I was making a human ranger and I go to select a feat, there are non-there, I go to the marketplace to check if I have to buy the feats, I see the players handbook and click it, turns out you have to buy the players handbook on ddb to get the feats, backgrounds schools or magic, etc. The players handbook is the general book of D&D with the rules and all the BASIC character creation tools that can be used for any D&D game, and you have to pay for the Basic character creation tools like feats and schools of magic? why isn't the players handbook content free so people can actually create proper characters with all the BASIC tools they need.
Because WotC is selling a product. The PHB is part of that product. The basic rules are free only because WotC is allowing people to demo the game before buying it.
Distributing licenced content without permission by the creators (or something to that extent in legalese) is against the law. DDB has to follow the law.
Wizards of the Coast publishes D&D. D&D Beyond is a separate company and they sell the books just like a book store. Everything WotC put out for free is also free on DDB.
The reason DDB charges us for the full content contained in the PHB (Player’s Handbook) is because they paid WotC a giant pile of money for the rights to sell digital copies of the books that WotC publishes, just like a book store has to purchase their inventory from WotC to sell you the physical books. Therefore:
If they don’t sell the stuff they paid for they would go broke and there would be no D&D Beyond.
If they gave it away for free they would be breaking their licensing agreement with WotC and get sued and there would be no D&D Beyond.
If they sell stuff, make money, and stay legal, then we all get to enjoy D&D Beyond.
I was making a human ranger and I go to select a feat, there are non-there, I go to the marketplace to check if I have to buy the feats, I see the players handbook and click it, turns out you have to buy the players handbook on ddb to get the feats, backgrounds schools or magic, etc. The players handbook is the general book of D&D with the rules and all the BASIC character creation tools that can be used for any D&D game, and you have to pay for the Basic character creation tools like feats and schools of magic? why isn't the players handbook content free so people can actually create proper characters with all the BASIC tools they need.
Because WotC is selling a product. The PHB is part of that product. The basic rules are free only because WotC is allowing people to demo the game before buying it.
Distributing licenced content without permission by the creators (or something to that extent in legalese) is against the law. DDB has to follow the law.
Because then they wouldn't make money off the people who want to make proper characters.
The PHB isn't free in a bookstore either. Why would you expect it to be free here?
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
Wizards of the Coast publishes D&D. D&D Beyond is a separate company and they sell the books just like a book store. Everything WotC put out for free is also free on DDB.
The reason DDB charges us for the full content contained in the PHB (Player’s Handbook) is because they paid WotC a giant pile of money for the rights to sell digital copies of the books that WotC publishes, just like a book store has to purchase their inventory from WotC to sell you the physical books. Therefore:
Is all that clear?
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
That makes sense, Thanks guys!