Is 3.5 a new "edition" of the game?

[Sanackranib]

3.5

since technically its not out yet anything we say here is hopes and pipe dreams. Ive decided that I am going to adopt a wait and see attitude.

 

[Celtavian]

The More I read...

the more it sounds like a new edition of D&D. The changes seem more like what occurred when we went from 1st to 2nd edition.

We are going to have to make rather major changes to our characters. Now it looks like the weapon proficiency system is going to be different?

It is beginning to look more and more like 4th edition based on 3rd edition in the same way that 2nd edition was based on 1st edition. We'll see though.

 

[WizarDru]

Re: The More I read...

We are going to have to make rather major changes to our characters. Now it looks like the weapon proficiency system is going to be different?

Are you referring to the "weapon familiarity" concept? If so, then you needn't worry...it doesn't change the proficiency system at all. All it does is give a member of a specific race the ability to use a racial weapon (usually exotic) as a martial weapon. So if you're a dwarven fighter, you don't need to take an exotic weapon proficiency to get the Dwarven War-Axe...but if you don't have martial weapon proficiency, it will still be just as useless (so rogues and clerics won't be lugging the things all over town).

It strikes me as a very elegant solution to a minor issue of verisimilitude within the system. And what do you know? You just learned it without having to sell your books.

 

[Celtavian]

Re

I was thinking more of the Martial Weapon Proficiency (Two-handed Weapons) feat. It is actually an improvement, I just think the changes are not so minor as to call it 3.5.

If this is D&D 3.5, then 2nd edition D&D was 1.5. That is the only point I am trying to make.

I really don't mind them making a 4th edition, but call it what is. They are making pretty major changes, and the game will be substantially different.

I am happy with most of the changes. Even though I was one of the people against the change in Haste, I have already incorporated the change in my campaign so I can try to maintain as much consistency with the new books.

I am really beginning to lean towards the upgrade after reading about the changes so far.

 

[Oni]

Well looking at the Savage Species thread, if the sidebar they included in the book is any indication then the changes they are making are certainly on par with a new edition whether they want to call it that or not.

Personally I get the sneaky suspicion that they want to release a new set of books to rake in the cash, but are don't want to call it a new edition because they are afraid of alienating fans of 3e, which really hasn't been out all that long. I personally find that thought irksome, but that is simply my opinion and speculation in the matter.