We at D&D Beyond regret to inform you that we will no longer be supporting Unearthed Arcana content on our platform.
While we have loved giving users the opportunity to use new Unearthed Arcana playtest material offered by Wizards of the Coast on D&D Beyond, there are a multitude of factors that have made it difficult for us to do so in a way that presents the content the way it was intended, and in a timely way that does not divert our development resources. We love Unearthed Arcana on the team (Don't ask me how many Rabbitfolk Joe Starr has created... Just know that it's a lot!), but we know our team's resources will be best applied to developing features for content already a part of published books, and to improve your experience on the platform with upgrades like our new containers feature.
What does this mean for Unearthed Arcana still available on DDB? Active Unearthed Arcana content (noted with the (UA) distinction in the title) will become archived one week from today, on August 12th, 2021. If your character currently has UA content on their sheet, they will not be impacted. The naming tag will simply change from (UA) to (Archived). That content will no longer be available to add to characters that don't already have the content, and if you remove the content from your character, you won't be able to add it back to them.
How can I use new UA on my characters to playtest new content using DDB? While we will no longer be officially supporting this content, you are welcome to use our homebrew tools to create UA content you'd like to use. Remember that you should not publish content you are not the original author of, as doing so violates our homebrew rules and guidelines. However, private homebrew is automatically shared to characters inside of campaigns that you're a member of, so you can still share your efforts with your friends, players, and DMs!
While it's never fun to tell you all that we aren't going to be doing something, it was important to us to be straightforward with you all, to set your expectations for what D&D Beyond will officially support now and in the future. What we are going to be doing, is continuing the hard work on our Features System, which will help us better support existing, and new content going forward. I can't wait to be able to share more details about this going forward.
UPDATE
All Unearthed Arcana playtest content on D&D Beyond has now been archived, as of 12th August 2021, and may no longer be selected to add to a character.
... we know our team's resources will be best applied to developing features for content already a part of published books, and to improve your experience on the platform with upgrades like our new containers feature.
In light of the above, I'm looking at this as a win. I understand a lot of people will feel differently and I can certainly see why, but looking at the UA content and especially how and if it made it to official content as well as the backlog of unimplemented features for me the cookie crumbles on the side of prioritizing that basic functionality over implementing stuff that never survives unscathed and half the time doesn't survive at all.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
What happens to existing character using this content?
"If your character currently has UA content on their sheet, they will not be impacted. The naming tag will simply change from (UA) to (Archived). That content will no longer be available to add to characters that don't already have the content, and if you remove the content from your character, you won't be able to add it back to them."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
What happens to existing character using this content?
As noted in the post:
If your character currently has UA content on their sheet, they will not be impacted. The naming tag will simply change from (UA) to (Archived). That content will no longer be available to add to characters that don't already have the content, and if you remove the content from your character, you won't be able to add it back to them.
You won't be able to add UA content to characters going forward, but existing characters that already use this content aren't affected. (This is also how archived UA has worked in the past.)
Provided that whatever UA comes out is actually possible to make with the homebrewer, and considering the fact I live in there anyway, I would gladly volunteer my time to implement them if you all would be willing to make them available for everyone.
At first I was bummed, but I'm okay with this, if it means you get to focus on improving existing features and adding ones that haven't been yet (such as customizing the spells for Aberrant Mind and Clockwork Soul).
Provided that whatever UA comes out is actually possible to make with the homebrewer, and considering the fact I live in there anyway, I would gladly volunteer my time to implement them if you all would be willing to make them available for everyone.
I'm interested in the same. Would it be possible to create a forum channel specifically for UA homebrew? I'm happy to help moderate/manage that work.
What are the rules about users now entering Unearthed Arcana content into DDB's homebrew system and sharing it?
This was covered in Mellie's post:
How can I use new UA on my characters to playtest new content using DDB? While we will no longer be officially supporting this content, you are welcome to use our homebrew tools to create UA content you'd like to use. Remember that you should not publish content you are not the original author of, as doing so violates our homebrew rules and guidelines. However, private homebrew is automatically shared to characters inside of campaigns that you're a member of, so you can still share your efforts with your friends, players, and DMs!
UA Homebrew is not to be publicly submitted but left as private.
This makes total sense, surprised that you guys attempted to keep up with it for so long based on the fact that there are often so many totally new systems to implement in UA that often don't make it to the final product.
