Difference between revisions of "D&D 3rd and 3.5th Edition"

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{{Stub}}
 
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The '''3rd edition''', and "Revised 3rd Edition" (commonly called 3.5e) of Dungeons & Dragons were the games that introduced the [[D20 System]], and the original keystone of the [[Open Game License]].
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The '''3rd edition''', and "Revised 3rd Edition" (commonly called 3.5e) of Dungeons & Dragons were the games that introduced the [[D20 System]], and the original keystone of the [[Open Game License]]. Their main designers were Monte Cook and Jonathan Tweet.
  
 
The changes compared to the previous editions were massive, and included:
 
The changes compared to the previous editions were massive, and included:
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==Problems==
 
==Problems==
  
* **The Build**: D&D 3rd Edition marked the first stage at which it was beneficial to plan out your entire character at level 1 and merely fill out the character as they levelled. While doing so was not compulsory, not doing so would be a substantial disadvantage as many character options were extremely weak except in regard to later options they made available, often in a non-intuitive way.
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* '''The Build''': D&D 3rd Edition marked the first stage at which it was beneficial to plan out your entire character at level 1 and merely fill out the character as they levelled. While doing so was not compulsory, not doing so would be a substantial disadvantage as many character options were extremely weak except in regard to later options they made available, often in a non-intuitive way.
* **The Spiked Chain**: in 3rd Edition, Spiked Chains had no minimum attack range, and could be used to create an overly powerful Fighter build based on tripping opponents and using attacks of opportunity.  
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* '''The Spiked Chain''': in 3rd Edition, Spiked Chains had no minimum attack range, and could be used to create an overly powerful Fighter build based on tripping opponents and using attacks of opportunity.
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* [[Caster supremacy]] was considered to run rampant from this edition forward, due to it increasing the power of caster characters to make them more fun to play, but without giving any substantial balancing benefit to martial characters. In particular, the unlimited use of cantrips removed a significant limit for casters.
  
 
{{D20 Portal}}
 
{{D20 Portal}}
  
[[Category:D&D 4th Edition| ]][[Category:Dungeons & Dragons|4th Edition]][[Category:Systems|D&D 4th Edition]]
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[[Category:D&D 3rd Edition| ]][[Category:Dungeons & Dragons|3rd Edition]][[Category:Systems|D&D 3rd Edition]]

Latest revision as of 19:30, 6 October 2020

Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition
Created by Wizards of the Coast
Published 2000
Genres Fantasy
Dice d20, d12, d10, d8, d6, d4
This entry is a stub, you can help out the wiki by expanding it.

The 3rd edition, and "Revised 3rd Edition" (commonly called 3.5e) of Dungeons & Dragons were the games that introduced the D20 System, and the original keystone of the Open Game License. Their main designers were Monte Cook and Jonathan Tweet.

The changes compared to the previous editions were massive, and included:

  • Standardising skill rolls;
  • Changing to-hit rolls to be comparable to skill rolls;
  • Introducing the attribute modifier system (which still remains standard in most D20 games) ;
  • Introducing Feats;
  • Introducing Attacks of Opportunity.

3.5s changes were relatively minor, some rebalancing the game, and some adding unnecessary complexity. In particular, 3.5e changed all game measurements from "feet" to "squares", implying mandatory play using miniatures.

3.5th Edition was also the basis on which Pathfinder 1st Edition was developed.

Benefits

  • Substantially clearer and easier to learn and play than previous editions D&D.

Problems

  • The Build: D&D 3rd Edition marked the first stage at which it was beneficial to plan out your entire character at level 1 and merely fill out the character as they levelled. While doing so was not compulsory, not doing so would be a substantial disadvantage as many character options were extremely weak except in regard to later options they made available, often in a non-intuitive way.
  • The Spiked Chain: in 3rd Edition, Spiked Chains had no minimum attack range, and could be used to create an overly powerful Fighter build based on tripping opponents and using attacks of opportunity.
  • Caster supremacy was considered to run rampant from this edition forward, due to it increasing the power of caster characters to make them more fun to play, but without giving any substantial balancing benefit to martial characters. In particular, the unlimited use of cantrips removed a significant limit for casters.
d20 systems
13th Age • Dungeons & Dragons (3rd and 3.5 Edition, 4th Edition, 5th Edition) • Gamma WorldLancerLevel UpMutants & Masterminds • Pathfinder (1st Edition, 2nd Edition), Shadow of the Demon Lord