[To all publishers here] How will you respond to D&D 3ER (v3.5)?

[Winterthorn]

Especially with respect to the published products we've already bought? *ahem*

I looked around and I don't think anyone's directly asked this here...

So this inquiring consumer wants to know: how will the revised D&D rules set affect your product lines? And how will you folks address the issue of your previous products compared to 3.5 coming up in July 2003?

I realize that different publishers have their individual situations, so, being inspired by the NDA thread here, I've posted this and I hope each publisher will take a moment to respond so d20 consumers like myself, who enjoy many of the third party products, have a fair idea what you folks will do regarding compatability between past product and 3.5...

Tough question I suppose, but I figure publishers are planning already for the summer . I'm sure you've seen plenty of concern by gamers on the $$ have spent on WotC's books--but there's the question of third party material too...

To reiterate: how will you help us with our investments in your products (that we love) to 'connect' to 3.5? I think it's a fair concern... Revised books? Free PDF updates of adventure modules? Errata updates on websites? There are so many different cases and situations!

(Perhaps a moderator can make this a 'sticky thread' so publishers can take their time to answer in some detail? )

-W

PS: sorry for the rambling nature of the question, it's 1:45am EST for me

 

[Strutinan]

Here at DaemonEye, we will be re-doing the Psionics Companion and Lands of Molokai to make them compatible with 3.5e.

We know that not all people will be transfering over to version 3.5e right away, or even for a while. Therefore, once the new versions are completed, they will be forever sold in a "bundle" with the 3.0e versions.

Once the bundle is uploaded and ready to sell on RPGNow.com, all previous purchasers of the 3.0e versions will recieve a free download of the new bundled versions.

 

[jmucchiello]

At the moment, I'm finishing stuff I had planned for Winter/Spring and taking a wait and see attitude toward 3.5. The only (internally) planned release for the Summer would be completely unaffected by the changes noted so far so that should stay on track. 3.5 is slowing down my follow-up to the Book of Enchantment since several things I consider fundamental to the magic system are changing. Whichever school I follow-up with, that book will have spells (that must be balanced against a list of spells that will be tweaked), skills/feats, prestige classes (with new PrCs in the SRD this could be an embarrassing point), magic items (with their new creation rules) and of course monsters (which are changing a lot, it seems).

 

[Frilf]

We'll be putting out updated versions of our PDF products or product addenda that include the conversions of our earlier stuff if we decide to adopt the changes in 3.5e. Since we have nothing in print thus far, we will tweak after the fact and send out patches to our customers.

Should such revisions of the SRD occur again after we have some print products out the door, then you can expect web-based support to convert to version 3.X or whatever.

Cheers!
Ian

 

[Kerrick]

We'll probably either revise and reprint, or just do errata for them - not really sure yet. It kinda depends on the amount of material that needs to be changed, for one thing. Most of our present and future books will probably have revised versions. In any case, we will take the time to make sure that our products are compatible with 3.5.
As far as releases, we're scaling back a bit; at least one book won't be released until after we get the new material.

We know that not all people will be transfering over to version 3.5e right away, or even for a while. Therefore, once the new versions are completed, they will be forever sold in a "bundle" with the 3.0e versions.

I like this. I'll have to see if we can do something like that.

 

[sigfried]

Netbook of Feats

I'm planning on slurping up as much reliable information as I can and keeping all our feets as up to date with 3.5 as possible. It will likely be an on-going process. We are already making modifications to feats in review with this in mind.

Of course our product is always free at www.netbookoffeats.org

 

[HellHound]

Like I've said before and will say again,

It REALLY looks like the 3.5e revisions will be fairly minor for most publishers.

Supplements that add new rules, new classes, new spells, etc should not be affected at all.

Supplements that include a lot of monsters MIGHT be worth updating to reflect the change in DR paradigms and to include the new statistic block format. But these are minor changes.

Only Modules and class books for the "tweener" classes (Bard, Ranger, Monk, Paladin) will have to worry about any real revisions, and even then, it should only be minor.

 

[Winterthorn]

Thanks for the response so far... Although I'm still curious to see what the folks at S&SS, Necromancer, Kenzer, Mongoose, MEG, Bastion and other "big guys" have to say.

Supplements that include a lot of monsters MIGHT be worth updating to reflect the change in DR paradigms and to include the new statistic block format. But these are minor changes.

For example: works like Necromancer's Tomb of Horrors...

Or, with respect to rules variants (rather than strictly new stuff) built on 3.0 rules and assumptions, what does 3.5 mean to products like Kenzer & Co's Kingdoms of Kalamar Player's Guide, and Fantasy Flight Games Traps & Treachery, their "Path of" books, and, say with respect to races changed in 3.5, Green Ronin's races of Reknown, and so on.

Maybe it's still too early for some to comment?

Hmmm...

-W.

 

[d20Dwarf]

You might get more responses after publishers actually *know* what the revised rules are like. Speculating and keeping track of rumors is a waste of time (when it's business time) that I'm fairly certain most publishers aren't engaging in.

That said, I did make some changes to Midnight based on some of the info from Savage Species.

 

[2WS-Steve]

That said, I did make some changes to Midnight based on some of the info from Savage Species.

Character class stats for the Flumph??

In many cases I figure the changes won't be so vital as to require reworking a line. You'll still be able to use all the old modules and even old monsters. If one were making a Druid or Ranger book though it'd probably be worthwhile to get on the NDA list and see if you could wrangle postponing release until the new stuff gets added to the SRD.