What happened to the Warlock's patron The Lurker In The Deep? I looked today at the class and it was gone! I realize this was UA material, but so was The Undead and that's still there. What's the story?
The Undead is post Tasha's UA and playtesting for something in the future, so hasn't been removed.
It is extremely unfair when they do things like that. It would be much better if along with the full book, they also realised a free softcover splat, that had the basics of all the UA that was play tested and then moved into whatever hardcover they released.
I don’t believe that doing that would take away from the hardcover and the book would contain much more than the basic text of post UA content. However, it would still allow people to officially continue to play the UA that they were enjoying, post release.
Essentially what they’d be doing with each hardcover release, was adding to the official free content. Expanding the game, with each new release, while providing much more in-depth lore, art and new rules and and so on, for those who wanted to buy the full hardcover release.
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A caffeinated nerd who has played TTRPGs or a number of years and is very much a fantasy adventure geek.
The Undead is post Tasha's UA and playtesting for something in the future, so hasn't been removed.
It is extremely unfair when they do things like that. It would be much better if along with the full book, they also realised a free softcover splat, that had the basics of all the UA that was play tested and then moved into whatever hardcover they released.
I don’t believe that doing that would take away from the hardcover and the book would contain much more than the basic text of post UA content. However, it would still allow people to officially continue to play the UA that they were enjoying, post release.
Essentially what they’d be doing with each hardcover release, was adding to the official free content. Expanding the game, with each new release, while providing much more in-depth lore, art and new rules and and so on, for those who wanted to buy the full hardcover release.
You know that you can go to WoTC and download the UA pdfs right? But Beyond is not under an obligation to keep the UA and the official version available.
UA is never permanently hosted on DDB. The Undead patron will go away in time (surprised its still up since they've already closed the surveys, and have been surveying Drake Warden and Dragon Monk). It's common practice to copy UA you like and maintain it as homebrew. If you missed the window, you can dig through WotC's UA archives to find it and homebrew it from scratch.
Sure, who doesn't like free stuff? But this free stuff is explicitly licensed on D&D Beyond and granted to the community by WotC for future commercial product development. DDB is not going to support stuff WotC doesn't license them to. WotC, surprisingly to me, does maintain its UA archive after books including the UA is released, so you're not doomed to buy the book if you don't want to.
This topic and whether the complaints against the present UA practice are valid has been discussed a lot, especially since a lot of Tasha's content, as far as player character builds, subclasses and Class Feature Variants, is UA almost word for word.
I believe that Adam has said several times on Dev Updates that DDB is required by WotC to remove the UA once it closes. That said, if you have a character with a UA feat, subclass, etc. it is not removed from the character when the UA is archived, but it is removed from available options to add and you cannot add it back if you remove it from an existing character.
The Undead is post Tasha's UA and playtesting for something in the future, so hasn't been removed.
It is extremely unfair when they do things like that. It would be much better if along with the full book, they also realised a free softcover splat, that had the basics of all the UA that was play tested and then moved into whatever hardcover they released.
I don’t believe that doing that would take away from the hardcover and the book would contain much more than the basic text of post UA content. However, it would still allow people to officially continue to play the UA that they were enjoying, post release.
Essentially what they’d be doing with each hardcover release, was adding to the official free content. Expanding the game, with each new release, while providing much more in-depth lore, art and new rules and and so on, for those who wanted to buy the full hardcover release.
Think about this for a minute. You want them to release a free version of their own product that has the best parts and then offer a paid version with some extra art and stuff. That is just absolutely unrealistic. Keep in mind that WotC and D&D Beyond are different companies. They do not make money on DDB subscriptions beyond a licensing fee for the content. Selling books is how WotC makes money, and giving away your primary revenue stream for free is a great way to go out of business.
It's amazing that we get free UA content at all. Be thankful for it, but don't feel that you are entitled to it because you are not in any way.
UA is free content. You can still get it by downloading the PDF, you just don't get the convenience of using it in Beyond. I'm happy that we get any content free, even if it is playtest.
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A fool pulls the leaves. A brute chops the trunk. A sage digs the roots.
What happened to the Warlock's patron The Lurker In The Deep? I looked today at the class and it was gone! I realize this was UA material, but so was The Undead and that's still there. What's the story?
If you still want the UA subclass, let me know and I can make a copy that you can claim.
