The more I read about D&D 3.5. the more...

[Blacksad]

Personally, I'm really worried about backward compatibility, and I'm bitching about skill point change and new abilities, because I don't plan to change, but I still want to buy new book, and I fear that some d20 publisher will switch to the revised system, and that by reading some stat block or abilities, or spell list of character, I will miss some info.

 

[Apok]

Re: Re: Re: The more I read about D&D 3.5. the more...

It's hard to accept that the changes are as minor as this:



When you also admit this:

As Tsyr said, you don't need to use the revised monsters if you don't want to. What I said was relevant to those people wanting to do a complete conversion over to the Revised rules, but that doesn't mean you can't piecemail it.

I was stating my monster example based on the revised Pit Fiend, but I'll admit that wasn't the wisest thing to do. It may very well be that the changes made to that creature are the exception and most monsters will remain essentially the same. Like so many things about the Revised edition, we just don't know.

Given everything that they have mentioned so far, the changes will be mostly minor. The only two "big" changes that we know about are the Pit Fiend and the new Ranger (which they admitted was more than just tweaked). Will this be the norm? I don't think so. I think people are just focusing in on the extremes and proceeding from the assumption that they are the norm.

And Bards will finally be getting more Songs! W00t!

 

[LostSoul]

I took a trip to Atlanta, Georgia, last year, using a 6-year-old road map.

Your DM gave you a road map? Talk about a munchkin DM. Road map AND a car, that's asking for trouble. I bet next time you play you're going to win the lottery.

 

[Utrecht]

Re: Re: Re: Re: The more I read about D&D 3.5. the more...

Given everything that they have mentioned so far, the changes will be mostly minor. The only two "big" changes that we know about are the Pit Fiend and the new Ranger (which they admitted was more than just tweaked). Will this be the norm? I don't think so. I think people are just focusing in on the extremes and proceeding from the assumption that they are the norm.

And Bards will finally be getting more Songs! W00t!

But are they the extreme or the norm? Even you admit that you are not sure - and given that, all of the doubters questions are valid - and should be addresed. If they are the norm than I would suggest that it was not the wisest thing of WotC to release the Pit Fiend, bucause that is a moderate change in my book - not the cleaning and tightening that we were lead to beleive - and it leads to increase in compatability concerns.

Personally, I think that the changes will fall as you expect them, but I have been wrong before, and I do not see my streak changing anytime soon

 

[Apok]

Let me use an anecdote...

I took a trip to Atlanta, Georgia, last year, using a 6-year-old road map. What the heck does this have to do with anything, and why is this significant, you ask?

Because in the year 2000 (or was it 1999?) The state of Georgia renumbered their interstate exits to be consistent with their mile markers, rather than their own system.

Man, I hated it when they did that! I was just starting to get to know my way around when they up & changed the whole fraggin' system on me!

Yeah, it wasn't too bad if you actually read the signs (of course, that can be a feat in of itself when you've got about a hundred insane drivers passing you and changing lanes like it's goin' outta style, doing everything except paying attention to the road, at over 90 mph) but it was still annoying.

I have since decreed that I will never travel to Atlanta by car again, unless I have no choice in the matter.

 

[Apok]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: The more I read about D&D 3.5. the more...

But are they the extreme or the norm? Even you admit that you are not sure - and given that, all of the doubters questions are valid - and should be addresed. If they are the norm than I would suggest that it was not the wisest thing of WotC to release the Pit Fiend, bucause that is a moderate change in my book - not the cleaning and tightening that we were lead to beleive - and it leads to increase in compatability concerns.

Personally, I think that the changes will fall as you expect them, but I have been wrong before, and I do not see my streak changing anytime soon

Yep, you are correct. The watchword for 3.5e for right now is "We Don't Know," and it can really be maddening. I wish that I could address the concerns of all the naysayers and give them some kind of definite answer, but I can't. All I can do is try and draw from that which is Likely and that which Has Happened in the past.

Or, I could always bribe someone at WotC. Think they would accept a Certified Check?

 

[Videssian]

I know I'm looking forward to seeing what 3.5e brings. Change isn't necessarily bad, and as others have stated, you can still use old versions of classes and spells if you really want to. Look also at the various house-rules & non-WOTC stuff that people will use, and using them does not make the core WOTC books useless. If anything, 3.5e should address some of the complaints that are out there and make D&D better as a result.

Also, I think it's a good idea not to get too worked up about it until july when we have the books in our hands. Until we see exactly what changes were made and how they all relate to each other, it's all second-guessing.

I looked forward to 3E (thanks Eric!) and I'm looking forward to 3.5E

 

[WayneLigon]

...because I don't plan to change, but I still want to buy new book, and I fear that some d20 publisher will switch to the revised system, ....

I think you'll be very disappointed, then. I don't see any of the third party publishers sticking with the old system.

 

[Tom Cashel]

Just the tidbits of info I have seen to date seem to indicate that many of my books and adventures will have to be modified. Man, very annoying.

You appear to have a very delusional view of 3.5e, Celt.

 

[jmucchiello]

I think you'll be very disappointed, then. I don't see any of the third party publishers sticking with the old system.

Speaking as third party publisher, no, I'm not sticking with the old system. I'm going through my new stuff and adding BAB entries to the monster stats. (I was actually going to do this anyway.) Now at least I know what order to put it in. Why am I moving on? Because I have not written anything for those who stuck by 2nd ed, why would I write stuff for people who stick by 3.0? I would much rather have an old-timer grumble he had to back-convert my stuff to 3.0 than to have new-timer confused by the incompatiblities, forced to buy old 3.0 books on E-bay to forward-convert my stuff.

Will this delay stuff I'm working on? No. I don't have any crunchy stuff due out until the fall after the stuff mentioned in my sig gets out the door. Lucky me.

And my old product? Well being a PDF, I'll probably do a version 1.2 of it as soon as I get the books. I have one high-level wizard in the book who uses the quickened haste trick to get two spells moving in a round. I'll have to tweak his tactics section. It'll probably come out a week or two after I get 3.1.