I'd like to start off this rant with the following disclaimer: I'm not entitled to anything. I am expressing preferences, not objective facts or entitlements.
I love 5e. I think it's the best modern take on D&D yet, for all its flaws. That being said, I find character creation onerous and an impediment to getting games running.
What disappoints me about D&D Beyond is having to buy content I already own physically all over again. As far as I can tell, I have to buy the PHB digitally to make non-SRD characters. I can understand keeping supplemental content beyond a paywall, but the PHB? I honestly think that WoTC should be falling over themselves to make char gen as easily as possible - even if people don't pay for the 29.99 (holy shit) price for the digital PHB or get a subscription, if folks are able to more easily play D&D, they are more likely to to get hooked and buy D&D books and products. This seems like a no-brainer to me - why would you try to monetize something so fundamental to the experience of D&D, a barrier that if removed would let people try your product more easily?
WoTC has probably analyzed this to death and maybe has some sophisticated marketing reason why my above idea wouldn't work. Just my two cents. In the meanwhile, I'm desperate to find anything that will let me generate non-SRD characters quickly (not necessarily randomly) without having to pay a fortune for content I already purchased.
WoTC has nothing to do with DnDBeyond. They are separate companies. DnDBeyond’s product IS making the print product into a digital commodity and building an interface that makes it significantly more functional than a PDF would be. That’s ultimately what you pay for when you buy their version of a book.
The only change I can see might be possible would be to have another option to buy the digital and physical book at the same time (for a slightly reduced price for the bundle maybe).
End of the day though I only buy digital now, so no bother for me. Yes I had to rebuy a few books but that wasn't a big deal. If you *really* want you can remake all the stuff you have purchased in as homebrew and use it that way. Don't have to pay a cent. I don't think that is a valid option because I don't have that sort of time - I would rather pay for the convenience.
You can also be good friends with someone like me and have them content share with you. Honestly it is a pretty fair method. If anything I think it is smarter for WotC to put codes in the books to let you redeem here - but that would only serve to promote the continuation of the physical media. I have no personal need for that.
Let's just make clear there is a big difference between "nothing to do with" and a "relationship between property owner and licensed producer of digital editions and toolsets."
To original poster, DDB technically, like literally technically, enables you to adapt whatever you want from your print collection into home-brew. So if you don't want to pay for it, you can do it yourself and still take advantage of the digital infrastructure (which was probably produced at a not inconsiderable cost) you're not paying for.
Would you have bought the players handbook for $80 if it gave you the unfettered access to DDB you want? Unlock codes with print editions had been discussed in this forum (not at any official business strategy level as far as I know). The present print TTRPG retail ecosystem would make that problematic, but I'm curious whether people would pay $30 or so more per book if it came mated to a digital tool/aid. Of course, there are many people who don't bother with using digital aids and continue to play that way and I'm not sure which camp gets the highest market share.
But your "preference" was formed when you bought a book unaware of DDB? Or did you just assume that a game priced at about the same price point of every other non digitally assisted TTRPG in hardback out there (maybe cheaper since they produce on a higher volume than other publishers) would come with the digital tool set you knew was in play too?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Let's just make clear there is a big difference between "nothing to do with" and a "relationship between property owner and licensed producer of digital editions and toolsets."
I meant nothing to do with Wizards as business entities, which is the case. The poster was asking about wizards’ business decisions and connecting that to the way Beyond monetizes its own licensed product. The confusion comes from muddying the waters of how companies work, even if they are joined at the hip in terms of the customers and product they deliver. Wholly independent of each other would have been a clearer way of phrasing it, but the point still stands.
Indeed, when folks want something on DnDBeyond, it has been suggested fans let it be known to Wizards that they would like x, y or z made accessible on Beyond. Wizards has its own process, under the organizational corporate structure of a massive toy company. Beyond isn’t a part of that.
Obviously they have relationships, but Beyond makes some choices and Wizards makes other choices. Beyond is a subsidiary of a company with expertise in fan culture, discrete expertise from that of a game company.
This website is not owned by the same company that publishes D&D. This website is an online bookstore that only sells digital D&D books (and now digital dice as well). And they made all of these additional tools like the character builder for us to use for free with the materials we purchase from them.
Think of the paper books as like X-Box copies of video games, and the digital books as like PlayStation versions of the same games. This website is like Amazon, and wherever you bought your books is like GameStop. If you buy an X-Box version of a game from GameStop, would you expect Amazon to give you a free PlayStation copy of the same game?
