I know that currently there is no way to purchase a hard copy of a text and then have access to that information on DnD beyond (unless taking the time to create a homebrew replication). Now that WotC owns DnD beyond, do folks think that is coming? (through a registration code or something) or at least a discount on purchasing one or the other? I would love to support my local independent game store, but this definitely makes it difficult if I need to buy 2 copies of everything.

You might wanna check out dndstore.wizards.com

Unsubstantiated and provably false vitriol aside...

It is very difficult to do physical+digital bundle packs.  Effectively, the physical product has to be completely sealed - in the case of books it'd have to be shrink wrapped or even sealed inside a separate box, with the code inside the seal.  Even then, any such codes would be redeemable by anyone who has them - Wizards cannot implement any system that allows the owner of a physical book to 'prove' their ownership and claim a digital copy.  People who buy a physical book and hate DDB can just sell/give away their DDB codes and random yaybos get free access to the website, which markedly devalues the bundles and makes them deeply undesirable from a product control standpoint.  Not to mention the fact that sealing the product makes it harder to sell - a book you can't open and leaf through on the shelf is a book you're significantly less likely to buy.

Just about the only way to discourage some of this is to make the bundle packs their own separate product at a higher price point from the naked book alone, which goes against what the people clamoring for Free DDB Forever want - namely, for every single product DDB sells to be free forever to anyone with a physical book so the DDB development and maintenance staff goes unpaid and the entire service collapses.  Raising the price of the bundle to reflect that you're buying two products instead of one pisses off the people who wanted the bundle in the first place, and the sealed packaging makes it a much harder sell to FLGSs.

The real, core problem is the widespread popular perception that the DDB product offering is just a digital phantasm - a cheap digital copy of a real book instead of a developed product in its own right.  It takes time, effort, resources, and most of all paying skilled people to make a digital product offering on DDB, and they cannot give those away for free.  The digital product is, at best, a parallel product - similar content but in markedly different, largely incompatible formats.  Trying to say the one should entitle you to free copies of the other forever doesn't work, the same way someone with DDB products can't demand Wizards give them free hardcovers "because I already own the books!"

You do indeed own the books - in one medium.  Wanting them in a different medium is a different product that requires its own price tag.  And it pretty much always will.

Physical/Digital integration exists, but only for direct purchases from WotC as Davyd noted. For hobby shop/FLGS purchases, Yurei is correct, there are logistical challenges that make that considerably more difficult (e.g. you need some way to stop people from simply opening the book in a store and using the code without buying, which screws over not just WotC but whoever ends up buying that book later.) Kyle Brink actually spoke about this challenge directly in one of his interviews, and noted that this is one of the areas where they're looking for community feedback (the most recent general/purchasing habits survey that was released a couple of days ago is likely a great place for that sort of thing.)

It should be noted that the physical/digital bundles offer fairly marginal discounts. That's fine if you're consistently happy with the D&D products or you've seen and read them previously and so know you'll like them, but if you're less sure you'll like it, that's a lot of money you're pouring in for a small discount. It wouldn't require it to occur very often in order to end up costing you more than the discounts save you versus buying one then getting the other separately when you're happy that it is something you'll enjoy.

I think the best deal would be a partnership deal for LFGS with wotc that can provide those codes on receipts, as is possible with prepaid phone cards that can be bought in stores. This way they can not be stolen and no extra packaging is necessary. Just infrastructure needs to be implemented.

Quote from Enrif >>

I think the best deal would be a partnership deal for LFGS with wotc that can provide those codes on receipts, as is possible with prepaid phone cards that can be bought in stores. This way they can not be stolen and no extra packaging is necessary. Just infrastructure needs to be implemented.

This is probably the most realistic way they will roll out physical+digital bundles, outside of the wotc's online store, down the road. Buy the book, the LFGS's Point Of Sale system pops up a message "Would you like to unlock this book on dndbeyond.com for an additional $15?" Beep. Boop. "And here is the voucher code on your receipt to unlock your copy of your new book on dndbeyond. Have a great day."

Copy Bits and Mortar's method?  I don't believe it's compatible or implementable with the big vendors (Amazon, B&N, Target, Walmart, etc), but it's something a very large network of FLGS already due, just in this case the receipt code would take a customer to the digital marketplace.  

well, i think this could help in diversifying audiences. Big Retailers don't get a code, FLG get the code. Thus the people can decide what they want. Just the digital book, straight to DNDBeyond. Just the physical book, big retailer or FLG. Pyhsical+digital, FLG or WotC.

