[Rave] Happy with 3.5e core rulebooks.

[Branduil]

Agreed on the art - I can't think of any of the new pieces that were real stinkers. I do regret the loss of "Tordek vs. the Dragon", though. That was a cool and inspiringly heroic picture. (At least we kept 'Krusk helps Jozan climb the cliff'.)

J

The Eldritch Knight pic is pretty bad. Other than that, though, I like the new art.

 

[Remathilis]

There is nothing wrong with 3.5 that 3 house rules didn't fix.

1.) Half-orcs get +2 to intimidate.
2.) Fighters get profession.
3.) Sorcerers get Use Magic Device.

Otherwise I love it.

PS. While the Eldrich Knight art is bad, nothing beats the the Dragon Yoga Disciple.

 

[JeffB]

My only real "beef" with the new art was the Fire Giant. The Storm & Frost Giants looked great..but that Fire giant looks like Fat-Albert witha beard or an overweight gnome or something

 

[Olive]

I like em too. I won't be using the changes wholesale right now, as It's kinda unfair on the spell casters who are having their spells changed on them, but pretty much everything else changes.

Like it!!!

 

[drnuncheon]

See, neither of those two struck me as bad - at least, not bad in the way of the fat blackguard from the 3.0 DMG, or the Lippazaner-stallion riding paladin in the ELH. Not that inspiring, maybe, but not real stinkeroos like those two.

J

 

[Particle_Man]

Things I like for the fighter:

a) Weapon specialization no longer sucks for missle weapons, as the rule saying "only for opponents within 30' do you get the bonus to damage" was omitted in 3.5, PLUS if one has weapon spec. for longbow, one has it for all composite and mighty composite longbows, PLUS there are NO LIMITS to how "mighty" your mighty composite longbow can get (well, except economic limits, I guess).

b) Ride by Attack is clarified: neither you NOR you mount draw an Aoo from the opponent you whack.

Lots of other stuff I like too.

I do think that I might add a Summon Natures Ally 0 spell, since on the whole the SNA give the non-outsider version of critters that are one level higher in Summon Monster. Maybe make the duration 1 rd, rather than 1 rd per level?

 

[Endur]

I like the new art. Much more art in the MM3.5. Also, the grapple rules are easier to understand.

Oh, yes, the 3.5 Demons and Devils kick a__. However, I was somewhat suprised that they made few changes to the 3.0 Dragons. I fully expected the Dragons to get bumped up again on the power level.

 

[nHammer]

I would have to agree with people here. 3.5 is ovewrall a good thing...

...but (c'mon, you knew it was coming)

Craft (Alchemy): While I have no problem with the skill, the fact you have to have a level of spellcaster to make alchemy items is completely f***ing stupid. It totaly defeats the purpose of Alchemy. This is something in 3.5 I won't be using.

 

[Vocenoctum]

I agree. The PHB combat chapter is MUCH better, and the revisions made to feats, skills, and spells are great. I'm not too crazy about the new weapon size rules, so I'll stick with 3E on those. Pokepaladins are prety dumb too, but overall the PHB is much improved.

Both of these changes were something I thought I'd oppose. Then I got to thinking about the weapon sizes thing after reading through it. Now a halfling can have a handaxe for an off hand weapon... now I can make a gnome with spiked chains! The only thing is, I'm not sure small polearms should still have reach. The spiked chains I can accept, just thinking of them as slimmer lighter chains, but...

The paladin Call Mount is cool once I think it through a bit more. When you get it, you can have your mount for 10 hours (2 per level, 5th level) so you can ride it all day. I like the notion of my steed chewing grass in the Celestial Grasslands, then looking up when he hears my Call and Poofing to my side!
They do need to limit wehat he can carry though. Otherwise you could use it as a Paladin's Mount of Holding.

I love the three books. They look great and most of all, they look BIG!
WHen I opened the box, that was my first impression. "These books must be better than 3.0, they're twice the size!"


My main problem so far is that the DM's don't all want to convert to 3.5 right away. What's there to think about? Do or Do Not, there is no try!

Most problems I'll have is my Paladin- Bard. (house rule, no multiclass restriction. Bard can be LG) Them pushing back turning to 4th level means I won't be getting divine might by the rules any time soon. We also had always played that bard music was a free action that took a full round to kick in. Now it's a standard action. Perform's reshuffling hurt a little, but it's negligible. Comprehend Languages is a 1st level spell now, that's great. (I do kind of wish it was only 1st level for bards though, but that's just selfish.)

Since I was headed for Dragon Disciple before, the changes to that have had a feel. Now they're d12, which is great! No size increase anymore and they standardized the breath weapon. Still with the "bonus spells" though. It'd be nice to gain spell levels SOMETIME.

 

[Vocenoctum]

So what don't I like? My biggest gripes about the new revision is the Mystic Theurge and the fact that they didn't nerf Spring Attack. I personally find the Mystic Theurge a little overpowered, and not overly inspiring as a prestige class idea. It is the power gamer/caster's dream class. Spring Attack, in my opinion, has always been just plain old broke.

I personally don't like the Mystic Theurge either, but I think my solution will be easy enough. I'm just gonna make it a 5 level class.

My problem with that and the Eldritch Knight is that both seem to be trying to fill teh role of the multiclassed character well. In so doing, they're not considering the class in comparison to a single classed wizard. I mean, for EK, he gives up a couple levels of spells, but gains a lot in BAB and some in HP. Sure, he loses a couple metamagic feats too, but really it just seems too beneficial to me.

Still love 3.5 though!