|
D&D3 Frequently Asked Questions
This is a snippet of most of the FAQ on the official D&D3 web site as at September 1999. I will attempt to keep this up to date, but can´t make any guarantees.
Q: When will it be released?
A: The first book, the Player's Handbook, will be released in August of the year 2000. The Dungeon Master's Guide will be released in September of 2000, and the Monster Manual in October of 2000.
Also in August we will release a Conversion Guide to help ease the transition between previous editions and 3rd Edition.
CHARACTER QUESTIONS
Q: Do characters still have six basic stats?
A: Yes.
Characters are defined essentially the same way they always have been. The six basic stats,
and what they mean, are unchanged. No stats have been added. The normal Human range for
these stats is 3-18. Player Character stats will tend to be slightly higher than average.
Q: Do you still roll dice to determine your stats?
A: Yes, although we have standardized the mechanic for generating the six basic Abilities.
First, you roll 4d6, and keep the best three dice, and second, you create six totals, then assign
them to the six Abilities as you wish.
Q: Does the game still have Classes and Levels?
A: Yes.
Characters still have a class, and a level. Some characters will have more than one class. 3rd
Edition is designed to handle PCs from 1st to 20th level.
Q: What happens after 20th level?
A: Really high level characters (and campaigns) will be addressed in a future book.
Q: Are there demihuman level limits?
A: No.
Any character can rise to any level in any class, regardless of race. Any character can be any
class, regardless of race.
Q: Does 3rd Edition support multiclassed or dualclassed characters?
A: Yes.
We've worked to increase the flexibility and balance of the multiclass system. Most class and
race combinations are possible. There will be Gnome Paladin Wizard characters.
Q: What about alignment?
A: We've tried to do a better job of explaining how to use it and what its effects in the game
are. In the DMG, a discussion is presented about how to use a few different alignment options
that are less strict than the classic alignment graph.
SKILLS & POWERS
Q: What about Weapon/Non Weapon Proficiencies?
A: W/NWP's have been totally replaced by a fully integrated Skill System. The Skill System
uses a standard resolution mechanic.
Q: What is a standard resolution mechanic?
A: In 3rd Edition, die rolls to determine successes are used the same way for making a Saving
Throw, hitting an opponent in combat, or using a Skill. In each case, the player makes a d20
roll, where higher is always better. Depending on the type of the roll and the situation, the die
will have various modifiers added to, or subtracted from it. The final value of the modified roll
is compared to a target number (called a "Difficulty Class", abbreviated to "DC"), and if the roll
is equal to or greater than the DC, the roll was successful.
Q: How do the Thief abilities work?
A: They've been converted to the standard skill system.
Q: Can any character have any skill?
A: No.
There are many skills that are available only to certain classes, or only to characters of
certain levels in certain classes.
However, most skills are available to most classes. Skills not commonly associated with a
given classare harder for characters of that class to learn.
Our objective was to reinforce the class stereotypes for players that need or want an easy path
of character development, but also allow players who demand more flexibility to create a
character to express their creativity.
Q: What if nobody in the party has the right skill for a given situation?
A: The rules for skills anticipate the need to use some of the skills without being trained in
their use.
Q: If you're not going to use W/NWPs, how can I convert my existing 2nd Edition
character?
A: That is an excellent question.
There are many direct matches between Non-Weapon Proficiencies and the new Skills. For
many obscure NWPs, it will not be difficult for you and your DM to agree on a house rule.
The "kit system" will also be handled in a similar fashion. The conversion book will touch
extensively on both of these topics.
Q: What is more important: My character's class or my character's Skills?
A: In most cases, the character's class will be more important. The Skill system is designed to
allow you to round out the basic skeleton provided by class and race. So much of the game
relies on the classes, however, that they will always be the pre-eminent defining aspect of
your character.
COMBAT & TACTICS
Q: How does combat work?
A: Just like it always has. You roll a d20, add a bunch of modifiers for things like Strength,
magic bonuses, etc. If your modified roll is equal to or greater than the Armor Class of the
target, you hit.
Q: Wait a minute. Armor Class goes >up<?
A: Yes.
Armor works exactly like it always has, except instead of starting at AC10 and going down, it
starts at AC10 and goes up. A character with an AC-2 in 2nd Edition would have an AC22 in
3rd Edition.
Q: So - no more THAC0?
A: Right. You don't need to do any calculation on your attack roll. You just figure out the total
of the die roll plus modifiers, and that's the AC you hit.
