Firstly, apologies for the clickbait title but I'm really at my end with this.
I've been DMing for just over a year now, I have all the core sourcebooks and an adventure I'm planning to run (Frostmaiden), but I've heard that it's alot easier to run prewritten modules using sites like dndbeyond. I'm a competent enough DM and I can run the game pretty easily but it is hard with flipping back and forth through the book to track where players are going in dungeons and other things like that, as well as sharing images and maps with my players, which I hear is easier with beyond too. It's also annoying that I'd have to re-buy all the same books along with paying a subscription fee, or would it be fine as just a module runner without any of the other sourcebooks? https://100001****/
For what you intend, I'd say it isn't. DDB has some functionality for DMs but it's relatively minor, and flipping through a book is arguably easier on screen but it's still flipping through a book. Sharing images and maps isn't something DDB provides for, and it's certainly not a virtual tabletop of any kind. There aren't really any "other sites like DDB" either, so I think it's possible you may be thinking of tools or functionality that doesn't exist here. The character builder is handy, but more for players than DMs. Being able to look up things in a single knowledge repository is great, but something you'd ideally do before or after any actual sessions and if you want the repository to be somewhat comprehensive you're looking at buying a lot of books or spending a ton of time recreating content using the homebrew tools. Getting to share content with others and have them share it with you is amazing, but still requires someone buying that content in the first place and then someone taking out a subscription.
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Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
It's not clickbait. Clickbait is a misleading or sensationalist title intended to make a mundane article more attractive. Yours conveys the essence of what the thread is about while being concise them you expound in your post. It's absolutely fine.
Personally, I'd say no for what you want to do. The main advantages to DDB (beyond having a digital rather than physical copy) is that you can buy book for $30 and then pay a single subscription fee and everyone can access it, rather than paying for their own books. The other is a character builder. Since you mention neither of those, I'd say that it's likely not what you want.
You can't really share maps on here, from what I've seen (and pangurjan says that too). You can share the book and trust the players not to peak at the sensitive parts of the book, but I don't see why that's any more advantageous overall to just scanning the map and sending them a copy.
Personally, for things like maps, I actually find physical books better. The problem with DDB is that flicking quickly between two parts of the book is awkward. The app is painful, and while you can do it easier in the browser using tabs, it can get unwieldy, especially if you're using the browser for other things, and you have to know beforehand and have it prepared With a book, I can just have bookmarks or even just use a finger.
It depends a lot on how you're doing the game. In person? Paying for it again gets quite expensive for the functionality you're gaining. Mostly, it would be so you don't have to carry books around. That's upto you, I just think $30 per book is a bit steep for that (when you already have access to the books). If you're doing it online, maybe? You can save your friends the expense of buying books and you can copy and paste relevant rules if needed. You can also let them use the character builder as well, in either case. Again, is that worth $30 per book to you?
Personally, I think there is a reasonable case for getting it on DDB if it's an either/or. The DDB option is generally cheaper than physical, which can be a big tipping point. Whether you want to get it in addition to your physical copy is more dependent on the size of your paycheck though.
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
I wouldn't say you can't share maps, as having the digital book allows you to find the map and then it gives you dm and player maps that you can click on and then save to print or host on a site to share in the pbp games here. Is it worth buying all the books and subscribing for that solitary purchase? No. But I have bought all the sourcebooks on here and keep a yearly master tier sub going to allow sharing with TT friends and PBP alike. That makes it worth it for me, and I also have all the physical copies as well. But that's my choice.
I don't think anyone thinks of DDB as a "module runner." It's pretty great as a character generator (if you want to rebuy all the content from the books you already have or become a godmode home brewer and DIY all your owned content into your account) and manager (all the +s are calculated for you, you can even have dice rolled on your screen by clicking a damage entry or skill, etc). "Books" (which it sounds like you already have a lot of in physical form) on DDB are cheaper and more portable through the website and app than they are in real book form. But I prefer "running" adventures out of a physical book or notes. I tried running an adventure via D&D Beyond, and it was a short one too (Frozen Sick which I think is still available for free). Scrolling and tabbing was cumbersome.
When talking about "module running" with a computer, they're probably talking about a Virtual Table Top (VTT) like Roll20, FantasyGrounds, etc. Some of those bring a lot of bells and whistles and take care of things like line of sight, knowing which bad guy your players are going to hit and such. I'd recommend watching a stream or YouTube of an actual live play to see them at work (because they do have hiccups) before you invest in something like that. But if you're thinking of DDB just to run modules (over book and character management) I don't think DDB is there for you yet (there is an encounter builder in open beta and a combat tracker in alpha that could enhance a DM's experience ... I haven't used the tools much myself beyond playing around with them outside of a game).
