if I have physical copies of books why can't I have a download code for the digital copies of the same books to use on the D&Dbeyond app. I mean why do I have to pay 45+ dollars for the physical copies then shell out another 30+ dollars for digital copies just in order to be able to use the content on D&D beyond, especially since it is now owned by WotC/Hasbro/Disney. I will admit that I bought a digital copy of the PHB and tashas, just so I could create a few characters that REQUIRE the PHB and tashas. What I am getting at is I have the PHB, DMG, MM, Tashas, Xanthars, Von Richtens, Fizbans Ebberon: Rising from the last war, 8 books in physical form roughly 350.00 or so in books, One would reasonable presume that WotC could throw me a bone and give me a digital code for the digital copies. so I mean all in with the two digital books I bought I have about 390.00 just in books. i personally think it would be an insentive to buy more physical copies if they came with download codes to get the digital copies for use on Dndbeyond. WotC DO BETTER!!
D&DB, until the purchase is complete, is completely separate from WotC, the creators of official 5e content. Wanting digital content on DDB because you bought physical is like wanting The Lord of the Rings DVDs because you bought the books.
That said, I think a good tactic would be to provide compendium access to those who bought the book. This means that you essentially get the digital version of your book for free. The actual stuff that is what DDB is built on, like the character builder, encounter builder, etc, would be extra. In coming here for your digital stuff, you'll be exposed to these extra features and, by numbers, generate extra sales too. That wasn't realistically possible when DDB was separate to WotC, but could work when the sale goes through. It's unlikely to happen, but hey. Ideally, I'd want PDFs, but that's a pipedream.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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.
Yes, but those answers are now negated by the fact that D&D Beyond is now owned by Wizards of the Coast, owner of the physical books.
So again, why can we not get codes going forward?
actually, the acquisition is not complete (as the poster before you literally said in their first sentence). Officially, as of right this second, DDB is still owned by fandom. And even once it is, it will be months, maybe even years before the business put together new plans and implement them.
Yes, but those answers are now negated by the fact that D&D Beyond is now owned by Wizards of the Coast, owner of the physical books.
So again, why can we not get codes going forward?
One important reason is that there is no way to prove that you are the owner of the physical book, at least not without adding a significant cost to each book.
I wouldn’t expect anything like this to even come about until the “Next Evolution” 2024 books to come out. And even then I wouldn’t hold my breath. It’s two different mediums and DDB is much more than a PDF version of the books.
Yes, but those answers are now negated by the fact that D&D Beyond is now owned by Wizards of the Coast, owner of the physical books.
So again, why can we not get codes going forward?
The only answers that are 'negated' (or will be) are the ones that pertain to DDB and WotC being separate companies, which is mentioned at the top of the post in red. There are other reasons given that do not relate to that and would not be affected by the acquisition.
Wizards did just spend loads to buy DDB and allowing digital codes would signifigantly decrease the amount of money wizards makes from people buying the books twice, and also, no one would buy through DDB if they could just buy the regular copy and it get it both ways.
Long story short, Wizards is just a bussiness, and it needs it money to run and function and be able to keep this game going.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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I didn't get free shit when I paid for DDB, paper buyers don't get free digital books. That's how it is. Deal with it. They are different mediums and thus warrant separate purchases. It took the dev team work to make the website and to insert and translate all the books' content to be viable for the website format. The physical books are physical, and hardback. Different mediums. Different services. Thus different purchases. Either pay, stay a free user and add all your shit through homebrew, or stop using the site if you don't like it.
Hi. Fiction author here. This question gets asked a lot about physical vs. eBooks as well.
Basically the simple answer is:
Buying a product does not entitle you to other copies of the product in different formats, because that ultimately benefits the seller in no way, and actively costs them money.
Let's say I get a code if I buy an eBook. If I only use online books, then when I want my content then I get to buy the book as a physical copy, get my online copy, and then sell the physical copy on to someone who doesn't use online books. I sell it honestly, stating that the code is used, but the buyer doesn't care because they don't want the code.