Q: So the DC of an attack roll is the AC of the target?
[grin]
A: That's exactly right!
Q: How does damage work?
A: Damage works just like it always has. Each weapon delivers a specific range of damage.
Q: What about critical hits?
A: There are critical hits in 3rd Edition.
Q: How long is a 3rd Edition combat round?
A: Six seconds.
Q: How is initiative handled?
A: 3rd Edition initiative is not rolled from round to round. Instead, at the beginning of
combat, each participant rolls for initiative, and that's the order they take actions in
throughout the conflict. We've also adopted one of the most popular house rules: characters'
Dex scores will affect their initiative rolls! There are also standard actions a character can take
to move "up" or "down" the initiative order for tactical advantage.
This is one of the areas of the rules that will cause a lot of controversy. We've tested a whole
lot of options, and cyclic initiative has proven to be the best of the lot. Some playtesters
prefer to roll every round; others love the streamlined, roll-once system. You owe it to
yourself to try the faster system, but it's up to you which way you play
Q: Nobody in my group will ever use this silly new initiative system. What about
those of us who WANT to roll for initiative each round?
A: The DMG will contain a fairly detailed discussion of initiative, including some suggestions
for how to use a roll-each-round initiative system. We honestly hope that most gamers will
give the new system a whirl and see how it really works in play. Given a fair shake, we think a
lot of you will like it.
Q: What about weapon speed factors?
A: Since a D&D combat round is an abstraction of a variety of feints, attacks, parries, etc. there
is no correlation between the size or weight of a weapon and how soon in the initiative order
that weapon should score a hit that inflicts damage. Weapon speed factors have been removed
from the game in 3rd Edition.
Q: Do characters get multiple attacks?
A: Yes they do. Multiple attacks are a function of Level and Skills. And in 3rd Edition, every
class eventually gets multiple attacks - not just fighters!
Q: Are there still "fractional attacks", like 2 attacks per 3 rounds?
A: No. When characters earn an additional attack, they may take it every round.
Q: How about Saving Throws?
A: The basic concept of the Saving Throw has been retained. Sometimes, your character has a
chance to avoid or reduce a severe negative outcome via a die roll.
In order to make a successful save, you roll a d20. Higher is always better. There will
probably be modifiers to the die roll based on your character's stats, class, level and the
situation. The DM will know what the DC of the Save is, and if your modified roll is equal to or
greater than the DC, you make the Save!
Q: What about hit points?
A: The hit point system is essentially unchanged. There have been some modifications to the
rules dealing with character death. The "optional rule" of hovering on death's door when your
HP total is reduced below 1 has become a standard part of the system. There are also rules for
handling unconsciousness, trauma and shock. The rules also handle non-lethal subdual
damage as well.
Q: Hit points and armor class are so silly. Why didn't you use a more realistic
combat system?
A: For three reasons. First, we want the game to remain strongly compatible with previous
versions. Second, we want a combat system that is fast and exciting. Third, feedback from our
customers overwhelmingly supported leaving hit points and armor class unchanged.
Q: But I want more realism! Plate armor doesn't make you harder to hit!
A: First, understand that it will be far easier for you to use a house rule for more realistic
combat and convert 3rd Edition to those rules than it would be to put a hyper-realistic
combat system in 3rd Edition and ask the millions of gamers who don't want it to try and
convert back to the classic system. Second, please realize that Armor Class has >never<
represented how hard it is to score a hit. AC has always been an abstraction of how hard it is
to score a hit that >inflicts damage<. Heavy armor makes it harder to inflict damage than light
armor. All the variables that go into an AC calculation (Dex bonus, armor, magic effects,
combat modifiers, etc.) all eventually produce a single value that represents how hard it will
be for an opponent to hurt you, not hit you. That's a subtle distinction, but an important one.
Q: What about attacks that armor wouldn't block?
A: 3rd Edition has a standard rule for attacks that ignore armor. For these types of attacks,
plate armor doesn't help at all!
SPELLS & MAGIC
Q: Do spells still work the same way?
A: Yes.
We kept the existing classic spell system, which requires most spellcasters to memorize the
spells they want to cast, and lose the ability to cast a given spell once it is cast (the so called
"fire and forget" system).
Q: Level for level, do 3rd Edition characters cast more spells than their
predecessors?
A: Overall, yes. Wizards, for example, now get bonus spells for high Intelligence scores.
