I've searched back several pages. I'm returning to the game seriously after a long hiatus. Please DO NOT flame me. I don't mind, I actually look forward to spending a few $$ to access the character builder. My question is this. If I buy the annual Hero level. Will I be able to use all of the material up to and including Xanathars Guide to Everything? My current character is a Halfling Barbarian Tribe Zealot. Which can't be built with the free content. $25 bucks is easy to justify for me, but a fool and his money would be parted if I spent that $25 and still couldn't build my character how I want to. Thanks in advance.
Subscriptions do not unlock content. You need to pay one-time fees for that. Note that if you buy just one race or subclass or whatever (like the Path of the Zealot) and then decide to get the book it came from, you get a discount equal to the amount you spent.
But don't worry, try to contact the Customer Support I am sure they will help you with this issue. And the amount that you used to pay the subscription will be more than enough to buy everything you need for your character.
Thank you for asking before purchasing! This link will take you to a page will full pricing details. (Note that the Founders Week sale mentioned there is long over; Xanathar's came out after that page was written, but pricing is similar) You don't need a subscription to start. As others have said, one option is to simply buy the particular elements you need to start with. For someone just coming back, that is what I would suggest.
I started here buying the PHB when it was on sale, and I have purchased a few individual items from other books as I've needed them. If I decide later that I want the full book, I will only pay the difference between what I've already paid and the listed book. For example, Volo's will only cost me $28 if I decide to buy the whole thing, because I've already purchased the Tabaxi race.
But I already have the hardbacks of both the players guide, and Xanathars. Not thrilled to the idea of paying another $30 to own digital copies of them as well. Am I confused as to how this works?
Only you can decide if the cost is worth it to you. I started out here during the public beta, using only the free material (SRD & Elemental Evil). That experience convinced me that it was worth it to me to purchase some things. In terms of repurchasing the books, I look at it this way:
-It's like purchasing a second copy of a book (with added features, for less than a print book would cost); I can be looking stuff up in DDB while one of my players is using "my" (actually my son's) PHB. Even better, I have access to the PHB wherever I am if I have internet access, without lugging it around, or depriving my son of access to it.
-I'm paying for the work put into tagging the "book," entering the spells, monsters, classes, items, etc into the database and maintaining the database, all the work to do the various calculations, etc.
I also really appreciate the ability to buy only what I need. Because I'm on a budget, I've only purchased the PHB, a race from Volo's and a subclass from SCAG. Because I bought the PHB during the founder's day sale, that means that to date I've spent about $24 for content. I just used some Christmas money to purchase the Hero Tier, as I was bumping up against the 6 character limit, but that's not necessary for content access.
I'm fortunate to be in a play by post in which the DM has the Master Tier and turned on content sharing, so I have access to a lot more in the compendium and the lists (but not the character builder except for my character in that campaign.) That's been a wonderful experience, and kept me from spending more money (except for the Hero Tier).
If you are unsure about using DDB, but interested enough to try it with your current character, I'd encourage you to just buy what you need for that character. (The Zealot sublcass and maybe a Halfling subrace, depending on what kind of Halfling you have). You can homebrew any feats, magic items, etc. (Eventually you will be able to homebrew subclasses and subraces, but that feature isn't available yet).
Correct - only content purchased on D&D Beyond is enabled for use with D&D Beyond tools. These aren't only digital copies, but fully integrated rulebooks into the D&D Beyond toolset. You remain free to utilize physical books/paper sheets for the character content not unlocked, if you deem them a repurchase. Many also replicate possible items as private homebrew, which is perfectly allowed. I know this doesn't help for backgrounds/races/feats as of yet, but that functionality is in the works.
It really just comes down to convenience vs. value for most. Some stick to principal and that's ok too.
I've searched back several pages. I'm returning to the game seriously after a long hiatus. Please DO NOT flame me. I don't mind, I actually look forward to spending a few $$ to access the character builder. My question is this. If I buy the annual Hero level. Will I be able to use all of the material up to and including Xanathars Guide to Everything? My current character is a Halfling Barbarian Tribe Zealot. Which can't be built with the free content. $25 bucks is easy to justify for me, but a fool and his money would be parted if I spent that $25 and still couldn't build my character how I want to. Thanks in advance.
Subscriptions do not unlock content. You need to pay one-time fees for that. Note that if you buy just one race or subclass or whatever (like the Path of the Zealot) and then decide to get the book it came from, you get a discount equal to the amount you spent.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
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But don't worry, try to contact the Customer Support I am sure they will help you with this issue. And the amount that you used to pay the subscription will be more than enough to buy everything you need for your character.
And I cast Heroism on the community.
Thank you for asking before purchasing! This link will take you to a page will full pricing details. (Note that the Founders Week sale mentioned there is long over; Xanathar's came out after that page was written, but pricing is similar) You don't need a subscription to start. As others have said, one option is to simply buy the particular elements you need to start with. For someone just coming back, that is what I would suggest.
I started here buying the PHB when it was on sale, and I have purchased a few individual items from other books as I've needed them. If I decide later that I want the full book, I will only pay the difference between what I've already paid and the listed book. For example, Volo's will only cost me $28 if I decide to buy the whole thing, because I've already purchased the Tabaxi race.
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
But I already have the hardbacks of both the players guide, and Xanathars. Not thrilled to the idea of paying another $30 to own digital copies of them as well. Am I confused as to how this works?
Only you can decide if the cost is worth it to you. I started out here during the public beta, using only the free material (SRD & Elemental Evil). That experience convinced me that it was worth it to me to purchase some things. In terms of repurchasing the books, I look at it this way:
-It's like purchasing a second copy of a book (with added features, for less than a print book would cost); I can be looking stuff up in DDB while one of my players is using "my" (actually my son's) PHB. Even better, I have access to the PHB wherever I am if I have internet access, without lugging it around, or depriving my son of access to it.
-I'm paying for the work put into tagging the "book," entering the spells, monsters, classes, items, etc into the database and maintaining the database, all the work to do the various calculations, etc.
I also really appreciate the ability to buy only what I need. Because I'm on a budget, I've only purchased the PHB, a race from Volo's and a subclass from SCAG. Because I bought the PHB during the founder's day sale, that means that to date I've spent about $24 for content. I just used some Christmas money to purchase the Hero Tier, as I was bumping up against the 6 character limit, but that's not necessary for content access.
I'm fortunate to be in a play by post in which the DM has the Master Tier and turned on content sharing, so I have access to a lot more in the compendium and the lists (but not the character builder except for my character in that campaign.) That's been a wonderful experience, and kept me from spending more money (except for the Hero Tier).
If you are unsure about using DDB, but interested enough to try it with your current character, I'd encourage you to just buy what you need for that character. (The Zealot sublcass and maybe a Halfling subrace, depending on what kind of Halfling you have). You can homebrew any feats, magic items, etc. (Eventually you will be able to homebrew subclasses and subraces, but that feature isn't available yet).
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
Correct - only content purchased on D&D Beyond is enabled for use with D&D Beyond tools. These aren't only digital copies, but fully integrated rulebooks into the D&D Beyond toolset. You remain free to utilize physical books/paper sheets for the character content not unlocked, if you deem them a repurchase. Many also replicate possible items as private homebrew, which is perfectly allowed. I know this doesn't help for backgrounds/races/feats as of yet, but that functionality is in the works.
It really just comes down to convenience vs. value for most. Some stick to principal and that's ok too.
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
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)