Not to mention, the company that runs this website has to follow a specific contract with the company that publishes the game, Wizards of the Coast. They have no choice. And they worked like heck to build this website, so they deserve to get paid too.
I'm disappointed in a lot of things about this site but having to buy the books again isn't one of them.
this.
D&D Beyond has to make their money somehow. Development and web hosting isn't free. I think we get an awful lot FOR FREE already in that the character builder and the free package of rules that WotC offers. While I have some complaints about DDB, what I have to pay for is not on the list.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
I mean, it's not like I don't double-buy things all the time if I want another version of them. I have both metal and plastic dice. Do I need both? No. But after having had plastic ones for a while I decided to treat myself. And with my physical Harry Potter books falling apart, years ago I sprang for the eBook versions. I also started reading the Gaslight Mysteries in paperback, and then on book 5 (of like 22 now) started getting the eBooks (that's when I bought my first Nook). After a while I finally just sprang for the eBooks of 1-4 to have them all in the same format.
Such things don't bother me. The books aren't really all that expensive that it bothers me to double-buy them. Heck I can even share them via subscription with my fellow players in my campaign.
I just wish the site were more feature-rich, and that the features they do have were better designed. Especially things like the Homebrew features, which leave a lot to be desired, lack of anything that could be remotely called a GM screen, etc.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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.
I really like the compendium and the character builder. The searchable / filterable spell list alone is amazing. I wish the homebrew tools were more robust, but they are still pretty good. I like the encounter builder, despite a few limitations.
I don't love the licensing model, and I hate all the BS arguments from the apologists about how there is no way it is possible. I can buy a Bluray and it comes with a DVD and a code to get the movie on iTunes. Licensing deals are possible. The idea that DDB is a completely different entity doesn't hold weight when the D&D logo is plastered all over the website, the D&D devs do frequent interviews and announcements with the DDB staff, DDB takes on a lot of the promotion of new D&D materials and products (again look at the front page), and WOTC literally can get them to take down a competitors content. And DDB was advertised as an official DDB toolset. WOTC and DDB could've set up any licensing agreement they wanted. They could very easily have implemented combo pricing, redemption codes, etc... Just because they didn't, doesn't mean they couldn't. DDB is clearly much more involved with WOTC than Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds.
What I am disappointed in is how slow they are to implement new features. Some features have been requested for years and supposedly been 'in progress', but no progress is forthcoming. Like a simple way to edit monsters in the encounter builder without having to make a whole new copy. Or making homebrew classes. Or Class Feature Varient UA. Or being able to add extra spells to a sheet. Or the homebrew magic item limitations. But digital dice as a means to sell skins to compulsive completionists gets done ASAP.
I don't love the licensing model, and I hate all the BS arguments from the apologists about how there is no way it is possible. I can buy a Bluray and it comes with a DVD and a code to get the movie on iTunes. Licensing deals are possible. The idea that DDB is a completely different entity doesn't hold weight when the D&D logo is plastered all over the website, the D&D devs do frequent interviews and announcements with the DDB staff, DDB takes on a lot of the promotion of new D&D materials and products (again look at the front page), and WOTC literally can get them to take down a competitors content. And DDB was advertised as an official DDB toolset. WOTC and DDB could've set up any licensing agreement they wanted. They could very easily have implemented combo pricing, redemption codes, etc... Just because they didn't, doesn't mean they couldn't. DDB is clearly much more involved with WOTC than Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds.
Licensing deals are possible, but no company is obligated to do them. Bundling a digital code with a physical product also drives up the cost of the physical product. If you are buying a Bluray with no digital bundle, it is cheaper than buying a Bluray bundled with a digital code.
I honestly think that WoTC should be falling over themselves to make char gen as easily as possible - even if people don't pay for the 29.99 (holy shit) price for the digital PHB or get a subscription, if folks are able to more easily play D&D, they are more likely to to get hooked and buy D&D books and products. This seems like a no-brainer to me - why would you try to monetize something so fundamental to the experience of D&D, a barrier that if removed would let people try your product more easily.
I'll ignore the distinction between DDB and WotC, as that has been addressed by other comments.
I think what you are ignoring is that Wizards is literally giving away the core game for free by way of the Basic Rules and SRD content. All of which is also free to use here. What more do you want them to give you? If you want more options, then yes, it's expected you pay for that by purchasing the full PHB/DMG/MM or whatever else you'd like to expand your choices. If you buy in print, then Beyond has generously provided access to the same tools that they use to add new content - the homebrew tools - so that you can do that without paying for anything else here. Or if you prefer, you can buy the books digitally here, so that all that work is already done for you. How much of your time is worth $30? Is it enough to recreate the rest of the content yourself?
