SpiderMonkey
Explorer
Zzyzx said:
For Affiliations alone, the PHB II is just great. I can't wait to bring this into my campaign.
What 3.5 Core Books Do I Need to Buy
- Thread starter Zzyzx
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For Affiliations alone, the PHB II is just great. I can't wait to bring this into my campaign.
frankthedm
First Post
And a Fair warning, There is a fair amount of power creep in the books once you get out of of the Core 3 books, PHB, DMG & MM. There is plenty of good stuff in those books too, but keep in mind, Wotc is a business, they have to sell those books to keep Ha$bro happy. Keep a close eye on additional material and remember NPCs can use those spells, feats and PRCs too...
Though honestly the core 3.5 druid is also very strong in some folk's opinion.
Though honestly the core 3.5 druid is also very strong in some folk's opinion.
The Lost Muse
First Post
Zzyzx said:
That's a very good idea. The XP charts and whatnot did not really change in the DMG, so that's not a necessary update. The SRD is missing WotC "Intellectual Property" but you're still got most of the monsters in there. I wouldn't spend more money that you need to though - I can't speak for anyone else, but I have a shelf full of mostly unused material.
TheAuldGrump
First Post
Timmundo said:
Though I do give the Monster Manual credit for being the 'most improved' 3.5 book. The layout is vastly superior, much easier to understand.
The Auld Grump
Arkhandus
First Post
Running a 3.5 game doesn't really require any 3.5 books if you already have the 3.0 Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide, along with access to the 3.5 System Reference Document online.
The only real things you miss out on this way are 1) the 3.5 DMG's altered chart for XP by CR, since in 3.5 rules XP is based on each PC's level rather than the average party level, so lower-level characters in the party earn more XP so that they can catch up eventually, 2) a handful of 3.5 versions of monsters in the MM like beholders, mind flayers, yuan-ti, and such, which are Intellectual Property of WotC and thus not included in the SRD for use by other publishers, and 3) possibly one or two other very minor tidbits.
Everything else from the 3.5 core rulebooks can be found in the online SRD. The SRD also includes most material from the Expanded Psionics Handbook and some other books (if I recall, the SRD has a bit of material from the Manual of the Planes, some material from Deities & Demigods, most material from the Epic Level Handbook, and most material from Unearthed Arcana I think?).
The only real things you miss out on this way are 1) the 3.5 DMG's altered chart for XP by CR, since in 3.5 rules XP is based on each PC's level rather than the average party level, so lower-level characters in the party earn more XP so that they can catch up eventually, 2) a handful of 3.5 versions of monsters in the MM like beholders, mind flayers, yuan-ti, and such, which are Intellectual Property of WotC and thus not included in the SRD for use by other publishers, and 3) possibly one or two other very minor tidbits.
Everything else from the 3.5 core rulebooks can be found in the online SRD. The SRD also includes most material from the Expanded Psionics Handbook and some other books (if I recall, the SRD has a bit of material from the Manual of the Planes, some material from Deities & Demigods, most material from the Epic Level Handbook, and most material from Unearthed Arcana I think?).
Thanee
First Post
You need (as in absolutely need) only the PHB as a player. The DM should also have the DMG and MM (the SRD can replace the MM, not quite the DMG, though).
After that, it's a question whether you want more options... then stuff like the Complete Series or the Races Series are good additions, as are many others depending on your personal tastes.
The PHB II is probably a good addition as well, as might be Unearthed Arcana for a few different takes on various concepts. The DMG II is good for inexperienced DMs (I think, don't really have the book). The Spell Compendium is a good collection of spells from several other sources.
Bye
Thanee
After that, it's a question whether you want more options... then stuff like the Complete Series or the Races Series are good additions, as are many others depending on your personal tastes.
The PHB II is probably a good addition as well, as might be Unearthed Arcana for a few different takes on various concepts. The DMG II is good for inexperienced DMs (I think, don't really have the book). The Spell Compendium is a good collection of spells from several other sources.
Bye
Thanee
Very helpful
I've been wondering exactly the same thing as the OP. I had also drawn the conclusion/assumption that PHB and maybe PHBII would be all I need. The DMG's don't really hold a lot of rules per se, so I don't think the update there is a major issue. The PHB contains the majority of the game, and the 3.0 MM with a few tweaks should suffice, at least in the short term.
Maybe my group will convince me to switch to 3.5 someday... It hasn't happened yet.
Zustiur.
I've been wondering exactly the same thing as the OP. I had also drawn the conclusion/assumption that PHB and maybe PHBII would be all I need. The DMG's don't really hold a lot of rules per se, so I don't think the update there is a major issue. The PHB contains the majority of the game, and the 3.0 MM with a few tweaks should suffice, at least in the short term.
Maybe my group will convince me to switch to 3.5 someday... It hasn't happened yet.
Zustiur.
Thanee
First Post
Don't be fooled about the MM, there are a lot of subtle changes in the 3.5 version compared to the 3.0 version, but the online SRD certainly works to look up monsters stats, or print them out for a session, unless the DM has a notebook available for the offline version (or with active internet).
When I DM I like to have the PHB and the MM ready to look things up. The DMG is mostly needed for the XP table, really.
Bye
Thanee
When I DM I like to have the PHB and the MM ready to look things up. The DMG is mostly needed for the XP table, really.
Bye
Thanee
glass
(he, him)
Forgive this slight nitpick, but this is the second time in this thread that I have seen this. Everything in the books and in the SRD is Wizards inellectual propoerty. The term you are looking for is 'product identity' (PI, not IP).Arkhandus said:
Even then it isn't quite accurate because there is not PI in the SRD, and nothing in the core books can be PI because they are not published under the OGL. But it's close enough.
IANAL, TINLA.
glass.
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