The original release of Dungeons & Dragons third edition from 2000, not including the v3.5 revised edition.
26
votes
6answers
2k views
Techniques for making high level D&D play more manageable?
Many people complain about high level D&D 3.x play. It can become less enjoyable for both players and GMs because of the huge nest of rules and complexity required for every character, the prep ...
25
votes
8answers
4k views
What is the point of a spell component pouch?
While I'd like to think I know the general Dungeons and Dragons / Pathfinder rules pretty well, one thing I've never quite understood is the spell component pouch, especially in relation to the Eschew ...
24
votes
4answers
2k views
Why do Sorcerers use Charisma?
Sorcerers use Charisma as their primary Ability Score for spell-casting in Dungeons and Dragons. Wizards use Intelligence to cast, and Clerics use Wisdom. Intelligence and Wisdom make sense for the ...
24
votes
6answers
2k views
How to improve the Diplomacy skill mechanic in D&D 3.Xe and Pathfinder?
In D&D 3rd Edition, 3.5 Edition, and even Pathfinder, it is ridiculously easy as a player to purposely or inadvertently break the skill system, especially with Diplomacy.
For example: A level 5 ...
21
votes
6answers
2k views
How do you tell if a D&D book is 3.0 or 3.5?
I'm new to d20. I recently acquired a bunch of D&D books and I'm sure they are all either 3.0 or 3.5, but it doesn't say in the book which version it is. How can I tell which version the book is?
...
20
votes
2answers
567 views
What are important things to keep in mind when converting a 3e/3.5e module to Pathfinder?
I'm interesting in converting one or more of my existing modules for 3/3.5 to work with the Pathfinder rules. I'm interested to know from others who have done this kind of conversion what ...
18
votes
7answers
3k views
Help! My party isn't challenged?
While I've been running my campaign, I'm starting to get stumped. I am playing with a party of four, and we recently switched from 3.5 to Pathfinder, but the problem was the same in both situations.
...
18
votes
5answers
2k views
What are the major differences between D&D 3.0 and D&D 3.5
I found a bunch of D&D books at a used bookshop, but am now realizing half are 3.0 and half are 3.5... How compatible are these with each other? What are the major rule changes I'll need to watch ...
16
votes
5answers
1k views
How real are illusions?
The PCs this week tried to do something that stumped me this week, though I am sure this question has been asked before. Caught between a rock and a hard place, the PCs decided that they would cast an ...
15
votes
13answers
1k views
Sunrods, should they be used?
Sunrods, those banishers of darkness, are they a problem or not, I've met a number of DMs that don't want them in their games.
Are they a problem?
15
votes
3answers
178 views
Remind players of critical information that would be obvious to the characters?
To make a long story short, a campaign I was playing in [as play-per-mail] has come to a standstill. The cause of this is the following:
My character dove into the river, to retrieve something that ...
14
votes
3answers
2k views
Can characters reach Mach 1 and higher in D&D 3(.5)?
A few years back our group tried to come up with the fastest possible D&D character. If I remember correctly we could build a character that could go faster than the speed of sound, but I can't ...
14
votes
5answers
260 views
How do I quicken / sum up larger (but not army-scale) d20/DnD3.x combat?
I'll be rather specific:
Imagine you have five lv7 characters (in DnD3.5), a bunch of their followers (skeletons raised by their priestess and whatnot), and they're facing about the same number of ...
13
votes
3answers
1k views
Why use NPC classes for NPCs?
I am a fairly novice game master, but something I've never really understood NPC classes. As far as I understand them, they are noticeably weaker versions of PC classes (e.g. the NPC warrior in 3.5 ...
13
votes
6answers
4k views
Alternatives to Familiars in DnD 3.X
Players tend to not keep very effective track of their familiars. Where can I find (or equally what can I use as) alternative Class Features for Wizards and Sorcerers to replace Familiars which will ...
13
votes
5answers
1k views
How to reduce minis dependence in d20-based games?
In Pathfinder and similar versions of D&D, there is a lot more miniatures/tactical map dependence than in earlier versions (and in most other RPGs). I am interested in reducing the dependence on ...
13
votes
6answers
4k views
Rules for creating new spells?
