Level Up (A5E) Can you use O5E subclasses with A5E

[Morrus]

Our most commonly asked question, so I figured I'd sticky it.

Yes. We designed A5E to be able to use O5E subclasses.

(There may be one or two exceptions which need a little tweaking, but generally O5E subclasses work as-is).

 

[VenerableBede]

And it works in reverse! Not that I think anyone would want to go back once going all-in on A5e, but that is technically an option that works perfectly well.

 

[Timespike]

Something else relevant to the crowd here: it works especially well with third-party O5E subclasses. Because of the common basis in the 5e OGL, you'll really just be missing a the new stuff A5E added rather than having references to non-OGL spells and the like. So if you're wondering if the material in your copy of COFSA, the Grim Hollow Player's Guide, or Kobold Press's snazzy new Tome of Heroes will work as well as the first-party WotC stuff, the answer is still very much yes!

 

[xiphumor]

And it works in reverse! Not that I think anyone would want to go back once going all-in on A5e, but that is technically an option that works perfectly well.

It mostly works in reverse. The new fighter archetypes, for example, get combat traditions as a major part of their design. That can’t be brought over to O5e.

 

[Pedantic]

It mostly works in reverse. The new fighter archetypes, for example, get combat traditions as a major part of their design. That can’t be brought over to O5e.

I wonder if there's some treatment like the A5E ranger that could be applied to archetypes granting combat traditions that would make them easy enough to port back. Pick 1 maneuver per maneuver level, use them 1/short rest maybe?

 

[VenerableBede]

It mostly works in reverse. The new fighter archetypes, for example, get combat traditions as a major part of their design. That can’t be brought over to O5e.

That basically just turns every fighter into battle master if you use A5e stuff in O5e. Just give the character maneuvers and exertion starting at level 3, track when you get new maneuvers/degrees, and everything is golden.