Are there any plans regarding a "play area" where you can actually roll dice, move your icons on a map etc. like Roll20 or Fantasygrounds? I think it would be a great thing to have :)
They've more or less said they won't do a VTT. As I understand it, a dice roller is on the roadmap, don't remember how far down. Integration with other VTTs is something they're open to, if not actively exploring. Honestly, if they were to set up VTT integration before what I think can reasonably be called core features (given this is a supplement to table top play, not online play), I'd be pretty angry. Fortunately things like encounter builders and monster tracking are needed before you could even consider a VTT, and they're HOPING we see something before the end of the year, so don't hold your breath for a VTT.
please upvote DnDBeyond.com building out something for Virtual Groups (ie VTT). It would be great to have these tools all working together or in one place.
NOTE: You will need to setup a zendesk account (which is not your DnDBeyond.com account, the team uses this 3rd party software). It's easy to do and your votes are needed!
It really wouldn't make much business sense "integrating" with Fantasy Grounds or Roll 20 as they are competing platforms who (like D&D beyond) make a sizeable chunk of their revenue via the sales of books. All other content, be it the VTT on Roll 20 / Fantasy Grounds or the builder here on D&D Beyond, exist from a business perspective as a reason to use the service... and buy the books. Yes I know the subscription helps generate money for them but the main reason I for one subscribe... is to share the books I bought with my players; without this hook, D&D Beyond wouldn't make any money and likewise without book sales, neither would Roll20. I will admit that the initial purchase costs make Fantasy Grounds more viable without book purchases but why would they have reason to give up this source of revenue?
Personally, for expediency if nothing else, I'd rather they bought/licensed and then integrated Dungeon Fog rather than developing something on their own but a partnership with Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds isn't something I would expect to see happening.
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Plays Leo weekly on Chaotic Fabulous. Watch us weekly on twitch chaoticfabulous.com
I think DnDBeyond.com should take the time to develop their own product in this space that is specific to Dungeons and Dragons. Roll20 and Fantasy grounds are meant to be "generic" tools for RPG Table Top gaming. I think just as the DnDBeyond.com character sheets show, a focused approach that integrates with their existing products makes more sense.
It will take longer for sure, but I feel the wait will be worth it. Obviously, lessons need to be learned from existing offerings. For example, roll20 has very robust damage and dice modifications that can be put in place easily. Examples:
Draconic Origin Damage put in easily
Life Domain healing modifiers easy to put in
Additional dice damage to base weapons (if the DM grants you such things)
Re-Roll, Re-Roll Once, Keep High, Modified Crit ranges, etc.
I would say, this information is present in the DnDBeyond.com character sheets, but not intentionally woven into the visible outputs 100% of the time.
DnDBeyond.com would have to go through a pretty robust "Math Strengthening" exercise to catch the various use-cases and allow players the ability to directly modify them as-needed.
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Want to see Virtual Table Top like no other before it built within DnDBeyond.com? Upvote the feature request. It's 2nd highest voted so far:
NOTE: You will need to setup a zendesk account (which is not your DnDBeyond.com account, the team uses this 3rd party software). It's easy to do and your votes are needed!
i personally think it's the logical progression for DnDbeyond. so we have physical books for pen and paper play. we bought the materials again on here, which was and still is a huge issue to some people starting out on here. I always legitimized it for myself by saying that digital is a different format, yada yada yada. why would (or should) we pay for the same material on yet another platform like FG? especially when its just another digital medium. plus if we bought adventure and source book access there, why would we buy it on Beyond? With the beyond team currently rolling out an encounter builder, and already having talking about initiavtive, status, and hp tracking coming in future updates, the next logical step in my opinion is to turn it into a full toolkit for play, including a roll mechanic, VTT, etc. personally i really hope that Bradford and the team see it this way as well, because honestly, i really dont think having your character sheet on your phone is enough to justify buying all this material and supporting them with a subscription when i could just be paying fantasy grounds or some other VTT for a far more robust toolkit that enables actual play more easily. Not to mention that i think Beyond can do it better with some time. I already like their layout and styling more than those other services, we just need the tools.
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Basically what the title says:
Are there any plans regarding a "play area" where you can actually roll dice, move your icons on a map etc. like Roll20 or Fantasygrounds?
I think it would be a great thing to have :)
In short, no. There are two competing sites that already do that. DDB is intended to facilitate play at the table.
No, but I would like integration with roll20 and FG. There is no need to rebuild the wheel.