I'm all for diverting all resources to supporting features that actually make it to the official game.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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We at D&D Beyond regret to inform you that we will no longer be supporting Unearthed Arcana content on our platform.
While we have loved giving users the opportunity to use new Unearthed Arcana playtest material offered by Wizards of the Coast on D&D Beyond, there are a multitude of factors that have made it difficult for us to do so in a way that presents the content the way it was intended, and in a timely way that does not divert our development resources. We love Unearthed Arcana on the team (Don't ask me how many Rabbitfolk Joe Starr has created... Just know that it's a lot!), but we know our team's resources will be best applied to developing features for content already a part of published books, and to improve your experience on the platform with upgrades like our new containers feature.
What does this mean for Unearthed Arcana still available on DDB?
Active Unearthed Arcana content (noted with the (UA) distinction in the title) will become archived one week from today, on August 12th, 2021. If your character currently has UA content on their sheet, they will not be impacted. The naming tag will simply change from (UA) to (Archived). That content will no longer be available to add to characters that don't already have the content, and if you remove the content from your character, you won't be able to add it back to them.
How can I use new UA on my characters to playtest new content using DDB?
While we will no longer be officially supporting this content, you are welcome to use our homebrew tools to create UA content you'd like to use. Remember that you should not publish content you are not the original author of, as doing so violates our homebrew rules and guidelines. However, private homebrew is automatically shared to characters inside of campaigns that you're a member of, so you can still share your efforts with your friends, players, and DMs!
While it's never fun to tell you all that we aren't going to be doing something, it was important to us to be straightforward with you all, to set your expectations for what D&D Beyond will officially support now and in the future. What we are going to be doing, is continuing the hard work on our Features System, which will help us better support existing, and new content going forward. I can't wait to be able to share more details about this going forward.
UPDATE
All Unearthed Arcana playtest content on D&D Beyond has now been archived, as of 12th August 2021, and may no longer be selected to add to a character.
Bummer.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Boo 😢
Oh well.
This is very disappointing, but understandable.
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In light of the above, I'm looking at this as a win. I understand a lot of people will feel differently and I can certainly see why, but looking at the UA content and especially how and if it made it to official content as well as the backlog of unimplemented features for me the cookie crumbles on the side of prioritizing that basic functionality over implementing stuff that never survives unscathed and half the time doesn't survive at all.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
What happens to existing character using this content?
Huge shame, all my players really appreciated the UA content and having to make all that stuff via homebrew is going to eat up a lot of my time.
"If your character currently has UA content on their sheet, they will not be impacted. The naming tag will simply change from (UA) to (Archived). That content will no longer be available to add to characters that don't already have the content, and if you remove the content from your character, you won't be able to add it back to them."
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
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ModeratorAs noted in the post:
You won't be able to add UA content to characters going forward, but existing characters that already use this content aren't affected. (This is also how archived UA has worked in the past.)
Huge L
That's unfortunate but understandable.
Nothing. They just keep on keepin’ on.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Provided that whatever UA comes out is actually possible to make with the homebrewer, and considering the fact I live in there anyway, I would gladly volunteer my time to implement them if you all would be willing to make them available for everyone.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Great news. Concentrate resources on things confirmed to come or already in the game... not on stuff that might not see the light of day.
Dungeon Master & Player
D&D Beyond Legendary Bundle & Master Tier Subscriber
I reject your reality and substitute it with my own!
At first I was bummed, but I'm okay with this, if it means you get to focus on improving existing features and adding ones that haven't been yet (such as customizing the spells for Aberrant Mind and Clockwork Soul).
What are the rules about users now entering Unearthed Arcana content into DDB's homebrew system and sharing it?
I'm interested in the same. Would it be possible to create a forum channel specifically for UA homebrew? I'm happy to help moderate/manage that work.
This was covered in Mellie's post:
UA Homebrew is not to be publicly submitted but left as private.
[ Site Rules & Guidelines ] --- [ Homebrew Rules & Guidelines ]
Send me a message with any questions or concerns
This makes total sense, surprised that you guys attempted to keep up with it for so long based on the fact that there are often so many totally new systems to implement in UA that often don't make it to the final product.
I'm all for diverting all resources to supporting features that actually make it to the official game.