Some time ago there was a thread here about the new 3.5 edition of the D&D game from Wizards of the coast. Anyway, someone was complaining about the magic system (think it was Timber Loftis, not sure) and said it was pretty bad, and well he was right.
How ever yesterday I got a book called Arcana Unearthed by Monte Cook, and WOW [img]graemlins/wow.gif[/img] it introduces a completely diffrent magicsystem and what I've read of it so far is astonishing.

here is a description I found of it, since I havn't read it much so far and my english is not so good... [img]smile.gif[/img]

You should definetly check it out... [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 08-29-2003, 06:44 AM: Message edited by: Jorath Calar ]

I set up the thread, and I already have the book :D Monte Cook did a hell of a job on it, combining so many different classes, the mage blade, witches, greenbond, etc. Here's the thing though, I'm not entirely sure if it's set up for this game, FR and Greyhawk I mean. I think it's for his new campaign he's coming out with called the Diamond Throne. Here are some examples.

(For anyone who doesn't want to know, don't read ahead)


No alignments exist in the game.
There are no longer cleric or wizard spells, they're all merged into a singular spell list.
There's no Wish or Limited Wish spells.
You have to have feats to use more powerful spells.
So on...

The only rule of his that me and my uncle applied was the 'no alignment' rule in Faerun and Greyhawk. Mainly because he usually wanted to play an evil character and I played the opposite [img]tongue.gif[/img]

You should definetly check it out... [img]smile.gif[/img] </font>[/QUOTE]What kind of book is that Arcana? Because I have only a few D&D books: Forgotten Realms, Players Handbook, Dungeon Master, Sword and the Fist, Songs and Swords. But what kind of book is this Arcana? Ou yes and which class are you?

Hmmm.... Not to be confused with the classic 1st Ed. Unearthed Acrana. ;) Looks interesting, I'll probably get the electronic versions today -- maybe not.

I still say scrap the D&D magic system and go with Ars Magica. Nothing has ever made so much sense and its magic system.

Great description of Ars Magica system in these threads.

Ars Magica for D20 Games -- GREAT SITE!

Hmmmm.... I bet these two links just trumped Monte Cook's long hours of work. :D So Sorry. ;)

This is a source book by Monte cook, he cowrote the Dungeon master guide, it's just a "Varian" rules book, you can adopt most of the rules in it for you game, The mageblade class is very cool, by the way.

My fave class is ranger, my longest lasting characther was a ranger.

Oh and Timber, I'm looking into that arc magica... looks great... [img]smile.gif[/img]

give me 2ed or give me death! sorry none of this makes sense....maybe if i cared....lol. it all sounds interesting but it also just sound slike a lot of babble. i think i will be happy to stick with 2ed ad&d.

I have to agree with RevRuby. 2nd ed. was short and to the point. for example in 2nd ed. if you want to toss out a fireball, you just state your intention , roll your 10d6 and poof, no more bad guys.

In 3rd ed. you state your intention, figure out witch feats apply, check for range and damage modifiers, then cast the spell. After all that you still have to roll to see if your victim evaded or made his save, or both.

It all seems like a little bit too much work for me, just to play a game. If I wanted to spend all night rolling dice I would play White Wolf games.

Hunter of J, casting a 3rd Ed fireball still works the exact same way. Rather than get hung up on feats, realize they're very much just an expanded list of non-weapon proficiencies -- such as those found in the complete fighter's guides and arms and armor books in 2d Ed. 3rd ed is intended to be a bit faster in rolling combat dice -- and it is, somewhat. I still like my modified 2nd Ed. rules best, but a fireball is still a fireball.

Now, if your 2d Ed. DM watched you toss a fireball into a 10'X10'X15' room of orcs and didn't stop to think that the dimensions given in the 2d Ed PHB dictate a 33,000 ft3 volume (that gets filled no matter what), then you should count your blessings. In my game, you'd have dealt with a flame column shooting down the tunnel at you. ;)

[ 09-03-2003, 12:24 AM: Message edited by: Timber Loftis ]

ohhhh...nathan keeps track of these things, and of course it is the reason why i have yet to play a mage, i am so absent minded! we were playing last night and there were times i had absolutely no clue what was going on!

Is this based on the David Eddings book?

Unearthed Arcana coming in february...

I'm telling you, 3rd Edition is so much better than 2nd was. It is more complicated, that I won't lie about, but the game itself has been a lot more fun playing now. God bless Monte Cook and friends :D

I dont believe it! 3.5 Edition! Oh yeah this firm knows how to gain money. Take a look at 3rd edition. Feats sounds powerplay. 3rd ed sucks really. 2nd ed is much better but still it has some weak points. But you can easily correct them. 3rd ed is a popularist system. you 3rd ed players you are not in my book you are the next generation we are the old ones keep playin 2 ed see ya

Actually, I like both 2nd and 3rd editions, but I must admit that I like the d20 system better for 3rd edition. It steamlines things significantly (no THACO or saving throw tables, etc.). In some ways it is more complex (attacks of opportunity, etc.), but I like the prestige class idea and the new multiclassing rules (makes more sense).

Yes, it does bug the hell out of me that they released 3.5 as a (blatantly obvious) money making tool. But as far as game play, I just find myself siding with 3rd edition. However, opinions are like a certain smelly part of the body; everyone has one...

Actually I thought that 3.5 was released to make a lot more money too, but it seems a lot of people didn't understand the rules all that much. Even today I have a hard time trying to figure them all out. It just made me mad that they stopped making modules, even in Dungeon Magazine they did because right after 3rd Edition came out they were already working on 3.5.

Other than the slight modifications, 3.5 isn't really necessary, so even the "modified" modules are still playable even if you have basic 3rd Edition.

Ps- Third Edition is power play? Haha, right, if you think that you might want to take a peek in the Epic Level Handbook ;)

Can't say the magic system you described looks any better than the standard in D&D. All it seems to have done is made it a bit more complex in some ways, and a bit more generic in others.

As for 2ed vs. 3ed... 2ed. And I still don't understand why people complain about saves and THAC0 in 2ed, and then gladely use saves and BAB in 3ed... Honestly, it's not more complicated. Darn kids these days... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Hmm... took a look at the Ars Magica magic system link... Not that detailed, sadly, but reminds me a bit of the system in Mage: the Ascension... Nice game, that.