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 be included. From the update:

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...

www.enworld.org

Last week we released a Changelog detailing how players would experience the 2024 Core Rulebooks on D&D Beyond. We heard your feedback loud and clear and thank you for speaking up.

Our excitement around the 2024 Core Rulebooks led us to view these planned updates as welcome improvements and free upgrades to existing content. We misjudged the impact of this change, and we agree that you should be free to choose your own way to play. Taking your feedback to heart, here’s what we’re going to do:

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 not need to rely on Homebrew to use their 2014 player options, including spells and magic items, as recommended in previous changelogs.

Please Note:

Players will continue to have access to their free, shared, and purchased items on D&D Beyond, with the ability to use previously acquired player options when creating characters and using character sheets.

We are not changing players’ current character sheets, except for relabeling and renaming. Examples include Races to Species, Inspiration to Heroic Inspiration, and Cast Spell to Magic.

We’re dedicated to making D&D Beyond the ultimate digital toolset for Dungeons & Dragons, continuously enhancing the platform to ensure you can create, customize, and play your game just as you envision it. From your first one-shot to multi-year campaigns and everything in between, we're grateful to be on this journey with you.

- The D&D Studio

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

I'm very happy that D&D Beyond/WotC has recognized their mistake and are changing their path! This is a win for both customers and the company.

However, I can't shake the feeling that these kinds of mistakes happen far too often with WotC than you would expect from a professional business. It seems like they never learn from their mistakes, they just keep repeating them. If WotC is this out of touch with their customer base it doesn't fill me with confidence for the future.

I hope the new CEO can turn the company culture around and lead us into another decade of success for D&D!

 

[Zaukrie]

WotC did what people wanted. That's good, right?

 

[Oofta]

Honestly shocking at this point. How many times do you have to stick a form in the electrical socket? Just do it right the first time.

Can anyone with a head for business explain why they take the worst possible option first and then back track 2 days later every time?

How often have they had to backtrack? The OGL stupidity was more than a year and a half ago. The hadozee thing should have never happened but I blame copy/paste from the original source and ignorance of cultural references. There are some other decisions people disagree with, but I can't think of what you're referencing.

I admit I don't pay all that much attention to most of this stuff ... so what other things have they done?

 

[SteveC]

we can use it seamlessly at our table, that does not mean there is no implementation effort involved in a VTT

Right, but we have all been talking about how the future is digital for months (years?) It seems like that really wasn't the plan. I will give WotC credit for pivoting on this quickly, though. It makes it seem more likely that 2014 materials will be an option going forward. But in terms of digital, that wasn't the plan until we had fan backlash. I really do think this is a good result, though.

 

[DarkCrisis]

How often have they had to backtrack? The OGL stupidity was more than a year and a half ago. The hadozee thing should have never happened but I blame copy/paste from the original source and ignorance of cultural references. There are some other decisions people disagree with, but I can't think of what you're referencing.

I admit I don't pay all that much attention to most of this stuff ... so what other things have they done?

I suppose the question isn’t so much “how much” but more of a “how did they then this was a good idea in the first place?”.

I mean I get it. Corp wants more money and put forward the thing that gets them the most money. See if it sticks. Uh oh it didn’t let’s backtrack a smidge. WotC isn’t the first Corp to do this.

It just seems it would easier for everyone to do the “good option” first but the idea is make money first and foremost.

I get it. It just seems dumb. Especially if your fan base is quick to criticize even honest mistakes.

But yeah, money.

 

[Imaro]

I suppose the question isn’t so much “how much” but more of a “how did they then this was a good idea in the first place?”.

I mean I get it. Corp wants more money and put forward the thing that gets them the most money. See if it sticks. Uh oh it didn’t let’s backtrack a smidge. WotC isn’t the first Corp to do this.

It just seems it would easier for everyone to do the “good option” first but the idea is make money first and foremost.

I get it. It just seems dumb. Especially if your fan base is quick to criticize even honest mistakes.

But yeah, money.

Or... they figure in a year or two the number of 2014 users on DDB is going to be such a miniscule number (yes we know everyone on the internet is staying with 2014...) that the time, effort and money to keep it in DDB wasn't considered worth it... basically what happened with 3e and 3.5 as far as user adoption.

 

[Scribe]

*fun fact: the change never went into affect.

More fun fact, every time a defender comes in to take the arrows for senpai Wizards, all they are doing is putting more time on the clock.

The way for an issue to be forgotten isnt to continue to draw attention to it.

I mean I get it. Corp wants more money and put forward the thing that gets them the most money. See if it sticks. Uh oh it didn’t let’s backtrack a smidge. WotC isn’t the first Corp to do this.

It just seems it would easier for everyone to do the “good option” first but the idea is make money first and foremost.

This is the answer though.

Pushing people to the new content makes them more money.
Putting in the effort to enable both new and existing, costs them time and money.

Its that simple, because at the most simple level thats what it boils down to for Wizards.

"How can we make the most money with the lowest effort."

 

[SteveC]

Or... they figure in a year or two the number of 2014 users on DDB is going to be such a miniscule number (yes we know everyone on the internet is staying with 2014...) that the time, effort and money to keep it in DDB wasn't considered worth it... basically what happened with 3e and 3.5 as far as user adoption.

I think this is the best answer. In a year or two this won't be the same issue at all. I expect most people will be updating by then. Right now, while it's an active issue and you're talking about backward compatibility, it's not a great plan. Make changes like this when the vast majority of your audience is onboard.

Or just eat the costs of keeping the 2014 stuff fully active until 6E.

 

[mamba]

How often have they had to backtrack? The OGL stupidity was more than a year and a half ago. The hadozee thing should have never happened but I blame copy/paste from the original source and ignorance of cultural references.

the ‘should have never happened’ part applies to the OGL as well, can’t really say it does not apply to DDB either… the excuses change, but that part remains the same

 

[Epic Meepo]

I hope the new CEO can turn the company culture around and lead us into another decade of success for D&D!

This latest DDB misstep sounds like a bad decision made by the previous CEO working its way through the pipeline. And it it seems as though the new CEO dedicated resources to fixing it as soon as it was called to his attention. To me, that leaves some room for optimism.