This is a topic that has been beaten to death already.
One problem is that there isn't a single value, code, serial number, etc. in your physical copy of a rule-book that is unique to that physical copy. How do you prove to the digital system that you bought the book, in a way that doesn't allow all your friends to use the same code to cheat and get free access?
It's not possible to do retroactively. Could it be done moving forward? Sure. A one time use code could be printed on a voucher, and bundled in the shrink wrapped version of the book. And the cost of your physical book would go up - if for no other reason than to cover the marginally increased production cost, but also to cover the revenue loss to DnD Beyond, who aren't going to honor WoTC's access codes and give away their product for free because WoTC wants to.
In essence you are asking one company ( WoTC ) to pay another company ( DnDB ) for you. OK, they might do that, but they're going to reclaim their lost revenue somehow, so the cost of books goes up, since WoTC will pass that cost on to you.
Those are your choices: buy it twice, buy books on digital only ( WoTC and DnDB both get paid that way and are happy ), or pay way more for your physical books. And that's only for books physically printed from some future date when they start bundling access vouchers into physical copies, forward.
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
Most of us are disappointed. Welcome to buyer's remorse dude. You are in the majority.
Though I do not wish to invalidate your own personal experiences with this site, please kindly do not make overreaching statements about how the majority of people feel about this site with no proof.
Have the Physical Books? Confused as to why you're not allowed to redeem them for free on D&D Beyond? Questions answered here at the Hardcover Books, D&D Beyond and You FAQ
Looking to add mouse-over triggered tooltips to such things like magic items, monsters or combat actions? Then dash over to the How to Add Tooltips thread.
Most of us are disappointed. Welcome to buyer's remorse dude. You are in the majority.
Though I do not wish to invalidate your own personal experiences with this site, please kindly to not make overreaching statements about how the majority of people feel about this site with no proof.
I fully agree. The VAST MAJORITY of feedback has all been positive. It's really not even close - not even a little bit. I would suggest that if anyone has "buyer's remorse" or any other issues after making a purchase, reach out to support. They're some great folk and very keen on making things right.
I fully agree. The VAST MAJORITY of feedback has all been positive. It's really not even close - not even a little bit. I would suggest that if anyone has "buyer's remorse" or any other issues after making a purchase, reach out to support. They're some great folk and very keen on making things right.
I suppose although you agree we shouldn't make statements without evidence you are unable to share that evidence. Which is understandable.
I do understand those of us who post are the vocal minority on the forum. Knowing that most posts in the feedback or bug/support forums are not positive or at least that's my perception of it. Even those who defend dndbeyond's decisions are often disappointed themselves(in either that decision or something else) and they are just accepting or reiterating the fact that dndbeyond is a business and they can do what they want and aren't beholden to us.
Being disappointed about things doesn't invalidate the good. Since the topic of this thread is are people disappointed - yes, at least I am, about multiple things - however I still have good things to say about the site when people ask. I can give positive feedback about one thing while also being disappointed about another aspect. I think it'd be hard to find someone who doesn't wish something here was better or dndbeyond had x,y,z features but that's anecdotal (based on my experience in real life, the forums, twitter, discord etc.) and I clearly don't have the access you do.
Lastly most people who use dndbeyond are likely players and not DM's. I believe DM's have a lot more to be disappointed about and most DM's probably spend more money compounding that disappointment (an assumption).
I'd argue that while a majority of forum posts in feedback and especially bug/support forums skew to negative, I imagine a far larger majority of DDB users are not active here at all, and are happily off playing games instead. Forums like this tend to draw the extremes, in my experience. Those who offer mostly complaints, and the supporters who brush off the negative aspects and stridently support the product regardless.
At the same time, recognizing the faults or limitations as things currently stand and that there is room for improvement does not equate to being disappointed with it, IMO. Of course there as things that can be and yes, need to be improved. Does that mean I'm disappointed with Beyond? Not at all. Obviously, YMMV and people are certainly both entitled to their opinions and encouraged to share them with the staff here since in most cases they are legitimate gripes and the feedback is worthwhile to the devs.
My game's better with DDB than without it. And I can't think of a single area where DDB has grown that "depressed" that enhancement.