Is there a good source for allowing players to create new (non-epic-level) spells, or combining spells?
For example, how can a Wizard research and create a new spell? What if a sorcerer improvises ...
12
votes
3answers
2k views
Why are whips so restricted?
The bard has always been a bit of an unusual class. One thing, though, that I've really enjoyed about the bard is that they get Exotic Weapon Proficiency (whip) for free.
However, after playing a bit ...
12
votes
2answers
1k views
Do Class Skill Bonuses Count as Ranks?
In Pathfinder do class skill bonuses count as ranks, especially for the purpose of prestige classing, or are they a generic bonus?
If they are a bonus, how should I adjust the required ranks for ...
11
votes
4answers
473 views
What do you do when you roll a 1 for initiative?
Are there any rules - be they official or side-bar optional ones - as to what happens when a player rolls a 1 on their initiative roll?
Is the initiative roll something you can critically fail at?
11
votes
4answers
640 views
How do cursed items work?
I have never really used cursed items in my campaigns, but I'm considering doing so for my latest one. For the most part, cursed items seem pretty straightforward except for two things:
How do you ...
11
votes
2answers
1k views
If I am dual-wielding, how many attacks can I make as a standard action?
Hopefully this is a relatively straightforward question. I am used to playing 3.5e, and we recently switched to pathfinder. I had thought that taking any more than a single attack would require a ...
9
votes
10answers
2k views
The half-elf: is it balanced?
I always had the feeling that the half-elf is unbalanced in D&D 3. It gets some racial bonuses on saving throws, immunity to sleep, low-light vision and a couple of pluses in abilities, but it ...
9
votes
3answers
1k views
Alternative to Barbarian's Rage in DnD 3.X?
I'm not fond of the Barbarian's Rage ability. Whenever I roll up a Barbarian character, I think of the character more as a "brick" - strong, powerful and seemingly unstoppable, like...
He-Man
...
9
votes
1answer
117 views
Do the 3.5 books ask you to refer to 3.0 books?
I noticed some of the 3.5 manuals refer to books like Manual of the Planes and Oriental Adventures, but when one of my friends found those books, they were 3.0 edition. Is that right, or were there ...
9
votes
1answer
329 views
What resources could I use for jewelry reference in D&D
I am playing a character in a Dungeons and Dragons game. We are using a mix of 3 and 3.5 rule set. My character's craft is jewelery,so I need some reference to:
what jewelry costs to make
what it ...
8
votes
5answers
763 views
Do Sleeping or Otherwise Helpless Targets Get Reflex Saves in 3rd Edition D&D?
According to the 3.5 PHB (p. 309), a helpless (e.g., sleeping) target is treated as having Dex 0, and has a "-5 modifier". On p. 153, it further explains that a helpless defender can't use any ...
8
votes
2answers
87 views
How can I upgrade 2e to use 3e armor rules?
Is it possible to only upgrade the 2nd edition Armor/Attack to the 3rd edition rules? I love the rest of the game mechanics over the 3rd edition rules, but I don't like how you have to subtract for ...
8
votes
1answer
419 views
How can I convert monsters from D&D 3, 3.5 or 4 ed to 2ed monsters?
I would like to know if I can convert monsters from other editions ( I already figured out how to convert monsters from the 1 ed) into 2ed monsters.
8
votes
1answer
150 views
Aganazzar's Scorcher: Rules for 'path' Spells
Agnazzar's Scorcher, a spell from the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, reads as follows:
A jet of roaring flame bursts from your outstretched hand, scorching any creature in a 5-foot-wide path ...
7
votes
7answers
760 views
How would an illusionist hide a castle?
I'm trying to devise a clever character that would be able to hide something quite large (say, a mountain, or a castle atop a tall tower) within the rules of the game. I am aware of spells such as ...
7
votes
4answers
842 views
Differences between D&D 3.X and previous editions
In my quest of learning about Dragonlance setting I came upon an adventure module set in D&D 2nd edition and now I am curious about what the previous editions were all about. I have tried to look ...
7
votes
2answers
264 views
Can I make a jump to avoid an obstacle and still charge?