Spellcasters can also prepare basic spells (such as detect magic) without taking up a 1st-level
slot.
Q: Are there separate spell lists for the spellcasting classes?
A: Yes, but spells are presented differently than in previous editions of the game.
In 3rd Edition, there is one unified spell chapter. Each spell indicates what classes can cast it,
and at what level. A spell such as "Light" that can be cast both by Wizards and by Priests
appears in the spell list once, and it works the same way for both types of spellcasters.
However, when cast by a Wizard, the spell is considered an "arcane spell", and when cast by a
Priest, it is considered a "divine spell".
Priest and Wizards have mostly different lists. There are a handful of spells that are cast by
both Arcane and Divine spellcasters, but they are the exception rather than the rule.
There are spells in the list that can only be cast by one class (such as "Druid"), but they are the
exception rather than the rule.
There will be a "reverse index" so each class can quickly reference what spells they can cast
and at what level.
Q: How is magic resistance handled?
A: Each spell (and spell like effect) in the game contains a description of how it is affected by
magic resistance. This should remove substantially all the confusion over how to adjudicate
the effects of Magic Resistance. Also, in a return to a 1st Edition rule, the higher the level of
the spellcaster, the easier it will be for that caster to affect creatures with magic resistance!
Q: How are illusions handled?
A: The 3rd Edition system takes special pains to codify the type, nature, and effects of various
illusions. Under 3rd Edition, the DM and the players should have no problem figuring out how
illusions affect characters and are perceived by opponents.
THE WORLDS OF D&D
Q: Will there still be campaign settings?
A: Yes.
Q: Which settings will you continue to support with published products?
A: The FORGOTTEN REALMS setting will continue to be developed much as it has been for the
past ten years.
DRAGONLANCE will continue to be primarily supported by the novels and products linked to
the novels.
GREYHAWK will again be recognized as the default D&D setting.
In the short term, there will be no other published products for the other D&D worlds. Some
material for the older worlds will appear from time to time in DRAGON and on the D&D
website.
In the long term, new settings will be added or older settings revived when the number of
people playing D&D has again grown large enough to accommodate them.
Q: What will happen to the FORGOTTEN REALMS?
A: The Realms is going to embrace the fact that it has been so extensively developed, making
that a feature rather than a drawback.
A CD-ROM product featuring most of the out of print material published for the Realms will be
released in either 2000 or 2001, depending on how fast the material can be scanned and
prepared for distribution. That product will become the cornerstone of the setting, allowing
future designers to reference even the most obscure part of Realmslore safe in the knowledge
that locating more detailed information is only a mouseclick away for the DM.
The second part of this strategy is the creation of a new hardback book that will be the
standard reference for the Realms under 3rd Edition. This hardback will replace the current
2nd Edition FORGOTTEN REALMS boxed set. We expect to release this book in 2001.
Q: What do you mean when you say the DRAGONLANCE products will be linked
to the novels?
A: Currently, our plans for DRAGONLANCE gaming products are not finalized. We may do a
hardback book like the one planned for the Realms sometime after 2001. The new
DRAGONLANCE trilogy (The "War of Souls") starts in 2000, and the third book will be released
in 2002. We think the best strategy for gaming product is to work closely with the evolving
War of Souls trilogy. As the DRAGONLANCE plan evolves, we'll continue to update everyone
as to what we're working on in terms of RPG products.
Q: What does it mean for GREYHAWK to be the "default" D&D setting?
A: Starting with the 1st Edition AD&D Player's Handbook, the GREYHAWK world has been
inextricably connected with the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game.
Even in those earliest days, the proper names associated with many spells, such as Bigby,
Tenser, and Mordenkanien were all major NPCs in GREYHAWK. The names of certain artifacts
and magic items are similarly connected with GREYHAWK, featuring the names of powerful
NPCs like Keoghtom, Kwalish, and Murlynd. The basic monster lists for D&D were based on the
creatures of Oerth as featured in the GREYHAWK adventures Dungeon Mastered by the game's
co-creator Gary Gygax.
With 3rd Edition, we are embracing that historical connection. GREYHAWK could be defined
as "the world you adventure in when all you use is the PHB and DMG, unless your DM tells you
otherwise."
We're going to keep development of GREYHAWK materials to a minimum. GREYHAWK is for
the DM to explore, create and define, not WotC. Those who want to share their ideas with
other players and DMs will find a wealth of connections in the RPGA Network's planned "Living
Campaign" which will be set in GREYHAWK.
