really keep driving an older car without power steering just so that your driving gloves still match the steering wheel? And that is about, imho, the relative importance of having monsters with the correct amount of skill points or feats in a game.

You're getting it backwards. To the people who would stick to 3.0 edition because of better software support, the computer tools aren't the driving gloves. They are the power steering and heater.

The tweaks and changes, they are the driving gloves.

Numion · Jan 20, 2003

Darius101 said:
I personaly think they are publishing this as a way to make money.

Publishing company publishing books to make money? No way!

Fenes 2 · Jan 20, 2003

Zappo said:
You're getting it backwards. To the people who would stick to 3.0 edition because of better software support, the computer tools aren't the driving gloves. They are the power steering and heater.

The tweaks and changes, they are the driving gloves.

As I said, imho, those are driving gloves. If I had wanted computer support that badly I would not have switched to 3E but had stuck with the Core Rules 2.0 on CD-Rom, complete with map soft etc.

But my main question is: What is so bad with using the tried and true support for 3.0E for NPC/Monster-Generation and using the 3.5 rules for PCs and everything else?

Zappo · Jan 20, 2003

One could use electronic support for PCs and everything else too. And having a disparity between the mechanics used for NPCs and those used for PCs is very bad in any case.

Fenes 2 · Jan 20, 2003

Why is it bad if, say, the NPCs have a few more or less skill points or feats? As I said before, such discrepancies could also be the result of a higher int, or higher level, and I doubt anyone of us would expect the DM to use strictly by the book NPCs, and never play around with the stats. If I can accept that there may be orcs with higher Int than the average orc in the MM, why should some minor discrepancies between PCs and NPCs be ground to worry?

Again, why would it be a problem if the NPC bard the PCs encounter has not 6 skill points per level, but only 4? (Apart from the fact that the DM could easily rise his int by 4 to compensate, if he feels it warranted, or skip lowering the bards int.)