D&D Beyond has been a godsend for someone like me. My mental disorders make keeping track of so much information and formulas and numbers extremely difficult. I used to need a significant amount of hand-holding when I wanted to play tabletop and always felt embarrassed that I couldn't play my own character without assistance. Not so with D&D Beyond! It's not hyperbole for me to say that this service pretty much saved my D&D playing experience.
There's just one issue I have.
Those same mental disorders make reading PDFs really difficult for me.
I am MUCH more comfortable reading the physical books. As such, I feel like I'm being punished as I essentially have to purchase books I'm interested in twice. Once to have a physical copy that I can flip through, and again to gain access to all of the things I want for my characters here on D&D Beyond. So I was wondering if there's any plans in the works to give those of us who buy the physical books some sort of discount when it comes to repurchasing the same book here on the site. Perhaps a one-time-use coupon code inside every book that can be used towards the same book on D&D Beyond? Anything at all that would ease the financial burden on us double dippers would be most welcome!
I swear at this point there should be an entire forum dedicated to this topic. simple answer - no. First off the "financial burden" of buying two different products is ridiculous. You don't call it a financial burden when you have to but flour AND eggs to make bread.
When you buy a physical book, the money goes to the book vendor and WoTC
When you purchase something here on DDB, the money goes to both DDB and WoTC.
So why are you know asking for a discount on the purchase of the physical book hmmm? Look at what I just wrote. When you purchase something on DDB, it is the same as purchasing something from a book vendor. So why do you ask that DDB give you a discount. You wouldn't ask Xbox to give you a free copy of a game because you own it on PS. DDB is an independent service from the publishers of D&D so they have bills to pay. Frankly, buying it on DDB is already at a discount since you aren't charged 60 bucks like in many brick and mortar stores.
SO no there is never going to be a time when you can get a discount. If it seems ridiculous to hear that go search the forums and see how many times this is brought up.
Since—if I have understood you correctly—mostly want to use DDB for character sheets, but prefer the books for reading, one option for you is to just buy the character options you need here piecemeal instead of buying whole books. See the buyer’s guide I link to in my signature for more information. Note that for Tasha’s optional class features, it appears there is not a way to buy those piecemeal, so you might have to buy Tasha’s outright for those.
I’d also encourage you to keep an eye out for sales here. Badeye Adam (head of all things DDB) indicated that there will be sales on cyber Monday (which is next Monday)
Keep in mind that DDB is a separate company from Wizards of the Coast; they have to make enough money to pay their staff and their costs as well as licensing fees to Wizards, and they have to abide by the restrictions of their license with Wizards.
D&D Beyond has been a godsend for someone like me. My mental disorders make keeping track of so much information and formulas and numbers extremely difficult. I used to need a significant amount of hand-holding when I wanted to play tabletop and always felt embarrassed that I couldn't play my own character without assistance. Not so with D&D Beyond! It's not hyperbole for me to say that this service pretty much saved my D&D playing experience.
There's just one issue I have.
Those same mental disorders make reading PDFs really difficult for me.
I am MUCH more comfortable reading the physical books. As such, I feel like I'm being punished as I essentially have to purchase books I'm interested in twice. Once to have a physical copy that I can flip through, and again to gain access to all of the things I want for my characters here on D&D Beyond. So I was wondering if there's any plans in the works to give those of us who buy the physical books some sort of discount when it comes to repurchasing the same book here on the site. Perhaps a one-time-use coupon code inside every book that can be used towards the same book on D&D Beyond? Anything at all that would ease the financial burden on us double dippers would be most welcome!
You are not being punished. DDB is not owned by the same company that publishes D&D, nor is it owned by the company from which you purchased your physical book. This website is an online retailer of digital products. It just so happens that they are only allowed to sell D&D products. In essence, this website is a bookstore, much like Barnes&Nobel. They offer these digital tools like the character sheet as a free service to all, as an enticement to get us to make our purchases from them. DDB gets not one penny from the sale of those physical books. If DDB is really such the godsend you claim it to be, please support their work through your purchase.
Since—if I have understood you correctly—mostly want to use DDB for character sheets, but prefer the books for reading, one option for you is to just buy the character options you need here piecemeal instead of buying whole books. See the buyer’s guide I link to in my signature for more information. Note that for Tasha’s optional class features, it appears there is not a way to buy those piecemeal, so you might have to buy Tasha’s outright for those.
I’d also encourage you to keep an eye out for sales here. Badeye Adam (head of all things DDB) indicated that there will be sales on cyber Monday (which is next Monday)
Keep in mind that DDB is a separate company from Wizards of the Coast; they have to make enough money to pay their staff and their costs as well as licensing fees to Wizards, and they have to abide by the restrictions of their license with Wizards.
