This seems like a silly question but I really need to know this before I buy the 2024 Player's Handbook. Will DND Beyond's character management tools be updated to use the new 2024 rules, species, classes, spells, feats, etc.?
On a related note, will the 2014 rules still be clearly marked and easily accessible on DDB if I go ahead and buy the 2024 rules? As in, when I try to look up a rule on DDB, will it be easy to see which ruleset the result is referring to? I am in the middle of running a 1-20 game that won't be switching rulesets mid-campaign, so being able to keep using the 2014 rules even after buying the 2024 rules is important.
I can't imagine why they wouldn't. The 3 primary books and basic rules have already been marked as 2014. The new versions will likely be marked 2024 or at minimum just be there as the official and all the old stuff marked 2014.
Some of that has already occurred where certain races have been marked Legacy and sit next to the current versions of these same races.
All characters currently on DDB have been made with the 2014 version of the rules. So those rules will need to stay so they continue to be used.
I don't, in any way, see them forcing us to update characters to the new rules. That would be insane.
What I'm concerned with is less the character options and more the rules compendium part. If I try to look up the rules for Grapple, for example, would a rules compendium entry for both the 2014 and 2024 versions show up and be clearly marked as such? Or would it default to Basic Rules 2024 in response to that search and I would need to get to the 2014 rule via a "Sources -> PHB 2014 -> Ch9 -> (page-flipping)" route?
I realize that this is something that can be answered by someone on the DDB team, so hopefully they see this or have already considered it.
In the other direction as CuddlyEvil, we're in the middle of a long campaign that is planning to switch to the 2024 rules, so I'm wondering if there is a DDB tool planned to convert 2014 characters into 2024 ones. Will I be able to run a process on my monk to update it, or will I have to remake them from scratch using the new builder?
In the other direction as CuddlyEvil, we're in the middle of a long campaign that is planning to switch to the 2024 rules, so I'm wondering if there is a DDB tool planned to convert 2014 characters into 2024 ones. Will I be able to run a process on my monk to update it, or will I have to remake them from scratch using the new builder?
I'd like to know about the character sheet, because the 2024 sheet is different to the 2014 one. Will both still be an option or will everyone be forced to use the 2024 sheet? Regardless, how will content from one ruleset display on the character sheet for the other ruleset, especially rules that are missing from one or the other version. For instance, if you're playing a 2024 PC with a 2014 background -- since personal characteristics and background features aren't part of the 2024 backgrounds mechanic, will they appear on the 2024 character sheet anywhere or will they just be ignored? Vice versa, if you're playing a 2014 PC with a 2024 background, how will that work?
Commenting just on the hope that we will find out soon, to get the notification. Maybe it'll be posted on the changelog, nothin' yet. Otherwise, see you all on the other side (release and update day)!
Also posting here for any updates, this is my major concern for the new rules. Current Vecna game isn't going to change rules mid campaign so I need to know how character sheets are gonna be handled.
So where does this leave those of us who, for the moment at least, are continuing to use v5?
Will D&DB still work for us? Or are we going to be denied the use of what we have paid for - in my case probably less than a year ago?
There has been NO talk of removing 2014 rules and lots of talk on how and when they are compatible.
You will still use what you have in the same way you can still use Legacy content.
The reason for my heartburn on this is that they've done what I fear before with regards to the Eberron races. The versions originally published in the Wayfarer's Guide (which I still have the PDF for) were changed when Rising from the Last War was published and they have since then changed the compendium entries to match the RftLW versions. For example, Warforged used to have three subraces (Envoy, Skirmisher, and Juggernaut), but they no longer exist on DDB in any form, even in the Wayfarer's compendium entry.
My worry is that they're going to make using DDB for a fully 2014 game a pain in the ass to incentivize conversion to the 2024 rules. You'll only get to keep using the 2014 content that was not updated with 2024 despite paying for it.
I'd really like to have this concern officially addressed.
Does this mean I can create 2024 PCs on the 3rd of September when the books are released or do I have to wait with everyone else on the 17th September?
Does this mean I can create 2024 PCs on the 3rd of September when the books are released or do I have to wait with everyone else on the 17th September?
No. The early access will be that you can read the book. But to make characters, on DDB, we will need to wait till DDB updates the character creator. Hopefully on 9/17.
Of course on paper you can make all the characters you want on 9/3.
I would also love to have the answer to this. Lots of people, here and elsewhere, are saying "no, of course they won't do that, it would make no sense!" Which is the logical, human answer. But there's plenty of precedent of people having their purchases invalidated or fully disappeared when a new version comes out, both in the digital platform world in general and under WoTC rule specifically. We're starting a new campaign in September, and as some changes are straight-up broken, my group wants to run a combination of characters, and I want to let them (we've always played, and built, character-first). But right now we have no idea whether DDB will continue to work for us. I'm not laying out any cash for these new rules in either format until I know the answer.
In the other direction as CuddlyEvil, we're in the middle of a long campaign that is planning to switch to the 2024 rules, so I'm wondering if there is a DDB tool planned to convert 2014 characters into 2024 ones. Will I be able to run a process on my monk to update it, or will I have to remake them from scratch using the new builder?
That is unknown at this point.
What do we need to do to get some OFFICIAL response to these questions? I appreciate what @Paladin54 is trying to do by answering everyone, but they don't cite any sources and I'm much more interested in hearing from DDB about what is planned and when we can expect the new rules and features to be available in the character builder. The changes in the 2024 PHB are significant and I'm not interested in trying to get my table to rebuild their characters with buggy or incomplete changes and my particular table will have a hard time implementing the new character options until those updates are in place.
