D&D Beyond brings back a la carte purchases in the form of Starter Packs

D&D Beyond is returning to piecemeal purchases in the form of new Starter Packs that allow for access to class rules, as well as a limited number of subclasses and species rules. The new Starter Packs, available for all 12 core classes, and now available for sale on D&D Beyond. Each Starter Pack comes with character rules for a specific core class, three subclasses (the three from the Player's Handbook that are not available via the Basic Rules), and two species from Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse. Also included are seven feats, including several general feats.

D&D Beyond originally had a la carte purchases in which users could individually purchase subclasses, spells, or even monsters for a modest fee. Wizards of the Coast removed this site feature in 2024, meaning that a user needed to purchase an entire rulebook if they wanted to access to any single bit of content from that rulebook. While these Starter Packs aren't quite the same as true a la carte purchases, this does mark the first time in years where individual chunks of content have been available at a lower price point for users.

 

[Remathilis]

WotC's current strategy is to try to milk as much money from people as possible before they realize that 2024 5e isn't the game for them.

Remember too that all the races from these starter packs are 2014 content—they're selling content that's planned to be rendered obsolete and incompatible with the 2024 game when they inevitably rehash MotM.

Would you like to cite a source for this conspiracy theory or are you opting for "it was revealed to me in a dream"?

 

[Remathilis]

It's also worth noting that the old ala carte offerings ranged from $2 to $5 each. This is 3 subs, 2 backgrounds, 7 feats and two species for $5.

 

[John Lloyd1]

Maybe they could do something with monsters or magic items. I could see an undead themed pack working. Maybe including a short adventure like those miniature encounter boxes.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Maybe they could do something with monsters or magic items. I could see an undead themed pack working. Maybe including a short adventure like those miniature encounter boxes.

If WotC is actually getting back into the business of publishing small adventures again, that would be a perfect format for including a few monsters from outside the Basic Rules, along with extra magic items, etc.

It sounds like we'll hear more about this at GenCon in a few months, if it's actually happening.

 

[CF07]

I do hope this is a precursor to seeing more ala carte items, there's a few things here and there where I have the physical book and just want the digital bits for say, the monsters or character options (such as the monsters out of Quests from the Infinite Staircase) - I don't want to have to (re)buy the whole book just to use bits of it electronically!

Agreed, I usually have the HC and just want the player stuff or items digitally. I totally get why they forced us not to buy that way. I'm not happy about it, but I get it.

 

[EthanSental]

Wow, neat seeing how the ignore feature works in this thread after hitting it when a new account post 6 anti-Wotc post in 1 day….well done Enworld on that feature and thanks

 

[doctorbadwolf]

WotC seems to have grandfathered MotM for the majority of the species as 5.5. I think it's the only real 5.25 book.

In spite of the erroneous nomenclature they gave in to for the purpose of organizing content on ddb (and havent used outside that context), they arent two separate games, so there is no "grandfathering". If it hasn't been replaced, it is still part of the current rules.

So MoTM is a current rules book.

 

[SothFan]

In spite of the erroneous nomenclature they gave in to for the purpose of organizing content on ddb (and havent used outside that context)

The main D&D website uses 5.5 also if that is what you mean.

Spoiler: NSFW

 

[aeFact]

That's not a terrible deal, considering the PHB at $30 is equivalent to six of those packs. Though I don't think you get the extra PHB spells, so that's still a strike against casters.

"If I purchase one or more Starter Packs that discount a particular product, does the discount stack?
"No. For example, you still will only receive $5 off the digital version of the Player’s Handbook (5.5e), if you purchase both the Barbarian Class Starter Pack and the Wizard Class Starter Pack."

 

[aeFact]

That's not a terrible deal, considering the PHB at $30 is equivalent to six of those packs. Though I don't think you get the extra PHB spells, so that's still a strike against casters.

"If I purchase one or more Starter Packs that discount a particular product, does the discount stack?
"No. For example, you still will only receive $5 off the digital version of the Player’s Handbook (5.5e), if you purchase both the Barbarian Class Starter Pack and the Wizard Class Starter Pack."