So I read that the adventures would be backwards compatible, but what about the source books? What if my group still wants to play in 5e, will dnd beyond still provide that, or will we be forced to changes sites?
PHB, MM and DMG are being replaced, everything else should be compatible.
They've said that 5e will still work on DDB, but I wouldn't count on being able to buy the above three once 1D&D releases. You should be able to keep the ones you've bought, but you most likely won't be able to buy them if you haven't already by that point (going by how they treated the other two books they've "retired").
As confident and clear as they may be in declaring things at the moment, there is no guarantee things won't change so while this is correct according to what they've said right now, I can't guarantee that things won't change between now and the actual release.
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
I think that when they talk about compatibility they don't mean that you can mix things freely. I think they are talking about being able to play old adventures with the new rules (or vice versa). I have the impression that everything old will become "legacy", and that it will not have the same status as the new material, that it will be truly "official".
At most I think they will include some kind of conversion rules, but I can't imagine how they are going to make something like this work either.
I think that when they talk about compatibility they don't mean that you can mix things freely. I think they are talking about being able to play old adventures with the new rules (or vice versa). I have the impression that everything old will become "legacy", and that it will not have the same status as the new material, that it will be truly "official".
At most I think they will include some kind of conversion rules, but I can't imagine how they are going to make something like this work either.
That's not what they said. I doubt there will be truly free swapping - like 1D&D subclasses with 5e classes - but they've explicitly said that everything other than the three will be compatible, like TCoE. So, yes, if they keep their word, you'll be able to bring everything forward apart from the core rules. The main thing that will be an issue is the matching of subclasses to classes, although that was never my expectation anyway. Some of the "old" books were designed specifically with 1D&D in mind.
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
It means that fifth edition adventures and supplements will work in One D&D. For example, if you want to run Curse of Strahd in One D&D, that book will work with the new versions of the core rulebooks. Our goal is for you to keep enjoying the content you already have and make it even better. You’ll see this in action through the playtest materials, which you will be able to provide feedback on.
If it’s not written in that statement then expect engineered obsolescence for the digital stuff.
I think that when they talk about compatibility they don't mean that you can mix things freely. I think they are talking about being able to play old adventures with the new rules (or vice versa). I have the impression that everything old will become "legacy", and that it will not have the same status as the new material, that it will be truly "official".
At most I think they will include some kind of conversion rules, but I can't imagine how they are going to make something like this work either.
That's not what they said. I doubt there will be truly free swapping - like 1D&D subclasses with 5e classes - but they've explicitly said that everything other than the three will be compatible, like TCoE. So, yes, if they keep their word, you'll be able to bring everything forward apart from the core rules. The main thing that will be an issue is the matching of subclasses to classes, although that was never my expectation anyway. Some of the "old" books were designed specifically with 1D&D in mind.
Hmm, not exactly. When in that famous meeting with content creators they cornered Jermey Crawford to talk about compatibility, he said that what would be compatible are adventures. Of the rest of the material he said that there would be things that could not be compatible by pure logic. But that they were going to try to include some kind of rules so that everything possible could be made compatible.
From there I deduce that they are going to include conversion tables or something like that. But I wouldn't expect much.
In fact, I never expected that both editions would be fully compatible. The adventures yes, as it is also, with a little work, any adventure from past editions. And so it will be to play with a class and subclass of 2014 with the rules of 2024, although we will have to see how that works. What surely you will not be able to do is mix rules from one site and another. For example, mixing classes and subclasses. Or A feat from here, with a class from there, a background from I don't know where and x feature from Tasha's. That's not going to work.
Looking at the most recent updates, they are greatly increasing player power by large margins. If you try to use those new player characters with existing 5E monster stat blocks, CR will be meaningless. Most likely the CR problems that begin at levels 10+ will start taking place at levels 6-7+. They would have to buff the current monster manual creatures to compensate, and frankly I doubt they will.
The current direction of D&D is where the players are essentially immortal. Remember when they tried to remove monster crits, which is one way for characters to be killed, well there was an attempt and it was put back. The death saving throw mechanic system is another way where the players most likely isn't going to die as well. So going with this line of thinking, not sure they will address player immortality vs a game where you can lose. Is it still a game where you don't lose if you follow the CR mechanics and daily xp exactly.