As far as to the "majority are disappointed" claimants, you all know that DDB right now is collecting feedback on both its tools and this forum? Fill out a survey.
It would be nice to get something back from DDB post survey, something like the "stakeholders" letter SJGames publishes and distributes annually. Actually a lot of the stuff SJGames does in its blogs regarding the ins and outs of running a game company and how it's evolved over the decades is an excellent model for how a game company (or game servicing company) can communicate better than the Dev Updates "fun and games-ing" format. (And I don't think SJGames spends nearly as much time as DDB works on community, so there's that efficiency angle too). I don't think the product DDB produces warrants some of the criticism it receives here and elsewhere, at the same time I've never seen SJGames receive the level of call out on customer service or business practice transparency that DDB gets. Actually, I can't think of a company in the TTRPG space outside maybe the VTTs that gets an equivalent. Maybe it's the nature of the product, but I don't think so.
Hello everyone,,
I'd like to start off this rant with the following disclaimer: I'm not entitled to anything. I am expressing preferences, not objective facts or entitlements.
I love 5e. I think it's the best modern take on D&D yet, for all its flaws. That being said, I find character creation onerous and an impediment to getting games running.
What disappoints me about D&D Beyond is having to buy content I already own physically all over again. As far as I can tell, I have to buy the PHB digitally to make non-SRD characters. I can understand keeping supplemental content beyond a paywall, but the PHB? I honestly think that WoTC should be falling over themselves to make char gen as easily as possible - even if people don't pay for the 29.99 (holy shit) price for the digital PHB or get a subscription, if folks are able to more easily play D&D, they are more likely to to get hooked and buy D&D books and products. This seems like a no-brainer to me - why would you try to monetize something so fundamental to the experience of D&D, a barrier that if removed would let people try your product more easily?
WoTC has probably analyzed this to death and maybe has some sophisticated marketing reason why my above idea wouldn't work. Just my two cents. In the meanwhile, I'm desperate to find anything that will let me generate non-SRD characters quickly (not necessarily randomly) without having to pay a fortune for content I already purchased.
WoTC has nothing to do with DnDBeyond. They are separate companies. DnDBeyond’s product IS making the print product into a digital commodity and building an interface that makes it significantly more functional than a PDF would be. That’s ultimately what you pay for when you buy their version of a book.
The only change I can see might be possible would be to have another option to buy the digital and physical book at the same time (for a slightly reduced price for the bundle maybe).
End of the day though I only buy digital now, so no bother for me. Yes I had to rebuy a few books but that wasn't a big deal.
If you *really* want you can remake all the stuff you have purchased in as homebrew and use it that way. Don't have to pay a cent. I don't think that is a valid option because I don't have that sort of time - I would rather pay for the convenience.
You can also be good friends with someone like me and have them content share with you. Honestly it is a pretty fair method. If anything I think it is smarter for WotC to put codes in the books to let you redeem here - but that would only serve to promote the continuation of the physical media. I have no personal need for that.
Let's just make clear there is a big difference between "nothing to do with" and a "relationship between property owner and licensed producer of digital editions and toolsets."
To original poster, DDB technically, like literally technically, enables you to adapt whatever you want from your print collection into home-brew. So if you don't want to pay for it, you can do it yourself and still take advantage of the digital infrastructure (which was probably produced at a not inconsiderable cost) you're not paying for.
Would you have bought the players handbook for $80 if it gave you the unfettered access to DDB you want? Unlock codes with print editions had been discussed in this forum (not at any official business strategy level as far as I know). The present print TTRPG retail ecosystem would make that problematic, but I'm curious whether people would pay $30 or so more per book if it came mated to a digital tool/aid. Of course, there are many people who don't bother with using digital aids and continue to play that way and I'm not sure which camp gets the highest market share.
But your "preference" was formed when you bought a book unaware of DDB?
Or did you just assume that a game priced at about the same price point of every other non digitally assisted TTRPG in hardback out there (maybe cheaper since they produce on a higher volume than other publishers) would come with the digital tool set you knew was in play too?
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
I meant nothing to do with Wizards as business entities, which is the case. The poster was asking about wizards’ business decisions and connecting that to the way Beyond monetizes its own licensed product. The confusion comes from muddying the waters of how companies work, even if they are joined at the hip in terms of the customers and product they deliver. Wholly independent of each other would have been a clearer way of phrasing it, but the point still stands.
Indeed, when folks want something on DnDBeyond, it has been suggested fans let it be known to Wizards that they would like x, y or z made accessible on Beyond. Wizards has its own process, under the organizational corporate structure of a massive toy company. Beyond isn’t a part of that.