In a recent game, the situation came up where one of the players wanted to take a charge action. The path, however, was obstructed, and the player suggested that they jump as part of the charge. I ...
7
votes
3answers
681 views
Is it possible to play an Epic D&D3.5/3.75 campaign with a non-magic hero?
My DM is going to arrange a campaign of Epic Gestalts (LvL 24/24), I wanted to play a non-magic user, but they are so underpowered that I probably can't, the closest to a non-magic user I seem to find ...
6
votes
4answers
379 views
Why are dwarves medium?
In AD&D dwarves were small ("Dwarves", Monster Manual 1st edition) like halflings and gnomes. I am wondering why this was changed in the 3rd edition. Is it because of the bulk of the dwarves?
Or ...
6
votes
2answers
234 views
Can cantrips be improved?
I have a player interested in ways to improve 0 level attack spells. Mainly, they're looking to not have to carry around a crossbow for attacks when they don't want to cast a spell, and the 1d3 ...
6
votes
3answers
239 views
In what circumstances (if any) is Fighter 3 a good level to take?
I've heard a lot about how Fighter 3 is a bad level to take. However, are there ever any circumstances in 3.x where it is a good idea for optimisation purposes?
I'd appreciate hearing the reasoning ...
6
votes
2answers
138 views
Is the Psionics handbook from 3.0 compatible with D&D 3.5
My local gaming shop has an old copy of the Psionics handbook from D&D 3.0, I know the name of the book for 3.5 is Expanded Psionics but I'm really a big fan of supporting local businesses and I ...
6
votes
3answers
190 views
When should I separate encounters?
I had a session this week involving a fairly large battle at sea. The encounter involved a couple of boarders while the enemy ship was still at quite a distance, and the larger group still on the ...
6
votes
1answer
308 views
6
votes
4answers
369 views
How to organize my 3.X collection based on WotC's internal numbering system?
I've been trying to figure out the reason behind the madness that is the internal ordering system of Wizards of the Coast rulebooks (for ordering my own collection appropriately)
Sadly, as it turns ...
5
votes
2answers
703 views
5
votes
2answers
108 views
How can I use the skill system from D&D3e in AD&D2e?
How can I use the skill system from 3rd edition in a 2nd edition game? Are there any problems with just adding it as-is? Are there any good houserules online?
Personal experience is much appreciated. ...
5
votes
1answer
628 views
Experience and levels in Pathfinder
According to answers to this question some levels require more experience than they did in D&D3.x: Differences between D&D 3.5 and Pathfinder
How much experience do different levels require ...
5
votes
1answer
172 views
Searching for a particular dungeon adventure
In the D&D 3.0 Dungeon Master's Guide there is a sample dungeon (p. 126) that has only the first three rooms detailed. This is the dungeon where Lidda (infamously) gets eaten by ghouls in the ...
5
votes
1answer
147 views
Which games have been based off/derived from the Anime d20 SRD?
The Anime d20 SRD brought some interesting changes to the original 3e d20 SRD. Aside from BESM d20, which obviously isn't a derivative of itself, which games have made use of the Anime d20 SRD - in ...
5
votes
1answer
1k views
Are there any established rules for flying in combat for D&D 3.x or d20 Modern?
My game is d20 Modern, but the two systems are very similar, so either is fine just to give me some templates to work from. I'm basically looking for anything that isn't me pulling stuff out of thin ...
4
votes
6answers
563 views
Does Constitution influence Charisma?
I was looking around and notice that low constitution monsters usually are ugly (like skeletons)
after all low constitution make you ugly, right?
So, it's that a case where Charisma can be influenced ...
4
votes
3answers
155 views
Introduce CoC d20's spell costs into DnD3.x
Call of Cthulhu d20 has a Sanity point loss and/or (temp.) ability drain cost for spellcasting. How would it be best to introduce this system into DnD3.x?
Are there (semi-)official guidelines for ...
4
votes
1answer
75 views
Dispelling (un)hallow linked spells
Both in 3e and 3.5e D&D, the Hallow and Unhallow spells are instantaneous spells and, as such, they cannot be dispelled in any way.
While they are active, they can also radiate a single spell ...
