Worst 3.5 Change

[Storm Raven]

Let's just make a list of rules from 3.5 that I am unlikely to be using:

(1) Poke-paladins.
(2) The new DR rules as written (DR of x/magic, with no other gradiations is just moronic).
(3) The "non-stacking" of critical threat range enhancements.
(4) The new wizard specialization rules.
(5) Non-"Ex" wildshape.
(6) The druid animal comanion rules will likely be massively overhauled.
(7) Forced "feat paths" for rangers (just give them bonus feats and a list to select from).
(8) The Spell Focus, greater Spell Focus, Spell Power changes will likely not be used without major overhaul.
(9) The archery "non-stacking" will likely not be used without major overhaul.
(10) The revised Power Attack will never see the light of day in any game I run.

That's just from the rules we know. God only knows what other silly changes the revision holds.

 

[RigaMortus]

Now, if only they'd make sword-and-board types better.

3.5 Expertise: When holding a Shield you gain +2 AC for every -1 you take on an attack. Maximum negative you can take is -5 for a total of +10 AC when holding a shield...










Ok, so I made that up =) But I think they should have done something like that with Expertise...

 

[Psion]

I tried a creature with DR 15/- against two Level 14 PCs and it was no problem for them to kill the creature, despite ac 30 (iirc) and 116 or so hit points. Since DR 15 is about the highest you go I really don't see a problem with DR even if you cannot bypass it - regeneration though is another point.

That's fine and dandy -- for 15th level characters. What about the low level characters who won't be combat powerhouses?

Even then, there is a marked impact on the actual challege of a creature even if you CAN defeat it if you have to plough through the DR.

 

[Psion]

Aw ok. My fault.
You've been here quite longer than me so I think you know other users better
I assumed the tone of that post to be rude actually.
If it was not I apologize.

Hey, don't feel bad. Hong has a rather unusual style. You won't have been the first one to see rudeness when he's just being his normal self.

Not that he can't be rude.

 

[Psion]

3.5 Expertise: When holding a Shield you gain +2 AC for every -1 you take on an attack. Maximum negative you can take is -5 for a total of +10 AC when holding a shield...
(...)
Ok, so I made that up =) But I think they should have done something like that with Expertise...

Hey, I like it. But I'm afraid it'd be overkill the way that I think doubling power attack is overkill.

 

[Fenes 2]

That's fine and dandy -- for 15th level characters. What about the low level characters who won't be combat powerhouses?

Even then, there is a marked impact on the actual challege of a creature even if you CAN defeat it if you have to plough through the DR.

They were level 14 characters, not level 15, and one of them had a really suboptimal sword - the creature was immune to his cold burst damage - and rolled really bad with his attacks.

At low level I doubt DR 5 will make that much of a difference - take for example a greatsword with some strength for 2d6+3 dmg, maybe some power attack, or a rogue sneak attacking it. As long as the creature doesn't have a very high AC, a ton of hitpoints and a high DR the PCs will be fine. And then there are the damage spells from the mage.

I sincerly doubt DR will come up often in a low-level fight.

 

[drnuncheon]

The most I could see is warriors keeping a weapon of each of the 3 materials handy

Exactly. Most people carry a spare weapon anyway. I suspect what we'll see is something like this:

Adamantine sword (adamantine, slashing)
Silver dagger (silver, piercing)
Cold iron mace (cold iron, bludgeoning)

And look! There you go. Hardly a 'golf bag of weapons'.

J

 

[Marshall]

The threat range thing is just stupid. Andy even said "It just doesnt look right". What kind of reasoning is that? Especially in the same revision where they're releasing the Mystic Theurge. The ultimate "doesn't look right, but mechanically sound" idea.

Spell Focus and Power Attack are also stuck up my craw.

 

[Arnwyn]

My top 4 distasteful changes:
1) 2-weapons only needing 1 feat
2) increased power attack damage
3) paladins and their summoned mounts
4) Mystic Theurge

Not too hard to house-rule these, though.

 

[NewJeffCT]

most of those changes on the list suck. there are a lot of apologists for 3.5, but even they aren't going to let all these things into their game.

well, we have had no house rules so far in 3E (after having a whole 3 ring binder full of them for 2E...I don't think we bothered a lot with written house rules back in 1E days, as we were young and just argued things out) and we are planning on adopting all of 3.5 when it comes out.

I have not seen anything earth shattering in 3.5 that would kill the game for me.