I think that D&D Beyond is amazing and is such a great toolset but I have the same problem that many have run into. I already own the books in hardback. Which means on top of paying a subscription service fee I would also have to spend over $300 dollars to then access the books. This means I will probably never use D&D Beyond in 5E. However I had an idea that WoTC could offer that I and many others in the same boat may find attractive, a subscription that grants access to the books online and the service.
It could be broken down into:
Hero and Master Tiers
Hero with Sourcebooks, Master with Sourcebooks
Master with Sourcebooks and Adventure Books
Depending on the price of the subscription I would find a content+service bundle very appealing and perhaps so would others.
That would require some cooperation from WotC (who is a separate company from curse and fandom who run DDB). It would also mean they have to negotiate how to split the income from those subscriptions.
Plus, it's been brought up before that WotC has tried a subscription version of this on a previous edition. It did not turn out well at all. Doubt they'll ever repeat the model because of it.
Are you sure you would (currently) need to spend over $300 to get what you need here? Do you really need every book here? It’s possible you do, but maybe you don’t. If you are interested in using DDB, think about what you would use it for, and then decide what you would really need to use it that way. (For help,with that, see the buyers guide linked in my signature)
I, for example, don’t need all of the Adventuress, just the one(s) I am or plan to run. And I don’t need the AI or the Ravnica book, although AI is a fun read.
Keep in mind that everything you spend on books gets credited toward the legendary bundle, and usually also toward the sourcebook or adventure bundle, depending on what the book is. Some folks have chosen to take what they would be willing to spend on a subscription per month and used it to gradually purchase the content they want/need here.
When I was running TOA, I was on a budget and bought the Monster Manual monsters and the spells my players used piecemeal, as I needed them, until I got to the point that
I could afford to purchase the rest of the book. (Piecemeal purchases count toward the book price)
If you are patient and savvy enough, you might even be able to gradually buy all the books for less than the Legendary bundle price. DDB periodically offers special discount does; the % off on those codes is often more that the 15% off of the Legendary bundle. Some users here have watched those codes, only purchased items with codes, and saved a fair bit of money.
You say you think you would need $300 for everything. That works out to $25/mo just for the books.
Just getting the three core rule books is $89.97 (why DDB doesn't offer a discounted bundle for core books, I don't know) which works out to $7.49/mo for those three books.
I'm guessing you'd be willing to pay $8/mo for a book sub? You could spend the same money at once to get the 3 core books. Then save up and do the same the next year for three more books.
Or you could buy just the parts of each book that you need (DDB offers that option), and each purchase counts towards the whole book, so once you buy enough parts of the book to equal the cost of the book (even if you haven't bought all the parts of the book) the whole book gets unlocked!
I guess what I'm saying is, figure out how many years you think you'd need to use DDB, then figure out how much per month you'd be willing to spend over those years. You are basically saying you are willing to spend that much money on DDB.
So, let's say $8/mo to use DDB for 3 years is $288. A the end of that 3 years you decide to stop subscribing, and you're left with nothing. OR you spend the same amount of money buying the books on DDB, and you have them for as long as DDB exists, because they have a FREE subscription tier to access your books and a character builder.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Orcs are savage raiders and pillagers with stooped postures, low foreheads, and piggish faces with prominent lower canines that resemble tusks." MM p245 (original printing) You don't OWN your books on DDB: WotC can change them any time. What do you think will happen when OneD&D comes out?
I personally think it's quite strange that there isn't a subscription tier that offers access to all the content. That would be a huge selling point for me.
Even at $10 a month ($4 more than master tier), it would grant a new DM/player access to about $800 now of content (and growing). That means they have an 80 month window to play/DM with access to everything, before the cost of the subscription 'outweighs' the cost of the books.
So that's what... almost 7 years of play time where you get access to all of DnD's current content? And at the rate they are adding more, this would bump that timeline out even more.
Arguing that its 'cheaper' in the long run just to save up and buy things is technically true, but ignores the fact that, assuming DnD stops releasing anything... it will still take you almost 7 years to get all the products you want/need to play with now.
Honestly a bit ridiculous imho. A content sub would be an excellent idea.
I personally think it's quite strange that there isn't a subscription tier that offers access to all the content. That would be a huge selling point for me.
