The Weekly LIVE 256 – D&D Beyond Debacle, Gav Thorpe Joins Konflikt 47, Start Here RPG and Dungeon World Purchased

The D&D Beyond digital toolset, a crucial platform for many Dungeons & Dragons players, is undergoing significant changes that may complicate its use before improvements are realized. Following Hasbro’s acquisition of the toolset in April 2022, it has become a central hub for 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons, especially as more users transitioned to digital platforms during the pandemic. The upcoming transition from the 2014 to the 2024 version of the Player’s Handbook involves complex steps to maintain compatibility between the old and new rules, including the need to manually recreate some spells and magic items from the 2014 ruleset to function with the new digital character sheets. Wizards of the Coast plans to implement a “Legacy” system in D&D Beyond, allowing users to access older 2014 materials alongside the new 2024 rules. While some rules will be automatically updated, others, such as classes, subclasses, and species, will remain accessible in their original form. However, this system may lead to challenges, as older and newer rules may overlap, requiring players to manually adjust their characters or use the homebrew system to maintain the original functionality of certain spells and items.

The planned update has sparked controversy among the D&D community, with many players expressing frustration over the forced integration of the 2024 rules into their current campaigns. The automatic update of spells and items has been particularly contentious, as it disrupts ongoing gameplay. Wizards of the Coast has faced backlash for this approach, leading them to reconsider and allow players the option to continue using older versions of spells and items without forcing updates. In response to the outcry, Wizards of the Coast has announced that they will not automatically update character sheets with the new rules, preserving the existing content while adding the 2024 rules as optional updates. This change has been welcomed by the community, as it restores player choice in how they interact with the toolset and the game’s evolving rules.

In a related development, Wizards of the Coast has also expanded its partnerships with third-party content creators, bringing new content to the D&D Beyond Marketplace. This includes collaborations with companies like Free League Publishing, Kobold Press, and others, offering a broader range of resources for players and Dungeon Masters alike. These partnerships indicate a continued effort to enrich the D&D Beyond platform with diverse content from across the tabletop role-playing game industry.

“Start Here RPG” is designed as an easy-to-learn and streamlined tabletop roleplaying game, created by veteran game designer Tim Beach. The game is intended for both newcomers and experienced players who find traditional RPG rulebooks overwhelming. With rules that can be learned in just a few minutes, “Start Here” allows players to quickly jump into the gameplay without the need for extensive preparation.

The game system is straightforward, with characters defined by six attributes that directly influence dice rolls and outcomes in the game, making it intuitive and minimizing the need for complex rules. The “Start Here” RPG consists of a trio of books that guide players through the basics of roleplaying and gradually introduce more complex concepts. The first book is tailored for beginners, offering simple rules, sample characters, and an introductory fantasy setting called “Serpents & Strongholds.” The second book expands on the rules, providing more character options, leveling-up mechanics, and a science fiction setting called “Star Ex.” The third book, “Campaign Sampler,” delves deeper into different settings, including a zombie-apocalypse scenario “Zombiesaurus Rex” and a Western-themed “Wizards & Wranglers,” offering more adventure ideas and campaign details. Tim Beach, who has over 30 years of