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

 

[Minigiant]

I don't see that as inevitable. There have been many times in the past when companies other than WotC have been stronger than they are now, and at all those times the total industry was smaller (because now is the biggest it's ever been).

Since WOTC brought D&D, they've always been at the top of Fantasy Adventuerer RPGs when they wanted to be.

The blip is went their care waned. Once they reinvested back into it, they overtook all competitors.

 

[Imaro]

Because the way it works now is better for WotC, and no have the power to stop them, unfortunately.

We literally have tons of 3pp supporting them... stop them? They're reinforcing WotC's position and strengthening their dominance. Is WotC forcing them to support 5e? Nope they're doing it because it's better for them.

 

[mamba]

No, it's because....

The other companies pride themselves in no selling out and maintaining practices that make them less money.

not sure that is the intention, let alone for all of them, but they have to arrange themselves with the 800lb gorilla

Like I said, if a billion dollar company/individual entered the market, they'd be able to take 20-2% of it in a few years.

If you dumped 1B on any TTRPG company they could do that, the problem all of them have is that at best they have maybe 1% of that

 

[mamba]

Since WOTC brought D&D, they've always been at the top of Fantasy Adventuerer RPGs when they wanted to be.

when they wanted to be? I don’t think they ever wanted something else…

 

[Remathilis]

Now if WoTC shuttered and died right now, it would be my guess that in 20 years the dominant rpg would have been some flavour of D&D, given its current popularity, its influence in the fantasy genre and the existence of open source chassis for the game.

If WotC shuttered and died, Paizo would become the #1 RPG manufacturer and KP a distant #2. Paizo is the only company with the infrastructure and recognition to fill the role of hobby ambassador and leverage its IP to other products outside of the main game. Kobold would probably commandeer the 5e market but lack the strength of Paizo to branch.

The market would swing towards Pathfinder/Starfinder. 3pp support for both picks up and it becomes the Organized Play default. 5e settles into a niche market (KP the largest fish in a small pond) and fills the reverse role Paizo fills now (the lighter system for people who want a less complex Pathfinder).

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Somebody has to do the marketing or the industry doesn't exist.

The hobby can exist. But without marketing, the industry doesn't.

The entire Fantasy Adventurers RPG industry leans on WOTC for 90% of the marketing.

I think marketing is peripheral to it. It is important in the brand recognition sense but I really wonder how many players are coming into the hobby cold. I think most are introduced into the hobby by being invited to play by some one in the hobby.
I think that people coming in cold are coming via Baldur's Gate or Live streaming and since live streams are D&D dominated and BG3 is D&D ip and that is an offshoot of the current network effect.

 

[Imaro]

As long as you're convinced that more is always better, no matter the cost, we're not going to come to an accord.

As long as you choose to disregard that ttrpg's are an actual business we're not going to come to an accord.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Since WOTC brought D&D, they've always been at the top of Fantasy Adventuerer RPGs when they wanted to be.

The blip is went their care waned. Once they reinvested back into it, they overtook all competitors.

And it didn't and doesn't have to be that way.

 

[Micah Sweet]

As long as you choose to disregard that ttrpg's are an actual business we're not going to come to an accord.

You don't have to maximize profits at the expense of your product, your customers, and the rest of the industry to be a successful business.

 

[Minigiant]

not sure that is the intention, let alone for all of them, but they have to arrange themselves with the 800lb gorilla

You can only fight the 800lbs gorilla with another 80lbs beast. Or a bigger one.

If you dumped 1B on any TTRPG company they could do that, the problem all of them have is that at best they have maybe 1% of that

Exactly.

Which is my point. No one currently has the money to replace WOTC in money and thuse marketing.

when they wanted to be? I don’t think they ever wanted something else…

That time @Micah Sweet was talking about was when WOTC was half butting it during late stage 4e.