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

 

[Chaosmancer]

what did you use those books with before A5e and ToV came along?

The fact that there are alternative core books is expanding the 5e universe in a way additional monsters or adventures do not. The closest thing to that is probably Valda

SO the only thing that matters are core rulebooks? Nothing else matters in whether or not a system has changed?

 

[Imaro]

I feel like things did change once there was a 5e game available to wholesale replace WotC's version of 5e, yes. It certainly mattered to me; I joined up as soon as I learned what Level Up's intentions as a system were.

what did you use those books with before A5e and ToV came along?

The fact that there are alternative core books is expanding the 5e universe in a way additional monsters or adventures do not. The closest thing to that is probably Valda

Now whose treating certain 5e compatible publications as lesser...

 

[mamba]

Of course they replace the rules they are meant to replace. Llaser Llama's Fighter replaces the 2014 PHB fighter, that is the point of it. But I find it interesting, they are supposed to be replacements compatible with the 5e supplements? So they are alternative rules for Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition that are still compatible with Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition supplements. Like any other sets of alternative or optional rules then.

if you replace a single class, you can introduce a lot less than if you replace all of them. See A5e vs a dozen LL classes

 

[mamba]

Sure, maybe if I put up a complete reproduction of the 2014 Fighter class on the internet, that may violate copyright, but making a fighter subclass certainly does not.

emphasis on making, the SRD you can copy

But you are again factually incorrect. DnD 5e's scope was changing before any of these other "compatible" games were being made. WotC is not the only people who can expand the scope of 5e. They were the only people allowed to SELL those products.

they are not even the only ones allowed to sell them…

To me there is a qualitative difference between having a set of alternative core books or it all being stacked on D&D 5e. It reduces the reliance on WotC in a way nothing else can.

Of course any 3pp product expands 5e, but until you have alternative core books you just tack things onto the same foundation

 

[FrogReaver]

So I do think we need a shorthand for 5e d&d derived/compatible/similar. I find labeling that 5e to be misleading and making for annoying conversation.

I could get behind the label 5e3pp. Mostly because I’m sick and tired of talking d&d 5e and seeing non-d&d 5e products taking over the discussion (there’s a few posters who constantly do this).

 

[mamba]

Now whose treating certain 5e compatible publications as lesser...

not me, they are not lesser, but different, in the same way a car radio manufacturer is different from a car manufacturer.

Did you find some reasons why WotC creating the SRD matters by now? I noticed you were silent on that question

You sure are quick to tell others what does or doesn't matter. Without 5e there would be no SRD... How can that not matter??

in what way does it matter? Do I need to credit WotC for creating the SRD? Sure, I did that. How else does it matter?

still waiting for your answer

 

[Micah Sweet]

So you are saying that none of the people who produced anything else altered DnD 5e in anyway before you found a way to stop giving WoTC money?

Not at all. But I feel a replacement 5e really was a gamechanger. Until then, you still had to use WotC's books, Nd new product always assumed WotC specific version of 5e. Once A5e and other 5e games appeared this was no longer the case. Level Up has its own constellation of 3pp designing with it, not WotC 5e, in mind. I expect to see the same with TotV.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Now whose treating certain 5e compatible publications as lesser...

I like Level Up more than WotC 5e, certainly, but neither is more important than the other. Both produce content for 5e, just like TotV, and I don't elevate any of them.

 

[Imaro]

Did you find some reasons why WotC creating the SRD matters by now? I noticed you were silent on that question


still waiting for your answer

Sorry I'm reading my brand new 5e corebooks. Thought this was self evident enough it didn't need a reply but... because none of it would exist without their SRD. If it didn't matter there wouldn't have been such an uproar about the OGL and WotC trying to change it.

 

[mamba]

Sorry I'm reading my brand new 5e corebooks.

enjoy

Thought this was self evident enough it didn't need a reply but... because none of it would exist without their SRD. If it didn't matter there wouldn't have been such an uproar about the OGL and WotC trying to change it.

not really an answer, the question was not whether the SRD mattered or not. You asked 'Without 5e there would be no SRD... How can that not matter??'. If that meant to ask 'Does the SRD matter?' then I agree, it does matter.