On the surface, sure D&D One will be backwards compatible, but with increasing player abilities beyond super hero (5E) to immortality (6E) it isn't going to be really backwards compatible, you'll need a new monster manual to deal with increasing player strength, which means you'll need to buy a new book (MM) in addition to the new (PHB) and if they want to fix CR, a new CR system in the (DMG) you'll need to buy as well. So is it really backwards compatible then? I don't think so. I don't blame WotC for this, its just a way to make more money.
On the other hand, if you don't use Tasha's+ all content afterwards, you have a balanced game that anyone can pick up and play. OR you can buy 6E with increasingly more complicated character builds that not everyone can play quickly and you'll end up having to spend more money.
I think that when they talk about compatibility they don't mean that you can mix things freely. I think they are talking about being able to play old adventures with the new rules (or vice versa). I have the impression that everything old will become "legacy", and that it will not have the same status as the new material, that it will be truly "official".
At most I think they will include some kind of conversion rules, but I can't imagine how they are going to make something like this work either.
That's not what they said. I doubt there will be truly free swapping - like 1D&D subclasses with 5e classes - but they've explicitly said that everything other than the three will be compatible, like TCoE. So, yes, if they keep their word, you'll be able to bring everything forward apart from the core rules. The main thing that will be an issue is the matching of subclasses to classes, although that was never my expectation anyway. Some of the "old" books were designed specifically with 1D&D in mind.
Hmm, not exactly. When in that famous meeting with content creators they cornered Jermey Crawford to talk about compatibility, he said that what would be compatible are adventures. Of the rest of the material he said that there would be things that could not be compatible by pure logic. But that they were going to try to include some kind of rules so that everything possible could be made compatible.
From there I deduce that they are going to include conversion tables or something like that. But I wouldn't expect much.
In fact, I never expected that both editions would be fully compatible. The adventures yes, as it is also, with a little work, any adventure from past editions. And so it will be to play with a class and subclass of 2014 with the rules of 2024, although we will have to see how that works. What surely you will not be able to do is mix rules from one site and another. For example, mixing classes and subclasses. Or A feat from here, with a class from there, a background from I don't know where and x feature from Tasha's. That's not going to work.
Your understanding of what Perkins and Crawford set at the portion of the summit scheduled to discuss the 2024 update only partially tracks. Here's what Crawford actually said, quoted from a number of sources after the summit who used the same language, because they all transcribed the same thing:
"You'll be able to open up your Curse of Strahd and run it with the new core books. I might blow your mind with this next one. If you really want you can make a character from the 2014 Players Handbook with options from Tasha's Cauldron and Xanathar's Guide and run that character at the same table with a character made from the 2024 books. This is why I say what we're doing has not been done before for the game."
So yes, you can run existing adventures has been confirmed as part of the design of the 2024 update, but it's also said the intend of the update is that characters built with the 2024 books can be run alongside builds from the 2014 core and supplements.
Looking at the most recent updates, they are greatly increasing player power by large margins. If you try to use those new player characters with existing 5E monster stat blocks, CR will be meaningless. Most likely the CR problems that begin at levels 10+ will start taking place at levels 6-7+. They would have to buff the current monster manual creatures to compensate, and frankly I doubt they will.
snip
There's conjecture from reading, and there's actual play testing. I understand your impression, but have you actually played it out?
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
On the topic of CR. I got the impression they want to adjust the monsters to make it fit better. The idea is not to change the CR, but yo adjust the numbers so the listed CR better reflects the creature’s abilities.
And overall, compatibility isn’t that much of a stretch. If they keep bounded accuracy, keep ability scores basically the same, keep proficiency bonuses the same. The math underlying the mechanics stays the same, things should still work. You’re still going to be, usually, +5 to hit at level 1. Maybe 1D&D characters will have more options, but they’ll still only get 1 action, and they’ll still be +5.
I’m not trying to say it absolutely is going to work, but it seems like it could. Probably it won’t be perfect, but nothing is.
Bounded Accuracy has led to monsters with lots of hit points, everyone going for the 60% hit rate or fail rate and long combat. To make players expend resources you are going to a medium encounter at the bare minimum and it will be maybe 1 or 2 resources for a party of 4 if that. At hard, players will exert resources but it will take longer, and they still are at no real risk. At deadly, then you get players having to actually think and it can take 6-10 rounds if not more.
The HP inflation has got to go. They went from having +20 on skills to having +200 on hp's, its not working well.
Looking at the most recent updates, they are greatly increasing player power by large margins. If you try to use those new player characters with existing 5E monster stat blocks, CR will be meaningless. Most likely the CR problems that begin at levels 10+ will start taking place at levels 6-7+. They would have to buff the current monster manual creatures to compensate, and frankly I doubt they will.
