Thank you Wizards for you loyalty to your subscribers. I may have been naive in thinking that having a Master Tier subscription with several 2014 digital books purchased, would grant me access to the new PHB in digital format to create characters. Since I am not able to use the creator to build characters, then this sub isn't worth the money I spend on it I would rather spend the money on the physical books and keep a paper game that no one can take from me. Here's to 2+ years and many hard earned dollars. I .ay just switch to Piazo od D20 after this. Goodbye DDB. It was an eye opener.
I may have been naive in thinking that having a Master Tier subscription with several 2014 digital books purchased, would grant me access to the new PHB in digital format to create characters
Point of clarification.
Did you purchase the 2024 PHB and are now disappointed with the current bugs in the rollout?
Or were you expecting that because you owned the 2014 PHB that you would also get the 2024 PHB for free?
If it's the former, I'd personally hold off on passing judgement. It's very early in the release and I'd be optimistic for the various bugs to get fixed. Though can certainly understand disappointment with the volume of bugs.
If it's the latter, DDB never advertised giving the new books for free. The closest was a partial thing with spells/magic items in a previous changelog, but that was a widely disliked proposal as it would've nullified the availability of current spells/items in the character sheet. They've had the pre-order promotion listed on the front page for months now. It shouldn't come as a surprise that you would need to pay for them separately.
Speaking as someone that purchased the 2014 PHB/MM/DMG myself I'm okay with not getting the 2024 ones for free. I never expected that.
It has been 3 yrs, 8 months, and 10 days as a user/subscriber. This is well before WotC/Hasbro took over the business. I believe I may have purchased the original PHB (2014) digitally, but that was from an independent company that was presenting a character builder and I thought contributing to that company was worth buying the book twice. I have purchased quite a bit of digital content on here as well, which is fine for the extra features for my groups.
When Wizards started with the subscription tiers, I bought into the idea that this would be a great place for players in my campaigns to build characters and not have to keep track of their sheets. After purchasing the PHB 2024 Physical copy, from my LGS I might add, (I mistakenly thought the Master Tier would grant me access to the builder for 2024 characters. I couldn't care less about having the digital PHB. I find that the only way my players and I can use the builder for the new CORE ruleset is to buy the digital PHB (at $30 because of my earlier mistake) and pay for the subscription. The basic functions we use the subscription for, is the builder. If my players can't use the builder for CORE character creation, then there isn't a reason for me to continue being a subscriber. All my games are in person, so we can just go back to paper.
If we want to add in the OGL problem, legacy issues, and the scare of losing all my 2014 content. Not to mention, the fear of my 2014 players being forced into the 2024 rules, before WotC, in their benevolence, changed their minds. I don't have faith in this site. This is that last spec of crap, I can't seem to swallow.
The naivete I was speaking of was the idea that purchasing an annual subscription to their highest tier should grant the use of their CORE ruleset for the ability to use their most basic function. CHARACTER CREATION.
The naivete I was speaking of was the idea that purchasing an annual subscription to their highest tier should grant the use of their CORE ruleset for the ability to use their most basic function. CHARACTER CREATION.
What do you mean? I don't have any subscription at all and can still build new characters with the core rules (4 classes, more species, loads of spells etc).
After purchasing the PHB 2024 Physical copy, from my LGS I might add, (I mistakenly thought the Master Tier would grant me access to the builder for 2024 characters. I couldn't care less about having the digital PHB. I find that the only way my players and I can use the builder for the new CORE ruleset is to buy the digital PHB (at $30 because of my earlier mistake) and pay for the subscription. The basic functions we use the subscription for, is the builder. If my players can't use the builder for CORE character creation, then there isn't a reason for me to continue being a subscriber. All my games are in person, so we can just go back to paper.
DDB's Marketplace has a separate option for the physical/digital bundle. There's also been options to just get the physical or digital without the bundle. It was always made clear that the access to classes/races/spells/etc in the character sheet, beyond the free rules, would require a DDB purchase. And being subscribed, while allowing content sharing with master tier and unlimited characters with either tier, doesn't confer direct benefits on the builder.
I can understand your concern about 2014 access though.
Thank you Wizards for you loyalty to your subscribers. I may have been naive in thinking that having a Master Tier subscription with several 2014 digital books purchased, would grant me access to the new PHB in digital format to create characters. Since I am not able to use the creator to build characters, then this sub isn't worth the money I spend on it I would rather spend the money on the physical books and keep a paper game that no one can take from me. Here's to 2+ years and many hard earned dollars. I .ay just switch to Piazo od D20 after this. Goodbye DDB. It was an eye opener.
A subscription on DDB has never granted access to books free of charge. Odd hill to die on but you do you.
Point of clarification.
Did you purchase the 2024 PHB and are now disappointed with the current bugs in the rollout?
Or were you expecting that because you owned the 2014 PHB that you would also get the 2024 PHB for free?
If it's the former, I'd personally hold off on passing judgement. It's very early in the release and I'd be optimistic for the various bugs to get fixed. Though can certainly understand disappointment with the volume of bugs.
If it's the latter, DDB never advertised giving the new books for free. The closest was a partial thing with spells/magic items in a previous changelog, but that was a widely disliked proposal as it would've nullified the availability of current spells/items in the character sheet. They've had the pre-order promotion listed on the front page for months now. It shouldn't come as a surprise that you would need to pay for them separately.
Speaking as someone that purchased the 2014 PHB/MM/DMG myself I'm okay with not getting the 2024 ones for free. I never expected that.
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
It has been 3 yrs, 8 months, and 10 days as a user/subscriber. This is well before WotC/Hasbro took over the business. I believe I may have purchased the original PHB (2014) digitally, but that was from an independent company that was presenting a character builder and I thought contributing to that company was worth buying the book twice. I have purchased quite a bit of digital content on here as well, which is fine for the extra features for my groups.
When Wizards started with the subscription tiers, I bought into the idea that this would be a great place for players in my campaigns to build characters and not have to keep track of their sheets. After purchasing the PHB 2024 Physical copy, from my LGS I might add, (I mistakenly thought the Master Tier would grant me access to the builder for 2024 characters. I couldn't care less about having the digital PHB. I find that the only way my players and I can use the builder for the new CORE ruleset is to buy the digital PHB (at $30 because of my earlier mistake) and pay for the subscription. The basic functions we use the subscription for, is the builder. If my players can't use the builder for CORE character creation, then there isn't a reason for me to continue being a subscriber. All my games are in person, so we can just go back to paper.
If we want to add in the OGL problem, legacy issues, and the scare of losing all my 2014 content. Not to mention, the fear of my 2014 players being forced into the 2024 rules, before WotC, in their benevolence, changed their minds. I don't have faith in this site. This is that last spec of crap, I can't seem to swallow.
The naivete I was speaking of was the idea that purchasing an annual subscription to their highest tier should grant the use of their CORE ruleset for the ability to use their most basic function. CHARACTER CREATION.
What do you mean? I don't have any subscription at all and can still build new characters with the core rules (4 classes, more species, loads of spells etc).
DDB's Marketplace has a separate option for the physical/digital bundle. There's also been options to just get the physical or digital without the bundle. It was always made clear that the access to classes/races/spells/etc in the character sheet, beyond the free rules, would require a DDB purchase. And being subscribed, while allowing content sharing with master tier and unlimited characters with either tier, doesn't confer direct benefits on the builder.
I can understand your concern about 2014 access though.
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary