D&D (2024) What does Backward compatibility mean to you?

[Maxperson]

Characters from both might be equally powered, but I don't believe you'll be able to mix features from both books together without work. IMO, that's not backwards compatible. "Backwards adaptable?" Maybe. We'll have to see what future playtest releases hold.

It's not just your opinion, but also definitionally not backwards compatible.

 

[Parmandur]

I picked other because backwards compatibility means to me what it means in computer programs where the term comes from. The new edition can use the old stuff with absolutely no work on the part of the user. In the case of 5.5 that means that the power levels have to be roughly equal, or I will have to modify the older stuff which removes backwards compatibility.

Well, by that standard, backwards compatibility is impossible by definition, for an analog system like a TTRPG. In terms of the usual definition of the term, pwr Wikipedia, "Backward compatibility (sometimes known as backwards compatibility) is a property of an operating system, product, or technology that allows for interoperability with an older legacy system, or with input designed for such a system". By that definition, backwards compatibility is clearly in play since the design is centered on facilitating interoperability and interfacing with older material.

 

[TwoSix]

"Backwards Compatible" to me implies that both games can be used together with no (or minimal) issues or adaptations. Already I feel that One D&D does not fit that mark, as the way you generate stats and racial features means that 5e and One D&D characters at this moment are fundamentally different.

I literally see no incompatibility between using a 2014 race and a 2024 background. The only real problem is using a 2024 race with a 2014 background, and they should simply solve that by having the stat adjustment be its own step, unconnected to either race OR background.

 

[aco175]

I feel that I can ,make a PC using the old, crappy 5.0 PHB and still be able to play with the cool kids who ran out and bought the new, shiny. I should be able to pick feats and spells from the new edition PHB and not fell like I'm a second class PC.

I do not expect that I can cherry pick cool things from the new edition PHB and cherry pick the old PHB to make crazy combos and that the spirit should be to stick with one.

I do see most all the people buying the new PHB and crossing over with few it any problems and that the Earth will not fall off the stick that keeps it spinning on top of.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I really don't agree that "all of the above" is a cop-out. All of the above is a perfectly reasonable answer, because all of them are true. I also don't agree with @Maxperson that there has to be NO work involved for it to qualify, but I DO agree that the work involved ought to be minimal. OR easily understood, such as "You can make a 2014 PC OR a 2024 PC and play together but you can't mix-and-match". OR everything has errata that gets whatever needs changing in-line, but is easily understood.

As long as those things are true, it might not be perfectly backwards compatible, but I don't believe in perfection, so it would be close enough to backwards compatible (I agree that backwards adaptable is a more acceptable term, but words are often less than perfect). Close enough for me, at any rate.

As long as I can keep selling all the 5e books that I have in stock at my game store, I'm happy! (I expect it to be worth paring down the old DMG, MM, and to a lesser extent PHB, of course).

 

[Parmandur]

I really don't agree that "all of the above" is a cop-out. All of the above is a perfectly reasonable answer, because all of them are true. I also don't agree with @Maxperson that there has to be NO work involved for it to qualify, but I DO agree that the work involved ought to be minimal. OR easily understood, such as "You can make a 2014 PC OR a 2024 PC and play together but you can't mix-and-match". OR everything has errata that gets whatever needs changing in-line, but is easily understood.

As long as those things are true, it might not be perfectly backwards compatible, but I don't believe in perfection, so it would be close enough to backwards compatible (I agree that backwards adaptable is a more acceptable term, but words are often less than perfect). Close enough for me, at any rate.

As long as I can keep selling all the 5e books that I have in stock at my game store, I'm happy! (I expect it to be worth paring down the old DMG, MM, and to a lesser extent PHB, of course).

The example they use for what they mean by "Backwards Compatibility" in the playtest FAQ is specifically running Curse of Strahd with just the new Core books, so most of the back catalog should still be viable.

 

[Maxperson]

Well, by that standard, backwards compatibility is impossible by definition, for an analog system like a TTRPG.

Exactly. They shouldn't be using the term since they can't possibly achieve backwards compatibility.

In terms of the usual definition of the term, pwr Wikipedia, "Backward compatibility (sometimes known as backwards compatibility) is a property of an operating system, product, or technology that allows for interoperability with an older legacy system, or with input designed for such a system". By that definition, backwards compatibility is clearly in play since the design is centered on facilitating interoperability and interfacing with older material.

Right, but that interoperability comes without the user having to do anything, which is a property of backwards compatibility.

 

[Parmandur]

Exactly. They shouldn't be using the term since they can't possibly achieve backwards compatibility.

Right, but that interoperability comes without the user having to do anything, which is a property of backwards compatibility.

Well, in this case...the user is the players, the DM is part of the system. As long as the difference is fairly smooth for non-DMs, I would say the metaphor is pretty exact.

But what they mean colloquially is "you can keep using your old books, amd we'll facilitate thst on Beyond." And with Beyond, actual technical backwards compatibility is quite doable.

 

[Maxperson]

The example they use for what they mean by "Backwards Compatibility" in the playtest FAQ is specifically running Curse of Strahd with just the new Core books, so most of the back catalog should still be viable.

Just not the important stuff like the feats, classes, subclasses, races, etc. If you want to run an adventure, you're good! Anything else? Nope!

And for the record, I don't believe them with the adventure claim, either. Not because I think that they are lying, but I think they are mistaken. The modifications we already see will necessitate monster changes, which means having my having to modify the pre 2024 adventures to take those changes into account. If they don't make these changes, then the increased power level for the PCs(all get bonus feats and better racial abilities) and loss of power for the monsters(no crits) will mean that I have to modify the number and/or power level of the monsters in those adventures. No matter which way they go, I will have to work to change those adventures, removing backwards compatibility.

 

[Parmandur]

Just not the important stuff like the feats, classes, subclasses, races, etc. If you want to run an adventure, you're good! Anything else? Nope!

And for the record, I don't believe them with the adventure claim, either. Not because I think that they are lying, but I think they are mistaken. The modifications we already see will necessitate monster changes, which means having my having to modify the pre 2024 adventures to take those changes into account. If they don't make these changes, then the increased power level for the PCs(all get bonus feats and better racial abilities) and loss of power for the monsters(no crits) will mean that I have to modify the number and/or power level of the monsters in those adventures. No matter which way they go, I will have to work to change those adventures, removing backwards compatibility.

We're already mixing the old and new with raves and Monsters, and habe for a long while now (Ravenloft, Steixhaven MotM, Spelljammer...)

The Adventures are already pretty loose in the combat challenge department. Designing the MM around mainta8ning the basic Monster math (as they already have done for MotM) should make it rather unproblematic to run, anymore than already needing to adjust for group specifics.