D&D 3.5 Edition

1 Overview

D&D 3.5 Edition was published in 2003 as a revision of 3rd Edition. It uses the Open Game License d20 System, the same foundation that Pathfinder 1e inherited. Compared to 5e, 3.5 is more complex, more customizable, and rewards deep system knowledge. It remains popular through Pathfinder and ongoing home games.

2 The d20 System

The core resolution is identical to 5e: roll d20, add modifiers, meet or beat a Difficulty Class (DC) or Armor Class (AC). Key differences:

• Base Attack Bonus (BAB), replaces proficiency bonus. Each class has its own BAB progression (full BAB for fighters, ¾ for clerics, ½ for wizards). At higher levels, BAB grants multiple attacks per round.
• Three Saving Throws, Fortitude (CON-based), Reflex (DEX-based), Will (WIS-based). Each class has "good" or "poor" progression in each save.
• Armor Check Penalty, heavy armor imposes penalties on many physical skills, making armor choice more complex.

3 Skills

Unlike 5e's proficiency system, 3.5 uses skill ranks. Each level you gain a pool of skill points to distribute:

• Class skills cost 1 point per rank, max ranks = your level + 3
• Cross-class skills cost 2 points per rank, max ranks = half the class skill cap

This creates meaningful tradeoffs. A rogue who spends all points on social skills is very different from one who maximizes combat skills. Skills are numerous: Bluff, Diplomacy, Disable Device, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Open Lock, Search, Sense Motive, Spot, Tumble, and many others.

4 Feats

Characters gain a feat at 1st level, then every 3 levels (3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18). Humans gain a bonus feat at 1st level. Many classes grant bonus feats on top of this.

Feats often have prerequisites, BAB minimums, other feats, skill ranks, or ability scores. A typical feat chain:

• Power Attack (requires STR 13)
• → Cleave (requires Power Attack)
• → Great Cleave (requires Cleave + BAB +4)
• → Whirlwind Attack (requires Great Cleave + Dodge + Mobility + Spring Attack + BAB +4)

Planning feat chains across 10+ levels is a significant part of character building in 3.5.

5 Prestige Classes

Prestige classes are advanced class paths unlocked by meeting specific requirements. They cannot be entered at character creation, you must first level up in a base class and meet the prerequisites.

Common prestige classes and requirements:

• Arcane Archer, requires BAB +6, Elf or half-elf, weapon focus with a bow, several spells
• Assassin, requires 8 ranks in Hide and Move Silently, evil alignment
• Dragon Disciple, requires Knowledge (arcana) 8 ranks, ability to cast arcane spells
• Eldritch Knight, requires proficiency with all martial weapons, 2nd level arcane spells

Expansion books (Complete Warrior, Complete Arcane, Complete Divine, Complete Adventurer) add hundreds more prestige classes, making 3.5 character building extremely deep.

6 Multiclassing

In 3.5, multiclassing is unrestricted, you can take any class level in any class at any time. However, experience point penalties apply if your classes are not within 1 level of each other (except for your "favored class" which doesn't count). A fighter 5 / wizard 1 would suffer XP penalties; a fighter 3 / wizard 2 would not.

Humans don't suffer multiclass XP penalties, making them the most flexible race for complex builds.

7 vs. 5th Edition