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

 

[SlyFlourish]

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.

I still think it’s some convoluted technical issue or they wouldn’t let you build a 2014 character at all. The puzzling thing is that they can filter by source with spells from other publishers so I can’t figure out why they can’t do it with their own.

 

[DarkCrisis]

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.

Just re-pointing this out. What many have been saying since 5.5s announcement.


WotC wants people to buy new books. That means resetting things once in awhile. All RPG companies do this. WotC was never going to be special.

Use your old books. Vow to never use or play the new stuff. Your edition is the best version anyways. Welcome to the Grognards.

 

[Remathilis]

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.

Slightly hyperbolic. You still have access to the material UNLESS THERE IS A NEWER VERSION.

Bought Tasha's? That still works. Bought Keys to the Golden Vault? That still works. Fizban's Treasury of Dragon? Still there. The only books that aren't going to work are the PHB/DMG/MM and whatever options the new books culled from other sources. Those you get the new version of. You'll even be able to build a half-elf necromancer using the 2024 rules if you own the 2014 PHB.

Really, its no different than if I bought Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide and the version of Bladesinger I have is the Tasha version (with no racial restriction and dancing prof per day rather than 2/rest). The difference is, of course, for people who don't want change over, either now or ever.

 

[SlyFlourish]

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?

D&D Beyond, Wizards of the Coast, 5e, and You

Wizards of the Coast continues to expand D&D Beyond's dominance in 5e tabletop roleplaying games and they've proven they don't always act in the interests of the larger 5e tabletop roleplaying hobby. ...

slyflourish.com

• “WOTC can change material on D&D Beyond without notice and with no way to roll back to previous versions.”

 

[Blue]

D&D Beyond, Wizards of the Coast, 5e, and You

Wizards of the Coast continues to expand D&D Beyond's dominance in 5e tabletop roleplaying games and they've proven they don't always act in the interests of the larger 5e tabletop roleplaying hobby. ...

slyflourish.com

• “WOTC can change material on D&D Beyond without notice and with no way to roll back to previous versions.”

The poster I was replying to was mocking that everyone expected this. That's the links I'm looking for - that it was common knowledge that everyone knew months ago that your existing characters would be partially converted.

Thank you for bringing in actual knowledge, but it's not targeting what the person was claiming.

 

[Micah Sweet]

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...

That, and it's happening piecemeal before the full edition is even available, forcing a change faster than people expected or wanted.

 

[mamba]

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

the playtest started 2 years or so ago, sounds like you had a reason for at least two years

 

[Micah Sweet]

the playtest started 2 years or so ago, sounds like you had a reason for at least two years

But this reason is much more in your face than mere "future-proofing" and "long-term stability".

 

[mamba]

But this reason is much more in your face than mere "future-proofing" and "long-term stability".

agreed, it is more urgent in theory, and they still dropped the ball

The ‘future proofing’ reasons are all valid too, but they have no firm dates

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

About the spells given for ''free'':
- Does it only include SRD and already-bought spells that received and update or does it include the new spells (arcane vigor, starry wisp etc) ?