D&D + non-D&D D20 Fantasy = compatability?

[FCWesel]

I was wondering how well most things (feats, classes, races, spells, etc) in books like...

Arcana Unearthed
Warcraft D20
Everquest D20
Midnight
(and so on)

...work with the 3.5 D&D game rules?

 

[DMScott]

I don't think it's possible to answer in general - each system was written by different people, aiming at a different audience, for a different setting and power level, etc. They are mechanically close enough to allow pretty much free interchange, but that doesn't mean the end product of such an exercise is going to be fun or balanced. You might want to narrow your question to particular parts of each game.

 

[FCWesel]

Well, I posted it thus so that I wouldn't have 10 different threads when anyone could select anypart of my question they have experience with and run with it. Thanks for your reply.

 

[Voneth]

Mix and match at your own discretion.

In general, the d20 set up is in no way a promise that other publishers will make their stuff compatable, though most of it is close.

On that note, there are some offical D&D licenced products, WarCraft and Kingdoms of Kalimar go through a process to ensure their products are 99 percent compatable.

 

[Desdichado]

At the recent Chicago gameday, I was chatting with some folks between games and I think it was KnowTheToe who said that he had spent some time (a lot of time, I'm sure) making a "campaign bible" that included custom core classes, feats, etc. mostly all from OGL sources, but all combined in a single document. I've always wanted to do that.

In general, I think all those "systems" work very well with each other. Of course, there's some specific issues that might crop up, so you have to keep your eyes open, but I mix and match quite a bit myself.

 

[Voadam]

I was wondering how well most things (feats, classes, races, spells, etc) in books like...

Arcana Unearthed
Warcraft D20
Everquest D20
Midnight
(and so on)

...work with the 3.5 D&D game rules?

I think (I don't have it) Midnight is straight D&D rules with a different set of classes and magic system. Should work fine.

Everquest has some variant rules such as variable iterative attack rates with weapon speeds. There point based spell magic system is not vancian but should work fine side by side if you want to allow more types of casters. They do not follow epic rules but continue with the base ones through 30 levels. It has a few different skills. ECL works a little differently with an xp rate penalty for tough races.

Arcana unearthed has a few different skills (hide and move silent are collapsed into sneak) and you get an extra 1st level feat. Its magic is nonvancian but also should work fine side by side with D&D. Monte has said the character balance of the magic classes is a smoother progression: a little more powerful at low levels, a little less powerful at high levels than D&D. Should be no problem working into a D&D game.

Warcraft I don't have and haven't heard a lot of specifics about it.