I am a GM "hoping beyond hope" that you'll see this.
Our ask: "wen API key?!?" We want an always-on import into our VTT Of Choice (Foundry) from Beyond.
How have we supported you:
- The GM subscribes on that "Annual Master" tier - The GM and players (5) buy Beyond content for sharing in a Campaign. We hope (sparkles in eyes dot meme) that we'll be able to import this content into our game, which happens to run on Foundry.
An API key is the way to go. Honest truth: Charge me more, make it the "Annual Godlike" tier, and I am chill with that.
All I want is for my players to be able to click "sync with Beyond Toon" and have that happen. Don't worry about the Foundry side, there are super-smart coders there ready to pounce. On your side: "Just" an API key for allowing us to import the content we buy into 3rd party. Foundry. In this case.
If you did see this: Yay!
If it made you think and consider it: Triple Yay!!!
This really needs to happen. There needs to be seamless integration with major VTT solutions for the next step of D&D Beyondness. The whole principle of Beyond was to create ease of use for players and there is an ever existing gap between Beyond and the character sheets in various VTT. If Beyond wants to truly simplify the process further, they need to build that last bridge between the Beyond tools to the character sheet in top VTT. What's the point of using Beyond to create your character with the content you purchase if you have to turn around and hand type everything into the VTT sheet? That's less work in creation, but double the work of creating the sheet in the VTT when you could have just done it once. This would also be a huge benefit for DMs to create their npc in Beyond like I have.
Or you can try out the AboveVTT Chrome or Firefox extensions which overlay a VTT and draw from a campaign's player's character sheets, as well as access to the monsters and battle maps from any content the DM has access to (purchased or shared from players if that is enabled).
With the AboveVTT browser extension, you don't need any of those other complicated set ups and an expanded API isn't really necessary.
Honestly, dndbeyond should be all about this browser extension. It fills one of the most requested features people ask for, it doesn't cost them a dime, and it encourages people to utilize dndbeyond almost exclusively before, during, and after a playing session.
Doesn't appear robust enough for us tbh. I can see how many people would like Above, but we would miss a lot of the automation as well as the animated graphics, spell effects, and video maps. Thanks for pointing it out though!
Doesn't appear robust enough for us tbh. I can see how many people would like Above, but we would miss a lot of the automation as well as the animated graphics, spell effects, and video maps. Thanks for pointing it out though!
You might consider giving it a look again. They make significant improvements nearly every week and each of your listed concerns have been addressed in the last couple of versions.
They do need a newer video showing off all the newer features.
This really needs to happen. There needs to be seamless integration with major VTT solutions for the next step of D&D Beyondness. The whole principle of Beyond was to create ease of use for players and there is an ever existing gap between Beyond and the character sheets in various VTT. If Beyond wants to truly simplify the process further, they need to build that last bridge between the Beyond tools to the character sheet in top VTT. What's the point of using Beyond to create your character with the content you purchase if you have to turn around and hand type everything into the VTT sheet? That's less work in creation, but double the work of creating the sheet in the VTT when you could have just done it once. This would also be a huge benefit for DMs to create their npc in Beyond like I have.
Beyond was envisioned to supplement real-life tabletop play. Online play, VTTs, and everything else are more of an afterthought.
Personally, I prefer they keep the current focus on real-life tabletop play. I am not interested in VTTs nor online play, and while I do agree that it would be nice if Beyond collaborate with other VTTs or work on their own VTT eventually, this is not something I want them to prioritize right now, as there are still a ton of stuff to improve upon before they consider VTTs. Optional rules, blessings/boons/charms/piety/etc., improving homebrew, and website UI are just the tip of the iceberg.
As a business, I highly doubt they are going to collaborate with other VTTs, especially since Beyond mentioned that they want to work on their own VTT eventually. I also do not see them collaborating with Roll20 nor Fantasy Grounds. While Beyond does not directly compete with those two companies, all three are rivals and it makes very little financial sense to collaborate. If a player wants to use VTTs, they are better off making purchases directly from those two companies in my opinion, and I do not see the point of going through the hassle of buying stuff on here and trying to port things to over there.
Beyond was envisioned to supplement real-life tabletop play. Online play, VTTs, and everything else are more of an afterthought.
As a business, I highly doubt they are going to collaborate with other VTTs, especially since Beyond mentioned that they want to work on their own VTT eventually.
