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

 

[Zaukrie]

I have some issues with it that I recognize are "me" problems, but literally forcing a 6 month period where to use DNDBeyond you essentially must use the 2024 player rules in combination with the 2014 monster rules is objectively pretty stupid.

I can get that one, somewhat....but they have to support the new PHB when it is out. So I'm not sure how they fix that (I'm assuming there are technical issues at play here). I don't agree it is objectively stupid at all. That's how we'll be playing w/o DNDBEYOND also.

 

[mamba]

What I want to know is: for people who don’t buy the 2024 books, will they get to see the 2024 rules for free via the tooltips or will the tooltips just break for them?

depends, are they for free stuff / the SRD then they work, otherwise they break / show a ‘you need to buy X’

 

[Burnside]

I can get that one, somewhat....but they have to support the new PHB when it is out. So I'm not sure how they fix that (I'm assuming there are technical issues at play here). I don't agree it is objectively stupid at all. That's how we'll be playing w/o DNDBEYOND also.

I would never willingly do that. 2024 characters are significantly stronger than 2014 characters, and 2014 monsters are no match for them.

 

[mamba]

I would never willingly do that. 2024 characters are significantly stronger than 2014 characters, and 2014 monsters are no match for them.

if anything, I’d like to do the reverse

 

[Burnside]

depends, are they for free stuff / the SRD then they work, otherwise they break / show a ‘you need to buy X’

Nope. Reading the post, they're not waiting for the SRD. If it was in the 2014 Basic Rules, you'll now get the 2024 version of it for free on DNDBeyond. EDIT: Never mind, I misread your post, sorry.

(PS I'm not holding my breath for an updated SRD).

 

[darjr]

Nope. Reading the post, they're not waiting for the SRD. If it was in the 2014 Basic Rules, you'll now get the 2024 version of it for free on DNDBeyond. EDIT: Never mind, I misread your post, sorry.

(PS I'm not holding my breath for an updated SRD).

Speaking to that it’s scheduled for after the Monster Manual release.

https://www.dndbeyond.com/community-update#2024CoreRulebooksSRD

 

[Zaukrie]

I would never willingly do that. 2024 characters are significantly stronger than 2014 characters, and 2014 monsters are no match for them.

That's fine, but it's not objective. I am betting good money people start using the PHB the day they get it, and not wait six months. Real good money.

 

[Burnside]

That's fine, but it's not objective. I am betting good money people start using the PHB the day they get it, and not wait six months. Real good money.

Oh they definitely will, because it's new and shiny. That doesn't mean the 2024 PHB and 2014 Monster Manual actually play well together.

 

[Clint_L]

Wow, and here I thought they'd at least put out the new core set before they started shredding their claims of backwards compatibility. I was far too optimistic.

So much hyperbole, as usual for this forum, I suppose. I've been using the UA rules for ages, while playing on DDB. It's been super easy, barely an inconvenience. This is the same. The updated tooltips mostly just do things like mention the new mastery ability. Which you can ignore if you want to stick with the 2014 rules.

Or...you know...the sky is falling and all that.

 

[Burnside]

Speaking to that it’s scheduled for after the Monster Manual release.

https://www.dndbeyond.com/community-update#2024CoreRulebooksSRD

Oh, yeah, I know they've said that. When I've expressed skepticism about them following through on that pledge, I was told (on this board) that they would have to because DNDBeyond NEEDED the updated SRD to provide the updated free basic content, which of course isn't the case.