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

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

Even if it's too late to fix things before the PHB launches, I think Beyond can salvage the situation if they come out and commit to releasing "legacy" versions of the soon-to-be missing 2014 content. They're going to have to commit to a clear and defined deadline though, not like the "when we get around to it" timeline we have for getting the 3.5 SRD into Creative Commons.

 

[Minigiant]

I’m not saying WotC claimed that. People in this thread have claimed that, as a defense of WotC.

Less a defense of WOTC and insult to the original DNDB code.

Either WOTC is being greedy or DNDB was foolishly written to never be able to update editions.

 

[mamba]

Less a defense of WOTC and insult to the original DNDB code.

it’s both, they had years to improve that code

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

The more I think about it, the more is suspect this clown show is directed by WotC's marketing department. They can't be saying it's "the same edition", while at the same time their in-house digital character sheet app lets users choose between 2014 and 2024 editions. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot with a +3 crossbow.

 

[TiQuinn]

The more I think about it, the more is suspect this clown show is directed by WotC's marketing department. They can't be saying it's "the same edition", while at the same time their in-house digital character sheet app lets users choose between 2014 and 2024 editions. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot with a +3 crossbow.

It makes total sense to me. “It’s the same edition” was always a marketing tactic and they have zero incentive to make it easier to remain on 2014 rules.

 

[Micah Sweet]

The more I think about it, the more is suspect this clown show is directed by WotC's marketing department. They can't be saying it's "the same edition", while at the same time their in-house digital character sheet app lets users choose between 2014 and 2024 editions. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot with a +3 crossbow.

That's an excellent point. Out of all of this, the place 5.5 looks the most like a new edition is the game's digital public face. Oops.

 

[Micah Sweet]

It makes total sense to me. “It’s the same edition” was always a marketing tactic and they have zero incentive to make it easier to remain on 2014 rules.

It appears they have one now.

 

[Minigiant]

it’s both, they had years to improve that code

That's not how big business runs these days.

You only improve things when you have a reason to improve them.

Unfortunately there was "no reason" to make a swapping legacy system in D&D Beyond until after they laid off a bunch in there staff.

 

[SlyFlourish]

Essentially, with the compendium the only way to access our 2014 content, what we're left with on D&D Beyond is pdfs that we bought at hardcover prices.

I doubt I'll ever spend another dime on D&D Beyond, even if we switch to the 2024 rules.

Not even PDFs. PDFs you can download and keep.

 

[Remathilis]

Less a defense of WOTC and insult to the original DNDB code.

Either WOTC is being greedy or DNDB was foolishly written to never be able to update editions.

I think they figured memory-holing 2014 like they did for Volo and ToF would be sufficient. They literally SHOWED us that the goal was to only keep the most recent version viable and put the old version on mothballs. People are just upset because its the whole rules system rather than a bunch of supplemental species and monsters this time...