It's not "either/or". Beyond has the framework already to support API access, all I'm asking for is that they commit to it and make it available via an API key: And charge me for that privilege if that's the business model. That doesn't take away from developing features for tabletop play. The complexity is more on the business/licensing side than the technical side.
From a business perspective, why not entice people to buy here and play over there. Building a VTT is non-trivial, it can make sense to collaborate with existing VTTs, particularly those that don't have their own licensing deals with WoTC.
I do understand there are likely licensing wrinkles re using the content outside of Beyond, but by the licensed user: Hence the idea to maybe charge for API access, so WoTC can be happy with it.
Beyond was envisioned to supplement real-life tabletop play. Online play, VTTs, and everything else are more of an afterthought.
As a business, I highly doubt they are going to collaborate with other VTTs, especially since Beyond mentioned that they want to work on their own VTT eventually.
It's not "either/or". Beyond has the framework already to support API access, all I'm asking for is that they commit to it and make it available via an API key: And charge me for that privilege if that's the business model. That doesn't take away from developing features for tabletop play. The complexity is more on the business/licensing side than the technical side.
From a business perspective, why not entice people to buy here and play over there. Building a VTT is non-trivial, it can make sense to collaborate with existing VTTs, particularly those that don't have their own licensing deals with WoTC.
I do understand there are likely licensing wrinkles re using the content outside of Beyond, but by the licensed user: Hence the idea to maybe charge for API access, so WoTC can be happy with it.
From what I remember them saying, it is not easy to give out a public API, as they do not have the resources to develop it to the point to make it acceptable for use and charging people for it. They do not want to put a half assed product out there only for people to complain about it.
Enticing people to buy here and play there can get Beyond into trouble. Customers cannot order a Coke from McDonald's and then go to Subway to refill it there; it is one thing if customers try to do it of their own volition and businesses choose to turn a blind eye to it, but to have McDonald's to actively and officially encourage that behavior may cause Subway to sue. Roll20 and Fantasy Grounds are not earning any money from Beyond's sales, so they have no interest in allowing that to happen. Beyond has the most to gain from it, but they do not have the resources to make that happen, and if they did, I rather they put those resources into improving their characters sheets, homebrew tools, and a bunch of other stuff first.
Just as Coke does not care about having refillable drinks being usable between all fast food restaurants, I do not think Wizards care about their digital content being usable across multiple platforms. If anything, separating them and making people buy multiple times seems more profitable.
Hello D&D Beyond!
I am a GM "hoping beyond hope" that you'll see this.
Our ask: "wen API key?!?" We want an always-on import into our VTT Of Choice (Foundry) from Beyond.
How have we supported you:
- The GM subscribes on that "Annual Master" tier
- The GM and players (5) buy Beyond content for sharing in a Campaign. We hope (sparkles in eyes dot meme) that we'll be able to import this content into our game, which happens to run on Foundry.
An API key is the way to go. Honest truth: Charge me more, make it the "Annual Godlike" tier, and I am chill with that.
All I want is for my players to be able to click "sync with Beyond Toon" and have that happen. Don't worry about the Foundry side, there are super-smart coders there ready to pounce. On your side: "Just" an API key for allowing us to import the content we buy into 3rd party. Foundry. In this case.
If you did see this: Yay!
If it made you think and consider it: Triple Yay!!!
This really needs to happen. There needs to be seamless integration with major VTT solutions for the next step of D&D Beyondness. The whole principle of Beyond was to create ease of use for players and there is an ever existing gap between Beyond and the character sheets in various VTT. If Beyond wants to truly simplify the process further, they need to build that last bridge between the Beyond tools to the character sheet in top VTT. What's the point of using Beyond to create your character with the content you purchase if you have to turn around and hand type everything into the VTT sheet? That's less work in creation, but double the work of creating the sheet in the VTT when you could have just done it once. This would also be a huge benefit for DMs to create their npc in Beyond like I have.
Or you can try out the AboveVTT Chrome or Firefox extensions which overlay a VTT and draw from a campaign's player's character sheets, as well as access to the monsters and battle maps from any content the DM has access to (purchased or shared from players if that is enabled).
With the AboveVTT browser extension, you don't need any of those other complicated set ups and an expanded API isn't really necessary.