DnD Beyond is a Reference Library. Only Wizards owns the books in this reference Library. People can access some of the free books, and they have a section of community developed books that are widely available to anyone. They offer memberships to this Reference Library, so that people can enjoy greater access, but the library itself is fairly open in general.

Like many Reference Libraries, you cannot 'access a book" here unless you pay for the privilege -- this is the digital format that you pay to access. You do not own the document. They own the document. If you want the book in the reference library, you have to pay for it. This is not only a common practice that annoys scientists and researchers as much as it does you, it is a distinct and subject to different laws, category of operation from the sale of books.

Bundles of physical books you own plus access to the Reference library are available at the dndstore, as linked previously.  Those are two separate and distinct products -- one is a book, that is delivered to you and that you own, the other is a service that you pay for so you can access the reference library copy of it.

DnD Beyond does not sell a "digital copy of the book". They sell access to a service. This is exactly like how you can still go out and buy a DVD of a film and then go home and stream the damn thing on any one of two dozen streaming services.

For some people, that undercuts the whole idea of "selling DVDs" or "selling books". THey would rather just have the access to the content. For others, they will find the presence of a service annoying on continue to only want books or DVDs and damn the streamers and the reference libraries.

For many, however, they will want both the DVD and the Streaming Service, or both the Book and the Reference Library. Because the Reference Library has all that other cool stuff -- the interlinked capabilities, the homebrew stuff, the news and marketing, the forums and fancy tools to link to VTT platforms.

Other folks have talked about the Logistics in four dozen threads I know of in just that last three months. There are many, many more long before that.

Having an issue with this is like whining that you can't stream your Disney movie on HBO max.

Quote from ElyrieColili >>

I know that currently there is no way to purchase a hard copy of a text and then have access to that information on DnD beyond (unless taking the time to create a homebrew replication). Now that WotC owns DnD beyond, do folks think that is coming? (through a registration code or something) or at least a discount on purchasing one or the other? I would love to support my local independent game store, but this definitely makes it difficult if I need to buy 2 copies of everything.

It's already here and it takes away the financial incentive for customers to buy any place else but at that store.

You can purchase digital + physical bundles over at the link Davyd gave. Unfortunately, Wizards direct website is the only way to do this, but both physical and digital are now somewhat integrated. More information is available HERE.

Quote from AEDorsay >>

DnD Beyond is a Reference Library. Only Wizards owns the books in this reference Library. People can access some of the free books, and they have a section of community developed books that are widely available to anyone. They offer memberships to this Reference Library, so that people can enjoy greater access, but the library itself is fairly open in general.

Like many Reference Libraries, you cannot 'access a book" here unless you pay for the privilege -- this is the digital format that you pay to access. You do not own the document. They own the document. If you want the book in the reference library, you have to pay for it. This is not only a common practice that annoys scientists and researchers as much as it does you, it is a distinct and subject to different laws, category of operation from the sale of books.

Bundles of physical books you own plus access to the Reference library are available at the dndstore, as linked previously.  Those are two separate and distinct products -- one is a book, that is delivered to you and that you own, the other is a service that you pay for so you can access the reference library copy of it.

DnD Beyond does not sell a "digital copy of the book". They sell access to a service. This is exactly like how you can still go out and buy a DVD of a film and then go home and stream the damn thing on any one of two dozen streaming services.

For some people, that undercuts the whole idea of "selling DVDs" or "selling books". THey would rather just have the access to the content. For others, they will find the presence of a service annoying on continue to only want books or DVDs and damn the streamers and the reference libraries.

For many, however, they will want both the DVD and the Streaming Service, or both the Book and the Reference Library. Because the Reference Library has all that other cool stuff -- the interlinked capabilities, the homebrew stuff, the news and marketing, the forums and fancy tools to link to VTT platforms.

Other folks have talked about the Logistics in four dozen threads I know of in just that last three months. There are many, many more long before that.

Having an issue with this is like whining that you can't stream your Disney movie on HBO max.

