I feel like either I imagined it or maybe they got rid of it in an update but I thought we used to be able to see all the subclasses--even if we didn't own them? I just feel like it's harder to get ideas for characters/shop around for subclasses now especially if I don't know what subclasses are around and what they have y'know?

If they got rid of it, I feel like it was a pointless thing to get rid of because it really helped me as a DM and a player. I couldn't find anything talking about it in the Dev Updates but I also might have missed it; anyways maybe we should bring it back because it was a nice feature and tbh was a big reason as to why I recommended dndbeyond to so many people because it had really nicely formatted and helpful resources that people could use PLUS they were able to make a character sheet that you could help you/give pointers if you are a starting player! 

Sorry for rambling!!

You can view the free ones in Basic Rules but this site has never allowed you to see the non-free ones and they'll never change that since it would be, ya know, illegal.

The non-free stuff is copyrighted and owned by Wizards of the Coast who aren't going to be giving everything away for free since they sorta rely on that income. This website can't go against WotC's wishes, because doing so would be illegal and they'll get licenses revoked, get shut down and possible even face fines.

The fact you're suggesting this site break the law and give non-free things for free is.. well, a bit weird, must say.

You can either buy the content, allowing you to read and use it in all your games, or you can join a campaign where somebody has a Master-tier sub and enabled content sharing when somebody in that campaign has previously bought the content.

Or you can stick to the free stuff.

I think what they meant is that if you do not own certain books, you cannot even know about the existence of certain subclasses. Personally I don't have access to EGtW and when I go to the fighter page I do not see any mention of an Echo Knight. Not that I want to see/steal the content, but when I am browsing for a new character I at least want to know that there is an officially published class with this name. The name alone could inspire me and maybe even make me buy the book on D&D Beyond so that I will have access to it.

Quote from FelixTempest >>

I think what they meant is that if you do not own certain books, you cannot even know about the existence of certain subclasses. Personally I don't have access to EGtW and when I go to the fighter page I do not see any mention of an Echo Knight. Not that I want to see/steal the content, but when I am browsing for a new character I at least want to know that there is an officially published class with this name. The name alone could inspire me and maybe even make me buy the book on D&D Beyond so that I will have access to it.

 
Yeah but if you're wondering about content of a book, do you not at some point think to yourself "hey, let's check the marketplace where the book would be sold and see what it says" - given that they, ya know, tell you what the book contains to make you want to buy it?

I mean why go to the pages for accessing what you've unlocked? If you want to know what you get for buying something - go see the shop area that sells it. 

Even if it wasn't your first thought (but yes, I'm going to judge you for it not being so, but hey I can admit we all get glitchy-brain days) surely at the very, absolute least, you would think "check the menu" before making a thread posting about it? So if you did you'd then see "oh, a marketplace, where stuff is sold, maybe that tells me what they're selling!".

This way you'd click, see the names of all subclasses, magic items, spells etc that it offers and make your choice to buy it (or just the individual things, if preferred) if it tickles yer fancy.

Do you go to a town market, go to the bakery, completely ignore the signs that it is a bakery and window displays of breads, not even check the shelves of various bread, just dead-stare bee-line to the manager and say "hey, why don't you put bread on shelves to show you bake bread?" -- Because this is exactly what you're suggesting the thread poster did here.

The thing is in this case, that it does not start with the idea of buying anything. For items or monsters I totally agree with you. I just look at the list and if I see an interesting option and see "This is part of X, which you can buy here", I can see what else is in this book and if it's worth a purchase for myself. With classes specifically there is no list of subclasses that includes names of subclasses I do not own. I could never be prompted to explore a certain book through classes as I do not know it exists. I think the subclass listing used to be there before, but it is not there anymore.

Especially with books like EGtW and ERftLW, which are marketed as setting books and are primarily for DMs instead of players. As a player, I would never look into the contents of these book without knowing beforehand that it might contain certain options for me.

In your bakery analogy, it's like you keep certain kinds of bread behind the counter, without telling people that those are options you could even inquire about. Only people who already bought the bread before know about it's existence.

side note - the tone was a little condescending, even if I would not understand, it would be nicer if you said it in a more respectful way. Please understand that we are not coming from a place of bad faith or try to make illegal demands.

I think floriiculture was probably in a campaign with content sharing turned on, and was able to see subclasses that way. And now the campaign or the content sharing has ended, so they're back to only seeing what they own. Just so they understand what probably went away.

That doesn't really hold up, in my view. If I need to know about new books and if they'll have options I want, I check them in the store. Since we all know all sorts of content can be found in any type of book, I give each one a check - it takes like 10 second at most to quickly check a book and see at a glance what options it can offer. You could check every official book in about 7 minutes. Less if you're adept at a computer or reading quickly. 

Nothing is being hidden. Every bread is on full display. It's not the baker's fault if you can't be bothered to actually look in the bakery.

HI! [REDACTED] I asked my old DM about it because I thought I was having a glitch in the matrix moment and yea I hadn't realized there was content sharing in the campaign and so therefore I WAS able to see some subclasses I hadn't purchased myself. It was an easy enough to just suggest maybe I was seeing shared content without being a giant prick about it.

Secondly, what I meant was to just SEE the subclass stuff without purchasing like i.e. abilities and shit; and now that I'm thinking about it but with a button to say purchase this subclass/book on the page if you don't already own it. This is JUST for resource purposes only, especially as a new DM I don't personally know everything about D&D and my players want to try out subclasses and it would be really cool if this website I pay money to be in a master tier could be a little more lenient on the resources I can view. I'm not saying let me use all the subclasses for free, but I would at least LIKE to see them so I know what I'm purchasing. It's like asking someone for the specs of a computer part or something. I just want to know what it has so I don't make a purchase I regret.

edit: oops I meant to quote Cyb3rM1nd! I am still new to using forums in general, I typically just lurk!!

I know I’m 4 years late but if you can see the abilities then you can make the character on a physical sheet which would let you play it for free.

Unless you just meant ability names.