When we publish an adventure product or sourcebook that does not carry a campaign setting
logo, that product will use GREYHAWK references as the standard, and it will assume a basic
level of GREYHAWK information. That information will all be included with the PHG and DMG
- you won't be required to purchase a GREYHAWK world book in order to understand the
context of that information. That said, it will still be easy to convert anything produced for
core DUNGEONS & DRAGONS for use in any of the basic fantasy worlds TSR has previously
published, or to homegrown campaign worlds created by DMs for their own use.
Q: What about PLANESCAPE?
A: Unlike previous editions of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, 3rd Edition has no specifically defined
cosmology. The PLANESCAPE setting will become one of many possible options for how the
universe works.
Q: What about RAVENLOFT?
A: The concept of gothic horror (and other types of horror) roleplaying has been with the
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game since the publication of the original RAVENLOFT adventure in
the mid 1980's. We will continue to produce products designed to support horror-based
campaigns, but they will be designed to support that type of play without requiring the use of
the RAVENLOFT source material.
WHAT'S MISSING
Q: Will 3rd Edition support Psionics?
A: Not in the PHB.
What we intend to do for 3rd Edition is release a stand alone Psionics book in 2001 that will
provide a complete system for integrating psionic powers into the core rules. That integration
will include the interaction between magic and Psionics, how to use psionic monsters, how to
deal with the effects of clairvoyance, telepathy, teleportation, and other powers that
circumvent the normal physical limitations of the game.
That product will be referenced by any subsequent material produced for 3rd Edition that
uses Psionics. Such products will be fairly rare.
This strategy will allow players and DMs who want to allow Psionics into the game to do so in a
controlled and consistent fashion, and for those who do not wish to deviate from the standard
fantasy archetypes to ignore Psionics entirely.
This product will contain rules for psionic PCs, an extensive list of psionic monsters, psionic
empowered items, spells that affect Psionics, and everything else needed to use the powers of
the mind effectively.
There will be a very brief treatment of Psionics in the Dungeon Master's Guide, primarily to
support the use of psionic-enabled monsters like Mind Flayers, Intellect Devourers and
Yuan-Ti. Those monsters will be extensively developed in the Psionics book, but will appear
in a simplified form in the 3rd Edition Monster Manual.
Q: What happened to the Planes?
A: We decided that each DMs should have the option to create a cosmology to suit their
individual tastes.
In 2001, we will release a new hardback Manual of the Planes book. Instead of being a catalog
of the planes, the new Manual of the Planes will present rules and techniques for DMs to create
custom cosmologies. It will also support the spells, items, and monsters one is likely to
encounter during planar travel. We currently plan to revisit the classic planar structure as an
example in this product. We may also cover the DRAGONLANCE cosmology, and perhaps the
DARK SUN cosmology as well.
The 3rd Edition PHB and DMG will contain a few references to the planes. Planar travel will be
possible with the spells and items in the PHB, to a limited degree. Those basic building blocks
are provided with an eye toward short episodes set on planes other than the Prime Material,
with the anticipation that those DMs interested in a much more detailed planar campaign will
use the new Manual of the Planes material in that effort.
Q: I've heard from some of the playtesters that 3rd Edition requires miniatures -
is that true?
A: No.
For a substantial portion of the playtest period, the 3rd Edition manuscript included a fairly
detailed combat system that encouraged the use of miniatures for determining facing and
relative positioning.
Those aspects have been somewhat toned down in the final manuscript. 3rd Edition will still
support miniatures use far better than any previous version of D&D, but by no means are
miniatures required to use the rules.
The current set of rules is complete enough to support battles at the "skirmish level" - that is,
conflicts where the number of opponents is limited to no more than few dozen.
For battles larger than that, a dedicated wargaming system is going to be helpful. There are
plans to develop such a system, compatible with 3rd Edition DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, at some
point in the future. As more details are finalized, they will be made public.
Q: What about the Player's Option books?
A: They will no longer be supported after the release of 3rd Edition.
MORE 3rd EDITION INFO
Q: Where do I look for official 3rd Edition information?
A: There are two official sources for 3rd Edition updates.
www.3rdedition.com will be your primary online reference. It will feature news, special
announcements, lots of interaction with the 3rd Edition team, etc.
DRAGON magazine will be your primary in-print source for news and updated information.
There will be some 3rd Edition content in DRAGON monthly up to the release next August. |