Obviously they have relationships, but Beyond makes some choices and Wizards makes other choices. Beyond is a subsidiary of a company with expertise in fan culture, discrete expertise from that of a game company.
This website is not owned by the same company that publishes D&D. This website is an online bookstore that only sells digital D&D books (and now digital dice as well). And they made all of these additional tools like the character builder for us to use for free with the materials we purchase from them.
Think of the paper books as like X-Box copies of video games, and the digital books as like PlayStation versions of the same games. This website is like Amazon, and wherever you bought your books is like GameStop. If you buy an X-Box version of a game from GameStop, would you expect Amazon to give you a free PlayStation copy of the same game?
Not to mention, the company that runs this website has to follow a specific contract with the company that publishes the game, Wizards of the Coast. They have no choice. And they worked like heck to build this website, so they deserve to get paid too.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Nope.
I'm disappointed in a lot of things about this site but having to buy the books again isn't one of them.
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.
this.
D&D Beyond has to make their money somehow. Development and web hosting isn't free. I think we get an awful lot FOR FREE already in that the character builder and the free package of rules that WotC offers. While I have some complaints about DDB, what I have to pay for is not on the list.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
I mean, it's not like I don't double-buy things all the time if I want another version of them. I have both metal and plastic dice. Do I need both? No. But after having had plastic ones for a while I decided to treat myself. And with my physical Harry Potter books falling apart, years ago I sprang for the eBook versions. I also started reading the Gaslight Mysteries in paperback, and then on book 5 (of like 22 now) started getting the eBooks (that's when I bought my first Nook). After a while I finally just sprang for the eBooks of 1-4 to have them all in the same format.
Such things don't bother me. The books aren't really all that expensive that it bothers me to double-buy them. Heck I can even share them via subscription with my fellow players in my campaign.
I just wish the site were more feature-rich, and that the features they do have were better designed. Especially things like the Homebrew features, which leave a lot to be desired, lack of anything that could be remotely called a GM screen, etc.
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.
I really like the compendium and the character builder. The searchable / filterable spell list alone is amazing. I wish the homebrew tools were more robust, but they are still pretty good. I like the encounter builder, despite a few limitations.
I don't love the licensing model, and I hate all the BS arguments from the apologists about how there is no way it is possible. I can buy a Bluray and it comes with a DVD and a code to get the movie on iTunes. Licensing deals are possible. The idea that DDB is a completely different entity doesn't hold weight when the D&D logo is plastered all over the website, the D&D devs do frequent interviews and announcements with the DDB staff, DDB takes on a lot of the promotion of new D&D materials and products (again look at the front page), and WOTC literally can get them to take down a competitors content. And DDB was advertised as an official DDB toolset. WOTC and DDB could've set up any licensing agreement they wanted. They could very easily have implemented combo pricing, redemption codes, etc... Just because they didn't, doesn't mean they couldn't. DDB is clearly much more involved with WOTC than Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds.
What I am disappointed in is how slow they are to implement new features. Some features have been requested for years and supposedly been 'in progress', but no progress is forthcoming. Like a simple way to edit monsters in the encounter builder without having to make a whole new copy. Or making homebrew classes. Or Class Feature Varient UA. Or being able to add extra spells to a sheet. Or the homebrew magic item limitations. But digital dice as a means to sell skins to compulsive completionists gets done ASAP.
+1 to quite literally the whole post above this.
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.
Licensing deals are possible, but no company is obligated to do them. Bundling a digital code with a physical product also drives up the cost of the physical product. If you are buying a Bluray with no digital bundle, it is cheaper than buying a Bluray bundled with a digital code.
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 >
I'll ignore the distinction between DDB and WotC, as that has been addressed by other comments.
I think what you are ignoring is that Wizards is literally giving away the core game for free by way of the Basic Rules and SRD content. All of which is also free to use here. What more do you want them to give you? If you want more options, then yes, it's expected you pay for that by purchasing the full PHB/DMG/MM or whatever else you'd like to expand your choices. If you buy in print, then Beyond has generously provided access to the same tools that they use to add new content - the homebrew tools - so that you can do that without paying for anything else here. Or if you prefer, you can buy the books digitally here, so that all that work is already done for you. How much of your time is worth $30? Is it enough to recreate the rest of the content yourself?
This is a topic that has been beaten to death already.
