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

 

[Parmandur]

They're attempting to clarify the changes.

https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/news-announcements/204068-news-clarifications-on-the-2024-d-d-beyond

"...All 2014 versions of Spells will still be accessible in the D&D Beyond Compendium and available for players to access..."

"...The 2014 versions of these items will still be accessible in the D&D Beyond Compendium..."

I am not impacted, ancestry I am a pen and paper kind of person, but it seems the main impact is that they are providing people who bought the 2014 versions free stuff and the option to use ir or not...?

Or is the issue about the Cpmpendium?

 

[Blue]

I can’t believe WotC would prefer us use the new stuff over the old. Surely this is a mistake.

Which has nothing to do with their obligation to support the products for the "current edition" that they have previously sold.

I can’t believe no one told us over and over that this stuff would happen. Why did no one see this coming? Someone like older gamers who have been around the track a few times. Just blindsided!

Please, can you provide links that DnDBeyond would not be able to continue to present our existing characters unchanged? That character would be forced to a hybrid where some things were accessible but others weren't? Or are you just making things up so you can have your mock outrage?

Im sure WotC will fix it. What’s more important? Getting our money or something else?

Keeping out money might hold their interest. Because all of the 2014 material is absolutely still under obligation to be supported because it is, as they have insisted, the same, current edition. So not supporting it may lead to mass refund requests or even class action. What do you think is a bigger change on their bottom line - new 2024 core book sales on DnDBeyond, or refunding every 2014 core book sale ever made on DnDBeyond?

 

[SkidAce]

I sent that link to @darjr about 10 minutes ago.

Having read it, it still doesn't answer the question of can I have 2014 Sleep on my sheet without homebrewing it?

 

[mamba]

To me, this reeks of cutting scope as the deadline hit. They have an approach for races and monsters, but haven't extended it to spells, etc.

I assume they already had it (from Volo / MotM) and simply worked on nothing now

 

[SkidAce]

"...All 2014 versions of Spells will still be accessible in the D&D Beyond Compendium and available for players to access..."

"...The 2014 versions of these items will still be accessible in the D&D Beyond Compendium..."

I am not impacted, ancestry I am a pen and paper kind of person, but it seems the main impact is that they are providing people who bought the 2014 versions free stuff and the option to use ir or not...?

Or is the issue about the Cpmpendium?

The wording is still vauge on what spells will be in your character sheets.

If you can choose legacy spells and replace 2024 versions in your spellbook, all is well.

If all you can do is reference it in the "compendium" and/or create a homebrew version, all is not well.

Edit: it says "can still access in the compendium.

 

[mamba]

Roll20 does not have an interest in moving fans to the new ruleset. Their interest is too support what folks are playing, or to try and get ahead of that.

they have the same incentive that WotC has, namely selling you the new core books, it’s just that they were better prepared and possibly more customer friendly

 

[SkidAce]

Please, can you provide links that DnDBeyond would not be able to continue to present our existing characters unchanged? That character would be forced to a hybrid where some things were accessible but others weren't? Or are you just making things up so you can have your mock outrage?

I posted an image upthread where they said 2014 characters would be updated to 2024 spells, and if you wanted the old spell, you would have to homebrew it back onto your sheet.

 

[darjr]

@SkidAce Thanks for the update.
@Morrus if you'd like to update the OP or can I? (since its on the front page now).

https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/news-announcements/204068-news-clarifications-on-the-2024-d-d-beyond

When updated, Spell descriptions on character sheets will default to 2024 Core Rulebook descriptions. All users, regardless of whether they have purchased the 2024 Player’s Handbook, will be able to access these updated Spells for free if they previously purchased the 2014 Player’s Handbook. All 2014 versions of Spells will still be accessible in the D&D Beyond Compendium and available for players to access.

 

[pukunui]

They're attempting to clarify the changes.

https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/news-announcements/204068-news-clarifications-on-the-2024-d-d-beyond

LOL. They're completely misreading the room. People aren't wondering if they'll still have access in the compendium. We're upset because we'll be losing access via the digital tools, which is the primary purpose of using something like D&D Beyond in the first place!

"...All 2014 versions of Spells will still be accessible in the D&D Beyond Compendium and available for players to access..."

"...The 2014 versions of these items will still be accessible in the D&D Beyond Compendium..."

I am not impacted, ancestry I am a pen and paper kind of person, but it seems the main impact is that they are providing people who bought the 2014 versions free stuff and the option to use ir or not...?

Or is the issue about the Cpmpendium?

No, it's not about the compendium. It's never been about the compendium. Who uses D&D Beyond just for the compendium? The issue is that they are removing access to much of the 2014 rules via the digital tools!

 

[darjr]

No, it's not about the compendium. It's never been about the compendium. Who uses D&D Beyond just for the compendium? The issue is that they are removing access to much of the 2014 rules via the digital tools!

Right now it's about the only thing I use it for.