If you’ve ever played Dungeons & Dragons you’ve likely at one point or another played Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition. It is the best edition due to the fact that it has the most freedom to pursue various goals from being a monstrous creature to being a simple farmer. It has a varied amount of background skills that can be used in a fun and manageable format.

There were, of course, first, second and third editions as well. These editions had some rough points in them. They were, of course, earth shattering and made a monumental movement. It made the game system too hard to do anything in the earlier editions. Critical hits did not even exist until the second edition which is a critical (pun intended) aspect of the game as a whole. It wasn’t even a guaranteed strike! It was only effectively two attacks. Then in the third it was always a hit and dealt extra damage and there was a way to make it more likely to get them making the game more enjoyable.

There is also the edition which must not be named, but I shall name it here. The fourth edition. It was one of the most reviled editions of D&D posted. This edition attempted to make the game feel less like a creative and free-form boardgame and more into a hard and fast video game. This was removing the primary advantages which are inherent in a game without any preprogrammed walls and abilities. The lack of creativity that can be used in creation of items usable within the game and making combat quicker as well as more streamlined removed the freedom that makes the game more appealing than classic video games.

Fifth edition is a good edition – I won’t deny that – but it has a bit of fourth edition’s problems, just watered down. It adds simplicity which does make the game more palatable to newer players. Getting new players into the game is important. To do otherwise will make a game die. It is too simple though. It still limits the ability to make things and grow in new and interesting directions. No edition has as many supplementary books as edition 3.5. Fifth edition can be a good starting point for new players. If you’re ready to go somewhere and stay there? If you want to keep playing the game and truly get the undiluted experience, play Dungeons and Dragons Edition 3.5.