The current direction of D&D is where the players are essentially immortal. Remember when they tried to remove monster crits, which is one way for characters to be killed, well there was an attempt and it was put back. The death saving throw mechanic system is another way where the players most likely isn't going to die as well. So going with this line of thinking, not sure they will address player immortality vs a game where you can lose. Is it still a game where you don't lose if you follow the CR mechanics and daily xp exactly.
On the surface, sure D&D One will be backwards compatible, but with increasing player abilities beyond super hero (5E) to immortality (6E) it isn't going to be really backwards compatible, you'll need a new monster manual to deal with increasing player strength, which means you'll need to buy a new book (MM) in addition to the new (PHB) and if they want to fix CR, a new CR system in the (DMG) you'll need to buy as well. So is it really backwards compatible then? I don't think so. I don't blame WotC for this, its just a way to make more money.
On the other hand, if you don't use Tasha's+ all content afterwards, you have a balanced game that anyone can pick up and play. OR you can buy 6E with increasingly more complicated character builds that not everyone can play quickly and you'll end up having to spend more money.
I know what I'm doing as a DM for my group.
Why would you use 1D&D characters with 5E monsters when they are also putting out the 1D&D monster manual? And you can use the 2024 MM as a guide for adjustments for monsters that are not in that book.
Why would you use 1D&D characters with 5E monsters when they are also putting out the 1D&D monster manual? And you can use the 2024 MM as a guide for adjustments for monsters that are not in that book.
Options! I may be a GM, but I am a player too. Sure, I may already have a dozen different undead, goblinoids, insects, and various other baddies, but having more options is always nice and keeps my players guessing a bit.
Edit: I did not realize I did not finish my comment before posting. Now it should be complete.
While we have been assured that One D&D will be compatible with ALL other 5e sourcebooks we are yet to see how it will work in practise for example
If I want to play a tortle do I get a level 1 feat? Do I get a racial ASI? Does this stack with a background ASI if I take a PHB background?
If I want ot take the crusher feat can I do so at level 1 or should their be a minimum level to it?
If I want to play a non PHB subclass how do I combine that with the base class?
Some things might be straight forward so for example
Their could be a list of all non PHB feats and what level they are.
It could be stated that if you choose a non PHB race you get all their features except the ASI but you also get a level 1 feat, along with a note as to whether custom lineage gets two level 1 feats or a level 1 and an level 4.
I suspect non PHB backgrounds might simply not be compatible as their is no equivalent to the background feature or characteristics and the other elements are either in the generic 2 skills a tool and a language. But this isn't a huge part of the game
Where it gets trickier is subclasses it gets tricky, if you go with a non PHB subclass do you put it on a 5e base class or the One D&D class. I think their are complxities either way.
There is also the balance issue. It is definately an aim to increase martial damge output, though it this is in the base class you might be able ot stack non PHB subclasses on the base class. Wizards and Sorcerers appear to have received a major boost in power but this does not appear to be the case for druids and Bards. Rogues have had a significant nerf. There is a hint that spell casting might get less powerfull with the nerfing of the most powerful spells like banish and guidance I suspect the same will follow for the other "must take" spells like polymorph. Final versions will also be adjusted from what we have seen so overall it might be that a while 5e matrtials and weaker than the one D&D characters spellcasters are about the same but if a party has a 5e clerin and a 1 D&D wizard casting different banish spells it wil get very confusing (and consistantly using one version will result in the 5e PC being overpowered).
Some relevant comments by Jeremy Crawford at the Creators summit, taken from the transcript at enworld:
Crawford continued to that when Wizards created 3.5, it was built on the bones of 3.0, but you had to replace all of your books. That won't be the case here. You'll be able to run your copy of Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel or Curse of Strahd with the new 2024 books. You'll be able to make a character with the 2014 core books and use it at the same table with a character made with the 2024 books. So we're revising 5E and giving it a fresh coat of paint but it's the same game. We want people to buy the new books because they're excited, not because they have to.
The books will include the old terms in the glossary and it will say, "hi, my name changed to this. Everything you read in an old book this term now refers to this term." We don't want any conversion docs. it's all going to be in the book. The new books will say, for example, if your character was made with the 2014 books, you get a feat." We've been working that into the new background because they give a feat. A note says if your background doesn't give you a feat, take a feat.