UA can be maintained and home-brewed for personal use (that includes campaign sharing). It can't be published for all D&D Beyond Users to find via search or browsing or forum linking, That's not a bad thing since homebrew publishing is supposed to be showcasing individuals' creative work, not a way for people to do end runs around 3rd party copyrights or WotC license to D&D Beyond. But I can take a Hit Point or Kobold Press publication and homebrew it for my campaign, I just can't advertise that I had for everyone on D&D Beyond to make use of. UA is the same way from a rights and community access perspective.
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
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What happened to the Warlock's patron The Lurker In The Deep? I looked today at the class and it was gone! I realize this was UA material, but so was The Undead and that's still there. What's the story?
It got moved into Tasha's as the Fathomless.
The Undead is post Tasha's UA and playtesting for something in the future, so hasn't been removed.
It is extremely unfair when they do things like that. It would be much better if along with the full book, they also realised a free softcover splat, that had the basics of all the UA that was play tested and then moved into whatever hardcover they released.
I don’t believe that doing that would take away from the hardcover and the book would contain much more than the basic text of post UA content. However, it would still allow people to officially continue to play the UA that they were enjoying, post release.
Essentially what they’d be doing with each hardcover release, was adding to the official free content. Expanding the game, with each new release, while providing much more in-depth lore, art and new rules and and so on, for those who wanted to buy the full hardcover release.
A caffeinated nerd who has played TTRPGs or a number of years and is very much a fantasy adventure geek.
You know that you can go to WoTC and download the UA pdfs right? But Beyond is not under an obligation to keep the UA and the official version available.
UA is never permanently hosted on DDB. The Undead patron will go away in time (surprised its still up since they've already closed the surveys, and have been surveying Drake Warden and Dragon Monk). It's common practice to copy UA you like and maintain it as homebrew. If you missed the window, you can dig through WotC's UA archives to find it and homebrew it from scratch.
Sure, who doesn't like free stuff? But this free stuff is explicitly licensed on D&D Beyond and granted to the community by WotC for future commercial product development. DDB is not going to support stuff WotC doesn't license them to. WotC, surprisingly to me, does maintain its UA archive after books including the UA is released, so you're not doomed to buy the book if you don't want to.
This topic and whether the complaints against the present UA practice are valid has been discussed a lot, especially since a lot of Tasha's content, as far as player character builds, subclasses and Class Feature Variants, is UA almost word for word.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
I believe that Adam has said several times on Dev Updates that DDB is required by WotC to remove the UA once it closes. That said, if you have a character with a UA feat, subclass, etc. it is not removed from the character when the UA is archived, but it is removed from available options to add and you cannot add it back if you remove it from an existing character.
Think about this for a minute. You want them to release a free version of their own product that has the best parts and then offer a paid version with some extra art and stuff. That is just absolutely unrealistic. Keep in mind that WotC and D&D Beyond are different companies. They do not make money on DDB subscriptions beyond a licensing fee for the content. Selling books is how WotC makes money, and giving away your primary revenue stream for free is a great way to go out of business.
It's amazing that we get free UA content at all. Be thankful for it, but don't feel that you are entitled to it because you are not in any way.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
UA is free content. You can still get it by downloading the PDF, you just don't get the convenience of using it in Beyond. I'm happy that we get any content free, even if it is playtest.
A fool pulls the leaves. A brute chops the trunk. A sage digs the roots.
My Improved Lineage System
If you still want the UA subclass, let me know and I can make a copy that you can claim.
Check Licenses and Resync Entitlements: < https://www.dndbeyond.com/account/licenses >
Running the Game by Matt Colville; Introduction: < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-YZvLUXcR8 >
D&D with High School Students by Bill Allen; Season 1 Episode 1: < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52NJTUDokyk&t >
UA can be maintained and home-brewed for personal use (that includes campaign sharing). It can't be published for all D&D Beyond Users to find via search or browsing or forum linking, That's not a bad thing since homebrew publishing is supposed to be showcasing individuals' creative work, not a way for people to do end runs around 3rd party copyrights or WotC license to D&D Beyond. But I can take a Hit Point or Kobold Press publication and homebrew it for my campaign, I just can't advertise that I had for everyone on D&D Beyond to make use of. UA is the same way from a rights and community access perspective.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.