EDIT: Just want to ditto Q785921 below me. I find DDB incredibly useful as a DM for the reason they outline below and mention above (though I have no experience with AboveVTT or Beyond20 - an endeavor to link up the popular big player in VTT space Roll20. With it's present toolset and resources, DDB just is not useful to me as an DM's aid or screen or substitute for a hardcopy adventure, so if that's the only reason you'd be buying into DDB I wouldn't do it. I would follow Q7...'s advice and play around with the free stuff and see if it's something you want to integrate into your table's character management.
As others have said, no, it's not if you are not willing to spend money or you want to use it as a virtual tabletop. DnDBeyond is not a VTT, it is a digital content sharing platform.
That said. I find it extremely useful to coordinate campaigns, view player character sheets, create homebrew items and monsters. In addition, I've been using a third-party browser extension called AboveVTT, which is free and open source, it pulls all your information from beyond onto a basic table tap. You can load maps and it automatically pulls data from your campaign characters and monsters as well as creating tokens and tracking. If you are interested in playing digitally using DnDBeyond, I recommend at least looking at it.
In addition, you don't need to pay anything to use DnDBeyond. It takes some effort, but you can use the homebrew tools to recreate any official content. You can't share it publicly, but you can share it with your players. Alternately, you can buy things piecemeal. Have a player who wants to be a Wild Magic Barbarian? They can purchase it for $1.99 or you can purchase it and share it with them as long someone in the campaign has the Master Tier subscription.
So there are routes you can go to use Beyond while spending little or not money, depending on exactly how you want to use it.
Firstly, apologies for the clickbait title but I'm really at my end with this.
I've been DMing for just over a year now, I have all the core sourcebooks and an adventure I'm planning to run (Frostmaiden), but I've heard that it's alot easier to run prewritten modules using sites like dndbeyond. I'm a competent enough DM and I can run the game pretty easily but it is hard with flipping back and forth through the book to track where players are going in dungeons and other things like that, as well as sharing images and maps with my players, which I hear is easier with beyond too. It's also annoying that I'd have to re-buy all the same books along with paying a subscription fee, or would it be fine as just a module runner without any of the other sourcebooks?
Any advice would be useful, thank you all.
If you plan on playing online, buy Foundry VTT, Fantasy Grounds or Roll 20 would be better for you. You get the VTT and the book contents you already own. I was using D&D Beyond as virtual books but WotC has taken to cutting content lately so D&D Beyond is bound to follow so you are getting less content for the same price. If you want to do table based content, you can go to RPG Drivethrough or DMSguild and buy digital modules there as PDF's again without having content getting removed if you donwloaded them earlier. D&D Beyond unfortunately due to contractual obligations gives you less for the same price through no fault of their own. Personally I've curtailed buying content from D&D Beyond and I've moved more towards PDF's for contents. I still use D&D Beyond for digital play due to dice rolling, but in the future even that might get dropped and I'll move to VTT.
Firstly, apologies for the clickbait title but I'm really at my end with this.
I've been DMing for just over a year now, I have all the core sourcebooks and an adventure I'm planning to run (Frostmaiden), but I've heard that it's alot easier to run prewritten modules using sites like dndbeyond. I'm a competent enough DM and I can run the game pretty easily but it is hard with flipping back and forth through the book to track where players are going in dungeons and other things like that, as well as sharing images and maps with my players, which I hear is easier with beyond too. It's also annoying that I'd have to re-buy all the same books along with paying a subscription fee, or would it be fine as just a module runner without any of the other sourcebooks? https://100001****/
Any advice would be useful, thank you all.
For what you intend, I'd say it isn't. DDB has some functionality for DMs but it's relatively minor, and flipping through a book is arguably easier on screen but it's still flipping through a book. Sharing images and maps isn't something DDB provides for, and it's certainly not a virtual tabletop of any kind. There aren't really any "other sites like DDB" either, so I think it's possible you may be thinking of tools or functionality that doesn't exist here. The character builder is handy, but more for players than DMs. Being able to look up things in a single knowledge repository is great, but something you'd ideally do before or after any actual sessions and if you want the repository to be somewhat comprehensive you're looking at buying a lot of books or spending a ton of time recreating content using the homebrew tools. Getting to share content with others and have them share it with you is amazing, but still requires someone buying that content in the first place and then someone taking out a subscription.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
It's not clickbait. Clickbait is a misleading or sensationalist title intended to make a mundane article more attractive. Yours conveys the essence of what the thread is about while being concise them you expound in your post. It's absolutely fine.
Personally, I'd say no for what you want to do. The main advantages to DDB (beyond having a digital rather than physical copy) is that you can buy book for $30 and then pay a single subscription fee and everyone can access it, rather than paying for their own books. The other is a character builder. Since you mention neither of those, I'd say that it's likely not what you want.
You can't really share maps on here, from what I've seen (and pangurjan says that too). You can share the book and trust the players not to peak at the sensitive parts of the book, but I don't see why that's any more advantageous overall to just scanning the map and sending them a copy.
