D&D (2024) How D&D Beyond Will Handle Access To 2014 Rules

D&D Beyond has announced how the transition to the new 2024 edition will work on the platform, and how legacy access to the 2014 version of D&D will be implemented.

• You will still be able to access the 2014 Basic Rules and core rulebooks.
• You will still be able to make characters using the 2014 Player's Handbook.
• Existing home-brew content will not be impacted.
• These 2014 rules will be accessible and will be marked with a 'legacy' badge: classes, subclasses, species, backgrounds, feats, monsters.
• Tooltips will reflect the 2024 rules.
• Monster stat blocks will be updated to 2024.
• There will be terminology changes (Heroic Inspiration, Species, etc.)

D&D (2024) - Wizards of the Coast Backtracks on D&D Beyond and 2014 Content

Wizards of the Coast posted an overnight update stating that they are not going forward with previously released plans to require those wishing to use some 2014 content on D&D Beyond to use the Homebrew function to manually enter it. Instead, all the content including spells and magic items will...

www.enworld.org

 

[Remathilis]

Initially, you might be right. But I do not see any chance of WotC not adding the 2024 Basic Rules for free once they get released with the SRD. So no, it's not a MEGA LOSS, it's a waiting period of up to 1 year at worst.

I absolutely agree they will release the SRD examples for free as the Basic Rules module (maybe including the stuff that was in the Basic Rules PDF that wasn't in the SRD) but I wager if you made a wizard using the 2024 Basic Rules and selected "Chromatic Orb*" it will tell you to buy the 2024 PHB regardless if you have the 2014 version unlocked.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Having said that, there is now a disclaimer at the top of that post, so who knows.

I think the disclaimer is just about the overwriting of 2014 stuff, but yeah, it's a bit disorganised.

 

[Minigiant]

Nope. Once 2024 arrives, if you do not own 2014, then the only option will be the new stuff.

The question is what you'll get for free.

I think it will be a little more nuanced.

Under the original plan, if I owned the 2014 PHB and I picked the Magic Initiate feat, it would tell me the info on the 2024 version (and behave as such, wiz/clr/drd only, pick you caster stat). That would only apply to spells, feats, general rules and magic items. Classes, Species and probably Backgrounds would have remained 2014 until you buy the 24 PHB.

Now, if I have 2014 PHB, the Magic Initiate feat will remain the 2014 version unless it's in the Basic Rules. If it's not, and you're in 2024 mode, y you'll get a notice to buy the PHB. Owning the 2014 PHB will not unlock anything in 2024 anymore. All you will have is the Basic Rules options (which will probably just be the SRD examples). Which probably means one subclass per class, a few backgrounds/feats, and 1/3 of the spells will be available to 2024 characters until you buy the 24 PHB, regardless of if you own the 14 or not.

Exactly.

Before if you owned the 2014 PHB and you'd get automatic upgraded to the 2024 Magic Initiate or Great Weapon master feat or the new Conjure spells for free.

Now if you owned the 2014 PHB and you'd get get stuck with the 2014 Magic Initiate or Great Weapon master feat or the new Conjure spells unless they are in the Free Rules (which they likely aren't). To get the 2024 Magic Initiate or Great Weapon master feat or the new Conjure spells you likely have to buy the whole 2024 PHB
.

 

[Burnside]

The question is what you'll get for free.

Exactly.

Before if you owned the 2014 PHB and you'd get automatic upgraded to the 2024 Magic Initiate or Great Weapon master feat or the new Conjure spells for free.

Now if you owned the 2014 PHB and you'd get get stuck with the 2014 Magic Initiate or Great Weapon master feat or the new Conjure spells unless they are in the Free Rules (which they likely aren't). To get the 2024 Magic Initiate or Great Weapon master feat or the new Conjure spells you likely have to buy the whole 2024 PHB
.

I'm fine with that.

 

[Belen]

The question is what you'll get for free.

Exactly.

Before if you owned the 2014 PHB and you'd get automatic upgraded to the 2024 Magic Initiate or Great Weapon master feat or the new Conjure spells for free.

Now if you owned the 2014 PHB and you'd get get stuck with the 2014 Magic Initiate or Great Weapon master feat or the new Conjure spells unless they are in the Free Rules (which they likely aren't). To get the 2024 Magic Initiate or Great Weapon master feat or the new Conjure spells you likely have to buy the whole 2024 PHB
.

A lot of people do not consider it an upgrade.

 

[OB1]

Well there we go. Like I said upthread, it was possible that DDB misread the situation, and once it became clear that they had, they corrected course. I don't expect companies to never make mistakes or misunderstand their customers, but I do expect they listen to feedback and react accordingly. Well done WotC!

 

[Minigiant]

A lot of people do not consider it an upgrade.

Some people do.

That's the point.

It's good for some. Bad for others.

 

[mamba]

I think that this article confirms that there won't be free access to the 2024 spells and items any more. Personally, I'm fine with that. I don't consider it unfair.

I think they simply did not mention the free Basic Rules because it was not on their mind. It says nothing one way or the other

“Players who only have access to the 2014 Player’s Handbook will maintain their character options, spells, and magical items in their character sheets. Players with access to the 2024 and 2014 digital Player’s Handbooks can select from both sources when creating new characters.”

“Players will continue to have access to their free, shared, and purchased items on D&D Beyond”

Basic Rules 2024 will be free, but if you do not ‘buy’ them you won’t be able to choose from them. They have the same interest to have free updated Basic Rules as before, they are not the reason why they ‘gave away’ the 2024 spells and they are not affected by the decision to no longer do so.

We will see soon enough either way, but I absolutely expect them to still be made available

 

[mamba]

I'll believe it when I see it.

fair enough

I suspect that the free updated options were given because people already had them and they were updating those.

why did they give the free 2014 rules in the first place though? Whatever reason they had for that did not go away and would be a reason to update them as well

That's what my boss might do. And his boss and everyone above him would definitely do.

jeez, they are as bad at this as the ones at WotC, I feel for you

If we keep the updated stuff for free, AWESOME. But I am prepared for the grim news and no boycott will convince them to hand out free stuff.

it didn’t take a boycott to convince them that they should, also, the OGL seems to disagree with that

 

[mamba]

I wouldn't expect a Basic 2024 before the 2024 SRD personally.

yep, they cannot really have that before the books are out and the SRD is timed for shortly after that, so that tracks