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

 

[GarrettKP]

Wondering. If DDB becomes a large success, or continues to be one as I suspect it is already is by WotC requirements, I wonder if the next edition might change the rules to not do things that can't be done in DDB or if it can be implemented in DDB might become a consideration for new rules?

It is way too early to think about a new edition when 2024 is still fresh.

Also, while plans may have changed since Crawford left, a reminder that he said in interviews while he was still with WotC that the team saw 5e D&D as a system they could just continue to update and not necessarily do a full edition reboot again. That certainly is still a possibility.

 

[Clint_L]

Wondering. If DDB becomes a large success, or continues to be one as I suspect it is already is by WotC requirements, I wonder if the next edition might change the rules to not do things that can't be done in DDB or if it can be implemented in DDB might become a consideration for new rules?

I think this was a clear impetus behind quite a few of the rules changes in DDB. That's why so many of them became simplified and more quantifiable.

 

[OB1]

I love the maps tool but the one massive downside. I often play most of the combats solo as a GM. I have to run the summons and companions and npcs.

I spent 30 minutes one sessions just having a battle with myself. The players could not control their own summons or companions.

In settings toggle on the ability for players to control monsters.

 

[SkidAce]

In settings toggle on the ability for players to control monsters.

What?

edit: would they be able to see hp and stuff if that was done?
edit: I added a skeleton to the PC necromancer's beyond sheet, that seems to work.

 

[Belen]

In settings toggle on the ability for players to control monsters.

Ok, but can they access the monster token, open their character sheet and make the rolls? They have not been able to do that before. I have to access the combat panel, open their sheet, and run all the saves and combat rolls myself. It takes forever.

 

[OB1]

Ok, but can they access the monster token, open their character sheet and make the rolls? They have not been able to do that before. I have to access the combat panel, open their sheet, and run all the saves and combat rolls myself. It takes forever.

For that, the best way is probably to have the players add the NPC or monster to their companions under 'Extras' on their character sheet. The token will then appear in the token browser under Compaions. They'll be able to see the entire stat block in their Character Sheet, but unfortunately can't roll directly from it (that is something the DDB team needs to implement). But they can at least roll and add up the results as if they were playing with pen and paper. They can update HP at least. Not ideal, but should take some load off of you. For example, I added an Abominable Yeti as a companion, so if you told me to make a Dex save, I quickly roll a digital d20 (got an 11) and add 0 per the stat sheet that comes up in my character sheet.. Note that you don't have to toggle on monster control for them to be able to do it this way.

Will definitely ask the DDB team about the timeline to implement rolling from the Extras sheet directly.