Your understanding of what Perkins and Crawford set at the portion of the summit scheduled to discuss the 2024 update only partially tracks. Here's what Crawford actually said, quoted from a number of sources after the summit who used the same language, because they all transcribed the same thing:
"You'll be able to open up your Curse of Strahd and run it with the new core books. I might blow your mind with this next one. If you really want you can make a character from the 2014 Players Handbook with options from Tasha's Cauldron and Xanathar's Guide and run that character at the same table with a character made from the 2024 books. This is why I say what we're doing has not been done before for the game."
So yes, you can run existing adventures has been confirmed as part of the design of the 2024 update, but it's also said the intend of the update is that characters built with the 2024 books can be run alongside builds from the 2014 core and supplements.
I did not say the opposite. What I am saying is that you are hardly going to be able to mix a class of 2024 (the chassis, to understand us), with a subclass of 2014. That would be a design nightmare.
But yes, it will allow you to mix characters from 2014 and 2024 in the same party.
Although I also tell you that in practice it will happen rarely. I bet the mustaches I don't have that many DMs are going to ban that from their tables. And I also think that most players are going to want to play 2024 characters.
In summary, by backward compatibility I understand: - That you will be able to play 5e (2014) campaigns with the 2024 edition. - That it will allow you to play characters from 2024 and 5e (2014) in the same party. - And they may include some sort of explanation or tables for porting Tasha's "stuff" to 2024.
What I don't think you'll be able to do "officially" is mix 2014 rules with 2024 rules. And I also don't think you'll be able to use feats, spells, backgrounds, subclasses, etc... on characters created under the 2024 rules. At most they will tell you that if you create a character following the 2014 rules, you will have to freely assign ASIs to it (+1/+2 or three +1) and ignore racial ASIs. And that you can choose a starting feat. That is what I think.
Would it be that hard to play a current subclass with the new chassis? You get the same number of subclass features, they just come online at different levels. Just take them in the same order at the new levels. What am I missing otherwise?
'Backward compatible' is definitional and it'll be backward compatible, according to WotC's definition...which might not be your own.
I'm the minority, but frankly, I'll believe it when I see it. By my definition, 5e isn't 'backward compatible' with itself - "If a rule has been reprinted in a newer resource, you must always use the latest printing." Yeah, its an AL rule, but that's WotC publishing that rule for the latest edition of the game. So despite what they're saying they're going to do, they're doing the exact opposite right now...they're publishing specific rules that prevent backward compatibility within a single edition (let alone across editions). Maybe they'll do a 180, but they currently have the position that content is only backward compatible so long as the latest publications are silent on that prior content. Also look at the physical books VoGTM and MToF...which are still for sale in stores, yet you can no longer access them on DDB unless you unlocked them some time ago. So sure, backward compatible.
Would it be that hard to play a current subclass with the new chassis? You get the same number of subclass features, they just come online at different levels. Just take them in the same order at the new levels. What am I missing otherwise?
It depends on the class. But there are simply subclasses that are balanced for it's 2014 class, but not for it's 2024 class. That's why I say that would be a design nightmare, because designers can't take into account all the existing subclasses to design the new classes. Or they could, but that would be... a nightmare.
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So I read that the adventures would be backwards compatible, but what about the source books? What if my group still wants to play in 5e, will dnd beyond still provide that, or will we be forced to changes sites?
PHB, MM and DMG are being replaced, everything else should be compatible.
They've said that 5e will still work on DDB, but I wouldn't count on being able to buy the above three once 1D&D releases. You should be able to keep the ones you've bought, but you most likely won't be able to buy them if you haven't already by that point (going by how they treated the other two books they've "retired").
As confident and clear as they may be in declaring things at the moment, there is no guarantee things won't change so while this is correct according to what they've said right now, I can't guarantee that things won't change between now and the actual release.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
I think that when they talk about compatibility they don't mean that you can mix things freely. I think they are talking about being able to play old adventures with the new rules (or vice versa). I have the impression that everything old will become "legacy", and that it will not have the same status as the new material, that it will be truly "official".
At most I think they will include some kind of conversion rules, but I can't imagine how they are going to make something like this work either.
That's not what they said. I doubt there will be truly free swapping - like 1D&D subclasses with 5e classes - but they've explicitly said that everything other than the three will be compatible, like TCoE. So, yes, if they keep their word, you'll be able to bring everything forward apart from the core rules. The main thing that will be an issue is the matching of subclasses to classes, although that was never my expectation anyway. Some of the "old" books were designed specifically with 1D&D in mind.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
From their info statement https://dndbeyond-support.wizards.com/
What does backwards compatible mean?
