D&D (2024) So Will 'OneD&D' (6E) Actually Be Backwards Compatible?

[mellored]

Edit: I suspect most of the "no backwards compatibility" arguments are coming from folks who don't use DDB. If you rely on it, the way millions of players do, and the way WotC clearly wants the game to go, then backwards compatibility seems like an obvious necessity.

Even with in DDB, they could just have a "use 2014 version" or "use 2024 versions" check box.

I mean, they literally already have all the code needed to keep the old stuff.

Not sure if they would, but trivial to do it technically.

 

[deganawida]

Here’s a question I don’t think anyone has asked yet: Regardless of the magnitude of the changes, will DDB require a digital purchase of the 2024 books in order to use them, even if one has the 2014?

 

[mellored]

Here’s a question I don’t think anyone has asked yet: Regardless of the magnitude of the changes, will DDB require a digital purchase of the 2024 books in order to use them, even if one has the 2014?

Haven't seen anything one way or the other.

But I would lean towards not requiring a new purchase.

Pure guess though.

 

[DarkCrisis]

That's by definition not backwards compatible.

And yet its how WotC defines it.

 

[Parmandur]

By the "numbers will be in the same ballpark so you can play new in an old adventure or vice versa" it will be backward compatible.

In the "you can freely mix-and-match all of this material while making characters, planning sessions including monsters, spells and treasure, and it just works together", then no, it's not backwards compatible.

Well, all reports from people actually mixing and matching UA content and new style monsters with 2014 material say that there aren't any issues Greely doing so, thus it seems reasonable to conclude thst is plausible.

 

[Parmandur]

I think the big area of non-compatibility will be subclasses for 2014 5e and subclasses for the same class in 1D&D.

The 3/6/10/14 sub class features in 1D&D means 5e subclasses that can’t fit that will take non trivial modification.

But a 2014 5e class using subclasses designed for that class will play fine in the same party alongside a 1D&D class using subclasses designed for it.

Should be handalable with a single sidebar.

 

[Maxperson]

And yet its how WotC defines it.

If they defined up as down would you believe them?

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

Should be handalable with a single sidebar.

Indeed, I covered in a single sentence.

 

[OB1]

Given WotC's interest in selling subscriptions, backwards compatibility for Monster, Setting, and AP books means that at launch, WotC can offer a tremendous amount of content (probably on a rotating basis, just like a streaming video service) to entice users to subscribe. It's their version of Microsoft Game Pass or Playstation Plus. If there is no back catalog, it makes selling the subscription more difficult. They may also 'patch' DDB versions of the old content to work more smoothly with One, further enticing players to move to Beyond if they want to play that old content with the new rules. If it takes some work for DMs to convert outside of Beyond, they are probably okay with that, as you can always buy the new One books that are fully compatible.

 

[MarkB]

A lot of folks wont either, D&Dbeyond will just update for them.

Will it? You already can't access the current versions of many races on D&D Beyond without buying Monsters of the Multiverse.