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]

Bur this has been happening since 3e... licensing s9mething doesn't change what it is or who owns it.

no it does not, but it changes who can use it, and that ultimately is what matters

If I own a car and tell you that you can use it whenever you want, I will never be using it, it makes very little practical difference that you do not legally own it

 

[SkidAce]

Do we think we will be able to switch parts of rules on and off in Beyond?

Say I wanted everything BUT Weapon Masteries.

 

[Imaro]

no it does not, but it changes who can use it, and that ultimately is what matters

If I own a car and tell you that you can use it whenever you want, I will never be using it, it makes very little practical difference that you do not legally own it

WotC's doesn't use 5e? Huh??

And they've only granted usage of parts of 5e... they own it.

 

[mamba]

Like what? This is is such a vague statement I'm not sure what you're trying to say. I'm sure there may be ttrpgs that are more difficult or impossible to run on a vtt... any vtt.

I cannot really get more specific because I do not know their VTT, so I can a best make an example even if I do not believe it is actually true in the VTT…

let’s say the VTT has an implementation for initiative and always arranges the combatants in the order it determined and makes the players and DM adhere to that order. I assume they won’t do / enforce that however

There are many little details like that which make playing non-D&D on it less convenient than playing D&D, spells it is aware of and has FX for, …

 

[mamba]

WotC's doesn't use 5e? Huh??

missing the point I guess… until we have the technology to freely copy cars, I will have to not use it for this analogy to work

And they've only granted usage of parts of 5e... they own it.

I did not say they do not own it, quite the opposite… I said it makes no practical difference that they do for those parts that are in the SRD

 

[Imaro]

I cannot really get more specific because I do not know their VTT, so I can a best make an example even if I do not believe it is actually true in the VTT…

let’s say the VTT has an implementation for initiative and always arranges the combatants in the order it determined and makes the players and DM adhere to that order. I assume they won’t do / enforce that however

There are many little details like that which make playing non-D&D on it less convenient than playing D&D, spells it is aware of and has FX for, …

I don't think anyone is claiming it won't be more convenient to use for D&D... thats the main sell8ng point for me but as long as I can also play other games at even a basic level, with the ability to import tokens, images, etc. I'll feel like they succeeded.

 

[Remathilis]

The hobby really needs both: periods where D&D falters and new ideas can flow in and periods where D&D dominates and pumps in the new players the hobby needs to keep from becoming a bunch of cranky greying grognards. Because we really HAVE needed D&D to pump in new players. I can't think of any game that managed to get a bunch of newbies playing RPGs except Vampire in the 90's. Until other games can reliably pump in new players we NEED D&D, we also need D&D to faceplant every so often to keep a flow of players from D&D to other games going.

D&D does not have to falter, it only needs to get stale. Entertainment goes in cycles, and what is popular now will ebb naturally as the new hotness moves in. WoW is the biggest and best known MMO, but its popularity is far below its peak not because people discovered better MMOs (I wish...) but people moved on to the Next Thing. Marvel is not pulling the hype (and sales) it used to because people are looking for the next thing in movies. (Ironically, that could end up being the X-Men, who are having their own resurgence). Star Wars is at its lowest point in decades despite a semi- regular flow of content, to the point that its fandom is likewise calling for it to be iced for a while as they grow bored and look for the next big thing.

D&D's time in the sun will end naturally without wishing ill will on it. When it does, it will naturally settle into its first amongst equals place.

 

[Micah Sweet]

But this has been happening since 3e... licensing s9mething doesn't change what it is or who owns it.

Licensing is temporary this...isn't .

 

[ECMO3]

Any idea if you will still be able to buy XGE and TCE on DNDB once 2024 PHB comes out?

In one of the campaigns I DM two of the players use DNDBeyond for their character sheets. I told them I would buy any subclasses or races they need a la cart, and bought a few before that was done away with. I since told them I would buy the whole book digitally if they need something from it (beyond what I already bought a la carte).

I don't want to get into a situation where I need it and can't get it and will just shell out the $$$ now if those are going away.

 

[Imaro]

Licensing is temporary this...isn't .

No licensing is for however long the conditions and terms afford it. There are STL's that can be licensed indefinitely... You aren't the owner though.