There should be a dice roller built into the character sheet. Beyond already has one built into the forums so where better to put another one than the screen you look at whilst playing. I think it would be neat to have a button in the top corner by your hit points that brings up something similar to this app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vuesoft.critdice
But even better than that why not when you press on "Initiative" it rolls your Initiative for you, when you press attack on your greataxe it rolls to hit and damage separately on screen, same for spells. I don't know why this isn't a thing already, i know digital dice isn't for everyone and some will still want to roll the actual thing, but if Beyond is going to encourage more people to go digital, it needs to allow you to do everything digitally, including rolling dice.
In terms of why isn't isn't a feature yet, I think DDB was originally envisioned as being primarily for folks who wanted to use digital tools/compendiums around a physical table, and therefore probably rolling physical dice. However, I agree access to a dice roller in the character sheet (indeed, nearly everywhere on the site, not just in the forums as is currently the case) would be a great addition.
If you are using the Chrome browser on a computer (not on a mobile device), you can install the DnD Beyond Interaction extension, which does much of what you have asked for. This is a third party extension. Hopefully eventually DDB will include it as built-in feature.
For the record...I have only purchased the PHB and the absence of a dice roller that shares results with all players in a campaign is what has held me back from investing any further in D&D Beyond.
Most of my D&D games are run online and Beyond is a great way to have players make their characters and share them with me as the DM. I run games in the old school, narrative style so I have no need of grids and such. We use Skype for comms and then another website for dice rolling. It's a bit clunky to have to have a minimum of three apps on screen and to have a dice roller in Beyond would really clean things up nicely.
It's really odd this is not already something that has been implemented as it would be a very simple thing to add to the interface.
I know they say they are working on one so that's good. Hopefully this long delay on a roller means they are going to give us some nice 3d dice that simulate the feel of rolling real dice. Anyway, when it is released I'll evaluate it and if it is well implemented, I'll be buying all of the content.
I think a dice roller should be something that the DM can turn on or off for the players. I think it would ruin some of the fun if players started to use dice rollers when sitting around a table.
From a quick thought, it could quickly become a UI disaster. Hear me out on this.
Clicking on initiative rolling for it is all right. Same for abilities - if you click on the mod, roll that, click on save, roll that.
...but then you need to roll with advantage or disadvantage. So let's add a button to that... somewhere, where it's neatly reachable from all part of the UI. Even when accessing from a mobile device, like an android phone. Without cluttering the space. You could then argue to add the -2/-5 modifiers too, since they are used very often. Oh, and then add the often forgotten +2/+5 that you would get for your dex saves if you have cover.
Then let's look at the attacks. Right now when you click on them, you expand the details, and get access to modifying them. It's really useful and easy, even from a phone. Add the ability to roll, and... okay, but where? Should touching it become the roll? That would be annoying for people who don't want to use it. Make it a small button on each attack? That would be a nightmare on a smaller screen device. Personally, I more often use DDB to read the details on a spell than to automatically roll 8d6 fire damage.
In my mind, DnD beyond is a dynamic character sheet. It neatly adds the things so you don't have to math too much. For everything else, use a VTT like Fantasy Grounds or Roll20. (I see you, Rob, but it's still a valid choice.) The only way I can see this work with everyone being contended, is to have a separate VTT "client" that integrates with your sheet and does the rolling.
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--[ Natural 20 - that's how I roll! ]-- We've stopped this OGL madness, but stay vigilant, they tried it once, they can try it again.
We use Skype for comms and then another website for dice rolling. It's a bit clunky to have to have a minimum of three apps on screen and to have a dice roller in Beyond would really clean things up nicely.
Have you considered replacing Skype and the dice roller screen to one doing both instead? For example Roll20 supports both dice rolling and voice/video chat from a browser (which means you can keep DDB on a separate tab), even if you don't use the maps, or character sheets there. :) Or you could easily add a dice roller bot to discord, and then you also can enable push to talk (which is a god's blessing when your players are all in different rooms with their own background noises...)
Roll 20 manages well with this and you can programme it with macros for complex dice rolls. It wouldn’t be a problem at all there is space on the left hand side of the character sheet that could be used for virtual dice rolling....
Roll 20 manages well with this and you can programme it with macros for complex dice rolls. It wouldn’t be a problem at all there is space on the left hand side of the character sheet that could be used for virtual dice rolling....
Hi SiMatt o/
Making skills etc. behave like in Roll20 (you click on them and they roll for you) would indeed be possible, but it would also potentially mean saying goodbye to the sidebar, at least as things are right now
Anything you click on the current sheet brings up expanded information on what you clicked on. Making each field behaving like in Roll20 would mean getting rid of the option of the expanded info, or changing it to maybe a double-click, but still that would mean going to modify the code currently running under the sheet, and requires time and resources. Not exactly something that wouldn't be problematic, imho.
What could maybe be an option, would be to use the space on the left, as you suggested, and create a virtual dice tray. You click on a skill, ability, attack etc and on top of the current behavior (right sidebar for expanded info) the dicetray would select the dice needed for that roll, waiting for you to confirm the roll (or add Advantage/Disadvantage and stuff). If this was your idea from the get go, I apologise, the mention of Roll20 might have threw me off ^^"
In any case, even this option would not be what I would call easy and fast.
