My concerns about 3.5 follow from how it will impact my games. In other words, will I gain equal or greater value from the revision than my costs in time and money?
As a GAMING GROUP, someone will have to get the new books so we have the new version in hand while we discuss whether or not to change. Given that my current group does not consist of all (or even mostly) game gurus, there may be serious resistance to bringing in a new rules-set. After all, some of the players are only just now becoming comfortable playing certain classes - and by no means all of the classes. Assuming we do switch, then...
As a PLAYER, I will be going back to square one for several of the classes. Not just because special abilities have changed, but also feats, skills, spells, items, and so on. I will almost certainly learn how to properly play my new characters more quickly than I learned 3.0 initially, but it will still take time and effort. And the confusion I feel will be nothing compared to what the newer players will go through.
As a GM, I will have to read the new books with a fine-toothed comb, revise my (rather extensive) house rules, and muddle through the first several sessions as the entire group tries to learn the new system. Given the anal person I am, I'll have to rework many of my old classed npc's. Worse, I'll have to go through every single encounter I've already created to re-balance them, especially the monsters whose CR and/or vulnerabilities have changed significantly in the new version. To arguments that such thoroughness is unnecessary, or can be accomplished "on the fly", consider that it only takes one unbalanced encounter to result in a TPK. My players deserve better, so I have to do the work.
As a CUSTOMER, I will simply stop buying certain kinds of products until all of this settles down. For instance, why buy a 3.0 module, if I'll just have to rework virtually every npc, creature, and magic item within it? If I'll have to change some encounters significantly, because what was balanced before will now wipe out the party - a good example being the new mummy. Products I will continue to look for and possibly purchase will be more general - books of common npc's, taverns, riddles, etc. which depend very little if at all on the specific mechanics.
All of these issues revolve around the issue of mastery which Monte brought up. While many posters on these boards feel this is a non-issue to them, I assure you that for my group and me, it is probably the most important issue.
So here I am, about to invest $63 (Wal-Mart) for the new core books. I am planning to invest a considerable amount of time reading and digesting the changes, big and small. If we switch, I will invest considerably more time in making the transition, whether as player or GM. Is it worth it? I don't know - but that's the question. If a year from now I wouldn't consider going back to 3.0, then the answer will be yes. If a year from now, I couldn't care less which set of rules I'm using, then the revision will lack value for me.
As a side note: I couldn't care less if WOTC planned this primarily as a money-making strategy. So long as I get value for my money, I'm ecstatic about WOTC earning a profit - that way they keep producing products I want. The question isn't did WOTC make 3.5 when and how it did for profit, but does it provide me real value for my gaming dollar. Did they do it well?