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twitch.tv/PGKarieo
They've more or less said they won't do a VTT. As I understand it, a dice roller is on the roadmap, don't remember how far down. Integration with other VTTs is something they're open to, if not actively exploring. Honestly, if they were to set up VTT integration before what I think can reasonably be called core features (given this is a supplement to table top play, not online play), I'd be pretty angry. Fortunately things like encounter builders and monster tracking are needed before you could even consider a VTT, and they're HOPING we see something before the end of the year, so don't hold your breath for a VTT.
please upvote DnDBeyond.com building out something for Virtual Groups (ie VTT). It would be great to have these tools all working together or in one place.
https://dndbeyond.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/115008597088-Virtual-Tabletop-Gameboard
Want to see Virtual Table Top like no other before it built within DnDBeyond.com? Upvote the feature request. It's 2nd highest voted so far:
https://dndbeyond.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/115008597088-Virtual-Tabletop-Gameboard
NOTE: You will need to setup a zendesk account (which is not your DnDBeyond.com account, the team uses this 3rd party software). It's easy to do and your votes are needed!
Hey, you never know what's in the pipeline. ; )
Sounds like a good idea to me.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
twitch.tv/PGKarieo
Yea, please integrate with fantasy grounds and Roll20, It sucks having to purchase digital content multiple times.
While it's not imminent, according to the roadmap (https://trello.com/b/vIKxuEs8/dd-beyond-feature-roadmap) the virtual tabletop is a planned feature.
It really wouldn't make much business sense "integrating" with Fantasy Grounds or Roll 20 as they are competing platforms who (like D&D beyond) make a sizeable chunk of their revenue via the sales of books. All other content, be it the VTT on Roll 20 / Fantasy Grounds or the builder here on D&D Beyond, exist from a business perspective as a reason to use the service... and buy the books. Yes I know the subscription helps generate money for them but the main reason I for one subscribe... is to share the books I bought with my players; without this hook, D&D Beyond wouldn't make any money and likewise without book sales, neither would Roll20. I will admit that the initial purchase costs make Fantasy Grounds more viable without book purchases but why would they have reason to give up this source of revenue?
Personally, for expediency if nothing else, I'd rather they bought/licensed and then integrated Dungeon Fog rather than developing something on their own but a partnership with Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds isn't something I would expect to see happening.
Plays Leo weekly on Chaotic Fabulous. Watch us weekly on twitch chaoticfabulous.com
I think DnDBeyond.com should take the time to develop their own product in this space that is specific to Dungeons and Dragons. Roll20 and Fantasy grounds are meant to be "generic" tools for RPG Table Top gaming. I think just as the DnDBeyond.com character sheets show, a focused approach that integrates with their existing products makes more sense.
It will take longer for sure, but I feel the wait will be worth it. Obviously, lessons need to be learned from existing offerings. For example, roll20 has very robust damage and dice modifications that can be put in place easily. Examples:
Draconic Origin Damage put in easily
Life Domain healing modifiers easy to put in
Additional dice damage to base weapons (if the DM grants you such things)
Re-Roll, Re-Roll Once, Keep High, Modified Crit ranges, etc.
I would say, this information is present in the DnDBeyond.com character sheets, but not intentionally woven into the visible outputs 100% of the time.
DnDBeyond.com would have to go through a pretty robust "Math Strengthening" exercise to catch the various use-cases and allow players the ability to directly modify them as-needed.
Want to see Virtual Table Top like no other before it built within DnDBeyond.com? Upvote the feature request. It's 2nd highest voted so far:
https://dndbeyond.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/115008597088-Virtual-Tabletop-Gameboard
NOTE: You will need to setup a zendesk account (which is not your DnDBeyond.com account, the team uses this 3rd party software). It's easy to do and your votes are needed!
i personally think it's the logical progression for DnDbeyond. so we have physical books for pen and paper play. we bought the materials again on here, which was and still is a huge issue to some people starting out on here. I always legitimized it for myself by saying that digital is a different format, yada yada yada. why would (or should) we pay for the same material on yet another platform like FG? especially when its just another digital medium. plus if we bought adventure and source book access there, why would we buy it on Beyond? With the beyond team currently rolling out an encounter builder, and already having talking about initiavtive, status, and hp tracking coming in future updates, the next logical step in my opinion is to turn it into a full toolkit for play, including a roll mechanic, VTT, etc. personally i really hope that Bradford and the team see it this way as well, because honestly, i really dont think having your character sheet on your phone is enough to justify buying all this material and supporting them with a subscription when i could just be paying fantasy grounds or some other VTT for a far more robust toolkit that enables actual play more easily. Not to mention that i think Beyond can do it better with some time. I already like their layout and styling more than those other services, we just need the tools.