Youtube | Discord | Trello
Honestly, dndbeyond should be all about this browser extension. It fills one of the most requested features people ask for, it doesn't cost them a dime, and it encourages people to utilize dndbeyond almost exclusively before, during, and after a playing session.
How to: Replace DEX in AC | Jump & Suffocation stats | Spell & class effect buff system | Wild Shape effect system | Tool Proficiencies as Custom Skills | Spells at higher levels explained | Superior Fighting/Martial Adept Fix | Snippet Codes Explored - Subclasses | Snippet Math Theory | Homebrew Weapons Explained
My: FEATS | MAGIC ITEMS | MONSTERS | SUBCLASSES Artificer Specialist: Weaveblade
Dndbeyond images not loading WORKAROUND FIXED!!! (TY Jay_Lane for original instructions)
Doesn't appear robust enough for us tbh. I can see how many people would like Above, but we would miss a lot of the automation as well as the animated graphics, spell effects, and video maps. Thanks for pointing it out though!
You might consider giving it a look again. They make significant improvements nearly every week and each of your listed concerns have been addressed in the last couple of versions.
They do need a newer video showing off all the newer features.
How to: Replace DEX in AC | Jump & Suffocation stats | Spell & class effect buff system | Wild Shape effect system | Tool Proficiencies as Custom Skills | Spells at higher levels explained | Superior Fighting/Martial Adept Fix | Snippet Codes Explored - Subclasses | Snippet Math Theory | Homebrew Weapons Explained
My: FEATS | MAGIC ITEMS | MONSTERS | SUBCLASSES Artificer Specialist: Weaveblade
Dndbeyond images not loading WORKAROUND FIXED!!! (TY Jay_Lane for original instructions)
Beyond was envisioned to supplement real-life tabletop play. Online play, VTTs, and everything else are more of an afterthought.
Personally, I prefer they keep the current focus on real-life tabletop play. I am not interested in VTTs nor online play, and while I do agree that it would be nice if Beyond collaborate with other VTTs or work on their own VTT eventually, this is not something I want them to prioritize right now, as there are still a ton of stuff to improve upon before they consider VTTs. Optional rules, blessings/boons/charms/piety/etc., improving homebrew, and website UI are just the tip of the iceberg.
As a business, I highly doubt they are going to collaborate with other VTTs, especially since Beyond mentioned that they want to work on their own VTT eventually. I also do not see them collaborating with Roll20 nor Fantasy Grounds. While Beyond does not directly compete with those two companies, all three are rivals and it makes very little financial sense to collaborate. If a player wants to use VTTs, they are better off making purchases directly from those two companies in my opinion, and I do not see the point of going through the hassle of buying stuff on here and trying to port things to over there.
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 >
We sooooo need this!!!
It's not "either/or". Beyond has the framework already to support API access, all I'm asking for is that they commit to it and make it available via an API key: And charge me for that privilege if that's the business model. That doesn't take away from developing features for tabletop play. The complexity is more on the business/licensing side than the technical side.
From a business perspective, why not entice people to buy here and play over there. Building a VTT is non-trivial, it can make sense to collaborate with existing VTTs, particularly those that don't have their own licensing deals with WoTC.
I do understand there are likely licensing wrinkles re using the content outside of Beyond, but by the licensed user: Hence the idea to maybe charge for API access, so WoTC can be happy with it.
From what I remember them saying, it is not easy to give out a public API, as they do not have the resources to develop it to the point to make it acceptable for use and charging people for it. They do not want to put a half assed product out there only for people to complain about it.
Enticing people to buy here and play there can get Beyond into trouble. Customers cannot order a Coke from McDonald's and then go to Subway to refill it there; it is one thing if customers try to do it of their own volition and businesses choose to turn a blind eye to it, but to have McDonald's to actively and officially encourage that behavior may cause Subway to sue. Roll20 and Fantasy Grounds are not earning any money from Beyond's sales, so they have no interest in allowing that to happen. Beyond has the most to gain from it, but they do not have the resources to make that happen, and if they did, I rather they put those resources into improving their characters sheets, homebrew tools, and a bunch of other stuff first.
Just as Coke does not care about having refillable drinks being usable between all fast food restaurants, I do not think Wizards care about their digital content being usable across multiple platforms. If anything, separating them and making people buy multiple times seems more profitable.
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 >