I would like to make a proposal. Make the three core books free to use, but have the other books need to be payed for.
We already have the Basic Rules available for free for the purpose of giving new players a taste of what D&D is like. It costs money to digitize books and there are ongoing expenses to host them online, which Beyond should be compensated for. If the user does not want to pay for the digital versions of the core books, they can use homebrew to transfer anything they need into Beyond as long as they keep it private and not publish it.
This website is not owned by the same company that publishes D&D. This website is more like an online bookstore that only sells digital D&D books. And they made all of these additional tools like the character builder for us to use for free with the materials we purchase.
Not to mention, the company that runs this website has to follow a specific contract with the company that publishes the game, Wizards of the Coast. They have no choice. And they worked like heck to build this website, so they deserve to get paid too.
Nope, separate company. They license the content for their platform and thus need to generate revenue to pay for that license, as well as the tools they develop
Nope, separate company. They license the content for their platform and thus need to generate revenue to pay for that license, as well as the tools they develop
Yup. DDB is owned by Curse LLC, which is a subsidiary of Fandom Inc. D&D is owned by WotC, which is a subsidiary of Hasbo Toys.
I would like to make a proposal.
Make the three core books free to use, but have the other books need to be payed for.
We already have the Basic Rules available for free for the purpose of giving new players a taste of what D&D is like. It costs money to digitize books and there are ongoing expenses to host them online, which Beyond should be compensated for. If the user does not want to pay for the digital versions of the core books, they can use homebrew to transfer anything they need into Beyond as long as they keep it private and not publish it.
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 >
Firstly, this isn't D&D Beyonds call to make, WotC sets the terms on what content can be offered for free and what content must be paid for.
Secondly, as pointed out, a very large chunk of the core three books can be found in the basic rules for free already
Find my D&D Beyond articles here
This website is not owned by the same company that publishes D&D. This website is more like an online bookstore that only sells digital D&D books. And they made all of these additional tools like the character builder for us to use for free with the materials we purchase.
Not to mention, the company that runs this website has to follow a specific contract with the company that publishes the game, Wizards of the Coast. They have no choice. And they worked like heck to build this website, so they deserve to get paid too.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
To be honest, I was under the impression that WOTC owned DDB.
Nope, separate company. They license the content for their platform and thus need to generate revenue to pay for that license, as well as the tools they develop
Find my D&D Beyond articles here
Yup. DDB is owned by Curse LLC, which is a subsidiary of Fandom Inc. D&D is owned by WotC, which is a subsidiary of Hasbo Toys.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting