D&D 3.5 Edition - How to Learn Quickly and Easily?

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doomdragon6

doomdragon6

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Hi guys,

I've played and DMed 4th Edition D&D games, and while it's simple and easy to get into, it leaves a lot to be desired sometimes.

I've always heard how complex and fun 3.5 is/can be, so I'm wondering a good way to get into 3.5 fairly quickly and easily. I'll basically be thrown straight into DMing with no real opportunity to play, with players that have also only done 4e.

I'd really like to give 3.5 a shot, but I'm afraid we'll be bogged down with all the more complicated rules and the fact that none of us have ever played before. Our 4e sessions already take a long time to get through things, so I'd hate to make things take even LONGER, but from what I've heard of 3.5, it sounds fun.

Any advice?

(Also, things like the DnD Character Builder and the Monster Builder on the WotC website were immensely helpful. Is there anything like this for 3.5? If not, I seriously may not be able to manage everything and will have to stick with 4e.)
 
phil

phil

You might look into Pathfinder. It's essentially 3.5 but with some of the more complex rules (like grapple) streamlined. I haven't looked at it myself yet but I hear good things.
 
SpecialKO

SpecialKO

phil said:
You might look into Pathfinder. It's essentially 3.5 but with some of the more complex rules (like grapple) streamlined. I haven't looked at it myself yet but I hear good things.
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I have only played Pathfinder (though I am planning my own campaign pretty soon), but I really liked it, and also rec it.
 
@Li3n

@Li3n

phil said:
You might look into Pathfinder. It's essentially 3.5 but with some of the more complex rules (like grapple) streamlined. I haven't looked at it myself yet but I hear good things.
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They also add a ton of customization options to all classes...
 
North_Ranger

North_Ranger

Staff member
These people speak the truth. Basically Pathfinder is D&D 3.5 with the unnecessarily awkward bits streamlined and more options given.

Don't want to worry about spells as a ranger? Play a trapper archetype, and make the enemy suffer every 5ft. of the way.

Want to incorporate something creepy or special in your sorcerer's bloodline? You've got options going from celestial schtoinking to being tainted by undeath.

Want to incorporate firearms in your campaign? Ultimate Combat gives you the gunslinger class as well as a ton of ways to give other classes access to some musket-wielding madness (including gun-wizard!).
 
Covar

Covar

Quickest way to try it and play? Pathfinder Beginner Box. It has pregenerated characters an abreviated rule packet, and a low level adventure. Designed for people new to Role Playing as well as Pathfinder so it may be a bit more basic that what you want, but it will give you a look at the rules.

If you're looking for something more complete pickup the Core Rule Book, and either a module or even their latest adventure path. Adventure Paths are 6-part adventures that will run your players from low to high level. Both have all encounter stats included so you wouldn't need a Beastiary to start. If you would rather run your own campaigns you would definitely want to pickup at least the first Beastiary
 
Frank

Frank

phil said:
You might look into Pathfinder. It's essentially 3.5 but with some of the more complex rules (like grapple) streamlined. I haven't looked at it myself yet but I hear good things.
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Grapple is still kind of a mess, but it's better than 3.5.

Stealth is also pretty awkward.
 
North_Ranger

North_Ranger

Staff member
I have to say I agree with Covar on the matter of Adventure Paths. I'm currently involved in Play-by-Post versions of a lot of them in the Giant in the Playground forums, and I'm liking them a lot. If you splurge on a copy of the Inner Sea World Guide which describes the campaign world, you will also get more bang for your buck when taking Adventure Paths, both in terms of roleplaying and understanding how the world works. Plus, each Adventure Path has its own Player's Guide, which you can download for free from Paizo's website.
 
Frank

Frank

I've been really out of the loop with Paizo releases lately. Have any of the newer adventure paths come close to being as good as Carrion Crown?
 
North_Ranger

North_Ranger

Staff member
Frank said:
I've been really out of the loop with Paizo releases lately. Have any of the newer adventure paths come close to being as good as Carrion Crown?
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I have to say I'm exceptionally partial to Kingmaker and Skull & Shackles, mostly because I'm having a royally fun time playing both.

Haven't had a chance to hit Carrion Crown yet...

Quotemander Prime said:
"How do I quickly and easily learn D&D 3.5?"
"Play something else."
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Well it's true. Pathfinder is pretty much D&D 3.5 perfected. Plus, the core books are readily available, as are a heaping pile of inexpensive additional works, a wide variety of modules and a selection of multi-adventure longer campaigns ranging from "pretty damn good" to "excellent".

Compared to having to scrounge up discontinued books... well, you get the idea, right?
 
doomdragon6

doomdragon6

Staff member
Alright, so I've pretty well decided on Pathfinder then. Sounds like I'll just have to play some sample games to get the hang of it.

I played several 4e games before I DMed one, so this seems considerably more difficult to jump into.
 
SpecialKO

SpecialKO

A lot of the basics are very similar to 4E so you're not going in completely blind, and while combat will be harder to learn at first, it's also only as tactical as you want to make it, as compared to 4E's pseudo-FFT approach. Don't get me wrong, I like both systems, but they're really very different games because of the way they implement combat.
 
doomdragon6

doomdragon6

Staff member
Haha. I just really want there to be more to work with. In 4e, most anything other than "use your attack" was worthless due to the chance it wouldn't work and how complicated it was.

Also, I want more skills than just Dex, Cha, etc checks. I want someone to have skills in specific SKILLS, like mapmaking, lockpicking, etc. Not just generic thievery checks and such. It might make things go a bit faster, but I want some more depth.
 
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