^While you're largely right.  This is a little pedantic for the discussion, or as you rightfully mention, this iteration of the discussion.  Through the marketplace you can now go to the D&D store and buy a number of D&D printed books bundled with what you're fairly calling library access on DDB, priced $10 above the MSRP of the book.  So if you support a FLGS, you have to pay ~$30 more than the price of the book for your DDB access.  These bundles started as an experiment with the Dragonlance book, but now include the existing core and starter products as well as the heist anthology.  WotC is clearly playing around with their own product value/pricing considerations in a way that probably won't matter to Amazon (if you buy a book from Amazon, the DDB access is roughly even to the DDB store) or maybe some of the larger online retailers, but the FLGS this may hurt, hurt in a way the various publishers (almost all that don't have their own in house PDF program) don't hurt through their PDF program, a program that I think could easily be replicated by WotC to take consumers to a version of the DDB marketplace that would take the "mortar" store purchase into account when rendering access to the library of "bits".  

I'm not saying WotC is saying "eff em" to the FLGS side of things, they're dumping a lot of movie tie-in promo material (demo games, one shots etc with physical materials coming from WotC) on them in what will likely boost sales for that blip.  So given that recognized "partnership" I'd like to think WotC is trying to thread the needle on preserving what has been and I'd say still is a vital incubator of interest in the hobby (I don't have a strong opinion of the "influencer summit" but I'm wondering why WotC leaned into influencers and performers and not the folks who run store game programs who probably have a better sense of how players play than the folks making content for clicks).  

Quote from MidnightPlat >>

I'm not saying WotC is saying "eff em" to the FLGS side of things, they're dumping a lot of movie tie-in promo material (demo games, one shots etc with physical materials coming from WotC) on them in what will likely boost sales for that blip.  So given that recognized "partnership" I'd like to think WotC is trying to thread the needle on preserving what has been and I'd say still is a vital incubator of interest in the hobby (I don't have a strong opinion of the "influencer summit" but I'm wondering why WotC leaned into influencers and performers and not the folks who run store game programs who probably have a better sense of how players play than the folks making content for clicks).  

 This is an interesting point. I'd always heard Wizards had an unwritten rule of, don't do anything to upset or screw with FLGS, because that's where they sell all their magic cards, and that's where they actually make their money. So, from a business standpoint, it was very important to keep the stores happy. Maybe they see things rending in a different direction. Today, Magic is still what pays everyone's salaries over at WotC, but maybe if they can actually pull off making D&D into that $1 billion brand like they want to, they won't need to be as reliant on the stores. 

Personally, I think that would be sad, I love my FLGS. It just will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Quote from Xalthu>>

 This is an interesting point. I'd always heard Wizards had an unwritten rule of, don't do anything to upset or screw with FLGS, because that's where they sell all their magic cards, and that's where they actually make their money. So, from a business standpoint, it was very important to keep the stores happy. Maybe they see things rending in a different direction. Today, Magic is still what pays everyone's salaries over at WotC, but maybe if they can actually pull off making D&D into that $1 billion brand like they want to, they won't need to be as reliant on the stores. 

Personally, I think that would be sad, I love my FLGS. It just will be interesting to see how it plays out.

 If they phase out FLGS support it will largely be because we stop purchasing WotC product that way, not the other way around. It's up to us to keep the FLGS model alive, not them; they don't need it unless we show that we still do.

Quote from ElyrieColili >>

I know that currently there is no way to purchase a hard copy of a text and then have access to that information on DnD beyond (unless taking the time to create a homebrew replication). Now that WotC owns DnD beyond, do folks think that is coming? (through a registration code or something) or at least a discount on purchasing one or the other? I would love to support my local independent game store, but this definitely makes it difficult if I need to buy 2 copies of everything.

 Bits & Mortar is a scheme that has existed for many years which allows LFGS to sell books, and provide a mechanism for the PDFs to be downloaded.

Wizards has NEVER supported that sort of business.

Quote from Yurei1453 >>

Unsubstantiated and provably false vitriol aside...

It is very difficult to do physical+digital bundle packs.  Effectively, the physical product has to be completely sealed - in the case of books it'd have to be shrink wrapped or even sealed inside a separate box, with the code inside the seal.  Even then, any such codes would be redeemable by anyone who has them - Wizards cannot implement any system that allows the owner of a physical book to 'prove' their ownership and claim a digital copy.  People who buy a physical book and hate DDB can just sell/give away their DDB codes and random yaybos get free access to the website, which markedly devalues the bundles and makes them deeply undesirable from a product control standpoint.  Not to mention the fact that sealing the product makes it harder to sell - a book you can't open and leaf through on the shelf is a book you're significantly less likely to buy.