Even at $10 a month ($4 more than master tier), it would grant a new DM/player access to about $800 now of content (and growing). That means they have an 80 month window to play/DM with access to everything, before the cost of the subscription 'outweighs' the cost of the books.
So that's what... almost 7 years of play time where you get access to all of DnD's current content? And at the rate they are adding more, this would bump that timeline out even more.
Arguing that its 'cheaper' in the long run just to save up and buy things is technically true, but ignores the fact that, assuming DnD stops releasing anything... it will still take you almost 7 years to get all the products you want/need to play with now.
Honestly a bit ridiculous imho. A content sub would be an excellent idea.
This is exactly why WotC and DDB would not set the cost of such a subscription so low. It would have to be 30$/month for the companies to break even in ~3 years. They aren't going to give us content for such a discount as 10$/month, that isn't how business works. If we get a new sub that unlocks content, I think 300$ a year is the minimum it will cost. Still want it?
I personally think it's quite strange that there isn't a subscription tier that offers access to all the content. That would be a huge selling point for me.
Even at $10 a month ($4 more than master tier), it would grant a new DM/player access to about $800 now of content (and growing). That means they have an 80 month window to play/DM with access to everything, before the cost of the subscription 'outweighs' the cost of the books.
So that's what... almost 7 years of play time where you get access to all of DnD's current content? And at the rate they are adding more, this would bump that timeline out even more.
Arguing that its 'cheaper' in the long run just to save up and buy things is technically true, but ignores the fact that, assuming DnD stops releasing anything... it will still take you almost 7 years to get all the products you want/need to play with now.
Honestly a bit ridiculous imho. A content sub would be an excellent idea.
This is exactly why WotC and DDB would not set the cost of such a subscription so low. It would have to be 30$/month for the companies to break even in ~3 years. They aren't going to give us content for such a discount as 10$/month, that isn't how business works. If we get a new sub that unlocks content, I think 300$ a year is the minimum it will cost. Still want it?
Actually, that doesn't sound too bad. So long as they accept the monthly pricing after the first year at the least and if they offer it on a month by month price, it could still work. I imagine something more like a per month pricing at the $30 (roughly), $300 / year, and after the first 2 or 3 years it reverts to something more like $10 or $15 per month, $80 to $120 per year. I'm pretty sure that if that's breaking even in services provided, however, than that's not an option likely. Also have to wonder what kind of discount (if any ) would be provided to those that already own some of the material included.
I personally think it's quite strange that there isn't a subscription tier that offers access to all the content. That would be a huge selling point for me.
Even at $10 a month ($4 more than master tier), it would grant a new DM/player access to about $800 now of content (and growing). That means they have an 80 month window to play/DM with access to everything, before the cost of the subscription 'outweighs' the cost of the books.
So that's what... almost 7 years of play time where you get access to all of DnD's current content? And at the rate they are adding more, this would bump that timeline out even more.
Arguing that its 'cheaper' in the long run just to save up and buy things is technically true, but ignores the fact that, assuming DnD stops releasing anything... it will still take you almost 7 years to get all the products you want/need to play with now.
Honestly a bit ridiculous imho. A content sub would be an excellent idea.
This is exactly why WotC and DDB would not set the cost of such a subscription so low. It would have to be 30$/month for the companies to break even in ~3 years. They aren't going to give us content for such a discount as 10$/month, that isn't how business works. If we get a new sub that unlocks content, I think 300$ a year is the minimum it will cost. Still want it?
Actually, that doesn't sound too bad. So long as they accept the monthly pricing after the first year at the least and if they offer it on a month by month price, it could still work. I imagine something more like a per month pricing at the $30 (roughly), $300 / year, and after the first 2 or 3 years it reverts to something more like $10 or $15 per month, $80 to $120 per year. I'm pretty sure that if that's breaking even in services provided, however, than that's not an option likely. Also have to wonder what kind of discount (if any ) would be provided to those that already own some of the material included.
It probably wouldn't revert to a lower price after X years or give any discounts for content already owned. The first because that is not how Subs work. The second because that would be way too much trouble to deal with in addition to doing you a favor by giving you access to content, plus it would mess with a bunch of other math.
And this could only even happen if DDB and WotC both agree to do it and how to split the profit (since currently DDB gets 100% of the sub profits and only a part of licence sales).
