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Hey,
I'm putting this here as older editions have basically become their own games at this point that branch off from GW's new games.

Basically a group of us are wanting to get back into 3rd/4th/5th edition to try some things out. Basically, before we star, I have some questions to ask:

1. Now, from what I remember, codexs were weird in that you could use a 3rd edition codex right up until 6th edition? (I still have the 4th edition codex used in later editions). This basically means that we can use any codex we want and adapt it to the edition we want (most likely we will use the latest codex we can (eg, 4th edition orks with 5th edition necrons while playing the 4th edition game).

2. I noticed that 7th edition (which brought a bunch of new units) have basically the same stats so wondering if it's possible to also adapt them to 4-5th edition?

3. Did anyone adapt any of the new 8th edition units to older editions? (like the new ork buggies, the new knights, etc...) Even if they adapted them to 7th i'm sure I could further adapt them to 4th.

4. am I missing any FAQs for 4th edition or 5th edition or am I fine just using their rule books and codexes?

1. Yes and no. They mostly functioned but you'll find many special rules non-functional if not using the correct codex+errata for your rules edition.

2. 7th is still largely the same system so fairly easy to adapt.

4. You will absolutely need the errata for codexes that didn't get updated to that edition otherwise you'll find rules that are flat out non-functional.

TL;DR version - if you're using mismatched codex/rules combinations you'll find lots of weird interactions with unit rules and USRs.

 Scott-S6 wrote:
1. Yes and no. They mostly functioned but you'll find many special rules non-functional if not using the correct codex+errata for your rules edition.

2. 7th is still largely the same system so fairly easy to adapt.

4. You will absolutely need the errata for codexes that didn't get updated to that edition otherwise you'll find rules that are flat out non-functional.

TL;DR version - if you're using mismatched codex/rules combinations you'll find lots of weird interactions with unit rules and USRs.

Any idea where i can find the errata? I own chapter approved 2004 so I'm pretty sure i have all the correct codexes. For example, if i played 4th I'd use the 4th edition ork codex but the 3rd edition necron codex with the 2004 chapter approved. But if i played 5th then I'd just use the 5th edition codex but the 4th edition orks (as they didn't have a 5th edition).

No idea, I have no interest in playing old editions. I just knew the above because I went through all of the edition changes.

If you're going 3rd-ish oldschool, the best combination I've found is to use the 4th Ed rules as your core, the 3rd & 4th codices as your baseline armies, and then bring other stuff back selectively as house rules.

It requires the least messing about with official errata and special rules, but the most work if you want to convert newer stuff. Also, resign yourself to balance issues with converted stuff. It's possible to get a broad "change the points by roughly X%" measure by comparing things that existed in both 4th and 7th, but you also have to account for rules changes that have happened over the years which can be more difficult. In general, you have to try and figure out if they changed a unit to make it better or nerf it, and then adjust your point change accordingly.