Bridging the Gap: Using 5E Content in your 5.5E Games
One of the biggest advantages of playing games on Shard Tabletop is flexibility.
As the tabletop landscape continues to evolve with updated rulesets like D&D 2024 (now officially named 5.5E) and systems like Tales of the Valiant, many players are looking for ways to explore what’s new without leaving behind the content they already know and love. At Shard, we couldn’t agree more.
Much of the content currently available on Shard was originally built around the 2014 5E ruleset, and for many players, that means an existing library of potentially dozens or even hundreds of subclasses and character options they still want to use. Rather than forcing you to start over, Shard makes it easy to carry that content forward.
With just a few clicks, you can copy a 2014 subclass into a 2024 class and make it available during character creation—helping you get more value out of your existing content while making the move to the updated ruleset on your terms.
Play the New Rules Without Leaving Your Favorites Behind
Whether you’re testing out the 2024 rules for the first time, updating an ongoing campaign, or rebuilding a character you’ve loved for years, Shard gives you an easy way to bridge the gap between editions.
That means you can:
continue using familiar 2014 subclasses
make the move to 2024 without rebuilding everything from scratch
keep character creation flexible for your table
get more mileage out of the content already in your Shard library
It’s a simple feature, but an important one: new rules shouldn’t make your existing content harder to use.
Get Started in Seconds
To begin, make sure you’ve added the 2024 Player’s Handbook Compatibility Pack to your account. It’s available for free in the Marketplace.
Once that’s done, head to your main play page and follow these steps:
Click “Classes” and select the class you want to start with (choose the version sourced from Shard Player’s Guide Volume I — this is the 2014 version).
Click Subclasses and then click on the subclass you want to use.
Click ‘Copy to’.
Select the 2024 version of that class.
Confirm your selection.
Once copied, that subclass will be available when creating a 2024 character. Players using Tales of the Valiant can follow the same process using the Black Flag Roleplaying Reference, also available for free. Note: Most 5E Kobold Press subclasses do not align with progression of Tales of the Valiant subclasses, and may need to be modified further depending on you or your Gamemaster’s preferences.
Built for the Way People Actually Play
Edition changes are exciting, but they can also create friction. Players want to try new systems, adopt updated rules, and experiment with fresh options—but they also want their existing tools and content to keep working for them.
That’s exactly the kind of experience Shard is built to support.
Instead of treating older content as something you have to leave behind, Shard helps you keep playing with the material you already use while making it easier to explore what’s next. It’s one more way the platform supports customization, continuity, and player choice
Keep What You Love. Play What’s New.
Moving to a new ruleset doesn’t have to mean starting over.
With Shard, you can keep the subclasses and options you already enjoy, bring them into D&D 2024, and keep building characters your way—with less friction and more flexibility.
That’s the kind of compatibility digital tools should offer. And it’s one more reason Shard makes it easier to keep your game moving forward.
See It in Action
Want a quick video walkthrough? You can also watch our short tutorial on YouTube to see the full process step by step. Or check out our learning article for some step-by-step screenshots.
