I’m writing this as a long-time DM and active member of the D&D community. I’ve used D&D Beyond extensively across many campaigns. I truly appreciate what this platform has done for the game, especially in terms of accessibility and digital tools. That said, I’ve reached a point of real frustration—and I want to share some thoughts constructively in hopes they lead to dialogue and positive change.
1. Lack of Official Content Filters
Both on the mobile app and web, I’ve found it increasingly difficult to browse content efficiently. I have no way to filter the marketplace, character options, or encounter tools to show only official Wizards of the Coast content. Third-party content is mixed in without consistent labeling—some of it is great, but without proper indicators (especially for 2024 rules compliance), the result is visual noise and buyer confusion.
2. DM Book Sharing Feels Restrictive
In the physical world, I can lend a book to a fellow DM or friend. On D&D Beyond, I have to pay a subscription on top of already owning the digital content just to share it with my players. This model feels restrictive and discourages community building. It would be great to see a more flexible or loyalty-based model that rewards long-time users rather than locking them into extra fees.
3. No Campaign-Level Book Control
As a DM, I still can’t restrict what sources players pull from when creating characters in my campaign. This creates problems with balance, rules confusion, and a lack of consistency—especially now with the 2024 rules rollout. Campaign-level toggles for sourcebooks should be a core feature.
4. Project Sigil Concerns
I’ve invested in physical D&D minis for years. With the announcement of Project Sigil and the shift toward digital minis, it feels like that entire collection may soon be devalued or unsupported. There’s no clear integration path, and no mention of loyalty to those who’ve invested in the game’s physical heritage. It reminds me of when I tossed out my old Ice Age Magic cards—only to regret it later. That experience made me stop buying MTG content. I’d hate to feel the same way about D&D.
5. Restrictive Third-Party Publishing
The way third-party content is handled right now feels stifling. For instance, the release of a new official Gunslinger class gives the impression that other creators can no longer publish their own takes on the archetype—due to unclear IP boundaries. Instead of feeling like a community-driven platform, D&D Beyond increasingly feels closed-off and curated in a way that limits innovation rather than encourages it.
Also, it's unclear how one can become a third-party publisher on this platform. There’s no visible process, no public testing framework, and no real transparency. This restrictiveness feels at odds with the history and spirit of D&D, which has always thrived because of its creative, homebrewing, passionate community. Without DMs and creators, the brand wouldn’t be where it is today.
A Call for Community-Centric Solutions
If I could suggest a path forward, it would include:
A content filter toggle for official vs third-party material
Clear campaign-level controls for DMs over player source access
Greater transparency in how creators can publish on the platform
Explicit guidelines for third-party compatibility with new rulesets
Community surveys and feedback-driven development
A roadmap that includes legacy support for physical content (e.g. minis)
D&D Beyond is an incredible platform with immense potential—but right now, it feels like it’s drifting away from the community that helped build it. Please consider realigning priorities to keep that bond strong.
Thanks for reading, and to the team: thank you for continuing to support and evolve this game we all love. I hope this is the beginning of a much-needed conversation.
On point 2 - content sharing here is very different to sharing your books irl. Irl you can lend your book to one person at a time and while it's in their possession, you can't use it. The only way around this is if your all awkwardly sit around the book together.
However on D&D Beyond with a master tier subscription you can simultaneously share all your books with up to sixty different people at once. Also the sharing is multidirectional. It doesn't just share your books with your players, but their books with you and each other.
On point 5 - nothing about D&D Beyond distributing third party content prohibits others from making similar content. As for the pathway for creators to get their content on D&D Beyond, they would have to approach Wizards of the Coast or be approached by them. I think possibly you might be misunderstanding what third party content on D&D Beyond represents
Thanks so much for taking the time to reply—I really appreciate your insights.
You’re absolutely right that the Master Tier subscription offers impressive sharing capabilities across campaigns, and I agree that it’s powerful in terms of unlocking content for players. I think where our perspectives differ is in what that sharing actually allows users to do—especially for co-DMs or players who want to try their hand at running a session.
Even with full content sharing, my friends still can’t use DM-facing tools like the Encounter Builder or Combat Tracker without their own subscription. In a physical setting, I could simply hand them the DMG and they’d be ready to go. Digitally, the tools remain behind a paywall—even though they can read the rules. That’s the disconnect I was trying to highlight.
This isn't about trying to get more for less—it’s about how the current system unintentionally limits collaborative DMing and flexibility, especially in smaller or rotating groups.
I don’t want to derail the thread into a back-and-forth though—my original post includes several points that I hope others in the community might also relate to or have ideas about. If you haven’t had a chance to read it fully, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the other areas too (like filtering content or third-party publishing transparency).
Thanks again for engaging respectfully—it means a lot.
