After playing 5e for several years now(and 4e a bit before that), I'm going back to 3.5 for my games for the foreseeable future. But I don't remember much, and will definitely have to get this as one of the first books building up my 3.5 book collection again! :D
Probably the most useful book out of all 3.5 books. One of the best features of the content, in my opinion, is that each and every rule included all the errata, faqs and expansions ever published on the official site and magazines, revised and updated for a final version. Since they are based on the same rules system, I've used a lot of the content of this book for Pathfinder 1st edition too. In particular, the revised and expanded action table is one of my favorite DM tools, since it helps a lot to adjudicate things in combat. Also, Pathfinder was based on the vanilla d20 System rsd, so often it didn't include the errata, faqs and expansions that 3.5 experienced during its lifetime. This book helped me in sorting out what needed to be addressed.
If you are someone who doesn't mind used books and watching eBay, old D&D books can be had for less than cover price. To my eye, 3e had by far the most beautiful books and they were laid out well, with the Rules Compendium being one of the gems, especially for someone looking to get into 3e today. Thanks for the overview!
I wish this was the case in Europe. I've been trying to get my hands on used Planescape Books for years, but the prices people ask for are just too much. Sadly the way DrivethrouRPG print them is not great, when it comes to maps and handouts. Also the scans are not always that great.
@@Valior86 You may have some luck if you eagle-eye the newest listings as they pop up, if you have the time. I've tried two print orders from DriveThruRPG and they were both unsatisfactory, IMHO. The paper and print quality is too poor for me to ever go back. If you pay for premium printings, those seem to turn out a little better, but still not up to any officially published books. However, I love the easy access to PDFs and I prefer to just print the smaller books on my old inkjet printer.
This is the beautiful thing about a dead game with smart developers... the ability to finalize the rules into a compendium like this. There were a couple of books released after the Rules Compendium, but it was one of the last books released for 3.5.
Honestly I have never heard of this tome before, I have the magic compendium (VERY GOOD TO HAVE lol) but this one has slipped past me somehow. Very cool of you to show us just how cool this book is, def going to look this up!
I’ll have to look, I don’t remember if I have this book. I need to get all my 3/3.5 books together and do a video on them. It’s definitely a cool book Thanks for sharing
Thanks for the find! I'm looking to maybe run 3.5 soon but I'm very rusty from when I used to play it 20 years ago. Would I be able to run a game having solely read this book? I have the old core books but the idea of going back and reading it *all* is pretty daunting
For the rules absolutely, but you may want to familiarize yourself with major class features, feats and at least low level spells from the Core Rulebooks.
I enjoyed your video. However, it would have been good if you had addressed that the 3.5 rules compendium was pretty controversial when it came out. It changes some core rules and then asserts primacy over the core rulebooks, which breaks the Errata rules. There are multiple discussions about this that you can find with a Google search, but this one cover the issues pretty well. Basically, if you are a DM and your players are looking at the core rulebooks and you are looking at the RC, there might be times when there are discrepancies that you'll have to adjudicate. Personally, I like the RC, but I decide on a case by case basis if I am going to go with a rule in the RC versus the core rules, when they don't align.
I have to be honest, I was unaware of the controversy. It came out at a time where I was working 14 hour days, sometimes 12 days in a row for months so I was pretty disconnected from the hobby. I do know that with 4th it was established that if a rule was printed in multiple books and varied that the newest version was considered the correct one. I guess that started with the RC.
It doesn't really replace anything, but it takes the rules from the Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide and puts them in a single book. It also expands on the rules to make them easier to understand. Plus it incorporates all the errata. You would still use the PHB to look up class features, feats, spells etc., and the DMG for magic items, XP rewards and prestige classes.
@@DravenSwiftbow thanks - I knew 3.5 was overwhelming with number of books and didnt know, to what degree, this book helped with that. Thanks! (Eberron Fan here... main reason for considering 3.5 as Im not to pleased with 5e rules for Eberron... so I homebrew.)
After playing 5e for several years now(and 4e a bit before that), I'm going back to 3.5 for my games for the foreseeable future. But I don't remember much, and will definitely have to get this as one of the first books building up my 3.5 book collection again! :D
Probably the most useful book out of all 3.5 books.
One of the best features of the content, in my opinion, is that each and every rule included all the errata, faqs and expansions ever published on the official site and magazines, revised and updated for a final version.