It means that fifth edition adventures and supplements will work in One D&D. For example, if you want to run Curse of Strahd in One D&D, that book will work with the new versions of the core rulebooks. Our goal is for you to keep enjoying the content you already have and make it even better. You’ll see this in action through the playtest materials, which you will be able to provide feedback on.
If it’s not written in that statement then expect engineered obsolescence for the digital stuff.
Hmm, not exactly. When in that famous meeting with content creators they cornered Jermey Crawford to talk about compatibility, he said that what would be compatible are adventures. Of the rest of the material he said that there would be things that could not be compatible by pure logic. But that they were going to try to include some kind of rules so that everything possible could be made compatible.
From there I deduce that they are going to include conversion tables or something like that. But I wouldn't expect much.
In fact, I never expected that both editions would be fully compatible. The adventures yes, as it is also, with a little work, any adventure from past editions. And so it will be to play with a class and subclass of 2014 with the rules of 2024, although we will have to see how that works. What surely you will not be able to do is mix rules from one site and another. For example, mixing classes and subclasses. Or A feat from here, with a class from there, a background from I don't know where and x feature from Tasha's. That's not going to work.
Looking at the most recent updates, they are greatly increasing player power by large margins. If you try to use those new player characters with existing 5E monster stat blocks, CR will be meaningless. Most likely the CR problems that begin at levels 10+ will start taking place at levels 6-7+. They would have to buff the current monster manual creatures to compensate, and frankly I doubt they will.
The current direction of D&D is where the players are essentially immortal. Remember when they tried to remove monster crits, which is one way for characters to be killed, well there was an attempt and it was put back. The death saving throw mechanic system is another way where the players most likely isn't going to die as well. So going with this line of thinking, not sure they will address player immortality vs a game where you can lose. Is it still a game where you don't lose if you follow the CR mechanics and daily xp exactly.
On the surface, sure D&D One will be backwards compatible, but with increasing player abilities beyond super hero (5E) to immortality (6E) it isn't going to be really backwards compatible, you'll need a new monster manual to deal with increasing player strength, which means you'll need to buy a new book (MM) in addition to the new (PHB) and if they want to fix CR, a new CR system in the (DMG) you'll need to buy as well. So is it really backwards compatible then? I don't think so. I don't blame WotC for this, its just a way to make more money.
On the other hand, if you don't use Tasha's+ all content afterwards, you have a balanced game that anyone can pick up and play. OR you can buy 6E with increasingly more complicated character builds that not everyone can play quickly and you'll end up having to spend more money.
I know what I'm doing as a DM for my group.
Your understanding of what Perkins and Crawford set at the portion of the summit scheduled to discuss the 2024 update only partially tracks. Here's what Crawford actually said, quoted from a number of sources after the summit who used the same language, because they all transcribed the same thing:
So yes, you can run existing adventures has been confirmed as part of the design of the 2024 update, but it's also said the intend of the update is that characters built with the 2024 books can be run alongside builds from the 2014 core and supplements.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
There's conjecture from reading, and there's actual play testing. I understand your impression, but have you actually played it out?
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
On the topic of CR. I got the impression they want to adjust the monsters to make it fit better. The idea is not to change the CR, but yo adjust the numbers so the listed CR better reflects the creature’s abilities.
And overall, compatibility isn’t that much of a stretch. If they keep bounded accuracy, keep ability scores basically the same, keep proficiency bonuses the same. The math underlying the mechanics stays the same, things should still work. You’re still going to be, usually, +5 to hit at level 1. Maybe 1D&D characters will have more options, but they’ll still only get 1 action, and they’ll still be +5.
I’m not trying to say it absolutely is going to work, but it seems like it could. Probably it won’t be perfect, but nothing is.
Bounded Accuracy has led to monsters with lots of hit points, everyone going for the 60% hit rate or fail rate and long combat. To make players expend resources you are going to a medium encounter at the bare minimum and it will be maybe 1 or 2 resources for a party of 4 if that. At hard, players will exert resources but it will take longer, and they still are at no real risk. At deadly, then you get players having to actually think and it can take 6-10 rounds if not more.
The HP inflation has got to go. They went from having +20 on skills to having +200 on hp's, its not working well.
If players can use NPCs and sidekicks along with old PCs at the same time, there is absolutely no reason why new PCs cannot do the same.