Oh, I wasn't being anything other than ridiculously hypothetical, for sure. I'm fine with the current model. Biggest fear I have is how things work when a new edition comes out.
Oh, I wasn't being anything other than ridiculously hypothetical, for sure. I'm fine with the current model. Biggest fear I have is how things work when a new edition comes out.
I am by no means an expert or have insider knowledge. But, what is known is that WotC doesn't plan to start working on a new addition any time soon and still has a lot of plans in store for the future of 5e. So, for the foreseeable future, this is it. However, rumour has speculated that if a 6e comes, it will likely show up around the 2030s. So, plenty of time to get your money's worth out of any investment in 5e.
We'll just say the speculation is true and say for some reason 6e comes out 2035. That's 15 years from now. On average you will have replaced your $1000+ cell phone seven times, your $2000+ laptop/computer 3 times and who knows how many other household items like TVs etc in that same time frame. Being concerned over getting your money's worth out of something with a projected lifespan still covering more than a decade is a bit....far reaching.
I did preface this saying I am no expert and am only sharing based on what others have speculated on that have more insider information than I do about the goings on at WotC. This by all means does not guarantee that anything couldn't happen. You never know. But, right now a Legendary Bundle will cost about $630 at full price. You can't replace a TV, Laptop, or Cellphone for that and those are all items with projected lifespans of less than 5 years for the average home. This isn't a place to argue saying that there's still a Nokia from 2004 still kicking it on the streets. I'm just saying by average consumer status. In the long term, I don't think it's really worthwhile or healthy to stress over how long your investments will still be relevant when it comes to something pertaining to what is your own personal enjoyment.
I think that D&D Beyond is amazing and is such a great toolset but I have the same problem that many have run into. I already own the books in hardback. Which means on top of paying a subscription service fee I would also have to spend over $300 dollars to then access the books. This means I will probably never use D&D Beyond in 5E. However I had an idea that WoTC could offer that I and many others in the same boat may find attractive, a subscription that grants access to the books online and the service.
It could be broken down into:
Depending on the price of the subscription I would find a content+service bundle very appealing and perhaps so would others.
Thoughts?
That would require some cooperation from WotC (who is a separate company from curse and fandom who run DDB). It would also mean they have to negotiate how to split the income from those subscriptions.
I honestly did not know that it wasn't owned by WotC
Nope. That is why at the bottom of each page it says powered by fandom and all wizards IP belong to WotC. It is also mentioned in the FAQ.
Plus, it's been brought up before that WotC has tried a subscription version of this on a previous edition. It did not turn out well at all. Doubt they'll ever repeat the model because of it.
Are you sure you would (currently) need to spend over $300 to get what you need here? Do you really need every book here? It’s possible you do, but maybe you don’t. If you are interested in using DDB, think about what you would use it for, and then decide what you would really need to use it that way. (For help,with that, see the buyers guide linked in my signature)
I, for example, don’t need all of the Adventuress, just the one(s) I am or plan to run. And I don’t need the AI or the Ravnica book, although AI is a fun read.
Keep in mind that everything you spend on books gets credited toward the legendary bundle, and usually also toward the sourcebook or adventure bundle, depending on what the book is. Some folks have chosen to take what they would be willing to spend on a subscription per month and used it to gradually purchase the content they want/need here.
When I was running TOA, I was on a budget and bought the Monster Manual monsters and the spells my players used piecemeal, as I needed them, until I got to the point that
I could afford to purchase the rest of the book. (Piecemeal purchases count toward the book price)
If you are patient and savvy enough, you might even be able to gradually buy all the books for less than the Legendary bundle price. DDB periodically offers special discount does; the % off on those codes is often more that the 15% off of the Legendary bundle. Some users here have watched those codes, only purchased items with codes, and saved a fair bit of money.
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
You say you think you would need $300 for everything. That works out to $25/mo just for the books.
Just getting the three core rule books is $89.97 (why DDB doesn't offer a discounted bundle for core books, I don't know) which works out to $7.49/mo for those three books.
I'm guessing you'd be willing to pay $8/mo for a book sub? You could spend the same money at once to get the 3 core books. Then save up and do the same the next year for three more books.
Or you could buy just the parts of each book that you need (DDB offers that option), and each purchase counts towards the whole book, so once you buy enough parts of the book to equal the cost of the book (even if you haven't bought all the parts of the book) the whole book gets unlocked!