Just about the only way to discourage some of this is to make the bundle packs their own separate product at a higher price point from the naked book alone, which goes against what the people clamoring for Free DDB Forever want - namely, for every single product DDB sells to be free forever to anyone with a physical book so the DDB development and maintenance staff goes unpaid and the entire service collapses.  Raising the price of the bundle to reflect that you're buying two products instead of one pisses off the people who wanted the bundle in the first place, and the sealed packaging makes it a much harder sell to FLGSs.

The real, core problem is the widespread popular perception that the DDB product offering is just a digital phantasm - a cheap digital copy of a real book instead of a developed product in its own right.  It takes time, effort, resources, and most of all paying skilled people to make a digital product offering on DDB, and they cannot give those away for free.  The digital product is, at best, a parallel product - similar content but in markedly different, largely incompatible formats.  Trying to say the one should entitle you to free copies of the other forever doesn't work, the same way someone with DDB products can't demand Wizards give them free hardcovers "because I already own the books!"

You do indeed own the books - in one medium.  Wanting them in a different medium is a different product that requires its own price tag.  And it pretty much always will.

 This is the first time this has been explained in a way that I understand and completely agree with. Thank you from all of us who read this and thought “Oooooh! The different mediums thing makes a lot of sense! Like audiobooks v hard copies of books. Now I finally understand.” 

Quote from AEDorsay >>

DnD Beyond is a Reference Library. Only Wizards owns the books in this reference Library. People can access some of the free books, and they have a section of community developed books that are widely available to anyone. They offer memberships to this Reference Library, so that people can enjoy greater access, but the library itself is fairly open in general.

Like many Reference Libraries, you cannot 'access a book" here unless you pay for the privilege -- this is the digital format that you pay to access. You do not own the document. They own the document. If you want the book in the reference library, you have to pay for it. This is not only a common practice that annoys scientists and researchers as much as it does you, it is a distinct and subject to different laws, category of operation from the sale of books.

Bundles of physical books you own plus access to the Reference library are available at the dndstore, as linked previously.  Those are two separate and distinct products -- one is a book, that is delivered to you and that you own, the other is a service that you pay for so you can access the reference library copy of it.

DnD Beyond does not sell a "digital copy of the book". They sell access to a service. This is exactly like how you can still go out and buy a DVD of a film and then go home and stream the damn thing on any one of two dozen streaming services.

For some people, that undercuts the whole idea of "selling DVDs" or "selling books". THey would rather just have the access to the content. For others, they will find the presence of a service annoying on continue to only want books or DVDs and damn the streamers and the reference libraries.

For many, however, they will want both the DVD and the Streaming Service, or both the Book and the Reference Library. Because the Reference Library has all that other cool stuff -- the interlinked capabilities, the homebrew stuff, the news and marketing, the forums and fancy tools to link to VTT platforms.

Other folks have talked about the Logistics in four dozen threads I know of in just that last three months. There are many, many more long before that.

Having an issue with this is like whining that you can't stream your Disney movie on HBO max.

 You will own nothing and you will be happy lol

The rub comes in when they SELL me digital book and not solely access  to said book, winky face.

I feel this significant distinction will be sorted out in the coming years and it will destroy some companies. Do I own it or do I own access and for how long, what is in the fine print vs what is in the marketing....... Lawyers will profit consumers will lose and business will die.

The easiest solution to this problem is digital/physical bundle. Purchase digital content on D&D beyond and get sent physical book. For instance, I can get the physical Monster Manual on Amazon for $19. But I would not have content available on D&D beyond. I would rather pay $29.99 + shipping on D&D beyond for digital/physical bundle option.

Quote from groobs060926 >>

The easiest solution to this problem is digital/physical bundle. Purchase digital content on D&D beyond and get sent physical book. For instance, I can get the physical Monster Manual on Amazon for $19. But I would not have content available on D&D beyond. I would rather pay $29.99 + shipping on D&D beyond for digital/physical bundle option.

You know physical+digital bundles are a thing now? The bundles are only available in the WOTC store.