Personally, for things like maps, I actually find physical books better. The problem with DDB is that flicking quickly between two parts of the book is awkward. The app is painful, and while you can do it easier in the browser using tabs, it can get unwieldy, especially if you're using the browser for other things, and you have to know beforehand and have it prepared With a book, I can just have bookmarks or even just use a finger.
It depends a lot on how you're doing the game. In person? Paying for it again gets quite expensive for the functionality you're gaining. Mostly, it would be so you don't have to carry books around. That's upto you, I just think $30 per book is a bit steep for that (when you already have access to the books). If you're doing it online, maybe? You can save your friends the expense of buying books and you can copy and paste relevant rules if needed. You can also let them use the character builder as well, in either case. Again, is that worth $30 per book to you?
Personally, I think there is a reasonable case for getting it on DDB if it's an either/or. The DDB option is generally cheaper than physical, which can be a big tipping point. Whether you want to get it in addition to your physical copy is more dependent on the size of your paycheck though.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
I wouldn't say you can't share maps, as having the digital book allows you to find the map and then it gives you dm and player maps that you can click on and then save to print or host on a site to share in the pbp games here. Is it worth buying all the books and subscribing for that solitary purchase? No. But I have bought all the sourcebooks on here and keep a yearly master tier sub going to allow sharing with TT friends and PBP alike. That makes it worth it for me, and I also have all the physical copies as well. But that's my choice.
I don't think anyone thinks of DDB as a "module runner." It's pretty great as a character generator (if you want to rebuy all the content from the books you already have or become a godmode home brewer and DIY all your owned content into your account) and manager (all the +s are calculated for you, you can even have dice rolled on your screen by clicking a damage entry or skill, etc). "Books" (which it sounds like you already have a lot of in physical form) on DDB are cheaper and more portable through the website and app than they are in real book form. But I prefer "running" adventures out of a physical book or notes. I tried running an adventure via D&D Beyond, and it was a short one too (Frozen Sick which I think is still available for free). Scrolling and tabbing was cumbersome.
When talking about "module running" with a computer, they're probably talking about a Virtual Table Top (VTT) like Roll20, FantasyGrounds, etc. Some of those bring a lot of bells and whistles and take care of things like line of sight, knowing which bad guy your players are going to hit and such. I'd recommend watching a stream or YouTube of an actual live play to see them at work (because they do have hiccups) before you invest in something like that. But if you're thinking of DDB just to run modules (over book and character management) I don't think DDB is there for you yet (there is an encounter builder in open beta and a combat tracker in alpha that could enhance a DM's experience ... I haven't used the tools much myself beyond playing around with them outside of a game).
EDIT: Just want to ditto Q785921 below me. I find DDB incredibly useful as a DM for the reason they outline below and mention above (though I have no experience with AboveVTT or Beyond20 - an endeavor to link up the
popularbig player in VTT space Roll20. With it's present toolset and resources, DDB just is not useful to me as an DM's aid or screen or substitute for a hardcopy adventure, so if that's the only reason you'd be buying into DDB I wouldn't do it. I would follow Q7...'s advice and play around with the free stuff and see if it's something you want to integrate into your table's character management.Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
As others have said, no, it's not if you are not willing to spend money or you want to use it as a virtual tabletop. DnDBeyond is not a VTT, it is a digital content sharing platform.
That said. I find it extremely useful to coordinate campaigns, view player character sheets, create homebrew items and monsters. In addition, I've been using a third-party browser extension called AboveVTT, which is free and open source, it pulls all your information from beyond onto a basic table tap. You can load maps and it automatically pulls data from your campaign characters and monsters as well as creating tokens and tracking. If you are interested in playing digitally using DnDBeyond, I recommend at least looking at it.
In addition, you don't need to pay anything to use DnDBeyond. It takes some effort, but you can use the homebrew tools to recreate any official content. You can't share it publicly, but you can share it with your players. Alternately, you can buy things piecemeal. Have a player who wants to be a Wild Magic Barbarian? They can purchase it for $1.99 or you can purchase it and share it with them as long someone in the campaign has the Master Tier subscription.
So there are routes you can go to use Beyond while spending little or not money, depending on exactly how you want to use it.
If you plan on playing online, buy Foundry VTT, Fantasy Grounds or Roll 20 would be better for you. You get the VTT and the book contents you already own. I was using D&D Beyond as virtual books but WotC has taken to cutting content lately so D&D Beyond is bound to follow so you are getting less content for the same price. If you want to do table based content, you can go to RPG Drivethrough or DMSguild and buy digital modules there as PDF's again without having content getting removed if you donwloaded them earlier. D&D Beyond unfortunately due to contractual obligations gives you less for the same price through no fault of their own. Personally I've curtailed buying content from D&D Beyond and I've moved more towards PDF's for contents. I still use D&D Beyond for digital play due to dice rolling, but in the future even that might get dropped and I'll move to VTT.