I have tried purchasing piecemeal in the past, but inevitably it turns out that I want so many different aspects that it's just worth it to purchase the book as a whole. Hence my curiosity about possible discounts for those of us who buy the book twice.
Thank you for explaining (and being gentle about) the difference between the website and the physical books. I was under the impression that the profits were all going to only WotC, and didn't fully understand the separate support that buying from Beyond AND a brick and mortar store was providing. I needed that perspective! And thank you for the reminder about Cyber Monday! I'll hold off until then before I get Tasha's Cauldron. :3
D&D Beyond has been a godsend for someone like me. My mental disorders make keeping track of so much information and formulas and numbers extremely difficult. I used to need a significant amount of hand-holding when I wanted to play tabletop and always felt embarrassed that I couldn't play my own character without assistance. Not so with D&D Beyond! It's not hyperbole for me to say that this service pretty much saved my D&D playing experience.
There's just one issue I have.
Those same mental disorders make reading PDFs really difficult for me.
I am MUCH more comfortable reading the physical books. As such, I feel like I'm being punished as I essentially have to purchase books I'm interested in twice. Once to have a physical copy that I can flip through, and again to gain access to all of the things I want for my characters here on D&D Beyond. So I was wondering if there's any plans in the works to give those of us who buy the physical books some sort of discount when it comes to repurchasing the same book here on the site. Perhaps a one-time-use coupon code inside every book that can be used towards the same book on D&D Beyond? Anything at all that would ease the financial burden on us double dippers would be most welcome!
I swear at this point there should be an entire forum dedicated to this topic. simple answer - no. First off the "financial burden" of buying two different products is ridiculous. You don't call it a financial burden when you have to but flour AND eggs to make bread.
When you buy a physical book, the money goes to the book vendor and WoTC
When you purchase something here on DDB, the money goes to both DDB and WoTC.
So why are you know asking for a discount on the purchase of the physical book hmmm? Look at what I just wrote. When you purchase something on DDB, it is the same as purchasing something from a book vendor. So why do you ask that DDB give you a discount. You wouldn't ask Xbox to give you a free copy of a game because you own it on PS. DDB is an independent service from the publishers of D&D so they have bills to pay. Frankly, buying it on DDB is already at a discount since you aren't charged 60 bucks like in many brick and mortar stores.
SO no there is never going to be a time when you can get a discount. If it seems ridiculous to hear that go search the forums and see how many times this is brought up.
Since—if I have understood you correctly—mostly want to use DDB for character sheets, but prefer the books for reading, one option for you is to just buy the character options you need here piecemeal instead of buying whole books. See the buyer’s guide I link to in my signature for more information. Note that for Tasha’s optional class features, it appears there is not a way to buy those piecemeal, so you might have to buy Tasha’s outright for those.
I’d also encourage you to keep an eye out for sales here. Badeye Adam (head of all things DDB) indicated that there will be sales on cyber Monday (which is next Monday)
Keep in mind that DDB is a separate company from Wizards of the Coast; they have to make enough money to pay their staff and their costs as well as licensing fees to Wizards, and they have to abide by the restrictions of their license with Wizards.
Trying to Decide if DDB is for you? A few helpful threads: A Buyer's Guide to DDB; What I/We Bought and Why; How some DMs use DDB; A Newer Thread on Using DDB to Play
Helpful threads on other topics: Homebrew FAQ by IamSposta; Accessing Content by ConalTheGreat;
Check your entitlements here. | Support Ticket LInk
You are not being punished. DDB is not owned by the same company that publishes D&D, nor is it owned by the company from which you purchased your physical book. This website is an online retailer of digital products. It just so happens that they are only allowed to sell D&D products. In essence, this website is a bookstore, much like Barnes&Nobel. They offer these digital tools like the character sheet as a free service to all, as an enticement to get us to make our purchases from them. DDB gets not one penny from the sale of those physical books. If DDB is really such the godsend you claim it to be, please support their work through your purchase.
I hope that was informative.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
I have tried purchasing piecemeal in the past, but inevitably it turns out that I want so many different aspects that it's just worth it to purchase the book as a whole. Hence my curiosity about possible discounts for those of us who buy the book twice.
Thank you for explaining (and being gentle about) the difference between the website and the physical books. I was under the impression that the profits were all going to only WotC, and didn't fully understand the separate support that buying from Beyond AND a brick and mortar store was providing. I needed that perspective! And thank you for the reminder about Cyber Monday! I'll hold off until then before I get Tasha's Cauldron. :3
Cheers!