There should be a dice roller built into the character sheet. Beyond already has one built into the forums so where better to put another one than the screen you look at whilst playing. I think it would be neat to have a button in the top corner by your hit points that brings up something similar to this app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vuesoft.critdice
But even better than that why not when you press on "Initiative" it rolls your Initiative for you, when you press attack on your greataxe it rolls to hit and damage separately on screen, same for spells. I don't know why this isn't a thing already, i know digital dice isn't for everyone and some will still want to roll the actual thing, but if Beyond is going to encourage more people to go digital, it needs to allow you to do everything digitally, including rolling dice.
In terms of why isn't isn't a feature yet, I think DDB was originally envisioned as being primarily for folks who wanted to use digital tools/compendiums around a physical table, and therefore probably rolling physical dice. However, I agree access to a dice roller in the character sheet (indeed, nearly everywhere on the site, not just in the forums as is currently the case) would be a great addition.
If you are using the Chrome browser on a computer (not on a mobile device), you can install the DnD Beyond Interaction extension, which does much of what you have asked for. This is a third party extension. Hopefully eventually DDB will include it as built-in feature.
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;
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For the record...I have only purchased the PHB and the absence of a dice roller that shares results with all players in a campaign is what has held me back from investing any further in D&D Beyond.
Most of my D&D games are run online and Beyond is a great way to have players make their characters and share them with me as the DM. I run games in the old school, narrative style so I have no need of grids and such. We use Skype for comms and then another website for dice rolling. It's a bit clunky to have to have a minimum of three apps on screen and to have a dice roller in Beyond would really clean things up nicely.
It's really odd this is not already something that has been implemented as it would be a very simple thing to add to the interface.
I know they say they are working on one so that's good. Hopefully this long delay on a roller means they are going to give us some nice 3d dice that simulate the feel of rolling real dice. Anyway, when it is released I'll evaluate it and if it is well implemented, I'll be buying all of the content.
I think a dice roller should be something that the DM can turn on or off for the players. I think it would ruin some of the fun if players started to use dice rollers when sitting around a table.
Or the DM could just say "real dice at the table". I've never had a player who didn't want to roll real dice at the table.
Many people play online, it would be nice to have a dice roller available AT LEAST for convenience whether it gets used or not.
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From a quick thought, it could quickly become a UI disaster. Hear me out on this.
Clicking on initiative rolling for it is all right. Same for abilities - if you click on the mod, roll that, click on save, roll that.
...but then you need to roll with advantage or disadvantage. So let's add a button to that... somewhere, where it's neatly reachable from all part of the UI. Even when accessing from a mobile device, like an android phone. Without cluttering the space. You could then argue to add the -2/-5 modifiers too, since they are used very often. Oh, and then add the often forgotten +2/+5 that you would get for your dex saves if you have cover.
Then let's look at the attacks. Right now when you click on them, you expand the details, and get access to modifying them. It's really useful and easy, even from a phone. Add the ability to roll, and... okay, but where? Should touching it become the roll? That would be annoying for people who don't want to use it. Make it a small button on each attack? That would be a nightmare on a smaller screen device. Personally, I more often use DDB to read the details on a spell than to automatically roll 8d6 fire damage.
In my mind, DnD beyond is a dynamic character sheet. It neatly adds the things so you don't have to math too much. For everything else, use a VTT like Fantasy Grounds or Roll20. (I see you, Rob, but it's still a valid choice.) The only way I can see this work with everyone being contended, is to have a separate VTT "client" that integrates with your sheet and does the rolling.
--[ Natural 20 - that's how I roll! ]--
We've stopped this OGL madness, but stay vigilant, they tried it once, they can try it again.
--[ Natural 20 - that's how I roll! ]--
We've stopped this OGL madness, but stay vigilant, they tried it once, they can try it again.
Roll 20 manages well with this and you can programme it with macros for complex dice rolls. It wouldn’t be a problem at all there is space on the left hand side of the character sheet that could be used for virtual dice rolling....
Yes! A thousand times.
Hi SiMatt o/
Making skills etc. behave like in Roll20 (you click on them and they roll for you) would indeed be possible, but it would also potentially mean saying goodbye to the sidebar, at least as things are right now
Anything you click on the current sheet brings up expanded information on what you clicked on. Making each field behaving like in Roll20 would mean getting rid of the option of the expanded info, or changing it to maybe a double-click, but still that would mean going to modify the code currently running under the sheet, and requires time and resources.
Not exactly something that wouldn't be problematic, imho.
What could maybe be an option, would be to use the space on the left, as you suggested, and create a virtual dice tray. You click on a skill, ability, attack etc and on top of the current behavior (right sidebar for expanded info) the dicetray would select the dice needed for that roll, waiting for you to confirm the roll (or add Advantage/Disadvantage and stuff).
If this was your idea from the get go, I apologise, the mention of Roll20 might have threw me off ^^"
In any case, even this option would not be what I would call easy and fast.
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
I would be happy if you implemented this.
Someone has already requested this on the D&D Beyond support site here: https://dndbeyond.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/360005438994-Integrated-Dice-Roller. The post is marked as "Planned" so it does look like they will get to this.
Additionally, they have it on their roadmap for the long term projects here: https://trello.com/b/vIKxuEs8/dd-beyond-feature-roadmap