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]

realistically speaking it has the same chances of me picking it up as the 2024 books, if I get them it is for art and organization, the rest does not make a difference.

I can't see them reprinting the 2014 ranger or dragonborn again in the year of our Lord 2024. Honestly, it would be a waste of art and typography.

 

[mamba]

I can't see them reprinting the 2014 ranger or dragonborn again in the year of our Lord 2024. Honestly, it would be a waste of art and typography.

to each their own I guess. I see no reason to buy the 2024 books based on the rule changes, so the only thing that can get me to is the clearer rules, art and reorganization, the rest is really underwhelming as far as I am concerned

 

[Micah Sweet]

That's rather vague. Let's set some parameters.

The "Revised" Players Handbook contains the following:

• All Species get MotM treatment (floating ASI, extra language, etc). No new or removed species.
• Classes get the variant options from Tasha standard. A few sore spots are addressed:

Monk damage starts at a d6
Sorcerers get extra spells known via subclasses
Twin Spell cost doubled
Paladins can only smite 1/ round
Druid Temp HP from wild shape limited to 3x druid level.

• Backgrounds give a free feat. Options are Tough, Skilled, Magic Initiate, Lucky, and new ones (Crafter, Musician)
• Conjure spells just replaced with Tasha summon spell mechanics.
• General tweaks to change short rest refresh to proficiency/per day and choosing you caster stat for feats and species.
• Some spells get rebalanced

No new subclasses, spells, or feats beyond a few new background feats
Pretty art
Terminology changes to remove offense or outdated words
$55 95.

You interested?

I opted for the fewest changes I could make to bring the PHB up to Tasha/MotM and later supplements. Only the biggest pain points are addressed and plenty of them would probably remain untouched. There is no fix for elements monk or moon druid, beastmaster gets the Tasha fix, sharpshooter and GWM go though untouched. Good choices remain good, bad choices mostly stay bad or get minor tweaks to make them less awful.

Anything that needed fixing in the 2014 PH I either fixed myself or found a (usually free or low cost) fix for online. No need to give any money to WotC for fixes I'm probably not going to agree with.

 

[Minigiant]

Anything that needed fixing in the 2014 PH I either fixed myself or found a (usually free or low cost) fix for online. No need to give any money to WotC for fixes I'm probably not going to agree with.

But that's not the question asked.

The question asked is "why didn't they just reprint 2014 with new art, reorganizing chapters, and a few spell tweaks?"

You answered it. That is so minor you can do it yourself for less than $59.99.

 

[mamba]

That is so minor you can do it yourself for less than $59.99.

the fixes were so minor, that leaves art and reorganization. Whether that is enough is personal opinion, no more, just like whether the rule changes in 2024 are enough

 

[Imaro]

Not good enough. Neither Level Up nor TotV need WotC's gagame.

They wouldn't exist without WotC's game.

 

[Micah Sweet]

They wouldn't exist without WotC's game.

But they don't need it now, and neither are beholden to it.

 

[Imaro]

But they don't need it now, and neither are beholden to it.

It's the gateway rpg... contrary to what a dissatisfied minority would like to believe the entire ttrpg market needs it.

Edit: As far as being beholden to it... They are, if WotC had decided to move onto a totally new edition both would have seen a loss of market share just like many 3pp during the 3.0 to 3.5 switch.

 

[Micah Sweet]

It's the gateway rpg... contrary to what a dissatisfied minority would like to believe the entire ttrpg market needs it.

Needs it for what? I just don't see it. No one game needs to be that much more powerful and well-known than any other.

 

[Imaro]

Needs it for what? I just don't see it. No one game needs to be that much more powerful and well-known than any other.

Something has to have the money, marketing and recognition to draw in a steady stream of new consumers... otherwise your market slowly goes the way of the dodo.

Edit: What ttrpg has the recognition of D&D? What ttrpg draws in new players like D&D does? What other ttrpg has a game of the year videogame based on it?