Biggest diff in 3E is that you roll up instead of down. Obviates negative numbers, which will help the younger players a great deal.

As a DM, I never let chaotic characters go on expeditions. My reasoning was that they would be too chaotic to fit in with a group at all, make group decisions, etc.

I was leary about letting Evil characters go, but there wasn't a sound technical reason against it as in the case of Chaotics.

What is a DM to do with a group of evil characters? Send them on an expedition to a monstery? Most of the wild ghoulies and such in the monster manual are evil. The point of D&D is to create a reenactment of a sort of fantasy-novel-like battle between good and evil in such a way as you can feel like you're part of the story, and not just reading it.

Although from time to time something like SeanM's all-evil party sounds like a fun break from the ordinary.

I disagree, Naemanson, with your assertion that the idea of a good-aligned party is based on TV/movies. It's based ultimately on Lord of the Rings and other books of that genre. Books in which the evil guys win are only really satisfying reading for evil people.

Alex