One problem is that there isn't a single value, code, serial number, etc. in your physical copy of a rule-book that is unique to that physical copy. How do you prove to the digital system that you bought the book, in a way that doesn't allow all your friends to use the same code to cheat and get free access?
It's not possible to do retroactively. Could it be done moving forward? Sure. A one time use code could be printed on a voucher, and bundled in the shrink wrapped version of the book. And the cost of your physical book would go up - if for no other reason than to cover the marginally increased production cost, but also to cover the revenue loss to DnD Beyond, who aren't going to honor WoTC's access codes and give away their product for free because WoTC wants to.
In essence you are asking one company ( WoTC ) to pay another company ( DnDB ) for you. OK, they might do that, but they're going to reclaim their lost revenue somehow, so the cost of books goes up, since WoTC will pass that cost on to you.
Those are your choices: buy it twice, buy books on digital only ( WoTC and DnDB both get paid that way and are happy ), or pay way more for your physical books. And that's only for books physically printed from some future date when they start bundling access vouchers into physical copies, forward.
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
Though I do not wish to invalidate your own personal experiences with this site, please kindly do not make overreaching statements about how the majority of people feel about this site with no proof.
#Open D&D
Have the Physical Books? Confused as to why you're not allowed to redeem them for free on D&D Beyond? Questions answered here at the Hardcover Books, D&D Beyond and You FAQ
Looking to add mouse-over triggered tooltips to such things like magic items, monsters or combat actions? Then dash over to the How to Add Tooltips thread.
I fully agree. The VAST MAJORITY of feedback has all been positive. It's really not even close - not even a little bit. I would suggest that if anyone has "buyer's remorse" or any other issues after making a purchase, reach out to support. They're some great folk and very keen on making things right.
I suppose although you agree we shouldn't make statements without evidence you are unable to share that evidence. Which is understandable.
I do understand those of us who post are the vocal minority on the forum. Knowing that most posts in the feedback or bug/support forums are not positive or at least that's my perception of it. Even those who defend dndbeyond's decisions are often disappointed themselves(in either that decision or something else) and they are just accepting or reiterating the fact that dndbeyond is a business and they can do what they want and aren't beholden to us.
Being disappointed about things doesn't invalidate the good. Since the topic of this thread is are people disappointed - yes, at least I am, about multiple things - however I still have good things to say about the site when people ask. I can give positive feedback about one thing while also being disappointed about another aspect. I think it'd be hard to find someone who doesn't wish something here was better or dndbeyond had x,y,z features but that's anecdotal (based on my experience in real life, the forums, twitter, discord etc.) and I clearly don't have the access you do.
Lastly most people who use dndbeyond are likely players and not DM's. I believe DM's have a lot more to be disappointed about and most DM's probably spend more money compounding that disappointment (an assumption).
I'd argue that while a majority of forum posts in feedback and especially bug/support forums skew to negative, I imagine a far larger majority of DDB users are not active here at all, and are happily off playing games instead. Forums like this tend to draw the extremes, in my experience. Those who offer mostly complaints, and the supporters who brush off the negative aspects and stridently support the product regardless.
At the same time, recognizing the faults or limitations as things currently stand and that there is room for improvement does not equate to being disappointed with it, IMO. Of course there as things that can be and yes, need to be improved. Does that mean I'm disappointed with Beyond? Not at all. Obviously, YMMV and people are certainly both entitled to their opinions and encouraged to share them with the staff here since in most cases they are legitimate gripes and the feedback is worthwhile to the devs.
Just my 2 coppers.
My game's better with DDB than without it. And I can't think of a single area where DDB has grown that "depressed" that enhancement.
As far as to the "majority are disappointed" claimants, you all know that DDB right now is collecting feedback on both its tools and this forum? Fill out a survey.
It would be nice to get something back from DDB post survey, something like the "stakeholders" letter SJGames publishes and distributes annually. Actually a lot of the stuff SJGames does in its blogs regarding the ins and outs of running a game company and how it's evolved over the decades is an excellent model for how a game company (or game servicing company) can communicate better than the Dev Updates "fun and games-ing" format. (And I don't think SJGames spends nearly as much time as DDB works on community, so there's that efficiency angle too). I don't think the product DDB produces warrants some of the criticism it receives here and elsewhere, at the same time I've never seen SJGames receive the level of call out on customer service or business practice transparency that DDB gets. Actually, I can't think of a company in the TTRPG space outside maybe the VTTs that gets an equivalent. Maybe it's the nature of the product, but I don't think so.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.