So I understand they have not yet released pricing, but I want to see if you people feel the same way I do about the "splatbooks", i.e. the non-core books like Volo's.
Basically, I'm fine with paying a "digital price" (assuming that means less than the price of a hard copy of the book) for access to the MM, PHB etc, since those are things you as a player/DM will get a lot of mileage out of. However, what worries me is the model that's going to be used for the splatbooks.
Say you create a Dwarf Cleric and you want to take a Background from the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. You already own the PHB, so you can add all the spells you want, the Feats, the Domains etc, but you don't own the SCAG. Will you be unable to add that single Background when you create your character? For me, that's a big problem. I don't want to buy the SCAG for 80% or whatever of retail price of hardcopy (just speculating here) just to access that one background. And if there's no other way of of accessing that one Background when creating my character here, the entire Character Builder is more or less worthless to me if it can't accurately re-create my character. The same applies to the occasional spell from Elemental Evil or magic item from an adventure.
Obviously you could homebrew it, but first of all I don't think Curse/WotC has been clear on their intent of enforcing copyright on un-published Homebrew content and second, the reason for paying for Beyond at all is that you don't have to do all that tedious data entry work. I could just re-create my PBH in Excel if I wanted to.
So basically, I'm curious what you guys think of how the smaller books should be handled. For me personally I think access to them should be included in a Subscription instead of you having to buy the books. For a player, it's going to be very hard to justify paying all that money twice for Volo's when you only want access to that one race you use on Beyond. And if you can't accurate re-create your character on Beyond, why even use it?
I really hope that if I have the books I'll be able to use the material in those books without having to purchase the material a second time. If so, D&D beyond will probably be DOA for me and my group.
The shop functionality is being worked on currently, but staff have said several times that it WILL be possible to purchase PARTS of books, even the core books.
The example given is that you could buy a race from one book and buy fighter from the PHB, without having to buy the whole books.
It won't be too long until we'll have full details on this though. :)
The shop functionality is being worked on currently, but staff have said several times that it WILL be possible to purchase PARTS of books, even the core books.
The example given is that you could buy a race from one book and buy fighter from the PHB, without having to buy the whole books.
It won't be too long until we'll have full details on this though. :)
Good to hear!
Sorry if I was just repeating what other people have said, I tried searching for this but didn't find any answers.
I hope there will be a subscription service. I don't want to be nickle and dimed for material I already own. I can use roll20 if I need to, and if this isn't costed reasonably I'll just continue using that.
I already own hard copies of the book, and intend to continue adding them to my physical library. I enjoy using your tool and would gladly subscribe IF there is a way to unlock the digital features for the material I already own. Will this be an option or do I sub with a competitor?
I already own hard copies of the book, and intend to continue adding them to my physical library. I enjoy using your tool and would gladly subscribe IF there is a way to unlock the digital features for the material I already own. Will this be an option or do I sub with a competitor?
This one has been repeatedly answered, they can't and won't, 2 different services and there are no services that give you free access legally to books you have already purchased.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
So I understand they have not yet released pricing, but I want to see if you people feel the same way I do about the "splatbooks", i.e. the non-core books like Volo's.
Basically, I'm fine with paying a "digital price" (assuming that means less than the price of a hard copy of the book) for access to the MM, PHB etc, since those are things you as a player/DM will get a lot of mileage out of. However, what worries me is the model that's going to be used for the splatbooks.
Say you create a Dwarf Cleric and you want to take a Background from the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. You already own the PHB, so you can add all the spells you want, the Feats, the Domains etc, but you don't own the SCAG. Will you be unable to add that single Background when you create your character? For me, that's a big problem. I don't want to buy the SCAG for 80% or whatever of retail price of hardcopy (just speculating here) just to access that one background. And if there's no other way of of accessing that one Background when creating my character here, the entire Character Builder is more or less worthless to me if it can't accurately re-create my character. The same applies to the occasional spell from Elemental Evil or magic item from an adventure.
Obviously you could homebrew it, but first of all I don't think Curse/WotC has been clear on their intent of enforcing copyright on un-published Homebrew content and second, the reason for paying for Beyond at all is that you don't have to do all that tedious data entry work. I could just re-create my PBH in Excel if I wanted to.
So basically, I'm curious what you guys think of how the smaller books should be handled. For me personally I think access to them should be included in a Subscription instead of you having to buy the books. For a player, it's going to be very hard to justify paying all that money twice for Volo's when you only want access to that one race you use on Beyond. And if you can't accurate re-create your character on Beyond, why even use it?
I think you will be able to homebrew backgrounds/races/feats that appears in published books for your own use, but you will not able to publish them.
Moreover, I think It has been mentioned that you can buy small bundles of the published material, like one race, one class and so on.
But as you said, no official announcement has been given yet.
I really hope that if I have the books I'll be able to use the material in those books without having to purchase the material a second time. If so, D&D beyond will probably be DOA for me and my group.
-
View User Profile
-
View Posts
-
Send Message
D&D Beyond FoundersThe shop functionality is being worked on currently, but staff have said several times that it WILL be possible to purchase PARTS of books, even the core books.
The example given is that you could buy a race from one book and buy fighter from the PHB, without having to buy the whole books.
It won't be too long until we'll have full details on this though. :)
Pun-loving nerd | Faith Elisabeth Lilley | She/Her/Hers | Profile art by Becca Golins
If you need help with homebrew, please post on the homebrew forums, where multiple staff and moderators can read your post and help you!
"We got this, no problem! I'll take the twenty on the left - you guys handle the one on the right!"🔊
I hope there will be a subscription service. I don't want to be nickle and dimed for material I already own. I can use roll20 if I need to, and if this isn't costed reasonably I'll just continue using that.
I already own hard copies of the book, and intend to continue adding them to my physical library. I enjoy using your tool and would gladly subscribe IF there is a way to unlock the digital features for the material I already own. Will this be an option or do I sub with a competitor?