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

 

[mamba]

I guess the real question is why WotC or fans of 5e would want either of those things?

5e reprint: so I can ignore it if I want to, because it is ‘just’ better art and organization, not different rules

New 6e: so it is an actually improved version that has not been hobbled by the backward compatibility mandate that killed all the good ideas from the playtest

2024: neither fish nor flesh, a slight incentive to ‘upgrade’ but not so much that I actually look forward to doing so either

 

[Micah Sweet]

D&D 5e is owned by WotC. It's not an opinion, it's a fact. You do not play 5e you play Level Up... correct? So shouldn't you be championing for LU to either stick to the 5e 2014 rules or create a new game?

A5e isn't making any sweeping changes that affect the D&D and D&D-adjacent community, so no need for me to advocate for anything except how awesome it is.

And the 5e ruleset is not owned by WotC, at the very least because it is now in the CC. They are just one way to play 5e.

 

[bedir than]

D&D 5e is owned by WotC. It's not an opinion, it's a fact.

There are a few clauses here that aren't factual.

5e is not owned by WotC. They put it in the Creative Commons, for use by anyone.
D&D is owned by WotC. It uses 5e.

Several other publishers have rulesets based on the 5e CC. Those rules aren't owned by WotC (unlike other licenses)

 

[Imaro]

5e reprint: so I can ignore it if I want to, because it is ‘just’ better art and organization, not different rules

New 6e: so it is an actually improved version that has not been hobbled by the backward compatibility mandate that killed all the good ideas from the playtest

2024: neither fish nor flesh, a slight incentive to ‘upgrade’ but not so much that I actually look forward to doing so either

Which question are you answering? If it's WotC... well they could have done any of those things if they wanted to and they didn't, so I'll assume it's for a fan of 5e...

Why would a 5e fan want resourcezs, time, etc. spent on a reprint when they could get new material instead?

If I'm a fan of 5e why wouldn't I want a rules set that lets me continue to use what I want from 2014 while still utilizing what I want from 2024 as well.

None of what you wrote makes sense for someone who actually plays and enjoys 5e.

 

[Imaro]

There are a few clauses here that aren't factual.

5e is not owned by WotC. They put it in the Creative Commons, for use by anyone.
D&D is owned by WotC. It uses 5e.

Several other publishers have rulesets based on the 5e CC. Those rules aren't owned by WotC (unlike other licenses)

But those rules sets are not the 5th edition of D&D... 5e

 

[Imaro]

A5e isn't making any sweeping changes that affect the D&D and D&D-adjacent community, so no need for me to advocate for anything except how awesome it is.

The publisher you advocate for can stick with the 2014 rules, move to 2024 or create a different rules set for their game... If they go with 2024 they must either think it's a better rules system or they believe it will make their game more successful... either way it's up to them.

And the 5e ruleset is not owned by WotC, at the very least because it is now in the CC. They are just one way to play 5e.

I didn't specify the rules only, I specified 5e which includes IP as well...

 

[Micah Sweet]

Which question are you answering? If it's WotC... well they could have done any of those things if they wanted to and they didn't, so I'll assume it's for a fan of 5e...

Why would a 5e fan want resourcezs, time, etc. spent on a reprint when they could get new material instead?

If I'm a fan of 5e why wouldn't I want a rules set that lets me continue to use what I want from 2014 while still utilizing what I want from 2024 as well.

None of what you wrote makes sense for someone who actually plays and enjoys 5e.

If you play any version of 5e (WotC 5.0 or something else), but you don't like the changes WotC is making for 5.5, why would want them to make such changes, rather than just do a shiny reprint you can ignore or a new edition you can explore on its own merits? You act like it's ridiculous anyone who likes 5e wouldn't want 5.5! That is your preference, not a fact.

 

[Micah Sweet]

The publisher you advocate for can stick with the 2014 rules, move to 2024 or create a different rules set for their game... If they go with 2024 they must either think it's a better rules system or they believe it will make their game more successful... either way it's up to them.


I didn't specify the rules only, I specified 5e which includes IP as well...

I don't agree with your definition of 5e. That's all this is.

 

[Imaro]

If you play any version of 5e (WotC 5.0 or something else), but you don't like the changes WotC is making for 5.5, why would want them to make such changes, rather than just do a shiny reprint you can ignore or a new edition you can explore on its own merits? You act like it's ridiculous anyone who likes 5e wouldn't want 5.5! That is your preference, not a fact.

Because I can pick and choose what I want to use for my 5e game. It's the same as getting a new sourcebook. I'm not saying it's impossible but I've yet to see you present a coherent argument for choosing the two options you presented over it.

 

[Imaro]

I don't agree with your definition of 5e. That's all this is.

There's only one definition of what 5th edition is in this context, the 5ht edition of D&D and sorry but that includes IP. You can disagree but you're wrong.