Comparing D&D 3.5 and Pathfinder

[Gamerprinter]

Really, on its own 4 equal level PCs, fighting 5 ogres is pretty straight forward, something you could almost do in your head. Where the system shines, however, is when you have a party of varying level PCs, say, 2 each 6th and 2 each 4th level characters and you're going to fight 4800 XP of ogres, instead of 6 normal ogres, try a 3rd level ogre barbarian chief and 3 standard ogre minions. Try doing that in your head, and you're more genius than I. Using the tables above make such a complicated level division and encounter creation easy, peesy!

And, yeah, Novarri mentioned something I forgot to say. The Skills list, in 3.5 you have access to your class skills, but then pay double for non-class skills. Not so in Pathfinder you can purchase any skills at equal cost, those skills that fall under your "class skills" get a +3 bonus, that's the only difference. This makes acquiring skills you want much easier and less expensive to "buy".

There are fewer skills than 3.5. Pathfinder rolled in Spot and Listen as the single Perception Skill, Hide and Move Silently in Stealth Skill. I think there are a few other 2 skills moved into one as well.

Rope Use is gone (anyone can use a rope, why do you need a skill for that?). Climbing is easier, especially for rogues, a single roll for entire climb, I believe.

Thought I'd add this information for the discussion.

GP

PS: Pathfinder has undergone a year of play-testing, making it one of the most tested systems in existence ever, which gives it better developmental control than other editions or systems.

[Korash]

PS: Pathfinder has undergone a year of play-testing, making it one of the most tested systems in existence ever, which gives it better developmental control than other editions or systems.

Just to add to this, the play-test was open to the public and feed back was actually asked for. Paizo is very open to suggestions and are quite willing to explain why they did things one way and not the other. I have noticed a definate change in Pathfinder from the Alpha to the Beta and some of that was due to player feedback. The designer has even posted a few threads stating where he wants to go with things and asking for c & c on those directions. He has even changed a few directions based on some of the comments.

@ GP - very nice summary btw

[Nexis]

looking over the beta book I realy like what they did. I'm still gona get the 3.5 books first and wait till both the main book and the bestiary somes out in September and get them then. Also the price on the sight is $49 US for the book. on Amazon canada its $36 CAN. I'm gona get it from them.

[Gamerprinter]

Good luck in your attempt to find 3.5 books. The problem here is that WotC stopped production of all 3.5 material in June 2008, and all distributors stopped carrying and distributing those books at that same time. Most game stores have sold out the material and are not dedicated to distributing new books.

While OGL is certainly still valid, and new splat books are still being produced under that license. You can certainly find third party produced material, but not the core books: PH, PH2, DMG, the Monster Manuals.

I know that Cons often have stands offering older publications from previous editions and otherwise "used" material, which is probably your best bet in the hunt for 3.5 core rule books.

I hope you find them, but just a warning that you might not.

GP

[Nexis]

Good luck in your attempt to find 3.5 books. The problem here is that WotC stopped production of all 3.5 material in June 2008, and all distributors stopped carrying and distributing those books at that same time. Most game stores have sold out the material and are not dedicated to distributing new books.

While OGL is certainly still valid, and new splat books are still being produced under that license. You can certainly find third party produced material, but not the core books: PH, PH2, DMG, the Monster Manuals.

I know that Cons often have stands offering older publications from previous editions and otherwise "used" material, which is probably your best bet in the hunt for 3.5 core rule books.

I hope you find them, but just a warning that you might not.

GP

Thats right. This weekend CanGames is on and I hope to get some from there.

[Gamerprinter]

Aside from being able to find the core 3.5 material, the Pathfinder RPG handbook being officially published in August 2009, will replace 3.5 PH and DMG, so if don't find the core versions, if you can wait, you won't be left out in the cold.

A month ago or so, Paizo offered third party publishers to apply for a Pathfinder Compatibility logo license allowing them to create new subsystems and splat books for the Pathfinder system, including many of the recognized third parties that supported 3.5 core, like Necromancer Games. So many if not most of existing splat books for 3.5 will eventually be replaced by Pathfinder compatible versions - so you will eventually be able to find whatever splats you want to enhance your game (that you may not be able to find at this time.)

Though I've only been a professional cartographer in the RPG industry and never a publisher, I myself am venturing into the world of publishing, in a collaborative work with Dementia 5 Publishing in creating my own setting and adventure arcs, that will be published OGL next month, with intentions of republication in August under Pathfinder compatibility (as D5 is one of the recipient third parties awarded use of that license.)

So I too, will be developing material for Pathfinder. Perhaps some day you could purchase my contribution to that game system!

GP

[Nexis]

So I too, will be developing material for Pathfinder. Perhaps some day you could purchase my contribution to that game system!

GP

I'd be more than happy to!

[msa]

Good luck in your attempt to find 3.5 books.

I thought I'd mention again that you can get virtually all of the 3.5 rules for free at the many d20 system reference documents (SRD) published on the web. Here is my favorite:

http://www.d20srd.org/

Its no replacement for the books, IMO, but at least the rules are still available even if the books are hard to find.

[Gamerprinter]

Yeah, thanks MSA - duh, I feel stupid! I didn't think of that in my deep explanation on the subject at hand. The SRD (system resource document) is the core rules for 3.5 and is free everywhere!

GP

[msa]

Yeah, thanks MSA - duh, I feel stupid! I didn't think of that in my deep explanation on the subject at hand. The SRD (system resource document) is the core rules for 3.5 and is free everywhere!

I meant to mention that it does omit a few things. There are no rules for character creation, no experience point tables, and a no rules for small number of monsters that WotC defines as 'product identity' (beholder, giths, mind flayer, etc.. stuff D&D sort of made up).

On the other hand, it does include some books beyond the core 3... namely epic level handbook, deities and demigods, psionics handbook, and some of unearthed arcana.

I know it so well because I switched over to the online SRD entirely when 3 moved to 3.5... I bought the 3 core books when they first came out at $20 a pop and I didn't want to rebuy them for $35 again.