D&D 5E D&D Beyond Will Delist Two Books On May 17th

D&D Beyond will be permanently removing Volo’s Guide to Monsters and Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes on May 17th in favor of the upcoming Monsters of the Multiverse book, which largely compiles and updates that material.

As per the D&D Beyond FAQ for Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse:

Can I still buy Volo’s Guide to Monsters or Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes on D&D Beyond?
Starting on May 16, you can acquire the streamlined and up-to-date creatures and character race options, as well as a plethora of exciting new content, by purchasing Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse. On May 17, Volo's Guide to Monsters and Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes will be discontinued from our digital marketplace.

If you already own these two books you will still have access to your purchases and any characters or encounters you built with them. They won’t be removed from your purchased sourcebooks. Therefore, if you want the "fluff" and tables in those two tomes in D&D Beyond, you need to purchase them soon.

This is the first time books have been wholesale delisted from the D&D Beyond Platform rather than updated (much like physical book reprints are with errata and changes).

There’s no word from WotC on whether physical books will be discontinued and be allowed to sell out.

 

[JEB]

The fix is simple: if someone brings an old 2014 PC to a table, give them a free Feat or two. Balance restored.

Sure. Same way you'd handle someone using a 3.0 character build that relied on stuff that changed in 3.5: you apply house rules.

 

[Parmandur]

Sure. Same way you'd handle someone using a 3.0 character build that relied on stuff that changed in 3.5: you apply house rules.

Bit that might not be merely a house rule: I would expect the new rules will call it out and advise it specifically, since it is a zystemic power upgrade.

 

[JEB]

Bit that might not be merely a house rule: I would expect the new rules will call it out and advise it specifically, since it is a zystemic power upgrade.

I wouldn't be so sure they'll include explicit support in the 2024 core rules for using 2014 5E material. I imagine they want it to be perceived as a fresh start, and would rather you buy current books on the shelves rather than delve into older stuff. More likely we'll just see a conversion guide released online, or (most likely) they'll just provide some suggestions in a blog or tweet or video.

 

[Parmandur]

I wouldn't be so sure they'll include explicit support in the 2024 core rules for using 2014 5E material. I imagine they want it to be perceived as a fresh start, and would rather you buy current books on the shelves rather than delve into older stuff. More likely we'll just see a conversion guide released online, or (most likely) they'll just provide some suggestions in a blog or tweet or video.

On the contrary, they have gone out of their way so far to do two main things: let us know thst a revision is coming, and let us know thst the revision is compatible with older 5E content, "completely compatible" even: making anything appear like a clean break is explicitly against their market positioning. Saying "Hey folks, give your old PC a free Feat, and two if you already hit Level 4!" does not take up much real estate, at any rate, and is. If that's the biggest change, then that one sentence is a sufficient "conversion document."

 

[GreyLord]

I imagine it will be similar to a AD&D 1e to an AD&D 2e split. It actually was very compatible to each other, but there were some big differences (for some at least) as well.

 

[Xohar17]

There literally isn't any incompatibility between 2014 and now, and there won't be between 2014 and 2024.

You cant be sure of that, there could be some level of incompatibilty between both versions, only time will tell.

 

[JEB]

On the contrary, they have gone out of their way so far to do two main things: let us know thst a revision is coming, and let us know thst the revision is compatible with older 5E content, "completely compatible" even: making anything appear like a clean break is explicitly against their market positioning.

I didn't say "clean break", I said "fresh start". To clarify: an entry point into the hobby, which doesn't assume the buyer has any previous experience, but also doesn't go out of its way to start from scratch. Something carefully positioned to attract new fans without alienating the ones you have, in theory. Comics do this a lot, relaunching Batman or Spider-Man titles or the like with #1 issues, despite the comics still following from earlier storylines and not actually representing a reboot.

Keep in mind also that the "completely compatible" marketing is aimed at us, the internet-aware current player of 5E. The 2024 core books will be aimed at a general audience, and such backwards compatibility will have limited appeal to those folks. Also, as previously noted, post-Tasha's books seem to have forward compatibility in mind already... so if you let the older books lapse out of print, what marketing need is there for the 2024 core books to help convert anything? You should be able to use MOTM or the like as is, and clearly they don't plan on supporting VGTM or MTOF through official channels anymore...

 

[Seramus]

While it might be compatible, I imagine it won't have the same balance. Like saying "Yes, you can technically use the 2014 Ranger. But the 2024 Ranger is flat out better."

 

[Iamoutofhere]

Creators radically altering content (not just typos etc) that you‘ve paid for is a joke. Star Wars theatrical release anyone?

 

[AnotherGuy]

Creators radically altering content (not just typos etc) that you‘ve paid for is a joke. Star Wars theatrical release anyone?

I just don't think #orcswereevilfirst is going to be as popular as #hanshotfirst, but you never know...