Wizards Releases 3.5 Edition System Reference

Randar the Lava Liza writes "Wizards of the Coast have released the 3.5 Edition System Reference Document. Essentially it's the three core rulebooks in RTF format. This includes the 3.5 Edition Player's Handbook, 3.5 Edition Dungeon Master's Guide and 3.5 Edition Monster Manual. All of these are released under their Open Gaming License. You can also read a very interesting review of 3.5 Edition by Monte Cook, one of the original creators of 3rd Edition D&D. He goes into detail on a number of the changes in this new edition."

Comments

Re:Is it worth switching from 3.0 to 3.5?

[apoc.famine]

Yeah, I agree with harm and most of the class tweaks. I think the bard looks pretty good now, and overall, fixing the front-loading of classes was a great idea.

But because I had an issue with the 3.0 ranger I have no issue with the d8 hd in 3.5, in light of all the other stuff they get. In fact, I'm playing my first 3.x ranger in our first 3.5 campaign. I almost fear that they're too powerful in 3.5, but it's hard to judge without playing one. Thus my "sacrifice" for the campaign... ;)

I must be angsty this month, but I also have issues with the half elf getting +2 diplomacy and gather info. It forces half elves into a role that isn't right for all half elves. We're fixing this with a house rule that gives them a choice from a number of "quasi-feats" to replace the dip/gather info bonus. These being:

Acrobatic (+2 jump and tumble)
Athletic (+2 climb and swim)
Deceitful (+2 disguise and forgery)
Diligent (+2 appraise and decipher script)
Friendly (+2 diplomacy and gather info) (yeah, I made the name up.)
Magical Aptitude (+2 spellcraft and use magical device)
Negotiator (+2 diplomacy and sense motive)
Self Sufficiant (+2 heal and survival)
"Elven" Weapon Proficiency (choose long/short bow, rapier, or LS)

This list is designed to point half-elves towards a trait that fits in well with whatever human elements they have grown up with, but also represents their elven heritedge. It also purposely filters out a lot of feats which could be really be munched to overpower the race.

I think they made a stride towards a better half elf, but something like this really rounds it out.

Re:Is it worth switching from 3.0 to 3.5?

[apoc.famine]

I really like where rangers are now - they really fit in well between rogues and fighters. Before they were too much like poor fighters without enough skill pts for the skills they needed. Now they are skillful hunters - what I view rangers to be.

They aren't tanks - that's left for the fighters. They really have their own place now, and I like that. I think it's a stride forward towards making the class more of a core class, and less of a "we've got a fighter and a rogue, what else can I play?" sort of class.