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Hi D&D Beyond Team and fellow adventurers,
I’m writing this as a long-time DM and active member of the D&D community. I’ve used D&D Beyond extensively across many campaigns. I truly appreciate what this platform has done for the game, especially in terms of accessibility and digital tools. That said, I’ve reached a point of real frustration—and I want to share some thoughts constructively in hopes they lead to dialogue and positive change.
1. Lack of Official Content Filters
Both on the mobile app and web, I’ve found it increasingly difficult to browse content efficiently. I have no way to filter the marketplace, character options, or encounter tools to show only official Wizards of the Coast content. Third-party content is mixed in without consistent labeling—some of it is great, but without proper indicators (especially for 2024 rules compliance), the result is visual noise and buyer confusion.
2. DM Book Sharing Feels Restrictive
In the physical world, I can lend a book to a fellow DM or friend. On D&D Beyond, I have to pay a subscription on top of already owning the digital content just to share it with my players. This model feels restrictive and discourages community building. It would be great to see a more flexible or loyalty-based model that rewards long-time users rather than locking them into extra fees.
3. No Campaign-Level Book Control
As a DM, I still can’t restrict what sources players pull from when creating characters in my campaign. This creates problems with balance, rules confusion, and a lack of consistency—especially now with the 2024 rules rollout. Campaign-level toggles for sourcebooks should be a core feature.
4. Project Sigil Concerns
I’ve invested in physical D&D minis for years. With the announcement of Project Sigil and the shift toward digital minis, it feels like that entire collection may soon be devalued or unsupported. There’s no clear integration path, and no mention of loyalty to those who’ve invested in the game’s physical heritage. It reminds me of when I tossed out my old Ice Age Magic cards—only to regret it later. That experience made me stop buying MTG content. I’d hate to feel the same way about D&D.
5. Restrictive Third-Party Publishing
The way third-party content is handled right now feels stifling. For instance, the release of a new official Gunslinger class gives the impression that other creators can no longer publish their own takes on the archetype—due to unclear IP boundaries. Instead of feeling like a community-driven platform, D&D Beyond increasingly feels closed-off and curated in a way that limits innovation rather than encourages it.
Also, it's unclear how one can become a third-party publisher on this platform. There’s no visible process, no public testing framework, and no real transparency. This restrictiveness feels at odds with the history and spirit of D&D, which has always thrived because of its creative, homebrewing, passionate community. Without DMs and creators, the brand wouldn’t be where it is today.
A Call for Community-Centric Solutions
If I could suggest a path forward, it would include:
A content filter toggle for official vs third-party material
Clear campaign-level controls for DMs over player source access
Greater transparency in how creators can publish on the platform
Explicit guidelines for third-party compatibility with new rulesets
Community surveys and feedback-driven development
A roadmap that includes legacy support for physical content (e.g. minis)
D&D Beyond is an incredible platform with immense potential—but right now, it feels like it’s drifting away from the community that helped build it. Please consider realigning priorities to keep that bond strong.
Thanks for reading, and to the team: thank you for continuing to support and evolve this game we all love. I hope this is the beginning of a much-needed conversation.
On point 2 - content sharing here is very different to sharing your books irl. Irl you can lend your book to one person at a time and while it's in their possession, you can't use it. The only way around this is if your all awkwardly sit around the book together.
However on D&D Beyond with a master tier subscription you can simultaneously share all your books with up to sixty different people at once. Also the sharing is multidirectional. It doesn't just share your books with your players, but their books with you and each other.
On point 5 - nothing about D&D Beyond distributing third party content prohibits others from making similar content. As for the pathway for creators to get their content on D&D Beyond, they would have to approach Wizards of the Coast or be approached by them. I think possibly you might be misunderstanding what third party content on D&D Beyond represents
Find my D&D Beyond articles here
Thanks so much for taking the time to reply—I really appreciate your insights.
You’re absolutely right that the Master Tier subscription offers impressive sharing capabilities across campaigns, and I agree that it’s powerful in terms of unlocking content for players. I think where our perspectives differ is in what that sharing actually allows users to do—especially for co-DMs or players who want to try their hand at running a session.
Even with full content sharing, my friends still can’t use DM-facing tools like the Encounter Builder or Combat Tracker without their own subscription. In a physical setting, I could simply hand them the DMG and they’d be ready to go. Digitally, the tools remain behind a paywall—even though they can read the rules. That’s the disconnect I was trying to highlight.
This isn't about trying to get more for less—it’s about how the current system unintentionally limits collaborative DMing and flexibility, especially in smaller or rotating groups.
I don’t want to derail the thread into a back-and-forth though—my original post includes several points that I hope others in the community might also relate to or have ideas about. If you haven’t had a chance to read it fully, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the other areas too (like filtering content or third-party publishing transparency).
Thanks again for engaging respectfully—it means a lot.