D&D 3E/3.5 Which 3.0 books are you using in 3.5 without problems?

[Shadeus]

- Spells are probably 99% compatible.

Be careful here. I found a number of core spells got a significant power reduction once 3.5 came out. Make sure the non-core spells you are looking at still fit in well with the power-down of several spells. Some samples of the "rebalanced" spells include.

- darkness/deeper darkness
- all stat boosts (bull's strength, etc.)
- haste
- polymorph
- teleport
- disintegrate
- heal/harm

 

[James McMurray]

No. I spent a lot of money for the books I own and I still want to use them. I won't buy a replacement book for a few feats.

The reasons to get CW ar much more than "a few new feats." It is quite posible the most well-written and interesting supplement I've seen from WotC in quite a while. Yes, it does update some S&F and MotW stuff, but it also introduces a host of new material.

When my group got it, the players started drooling over the new PrCs and feats, but the DMs didn't have to start quivering in fear.

 

[Crothian]

I've found that most of my 3.0 books are easy to use in 3.5 but despite that I bought CW. Sometimes it's worth the money to get the new books because it saves time and trouble of converting things.

 

[ruleslawyer]

Be aware that the persistent spell feat in FRCS went up to 4 spell levels in Tome and Blood (a pre-3.5 update) we've been using that and it has been fun for my eldritch knight character.

Actually, Persistent Spell is +4 levels in both the FRCS and T&B.

As James said, CW is pretty good for both the conversions and new material, though IMHO most of the PrCs are really too weak, with the high-end-of-the-power-curve exceptions of the Dervish and Frenzied Berserker. The only PrC I think is square on balance concerns is the Mindspy, which will be useful... oh, 0.5% of the time IMC.

 

[James McMurray]

I like the Warshaper and Nature's Warrior (whatever he's actually clalled). A few (like the Darkwood Stalker and Giant Slayer) are just unplayable unless you're in a campaign that specifically goes after their target foes.

Some of the guys in our group are drooling over the Justiciar and the Reaping Mauler.

 

[ruleslawyer]

[OT]Hmm; good catches, there. I'll amend my earlier statement. IMHO, PrCs in CW are as follows:

Sucktacular: Bear Warrior, Bladesinger, Cavalier, Dark Hunter, Darkwood Stalker, Gnome Giant Slayer, Justiciar, Knight Protector, Reaping Mauler, Spellsword

It's not that I don't appreciate the RP appeal of these PrCs; it's just that they're sufficiently mechanically sub-par as to preclude my imagining how a player would make one work in a game without getting mauled. In particular, I find the cavalier and bladesinger nerfs horrific. Deadly charge not combinable with the charge action? No separate bladesinger spell list? Ick ick ick. The BS and spellsword are especially bad in comparison with the Eldritch Knight; worse still, they raise the specter of one-level dips with an EK focus.

Nice: Eye of Gruumsh, Halfling Outrider, Master Thrower, Mindspy, Purple Dragon, Ronin, Thayan Knight

All fine classes, and worth the dip, IMHO. These are nicely focused, have a clear RP reason for being, and actually give your PCs a little something in return for a loss of versatility.

High-end: Dervish, Exotic Weapon Master, Frenzied Berserker, Invisible Blade, Nature's Warrior, Warshaper

Because we really need a way to make the spiked chain more powerful, or to reward NPC killing machines, or to boost the power of wild shaping druids in a book supposedly devoted to fighter-types. (Well, true; the wild-shaped druids do tend to be the best party fighters at high-epic levels, but that's hardly an endorsement, now is it?) The dervish actually worries me the least of these, but it's still just a load of bennies without any real drawbacks or specialization-related loss.

Anyway, sorry about the digression...[/OT]

 

[Li Shenron]

The reasons to get CW ar much more than "a few new feats." It is quite posible the most well-written and interesting supplement I've seen from WotC in quite a while. Yes, it does update some S&F and MotW stuff, but it also introduces a host of new material.

It's possible, but I already have a lot of PrCls and stuff around (although I admit that feats always seem too few) and I don't need new ones, especially of the fighting types or of already exploited ideas.

 

[ciaran00]

I can't see my campaign live without: Book of Vile Darkness, Epic Level Handbook (somewhat updated), Manual of the Planes, Psionics Handbook (duh), and Savage Species (if nothing else, the equipment)...

ciaran

 

[Nightfall]

I don't have a problem with 3.0. 3.5...a few issues but nothing major.