So the seller (let's say it's Wizards of the Coast) sells the product for $40. I buy it for $40, I am customer A. I then sell it for $30 to someone else, customer B. Both A and B now have the same content, which WotC have spent the time and money creating, paying artists for and so on. But WotC, despite 2 customers having acquired the exact same product, now each have the copy they need and WotC have $40 instead of the $80 that they want to sell it for.
And to get to a point where WotC or any other publisher can give out free eBook codes with a physical purchase, you'll need to explain how that will not happen.
Hi. Fiction author here. This question gets asked a lot about physical vs. eBooks as well.
Basically the simple answer is:
Buying a product does not entitle you to other copies of the product in different formats, because that ultimately benefits the seller in no way, and actively costs them money.
Let's say I get a code if I buy an eBook. If I only use online books, then when I want my content then I get to buy the book as a physical copy, get my online copy, and then sell the physical copy on to someone who doesn't use online books. I sell it honestly, stating that the code is used, but the buyer doesn't care because they don't want the code.
So the seller (let's say it's Wizards of the Coast) sells the product for $40. I buy it for $40, I am customer A. I then sell it for $30 to someone else, customer B. Both A and B now have the same content, which WotC have spent the time and money creating, paying artists for and so on. But WotC, despite 2 customers having acquired the exact same product, now each have the copy they need and WotC have $40 instead of the $80 that they want to sell it for.
And to get to a point where WotC or any other publisher can give out free eBook codes with a physical purchase, you'll need to explain how that will not happen.
Exactly! Plus, when turning, say a novel into an eBook or Paizo making PDFs, the effort is pretty minimal (if not nearly trivial with current tools).
However, turning the prose text of an RPG book into data is an extremely difficult and time consuming activity! Anyone who doesn’t think so is welcome to use the homebrew tools to enter in every spell and every monster and every magic item… etc.
It takes a ton of effort to convert those books to D&D Beyond and it’s frankly absurd, and even bordering on rude, to demand all that work for free. In fact, given how much work it takes to layout and print a physical book vs all of that data entry and web programming, if anything, anyone who buys the book in DDB should demand a free print copy! But that sounds absurd, doesn’t it? 😉
If we entertain the idea of WotC going through the trouble of bundling physical and digital copies, how many people asking for them will actually spend $80 for one book at some mom & pop shop? Because that is almost certainly what you would looking at. You likely would not benefit from any sales and those books would sit on the shelf at the store owner’s expense.
This kind of thing drives business to places that can afford to give cutthroat prices, like Amazon, where you would get it for $60. Even then, I do not see this being a significant driver of sales for WotC because the cost to the consumer is set at a price point that the consumers are already comfortable with.
Ultimately, it is a lot of work for very little return on the investment, which will harm small businesses (for those who care about such things), and will not even please the consumers anyway because they have expectations that are a bit divorced from reality.
I also want free minis and stl files from WizKids for every monster I have in my books, and I want the acutal sapphire dice that came out to match my digital dice and ... frack it, when I buy Spelljammer for $60 or whatever, I want the $500 Beedle and Grimm platinum edtion because I paid for the content!
Hi. Fiction author here. This question gets asked a lot about physical vs. eBooks as well.
Basically the simple answer is:
Buying a product does not entitle you to other copies of the product in different formats, because that ultimately benefits the seller in no way, and actively costs them money.
Let's say I get a code if I buy an eBook. If I only use online books, then when I want my content then I get to buy the book as a physical copy, get my online copy, and then sell the physical copy on to someone who doesn't use online books. I sell it honestly, stating that the code is used, but the buyer doesn't care because they don't want the code.
So the seller (let's say it's Wizards of the Coast) sells the product for $40. I buy it for $40, I am customer A. I then sell it for $30 to someone else, customer B. Both A and B now have the same content, which WotC have spent the time and money creating, paying artists for and so on. But WotC, despite 2 customers having acquired the exact same product, now each have the copy they need and WotC have $40 instead of the $80 that they want to sell it for.
