I will point out this did come at a cost. Unless I'm misreading the update, they made it so no one is getting the 2024 spells and magic items now for free. You want it, you now have to pay for it. So the people who actually wanted to use the updated spells but didn't want to buy the books got the short end of the stick with this change.
First, I will say I understand that perspective. Once they promised that I did figure they'd be stuck with giving them regardless.
That said, two things that might still help with that. First, the new update didn't specify if they were taking aware that part of the prior announcement. So there's a chance that if you own the current PHB you'll still get the 5.5 versions in addition to keeping your 5.0 spells/items. If it still is the case my guess for the lack of addressing it in the update is that it wasn't really something expressing anger were concerned about. Second, regardless of the PHB spells/items status, all DDB players will get the 5.5 basic rules for free and those should include a good chunk of what would need to be paid for. So you can still have a free dip into 5.5 if you want even if the other stuff was rolled back.
Speaking from my perspective I'm 100% okay if they decide not to give us all the 5.5 spells like they initially said. I had never expected to get those 5.5 spells/items from the PHB/DMG in the first place so it's not like I'm losing something I wanted. And keeping my current purchases' functionality is far more valuable to me. I also assume most others would be fine with it too since I have to imagine the majority of people that were looking forward to the 5.5 spells had already pre-ordered the 5.5 core books that would unlock them anyways.
I do understand if you're disappointed. But there's still a chance you'll get still get them and even if not, there's still basic rules.
I am completely fine with not getting the 2024 things for free since my group was planning to get the book *when ready for it* eventually, we can absolutely wait. My only hope is they keep listening to when something is extremely anti-consumer 'cause this site is meant to sell convenience.
Sure, for now. Remind me to come back here in the future, say 2 years, when they have removed all 2014 functionality. It's inevitable. As for me, I'm unsubbed from DnDBeyond, and I will never subscribe again.
I would advise everybody still using the 2014 rules through DDB to take the time you have been granted, and find an alternative if you simply must have an online character generator, plus the other tools DDB has. The other alternative is to finalize your campaigns using the 2014 rules, and be prepared to make the move to the 2024 rules. With their track record of scandals, they can't be trusted not to figure out a way to do this all again down the road, and not have to cave in to public pressure.
This. They have merely delayed their plans in order to stave off more bad press. Eventually, the corporation WILL phase out 5e and force players to adopt thier all digital formats sooner or later. The Dndbeyond platform is dead to me.
Listening to feedback and making a change is good. Imagine how Sonic the Hedgehog would have been had they not listened. 2 movies; one on the way; and a show. Not so bad.
Sorry for being tangential. I think this was great. Good move Thanks for hearing us.
Although I wish Hasbro wasn't stupid enough to make this decision in the first place, I respect that they have the ability to reverse it. Best case scenario, if we can overturn every stupid Hasbro decision, I would feel OK with spending on DDB.
It feels way worse to lose something you paid for than to not get something for free. This is just basic, basic business psychology.
Managing by "let's see how many subscribers we lose" is just braindead. Seriously consider firing the managers responsible for all these bad decisions.
Although I wish Hasbro wasn't stupid enough to make this decision in the first place, I respect that they have the ability to reverse it. Best case scenario, if we can overturn every stupid Hasbro decision, I would feel OK with spending on DDB.
It feels way worse to lose something you paid for than to not get something for free. This is just basic, basic business psychology.
Managing by "let's see how many subscribers we lose" is just braindead. Seriously consider firing the managers responsible for all these bad decisions.
You just hit the nail on the head. That is exactly what they are doing, managing by seeing how far they can push their agenda, as they condition their user base into accepting the inevitable digital cash machine they are intent on building.
Sooner or later, we will either accept or turn away from the ongoing plan to turn this into a digital microtransaction profit center. Not speculation; they are telling investors this, and ending 5e is essential to that plan. WoTC has already severed ties with its book distributors and publishers. The magic of holding a book, owning it outright, and sharing it with friends? Gone. Now, it’s all about squeezing every dollar out of us. Whatever this temporary "reversal" might mean in the short run, mark my words: future products will require you to get on the pony ride and pay your nickels.
This "We listened" rhetoric is simply a marketing move. It means little in the long term; I think it is precalculated. If they could have gotten away with killing 5e today, they would. They are happy to give the fans this short-term, hollow "win"; it's just a switch on their end, and it costs them nothing. But if you stay on Dndbeyond, there will undoubtedly be a point when 5e, as we know, will be obsolete, and you will have to sub or purchase your content all over again.
They think that most subscribers are already too "hooked" on their product, and the data they analyze as they make these moves reinforces that. They know it is hard for us to walk away from the time and money we have already invested in this platform. They are playing with us, seeing how many changes they can push onto us at once. Wait until the next phase, with the VTT not being backward compatible with 5e, and the new content and microtransactions to come. If this is the future of D&D, count me out.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
I am completely fine with not getting the 2024 things for free since my group was planning to get the book *when ready for it* eventually, we can absolutely wait. My only hope is they keep listening to when something is extremely anti-consumer 'cause this site is meant to sell convenience.
Sure, for now.
Remind me to come back here in the future, say 2 years, when they have removed all 2014 functionality. It's inevitable.
As for me, I'm unsubbed from DnDBeyond, and I will never subscribe again.
This. They have merely delayed their plans in order to stave off more bad press. Eventually, the corporation WILL phase out 5e and force players to adopt thier all digital formats sooner or later. The Dndbeyond platform is dead to me.
I am glad they changed their minds on this one.
Listening to feedback and making a change is good. Imagine how Sonic the Hedgehog would have been had they not listened. 2 movies; one on the way; and a show. Not so bad.
Sorry for being tangential. I think this was great. Good move Thanks for hearing us.
Although I wish Hasbro wasn't stupid enough to make this decision in the first place, I respect that they have the ability to reverse it. Best case scenario, if we can overturn every stupid Hasbro decision, I would feel OK with spending on DDB.
It feels way worse to lose something you paid for than to not get something for free. This is just basic, basic business psychology.
Managing by "let's see how many subscribers we lose" is just braindead. Seriously consider firing the managers responsible for all these bad decisions.
Ditto. A good move. Thanks for fixing the course.
You just hit the nail on the head. That is exactly what they are doing, managing by seeing how far they can push their agenda, as they condition their user base into accepting the inevitable digital cash machine they are intent on building.
Sooner or later, we will either accept or turn away from the ongoing plan to turn this into a digital microtransaction profit center.
Not speculation; they are telling investors this, and ending 5e is essential to that plan. WoTC has already severed ties with its book distributors and publishers. The magic of holding a book, owning it outright, and sharing it with friends? Gone. Now, it’s all about squeezing every dollar out of us.
Whatever this temporary "reversal" might mean in the short run, mark my words: future products will require you to get on the pony ride and pay your nickels.
This "We listened" rhetoric is simply a marketing move. It means little in the long term; I think it is precalculated. If they could have gotten away with killing 5e today, they would.
They are happy to give the fans this short-term, hollow "win"; it's just a switch on their end, and it costs them nothing. But if you stay on Dndbeyond, there will undoubtedly be a point when 5e, as we know, will be obsolete, and you will have to sub or purchase your content all over again.
They think that most subscribers are already too "hooked" on their product, and the data they analyze as they make these moves reinforces that. They know it is hard for us to walk away from the time and money we have already invested in this platform. They are playing with us, seeing how many changes they can push onto us at once.
Wait until the next phase, with the VTT not being backward compatible with 5e, and the new content and microtransactions to come.
If this is the future of D&D, count me out.