D&D (2024) I am so torn [UPDATE: I bought it]

[Retreater]

To be clear, are those files downloaded onto your computer? Likewise, could you use them if FG didn't want you to on their platform, or even shut down altogether?

I know that the question of renting vs. owning digital materials is a separate consideration, but I'm curious.

4E used to be available on FG. It is no longer available. If you happen to have the old files saved, you're good.

 

[aco175]

I have not bought it yet, but did get one for my son and father for Christmas. We played a one-shot this week with some low-level PCs we had played a Thanksgiving and Halloween one-shot with and I had updated the NPC cleric to the new rules and one other PC was updated. The table ran fine, with an boost of healing from the new cleric.

I will pick up the new book before the convention next month. We will play in a few AL games where all the characters will be new rules I think. I guess I could play one of the older PCs and all would be fine as well. I'm also running a game this year and made pregens using the free online rules, so the most I seem to see, the more I find it fine to update.

You could also go long-range and think that they will never get better if they are no longer in business.

 

[darjr]

Actually never mind.

 

[Stormonu]

If you'll use them, get them. If you won't, don't.

The SRD is nice, but it was something they never had to do in the first place. Prior to them opening up their RPG to everybody I can't think of any other company that would even contemplate doing. We're frankly a bit spoiled on D&D's openness. I wouldn't hold it against them that older SRD's or even future SRD's aren't made available. Things will just go back to the way things were in the 70's and 80's (for better or for worse) where only the parent company could produce products for the IP they owned.

 

[Retreater]

You know, I'd be a bit grumpy if they had said at the time that 5.24 was going to not have an opened system. But if they end up backtracking now, well I'll be a bit grumpier.

 

[dave2008]

I know, but words remain cheap.

Sure. But until they deliver the product, all we can ever have are words. They can't give to use before it is done after all. I mean what else are they supposed to do until it is done.

 

[Scribe]

Sure. But until they deliver the product, all we can ever have are words. They can't give to use before it is done after all. I mean what else are they supposed to do until it is done.

The 3.5 SRD? Done my man. They could have done that, they chose not to.

 

[Alzrius]

FG is a service so I assume if they closed down at the very least you would have to jump through hoops to set up a server. But WotC can't cancel the license and make their rulesets not work anymore.

That's true, though I think that @Retreater made a good point about the 4E FG files no longer being sold. When we get a new edition of D&D (and I'm certain that's a question of when, rather than if), I expect the 5E materials will also be unavailable to purchase, leaving anyone who discovers 5E later on (such as a new generation of gamers) out in the cold, at least where FG is concerned.

I'd wonder why WotC is fine with 4E PDFs being purchased, but not the files necessary to play 4E on Fantasy Grounds...except that it's quite clear at this point that WotC wants to dominate the VTT space. Which is their prerogative; I just wish they'd recognize that their competitors are other pastimes rather than other RPGs (including previous editions of their own).

 

[W'rkncacnter]

actually, i don't know if the link i originally replied with counts as pirating, so i'm deleting it.

 

[CellarHeroes]

I totally understand the owning each edition mindset. I never got 3.5, because it wasn't a new edition and I didn't need it for my style of play. For myself, 5.24 is in the same boat...not a new edition and definitely not necessary for my style of play.

If you are someone who needs to optimize your characters and concerns yourself with how much damage you do each round, then I can see leaning towards getting it.
If you just want to roll up a character and play in a 5e campaign, then 5.14 has what you need.