And to get to a point where WotC or any other publisher can give out free eBook codes with a physical purchase, you'll need to explain how that will not happen.
Exactly! Plus, when turning, say a novel into an eBook or Paizo making PDFs, the effort is pretty minimal (if not nearly trivial with current tools).
However, turning the prose text of an RPG book into data is an extremely difficult and time consuming activity! Anyone who doesn’t think so is welcome to use the homebrew tools to enter in every spell and every monster and every magic item… etc.
It takes a ton of effort to convert those books to D&D Beyond and it’s frankly absurd, and even bordering on rude, to demand all that work for free. In fact, given how much work it takes to layout and print a physical book vs all of that data entry and web programming, if anything, anyone who buys the book in DDB should demand a free print copy! But that sounds absurd, doesn’t it? 😉
To both of your points, if it was easy (and minimal cost to implement) we would be able to swap out Aberrant Mind or Clockwork Soul sorcerer spells on the character sheets because, hey, it’s just a digital copy, right? Along with a myriad of other features that we are still waiting for on DDB.
if I have physical copies of books why can't I have a download code for the digital copies of the same books to use on the D&Dbeyond app. I mean why do I have to pay 45+ dollars for the physical copies then shell out another 30+ dollars for digital copies just in order to be able to use the content on D&D beyond, especially since it is now owned by WotC/Hasbro/Disney. I will admit that I bought a digital copy of the PHB and tashas, just so I could create a few characters that REQUIRE the PHB and tashas. What I am getting at is I have the PHB, DMG, MM, Tashas, Xanthars, Von Richtens, Fizbans Ebberon: Rising from the last war, 8 books in physical form roughly 350.00 or so in books, One would reasonable presume that WotC could throw me a bone and give me a digital code for the digital copies. so I mean all in with the two digital books I bought I have about 390.00 just in books. i personally think it would be an insentive to buy more physical copies if they came with download codes to get the digital copies for use on Dndbeyond. WotC DO BETTER!!
RANT OVER
There is a thread in this very subforum that addresses all of this: Hardcover Books, D&D Beyond and You FAQ
Find my D&D Beyond articles here
Thank you, sorry I was just getting irritated.
D&DB, until the purchase is complete, is completely separate from WotC, the creators of official 5e content. Wanting digital content on DDB because you bought physical is like wanting The Lord of the Rings DVDs because you bought the books.
That said, I think a good tactic would be to provide compendium access to those who bought the book. This means that you essentially get the digital version of your book for free. The actual stuff that is what DDB is built on, like the character builder, encounter builder, etc, would be extra. In coming here for your digital stuff, you'll be exposed to these extra features and, by numbers, generate extra sales too. That wasn't realistically possible when DDB was separate to WotC, but could work when the sale goes through. It's unlikely to happen, but hey. Ideally, I'd want PDFs, but that's a pipedream.
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.
Yes, but those answers are now negated by the fact that D&D Beyond is now owned by Wizards of the Coast, owner of the physical books.
So again, why can we not get codes going forward?
actually, the acquisition is not complete (as the poster before you literally said in their first sentence). Officially, as of right this second, DDB is still owned by fandom. And even once it is, it will be months, maybe even years before the business put together new plans and implement them.
The status quo isn't changing for a while
One important reason is that there is no way to prove that you are the owner of the physical book, at least not without adding a significant cost to each book.
If you'll actually read the linked thread, this question is answered...
I wouldn’t expect anything like this to even come about until the “Next Evolution” 2024 books to come out. And even then I wouldn’t hold my breath. It’s two different mediums and DDB is much more than a PDF version of the books.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
The only answers that are 'negated' (or will be) are the ones that pertain to DDB and WotC being separate companies, which is mentioned at the top of the post in red. There are other reasons given that do not relate to that and would not be affected by the acquisition.
