D&D (2024) The impending mess that will be backwards compatibility

[Leatherhead]

There is literally no other way backwards compatibility could have worked. And not having it would have been a disasterpiece of "What do you mean I can't use these books I spent hundreds of dollars on anymore?" Rage and backlash.

Of course, just because you are using the 2014 class, doesn't mean you have to use the 2014 spells, or feats, or weapons, or even backgrounds. Which should hopefully significantly smooth over most of the problems.

 

[Minigiant]

Of course, just because you are using the 2014 class, doesn't mean you have to use the 2014 spells, or feats, or weapons, or even backgrounds. Which should hopefully significantly smooth over most of the problems.

I think if you choose the 2014 classes, you are stuck with the 2014 feats and backgrounds. Likely only weapons, spells, and items will be interchangeable on the PC side as those are leveled or categorized.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Considering we've been through a .5 before, we already know that the period during which people will be mixing and matching 5.0 and 5.5 is going to be measured in months rather than years. This will be an issue for less time than anyone is acting like it will be. The tables where you can play a 2014 class will vanish like they were Thanos-snapped.

 

[Horwath]

Guys.

please just abandon backward compatibility and just try and make a good game instead.

This!

Little less versatility on casters, little more on martials and we are good to go.

And look at F tier feats. If a feats is not competing with ASI to primary, buff it.

 

[mamba]

Little less versatility on casters, little more on martials and we are good to go.

And look at F tier feats. If a feats is not competing with ASI to primary, buff it.

they can do this while maintaining compatibility

 

[Remathilis]

I think if you choose the 2014 classes, you are stuck with the 2014 feats and backgrounds. Likely only weapons, spells, and items will be interchangeable on the PC side as those are leveled or categorized.

Says who?

There is no law that says I must only use revised with revised, old with old. You could play a 2e ranger at a 1e table. Your 3e character could take a 3.5 prestige class or Pathfinder spells. A 5e druid, BF fighter and 1D ranger can all play at the same table. I mean, you will pick a baseline ruleset and then add exceptions, but the point is that those exceptions should work in a way using a 2e race in 4e doesn't.

WotC is trying to signal they don't intend to stop production of 5e supplemental books and Xanathar will still be relevant post 2024. I don't know how much more plain they can put that. It's a fault of the community that we seek to treat this like the clean break previous editions have been rather than a revised and expanded edition.

 

[Mallus]

The game’s editions was interoperable for almost 20 years during the AD&D 1e and 2e era.

Why not again?

 

[Morrus]

Backwards compatibility means they use the same rules base. That’s all. They work together. It doesn’t mean that all choices will remain optimal choices, just that they are choices which mechanically interact with the game correctly.

A dragon and a goblin are compatible with 5E. Doesn’t mean they’re the same as each other.

 

[Minigiant]

Says who?

There is no law that says I must only use revised with revised, old with old. You could play a 2e ranger at a 1e table. Your 3e character could take a 3.5 prestige class or Pathfinder spells. A 5e druid, BF fighter and 1D ranger can all play at the same table. I mean, you will pick a baseline ruleset and then add exceptions, but the point is that those exceptions should work in a way using a 2e race in 4e doesn't.

WotC is trying to signal they don't intend to stop production of 5e supplemental books and Xanathar will still be relevant post 2024. I don't know how much more plain they can put that. It's a fault of the community that we seek to treat this like the clean break previous editions have been rather than a revised and expanded edition.

You can do whatever you what.

But if you mixmatch it won't be balanced.

 

[Remathilis]

You can do whatever you what.

But if you mixmatch it won't be balanced.

It's not really all that perfectly balanced now.

I mean, you CAN do it. Does that mean you should? That's the call of the DM and group.