RavenX Pathfinder Data is not backward compatible.

[RavenX]

This has come up a few messages I've received on the Pathfinder forums, so I want to make certain I clarify it here. The data for Pathfinder that I convert from other settings is not compatible with the d20 data files. I put a lot of time and work into converting the data to be used with Pathfinder's rules and I take advantage of things that Pathfinder uses if it means shorter coding time. So I am sorry to say that whatever I convert for Pathfinder will not work in the 3.5 OGL data. I have done a lot of work converting things over to the newer rules for Pathfinder. There are many important differences between the systems so I would not recommend trying to convert something I've created back to the 3.5 data. It would likely be easier to start from scratch entering the data manually for 3.5 as you would not have to take time to undo all the conversion work I've done.

One thing of particular note is that Pathfinder did away with XP costs on magic item creation. Most of my converted work accounts for this change so those costs are not even mentioned in the data. It is little things like this that can create problems going backward. Not to mention the use of factions and archetypes. As things sit currently, I am content to create converted files for Pathfinder so I will not be creating any 3.5 data files. Pretty much everything I work on will be conversion to Pathfinder.

 

[mirtos]

Understood. To be honest, Im surprised anyone has been even asking you this. While Pathfinder and d20 are similar, there are enough differences that I would assume data files for one wouldnt be good for the other. In my game, I do take a lot of things from PAthfinder and incorporate it into my D20 game, but its bits and pieces. Lots of things arent really completely compatable.

 

[RavenX]

Understood. To be honest, Im surprised anyone has been even asking you this. While Pathfinder and d20 are similar, there are enough differences that I would assume data files for one wouldnt be good for the other. In my game, I do take a lot of things from PAthfinder and incorporate it into my D20 game, but its bits and pieces. Lots of things arent really completely compatable.

I'm not surprised people would want to try this, considering I have a good chunk of data done for Forgotten Realms a few people might think it will be easy to take that data and shove it into the older data set. It's the equivalent of trying to get a nintendo gamecube disc to play on a NES basic console. They're just not compatible. The differences in the editor alone highlight this quite well.

Pathfinder was based on 3.5 but they've also "borrowed" elements from AD&D 2e along the way since releasing the core rulebook. For instance, Archetypes would be equivalent to character kits. They really were not subtle on that one, but there are some things that just make more sense to do as archetypes in Pathfinder. For example, for Templars in Dark Sun. Templar is basically a modified Cleric. So I created the "Class" as a Cleric Archetype and just had it swap out class features rather than coding it as a full 20 level class. If someone tried to pop that datafile into 3.5 they'd get errors because the 3.5 data files do not account for archetypes... And me being the person I am, I try to code things in the easiest and most efficient manner I can see. Sometimes Archetypes are easier to deal with. Most of the 3.5 complete whatever classes were just modified base classes that can be easily redone in Pathfinder via archetype. Which would you rather do? The simple way that will take 1 or 2 hours of coding or the long road for building a 20 level class that will take significantly longer?

It does come up though. People have asked me via private messages and on my pathfinder conversion threads about this. I felt it should be addressed here.

 

[ShadowChemosh]

Understood. To be honest, Im surprised anyone has been even asking you this. While Pathfinder and d20 are similar, there are enough differences that I would assume data files for one wouldnt be good for the other. In my game, I do take a lot of things from PAthfinder and incorporate it into my D20 game, but its bits and pieces. Lots of things arent really completely compatable.

As mentioned most people think sense 3.5 and Pathfinder are suppose to be backwards compatible that of course the "Code" base to support them is the of course compatible.

Lots of my Pathfinder addons also get asked at least once a month about being used in d20. Or people that have even forced loaded Pathfinder community stuff into d20 and getting errors.