Find my D&D Beyond articles here
Wizards did just spend loads to buy DDB and allowing digital codes would signifigantly decrease the amount of money wizards makes from people buying the books twice, and also, no one would buy through DDB if they could just buy the regular copy and it get it both ways.
Long story short, Wizards is just a bussiness, and it needs it money to run and function and be able to keep this game going.
BoringBard's long and tedious posts somehow manage to enrapture audiences. How? Because he used Charm Person, the #1 bard spell!
He/him pronouns. Call me Bard. PROUD NERD!
Ever wanted to talk about your parties' worst mistakes? Do so HERE. What's your favorite class, why? Share & explain
HERE.I didn't get free shit when I paid for DDB, paper buyers don't get free digital books. That's how it is. Deal with it. They are different mediums and thus warrant separate purchases. It took the dev team work to make the website and to insert and translate all the books' content to be viable for the website format. The physical books are physical, and hardback. Different mediums. Different services. Thus different purchases. Either pay, stay a free user and add all your shit through homebrew, or stop using the site if you don't like it.
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Hi. Fiction author here. This question gets asked a lot about physical vs. eBooks as well.
Basically the simple answer is:
Let's say I get a code if I buy an eBook. If I only use online books, then when I want my content then I get to buy the book as a physical copy, get my online copy, and then sell the physical copy on to someone who doesn't use online books. I sell it honestly, stating that the code is used, but the buyer doesn't care because they don't want the code.
So the seller (let's say it's Wizards of the Coast) sells the product for $40. I buy it for $40, I am customer A. I then sell it for $30 to someone else, customer B. Both A and B now have the same content, which WotC have spent the time and money creating, paying artists for and so on. But WotC, despite 2 customers having acquired the exact same product, now each have the copy they need and WotC have $40 instead of the $80 that they want to sell it for.
And to get to a point where WotC or any other publisher can give out free eBook codes with a physical purchase, you'll need to explain how that will not happen.
Exactly! Plus, when turning, say a novel into an eBook or Paizo making PDFs, the effort is pretty minimal (if not nearly trivial with current tools).
However, turning the prose text of an RPG book into data is an extremely difficult and time consuming activity! Anyone who doesn’t think so is welcome to use the homebrew tools to enter in every spell and every monster and every magic item… etc.
It takes a ton of effort to convert those books to D&D Beyond and it’s frankly absurd, and even bordering on rude, to demand all that work for free. In fact, given how much work it takes to layout and print a physical book vs all of that data entry and web programming, if anything, anyone who buys the book in DDB should demand a free print copy! But that sounds absurd, doesn’t it? 😉
Wow, I bought everything on DDB, I should start demanding physical copies!
Same thing both ways and same reasons why it doesn't work.
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If we entertain the idea of WotC going through the trouble of bundling physical and digital copies, how many people asking for them will actually spend $80 for one book at some mom & pop shop? Because that is almost certainly what you would looking at. You likely would not benefit from any sales and those books would sit on the shelf at the store owner’s expense.
This kind of thing drives business to places that can afford to give cutthroat prices, like Amazon, where you would get it for $60. Even then, I do not see this being a significant driver of sales for WotC because the cost to the consumer is set at a price point that the consumers are already comfortable with.
Ultimately, it is a lot of work for very little return on the investment, which will harm small businesses (for those who care about such things), and will not even please the consumers anyway because they have expectations that are a bit divorced from reality.
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I also want free minis and stl files from WizKids for every monster I have in my books, and I want the acutal sapphire dice that came out to match my digital dice and ... frack it, when I buy Spelljammer for $60 or whatever, I want the $500 Beedle and Grimm platinum edtion because I paid for the content!
I mean I think what I'm proposing here is modest.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
To both of your points, if it was easy (and minimal cost to implement) we would be able to swap out Aberrant Mind or Clockwork Soul sorcerer spells on the character sheets because, hey, it’s just a digital copy, right? Along with a myriad of other features that we are still waiting for on DDB.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?