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

 

[Blue]

This seems to assume malice ("Push people to 2024 rules whether they want to or not") when laziness ("Eh, we'll just put both into the system and people can use which one they want") provides a sufficient explanation.

Since they had it there (laziness), people complained, and they took it out, are you really claiming that it reappearing is again laziness?

 

[Belen]

Citation needed.

Google it or go read the massive threads on DDB forums. It is not as if there are scholarly articles on it.

 

[Staffan]

Since they had it there (laziness), people complained, and they took it out, are you really claiming that it reappearing is again laziness?

I'm claiming that when people complained about 5.0 being removed, they did the bare minimum to be able to claim 5.0 compatibility, but not going the extra step to be able to default to 5.0 rather than 5.5.

 

[Clint_L]

Google it or go read the massive threads on DDB forums. It is not as if there are scholarly articles on it.

So, anecdotes. Not evidence.

Evidence would be, for example, showing numbers proving that there has been an exodus from DDB and a commensurate growth in Roll20's user base. Which would still only be a correlation, but a highly suggestive one. You are directing me to a bunch of forum chatter, which is impossible to assess as meaning much of anything.

Forums are great for exchanging opinions with people who share similar interests, but pretty much meaningless as sources of objective data.

 

[Belen]

So, anecdotes. Not evidence.

Evidence would be, for example, showing numbers proving that there has been an exodus from DDB and a commensurate growth in Roll20's user base. Which would still only be a correlation, but a highly suggestive one. You are directing me to a bunch of forum chatter, which is impossible to assess as meaning much of anything.

Forums are great for exchanging opinions with people who share similar interests, but pretty much meaningless as sources of objective data.

Objectively, WOTC changed their plans after mass outrage and cancellations on DDB.

 

[Imaro]

Objectively, WOTC changed their plans after mass outrage and cancellations on DDB.

Did WotC ever state that '14 options would receive continuing support in DDB after the revised core was released?

 

[kayakingpoodle]

Did WotC ever state that '14 options would receive continuing support in DDB after the revised core was released?

Many, many times. Though they didn't say what level of support, and when they said compendium only and you were going to have to homebrew 100's of things in just a few days is when the excrement hit the air mover.

 

[Imaro]

Many, many times. Though they didn't say what level of support, and when they said compendium only and you were going to have to homebrew 100's of things in just a few days is when the excrement hit the air mover.

Is there a record of this? Not saying I dont believe you but if it was stated many times it should be easy to finds statement and a quick Google search didn't return anything.

 

[Dire Bare]

Is there a record of this? Not saying I dont believe you but if it was stated many times it should be easy to finds statement and a quick Google search didn't return anything.

It was not that D&D Beyond wouldn't continue to support the 2014 rules . . . it was always going to do that.

But rather, the default compendium and tool tip entries were going to be 2024 only. This sparked outrage, and WotC decided to include both 2024 and 2014 in the compendium and other places.

I don't know about "mass" outrage and cancellations . . . but there was definitely an outcry. And WotC listened, which is a good thing. It never amazes me how folks can spin this into a negative.

 

[kayakingpoodle]

There are plenty of threads and announcements on DDB, I'd suggest starting here https://www.dndbeyond.com/changelog#UpdatingtheDDBeyondToolsetforthe2024CoreRulebooks

and here

https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/news-announcements/203904-news-updating-the-d-d-beyond-toolset-for-the-2024