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This seems like a silly question but I really need to know this before I buy the 2024 Player's Handbook. Will DND Beyond's character management tools be updated to use the new 2024 rules, species, classes, spells, feats, etc.?
Inquiring minds want to know...
Absolutely it will. DDB is a tool for the official rules. With the update becoming the official rules it will be updated to use them.
On a related note, will the 2014 rules still be clearly marked and easily accessible on DDB if I go ahead and buy the 2024 rules? As in, when I try to look up a rule on DDB, will it be easy to see which ruleset the result is referring to? I am in the middle of running a 1-20 game that won't be switching rulesets mid-campaign, so being able to keep using the 2014 rules even after buying the 2024 rules is important.
Fair Winds and Following Seas
I can't imagine why they wouldn't. The 3 primary books and basic rules have already been marked as 2014. The new versions will likely be marked 2024 or at minimum just be there as the official and all the old stuff marked 2014.
Some of that has already occurred where certain races have been marked Legacy and sit next to the current versions of these same races.
All characters currently on DDB have been made with the 2014 version of the rules. So those rules will need to stay so they continue to be used.
I don't, in any way, see them forcing us to update characters to the new rules. That would be insane.
What I'm concerned with is less the character options and more the rules compendium part. If I try to look up the rules for Grapple, for example, would a rules compendium entry for both the 2014 and 2024 versions show up and be clearly marked as such? Or would it default to Basic Rules 2024 in response to that search and I would need to get to the 2014 rule via a "Sources -> PHB 2014 -> Ch9 -> (page-flipping)" route?
I realize that this is something that can be answered by someone on the DDB team, so hopefully they see this or have already considered it.
Fair Winds and Following Seas
Actually if you start looking at the rules reference text it's usually kind of a light gray in italic, it already starts to say 2014 basic rules
So where does this leave those of us who, for the moment at least, are continuing to use v5?
Will D&DB still work for us? Or are we going to be denied the use of what we have paid for - in my case probably less than a year ago?
There has been NO talk of removing 2014 rules and lots of talk on how and when they are compatible.
You will still use what you have in the same way you can still use Legacy content.
In the other direction as CuddlyEvil, we're in the middle of a long campaign that is planning to switch to the 2024 rules, so I'm wondering if there is a DDB tool planned to convert 2014 characters into 2024 ones. Will I be able to run a process on my monk to update it, or will I have to remake them from scratch using the new builder?
That is unknown at this point.
I'd like to know about the character sheet, because the 2024 sheet is different to the 2014 one. Will both still be an option or will everyone be forced to use the 2024 sheet? Regardless, how will content from one ruleset display on the character sheet for the other ruleset, especially rules that are missing from one or the other version. For instance, if you're playing a 2024 PC with a 2014 background -- since personal characteristics and background features aren't part of the 2024 backgrounds mechanic, will they appear on the 2024 character sheet anywhere or will they just be ignored? Vice versa, if you're playing a 2014 PC with a 2024 background, how will that work?
Commenting just on the hope that we will find out soon, to get the notification. Maybe it'll be posted on the changelog, nothin' yet. Otherwise, see you all on the other side (release and update day)!
Also posting here for any updates, this is my major concern for the new rules. Current Vecna game isn't going to change rules mid campaign so I need to know how character sheets are gonna be handled.
The reason for my heartburn on this is that they've done what I fear before with regards to the Eberron races. The versions originally published in the Wayfarer's Guide (which I still have the PDF for) were changed when Rising from the Last War was published and they have since then changed the compendium entries to match the RftLW versions. For example, Warforged used to have three subraces (Envoy, Skirmisher, and Juggernaut), but they no longer exist on DDB in any form, even in the Wayfarer's compendium entry.
My worry is that they're going to make using DDB for a fully 2014 game a pain in the ass to incentivize conversion to the 2024 rules. You'll only get to keep using the 2014 content that was not updated with 2024 despite paying for it.
I'd really like to have this concern officially addressed.
Fair Winds and Following Seas
Does this mean I can create 2024 PCs on the 3rd of September when the books are released or do I have to wait with everyone else on the 17th September?
No. The early access will be that you can read the book. But to make characters, on DDB, we will need to wait till DDB updates the character creator. Hopefully on 9/17.
Of course on paper you can make all the characters you want on 9/3.
I would also love to have the answer to this. Lots of people, here and elsewhere, are saying "no, of course they won't do that, it would make no sense!" Which is the logical, human answer. But there's plenty of precedent of people having their purchases invalidated or fully disappeared when a new version comes out, both in the digital platform world in general and under WoTC rule specifically. We're starting a new campaign in September, and as some changes are straight-up broken, my group wants to run a combination of characters, and I want to let them (we've always played, and built, character-first). But right now we have no idea whether DDB will continue to work for us. I'm not laying out any cash for these new rules in either format until I know the answer.
They have been clear that the new edition isn't a new edition. It's all 5e. So the old books shouldn't go away because they are still 5e.
But only time will tell...
What do we need to do to get some OFFICIAL response to these questions? I appreciate what @Paladin54 is trying to do by answering everyone, but they don't cite any sources and I'm much more interested in hearing from DDB about what is planned and when we can expect the new rules and features to be available in the character builder. The changes in the 2024 PHB are significant and I'm not interested in trying to get my table to rebuild their characters with buggy or incomplete changes and my particular table will have a hard time implementing the new character options until those updates are in place.