Since they are based on the same rules system, I've used a lot of the content of this book for Pathfinder 1st edition too. In particular, the revised and expanded action table is one of my favorite DM tools, since it helps a lot to adjudicate things in combat.
Also, Pathfinder was based on the vanilla d20 System rsd, so often it didn't include the errata, faqs and expansions that 3.5 experienced during its lifetime. This book helped me in sorting out what needed to be addressed.
If you are someone who doesn't mind used books and watching eBay, old D&D books can be had for less than cover price. To my eye, 3e had by far the most beautiful books and they were laid out well, with the Rules Compendium being one of the gems, especially for someone looking to get into 3e today. Thanks for the overview!
I wish this was the case in Europe. I've been trying to get my hands on used Planescape Books for years, but the prices people ask for are just too much. Sadly the way DrivethrouRPG print them is not great, when it comes to maps and handouts. Also the scans are not always that great.
@@Valior86 You may have some luck if you eagle-eye the newest listings as they pop up, if you have the time. I've tried two print orders from DriveThruRPG and they were both unsatisfactory, IMHO. The paper and print quality is too poor for me to ever go back. If you pay for premium printings, those seem to turn out a little better, but still not up to any officially published books. However, I love the easy access to PDFs and I prefer to just print the smaller books on my old inkjet printer.
@@edwardmemwah1610 Given the POD price I can even justify buying a batter printer just for the pdfs :D
This is the beautiful thing about a dead game with smart developers... the ability to finalize the rules into a compendium like this. There were a couple of books released after the Rules Compendium, but it was one of the last books released for 3.5.
Thanks for the video I'm planning to go back from 5e to 3.5 for one campaign and I've never played it as a DM so this is exactly what I needed!
Awesome! I hope it goes well for you. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask, message me on Twitter and I'll do my best to help.
Honestly I have never heard of this tome before, I have the magic compendium (VERY GOOD TO HAVE lol) but this one has slipped past me somehow. Very cool of you to show us just how cool this book is, def going to look this up!
Definitely one of my favorite 3.5 books! It’s cool to see that they put it up on DriveThru RPG as a POD!
One of my favorite books and a must have at my DM table.
I’ll have to look, I don’t remember if I have this book.
I need to get all my 3/3.5 books together and do a video on them.
It’s definitely a cool book
Thanks for sharing
3.5 is my jam, and this one is my next one to get.
Thank you for the share Dave.
Thanks for the find!
I'm looking to maybe run 3.5 soon but I'm very rusty from when I used to play it 20 years ago.
Would I be able to run a game having solely read this book? I have the old core books but the idea of going back and reading it *all* is pretty daunting
For the rules absolutely, but you may want to familiarize yourself with major class features, feats and at least low level spells from the Core Rulebooks.
@@DravenSwiftbow That's what I was thinking: do I need the core books or no. You answer my question, and I thank you for that!!
I enjoyed your video. However, it would have been good if you had addressed that the 3.5 rules compendium was pretty controversial when it came out. It changes some core rules and then asserts primacy over the core rulebooks, which breaks the Errata rules. There are multiple discussions about this that you can find with a Google search, but this one cover the issues pretty well. Basically, if you are a DM and your players are looking at the core rulebooks and you are looking at the RC, there might be times when there are discrepancies that you'll have to adjudicate. Personally, I like the RC, but I decide on a case by case basis if I am going to go with a rule in the RC versus the core rules, when they don't align.
I have to be honest, I was unaware of the controversy. It came out at a time where I was working 14 hour days, sometimes 12 days in a row for months so I was pretty disconnected from the hobby.
I do know that with 4th it was established that if a rule was printed in multiple books and varied that the newest version was considered the correct one. I guess that started with the RC.
What books does this completely replace? (If any?)
Or better yet, which 3.5 books go with this one without overlap? Thanks 🙏
It doesn't really replace anything, but it takes the rules from the Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide and puts them in a single book.
It also expands on the rules to make them easier to understand. Plus it incorporates all the errata.
You would still use the PHB to look up class features, feats, spells etc., and the DMG for magic items, XP rewards and prestige classes.
@@DravenSwiftbow thanks - I knew 3.5 was overwhelming with number of books and didnt know, to what degree, this book helped with that. Thanks! (Eberron Fan here... main reason for considering 3.5 as Im not to pleased with 5e rules for Eberron... so I homebrew.)