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Why would you use 1D&D characters with 5E monsters when they are also putting out the 1D&D monster manual? And you can use the 2024 MM as a guide for adjustments for monsters that are not in that book.
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Options! I may be a GM, but I am a player too. Sure, I may already have a dozen different undead, goblinoids, insects, and various other baddies, but having more options is always nice and keeps my players guessing a bit.
Edit: I did not realize I did not finish my comment before posting. Now it should be complete.
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Running the Game by Matt Colville; Introduction: < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-YZvLUXcR8 >
D&D with High School Students by Bill Allen; Season 1 Episode 1: < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52NJTUDokyk&t >
While we have been assured that One D&D will be compatible with ALL other 5e sourcebooks we are yet to see how it will work in practise for example
Some things might be straight forward so for example
I suspect non PHB backgrounds might simply not be compatible as their is no equivalent to the background feature or characteristics and the other elements are either in the generic 2 skills a tool and a language. But this isn't a huge part of the game
Where it gets trickier is subclasses it gets tricky, if you go with a non PHB subclass do you put it on a 5e base class or the One D&D class. I think their are complxities either way.
There is also the balance issue. It is definately an aim to increase martial damge output, though it this is in the base class you might be able ot stack non PHB subclasses on the base class. Wizards and Sorcerers appear to have received a major boost in power but this does not appear to be the case for druids and Bards. Rogues have had a significant nerf. There is a hint that spell casting might get less powerfull with the nerfing of the most powerful spells like banish and guidance I suspect the same will follow for the other "must take" spells like polymorph. Final versions will also be adjusted from what we have seen so overall it might be that a while 5e matrtials and weaker than the one D&D characters spellcasters are about the same but if a party has a 5e clerin and a 1 D&D wizard casting different banish spells it wil get very confusing (and consistantly using one version will result in the 5e PC being overpowered).
Some relevant comments by Jeremy Crawford at the Creators summit, taken from the transcript at enworld:
Trying to Decide if DDB is for you? A few helpful threads: A Buyer's Guide to DDB; What I/We Bought and Why; How some DMs use DDB; A Newer Thread on Using DDB to Play
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I did not say the opposite. What I am saying is that you are hardly going to be able to mix a class of 2024 (the chassis, to understand us), with a subclass of 2014. That would be a design nightmare.
But yes, it will allow you to mix characters from 2014 and 2024 in the same party.
Although I also tell you that in practice it will happen rarely. I bet the mustaches I don't have that many DMs are going to ban that from their tables. And I also think that most players are going to want to play 2024 characters.
In summary, by backward compatibility I understand:
- That you will be able to play 5e (2014) campaigns with the 2024 edition.
- That it will allow you to play characters from 2024 and 5e (2014) in the same party.
- And they may include some sort of explanation or tables for porting Tasha's "stuff" to 2024.
What I don't think you'll be able to do "officially" is mix 2014 rules with 2024 rules. And I also don't think you'll be able to use feats, spells, backgrounds, subclasses, etc... on characters created under the 2024 rules. At most they will tell you that if you create a character following the 2014 rules, you will have to freely assign ASIs to it (+1/+2 or three +1) and ignore racial ASIs. And that you can choose a starting feat. That is what I think.
Would it be that hard to play a current subclass with the new chassis? You get the same number of subclass features, they just come online at different levels. Just take them in the same order at the new levels. What am I missing otherwise?
'Backward compatible' is definitional and it'll be backward compatible, according to WotC's definition...which might not be your own.
I'm the minority, but frankly, I'll believe it when I see it. By my definition, 5e isn't 'backward compatible' with itself - "If a rule has been reprinted in a newer resource, you must always use the latest printing." Yeah, its an AL rule, but that's WotC publishing that rule for the latest edition of the game. So despite what they're saying they're going to do, they're doing the exact opposite right now...they're publishing specific rules that prevent backward compatibility within a single edition (let alone across editions). Maybe they'll do a 180, but they currently have the position that content is only backward compatible so long as the latest publications are silent on that prior content. Also look at the physical books VoGTM and MToF...which are still for sale in stores, yet you can no longer access them on DDB unless you unlocked them some time ago. So sure, backward compatible.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
It depends on the class. But there are simply subclasses that are balanced for it's 2014 class, but not for it's 2024 class. That's why I say that would be a design nightmare, because designers can't take into account all the existing subclasses to design the new classes. Or they could, but that would be... a nightmare.