D&D 5E (2024) D&D Beyond's Development Roadmap Is A Complete Rebuild Of Platform

D&D Beyond has announced its roadmap for the future, including features in active development and those planned for later down the line. These include a full rebuild of the game platform's engine, a new character builder, tools for Dungeon Masters, and more.

Over the past few months, we’ve launched a new homepage, a revamped and more sortable content library, image reveals in the Maps VTT to help DMs immerse their players more easily, and several other quality-of-life improvements.

2026 is a year of refocusing and rebuilding D&D Beyond to make it easier to play D&D your way. Three major initiatives will drive most of our work:

• Rebuilding D&D Beyond’s Game Platform
• Improving Player Onboarding and Revamping the Character Builder Experience
• Launching a Suite of Dungeon Master Tools

 

[saviirkad]

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Just noticed that the gif showing off the new Character Builder references 2024 rules as “5.5” in the spells section. Just a funny note.

I've been seeing WotC and WotC affiliated people start using 5.5 over the past few months, so I think internally there's been a decision to allow the use of that publicly as shorthand.

Personally I prefer 5e2014/5e2024 but that's kinds because 5.5 looks more like a typo to me.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Also, I would love a toggle that would let me decide that when I'm running a 2014 adventure using DDB, as I did the other day, when I click on a link for a monster or a spell or a magic item, I can go to the 2024 versions of instead. Otherwise, I need to stop, and do a manual search for the new version, which means I didn't actually save any time using the link.

And the further we get from the publication of the 2024 rulebooks, the more these links in legacy adventures will be outdated. I own the 2014 books, but what happens when someone tries running an adventure from Journeys Beyond the Radiant Citadel and does not? Do they get told to buy an outdated version of the Monster Manual, despite owning the 2024 one?

 

[Zaukrie]

Also, I would love a toggle that would let me decide that when I'm running a 2014 adventure using DDB, as I did the other day, when I click on a link for a monster or a spell or a magic item, I can go to the 2024 versions of instead. Otherwise, I need to stop, and do a manual search for the new version, which means I didn't actually save any time using the link.

And the further we get from the publication of the 2024 rulebooks, the more these links in legacy adventures will be outdated. I own the 2014 books, but what happens when someone tries running an adventure from Journeys Beyond the Radiant Citadel and does not? Do they get told to buy an outdated version of the Monster Manual, despite owning the 2024 one?

This. Hopefully you suggest it on their forums.

 

[darjr]

Also, I would love a toggle that would let me decide that when I'm running a 2014 adventure using DDB, as I did the other day, when I click on a link for a monster or a spell or a magic item, I can go to the 2024 versions of instead. Otherwise, I need to stop, and do a manual search for the new version, which means I didn't actually save any time using the link.

And the further we get from the publication of the 2024 rulebooks, the more these links in legacy adventures will be outdated. I own the 2014 books, but what happens when someone tries running an adventure from Journeys Beyond the Radiant Citadel and does not? Do they get told to buy an outdated version of the Monster Manual, despite owning the 2024 one?

This. Hopefully you suggest it on their forums.

Or ask it in the AMA

 

[ART!]

A focus on doing the essentials better, rather than adding lots of whistles and bells? Kudos to them.

 

[500 Toads]

The rules as data and not hard logic seems really promising. I wonder if that is part of an effort to better support things like Adventurers in Middle Earth? Or other games?

Well, if they don't support WOTC's own EXODUS TTRPG at some point, that -- at least from glancing at the freely-available character sheet -- seems to be really based on the same core system, it'd be pretty goofy. I imagine that that one might actually get some promotion and support once the video game is actually out and assuming that it doesn't tank.

 

[pukunui]

I've been so happy using Maps as my VTT. The existing scripting for homebrew is great, and excited to see things getting better.

I'll second this. It's a fantastic tool that just keeps getting better and better without getting more complicated or fiddly to use.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE allow DMs to black and greylist material for use in the Character Builder at the campaign level.

I'll second this as well. The number of times I've had to tell my players to choose a different option because I'm not allowing that one in my campaign ...

I know we can't buy content a la carte anymore, but it sure would be nice if we could toggle content on/off in the Character Builder a la carte. I want to be able to disable access to all the guns - pistols, blunderbusses, and antimatter rifles alike. I also want to be able to disable access to specific books that I have purchased on DDB but don't want to use in a particular campaign -- I don't generally want to allow Acq Inc content in a non-Acq Inc campaign, for instance, but because I have that book on DDB, all the spells and whatnot are available to my players in the Character Builder.

 

[SkidAce]

Also, I would love a toggle that would let me decide that when I'm running a 2014 adventure using DDB, as I did the other day, when I click on a link for a monster or a spell or a magic item, I can go to the 2024 versions of instead. Otherwise, I need to stop, and do a manual search for the new version, which means I didn't actually save any time using the link.

And the further we get from the publication of the 2024 rulebooks, the more these links in legacy adventures will be outdated. I own the 2014 books, but what happens when someone tries running an adventure from Journeys Beyond the Radiant Citadel and does not? Do they get told to buy an outdated version of the Monster Manual, despite owning the 2024 one?

Agreed, and I also think it would be nice to have the reverse. Buy a new adventure, but have the link go to a 2014 version if there was one.

Not "needed" but I can dream.

 

[bergec]

I'm curious if the re-write of the backend to make adding new stuff easier if we will see a return of Unearthed Arcana being implemented in the engine.

 

[sevenbastard]

I'll second this as well. The number of times I've had to tell my players to choose a different option because I'm not allowing that one in my campaign ...

Granular controll by the DM would be great. I would switch to beyond in a heartbeat.

Let me toggle off Darkvision. Let me toggle off the Cleric cantrips. Let me toggle off Dragonborn, gnomes, tiefling, ect.

Make it easy for my player to build a character without double checking a page of notes.