I guess what I'm saying is, figure out how many years you think you'd need to use DDB, then figure out how much per month you'd be willing to spend over those years. You are basically saying you are willing to spend that much money on DDB.
So, let's say $8/mo to use DDB for 3 years is $288. A the end of that 3 years you decide to stop subscribing, and you're left with nothing. OR you spend the same amount of money buying the books on DDB, and you have them for as long as DDB exists, because they have a FREE subscription tier to access your books and a character builder.
"Orcs are savage raiders and pillagers with stooped postures, low foreheads, and piggish faces with prominent lower canines that resemble tusks." MM p245 (original printing)
You don't OWN your books on DDB: WotC can change them any time. What do you think will happen when OneD&D comes out?
I personally think it's quite strange that there isn't a subscription tier that offers access to all the content. That would be a huge selling point for me.
Even at $10 a month ($4 more than master tier), it would grant a new DM/player access to about $800 now of content (and growing). That means they have an 80 month window to play/DM with access to everything, before the cost of the subscription 'outweighs' the cost of the books.
So that's what... almost 7 years of play time where you get access to all of DnD's current content? And at the rate they are adding more, this would bump that timeline out even more.
Arguing that its 'cheaper' in the long run just to save up and buy things is technically true, but ignores the fact that, assuming DnD stops releasing anything... it will still take you almost 7 years to get all the products you want/need to play with now.
Honestly a bit ridiculous imho. A content sub would be an excellent idea.
This is exactly why WotC and DDB would not set the cost of such a subscription so low. It would have to be 30$/month for the companies to break even in ~3 years. They aren't going to give us content for such a discount as 10$/month, that isn't how business works. If we get a new sub that unlocks content, I think 300$ a year is the minimum it will cost. Still want it?
Actually, that doesn't sound too bad. So long as they accept the monthly pricing after the first year at the least and if they offer it on a month by month price, it could still work. I imagine something more like a per month pricing at the $30 (roughly), $300 / year, and after the first 2 or 3 years it reverts to something more like $10 or $15 per month, $80 to $120 per year. I'm pretty sure that if that's breaking even in services provided, however, than that's not an option likely. Also have to wonder what kind of discount (if any ) would be provided to those that already own some of the material included.
It probably wouldn't revert to a lower price after X years or give any discounts for content already owned. The first because that is not how Subs work. The second because that would be way too much trouble to deal with in addition to doing you a favor by giving you access to content, plus it would mess with a bunch of other math.
And this could only even happen if DDB and WotC both agree to do it and how to split the profit (since currently DDB gets 100% of the sub profits and only a part of licence sales).
Oh, I wasn't being anything other than ridiculously hypothetical, for sure. I'm fine with the current model. Biggest fear I have is how things work when a new edition comes out.
I am by no means an expert or have insider knowledge. But, what is known is that WotC doesn't plan to start working on a new addition any time soon and still has a lot of plans in store for the future of 5e. So, for the foreseeable future, this is it. However, rumour has speculated that if a 6e comes, it will likely show up around the 2030s. So, plenty of time to get your money's worth out of any investment in 5e.
We'll just say the speculation is true and say for some reason 6e comes out 2035. That's 15 years from now. On average you will have replaced your $1000+ cell phone seven times, your $2000+ laptop/computer 3 times and who knows how many other household items like TVs etc in that same time frame. Being concerned over getting your money's worth out of something with a projected lifespan still covering more than a decade is a bit....far reaching.
I did preface this saying I am no expert and am only sharing based on what others have speculated on that have more insider information than I do about the goings on at WotC. This by all means does not guarantee that anything couldn't happen. You never know. But, right now a Legendary Bundle will cost about $630 at full price. You can't replace a TV, Laptop, or Cellphone for that and those are all items with projected lifespans of less than 5 years for the average home. This isn't a place to argue saying that there's still a Nokia from 2004 still kicking it on the streets. I'm just saying by average consumer status. In the long term, I don't think it's really worthwhile or healthy to stress over how long your investments will still be relevant when it comes to something pertaining to what is your own personal enjoyment.
Yeah, I'm debating each adventure, but I figure there's at least 3+ (easy) that are worth the price in crunch alone.