Which 3E or 3.5E product most resembles 1E's Unearthed Arcana?

[MerricB]

G'day people!

Back in 1985, the first real addition to AD&D's rules came out - Unearthed Arcana.

It appears to me that the upcoming 3.5E's "Unearthed Arcana" shares little in common with it - but that there are correspondences with other 3E/3.5E products.

I could just state which product I think is most like 1E's UA, but I think it's more fun if you have a chance to discuss it first.

So, which product in 3E or 3.5E is most like the AD&D 1E "Unearthed Arcana" book?

Cheers!

 

[Olive]

I can't think of anything in particular to be honest.

What was 1e UA? New classes, changes to existing classes, new spells, new magic items, rules for class, and a whole heap of halberds? I guess it kind of set up the whole splat book idea!

So everything is the descendant of the original UA.

But AU certainly isn't anymore like 1e Ua than 3.5 UA looks to be.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Many of the campaign settings.

While I like and reccomend Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed it is not plug-n-play with 3.0 or 3.5. Several other of Monte's d20 products are, but they are "themed" (e.g. Reqiem for a God).

Honestly? I think the closest thing to a new Unearthed Arcana is the citybook Bluffside, though I'd take a good look at the Scarred Lands stuff.

 

[Aaron L]

Unearthed Arcana was the first "splatbook", one for all classes. The splatbooks are it's direct descendants. It wasn't a campaign setting, it was a list of rules expansions and alterations.

 

[Andy_Collins]

Unearthed Arcana

G'day people!

Back in 1985, the first real addition to AD&D's rules came out - Unearthed Arcana.

It appears to me that the upcoming 3.5E's "Unearthed Arcana" shares little in common with it - but that there are correspondences with other 3E/3.5E products.

I could just state which product I think is most like 1E's UA, but I think it's more fun if you have a chance to discuss it first.

So, which product in 3E or 3.5E is most like the AD&D 1E "Unearthed Arcana" book?

Cheers!

As others have pointed out, the original UA is the grand-daddy of the modern d20 product. In a sense, most products look like the 1E UA.

In leading the design on Unearthed Arcana, I noted specifically that revisiting the original UA's topics wouldn't be groundbreaking--the material it presented, including new races, classes, weapons, spells, and magic items were now commonplace in the gaming industry.

Instead, the design team aimed to recapture the "feel" of the original--the sense of wonder from the reader, the "I can't wait to try this" emotion, and maybe even the "I can't believe they printed this" exclamation.

Thus, it should come as no surprise that the new UA doesn't sound, on the face of it, much like the original. I hope instead that we've hewn more closely to the spirit of the original (still one of my favorite RPG products of all time (see http://www.andycollins.net/Theories/favorites.htm for proof).

Of course, the proof's in the pudding, and I look forward to hearing whether or not we accomplished our goal. I'm sure y'all won't hesitate in letting us know...

 

[Olive]

and maybe even the "I can't believe they printed this" exclamation.

Uh oh...

 

[Hypersmurf]

... and maybe even the "I can't believe they printed this" exclamation.

What, like the Forsaker?

-Hyp.

 

[MerricB]

Of course, the proof's in the pudding, and I look forward to hearing whether or not we accomplished our goal. I'm sure y'all won't hesitate in letting us know...

I'm sure we won't.

Just a word - although the correspondence between the Classbooks and similar and the 1E Unearthed Arcana is probably closest, in no way does that imply that I am not eagerly awaiting the 3E Unearthed Arcana.

No, it's one of those books that I wish was out now, just so I could "drink from the firehose".

Cheers!

 

[Ranger REG]

So, which product in 3E or 3.5E is most like the AD&D 1E "Unearthed Arcana" book?

Hmm...

What does the original UA contains?

• new PC races (with level limit)
• new classes (barbarian and cavalier)
• the reclassification of the paladin (i.e., cavalier sub-class)
• a new Thief sub-class (thief-acrobat)
• weapon (and double weapon) specialization
• 0-level spells
• consequence of casting a spell from a spellbook (similar to scroll)
• an essay of the various polearms
• oh, yeah, the dreadful introduction of Comeliness attribute.

Basically, a mix-n-match of new rules.

Savage Species takes care of new PC races. Complete Warrior introduces new classes and new feats. The Class Guidebook series and Arms & Equipment Guide introduces new weapons.

And so far, Wizards have not bothered to revived the Comeliness ability score (THANK DA LAWD!!!)

 

[Hypersmurf]

What does the original UA contains?

You forgot Method V...

-Hyp.