Anything digital is relying on the digital source to be maintained, secured, and remain available. If DDB every went over to "streaming", they would likely give you 1 year free for owning the book, then start charging you monthly. Nobody can do that with a real book!
Always worth remembering that these businesses are committed to turning over more profit than last year. If you pay for a subscription, they don't feel compelled to make good content. If you only buy books, the only way they can keep making money is to make books which are good enough that people will buy them.
IE, if you want good books, buy books!
DDB technically IS a streaming service. You need to connect to their servers to (temporarily) download the material.
But the value proposition is greater than simply not having to lug dead trees around. The search engine and other tools could use additional work, but they're a definite step up over flipping through pages and pages of text to find things, or filling out character sheets manually.
Anything digital is relying on the digital source to be maintained, secured, and remain available. If DDB every went over to "streaming", they would likely give you 1 year free for owning the book, then start charging you monthly. Nobody can do that with a real book!
Always worth remembering that these businesses are committed to turning over more profit than last year. If you pay for a subscription, they don't feel compelled to make good content. If you only buy books, the only way they can keep making money is to make books which are good enough that people will buy them.
IE, if you want good books, buy books!
DDB technically IS a streaming service. You need to connect to their servers to (temporarily) download the material.
But the value proposition is greater than simply not having to lug dead trees around. The search engine and other tools could use additional work, but they're a definite step up over flipping through pages and pages of text to find things, or filling out character sheets manually.
The early comment made me laugh, thanks!
As for the streaming service, a connection is pretty much mandatory on a pc, and to use the character sheets on the app or web, unless I am missing a way to download them and use them with all of the interactive features.
The compendium is the only thing that doesn't require a constant connection to DDB as far as I have been able to find. though the table of contents and search functions work well with no connection.
When DDB/internet goes down not having a pdf character sheet and a device with the app and books downloaded or physical books at the table makes the game pretty hard to play. More than once we have had to turn a D&D session into a different game those nights that DDB or internet is down. It is the nature of modern digital content and game play.
DDB is awesome, but physical books always work. If you're diligent and actively look/wait for sales a person can get many books both formats for ~$20 each. between Amazon and sales here I have bought several books average price under $20 per book.
There is always the Legendary Bundle for the impatient, and the basic rules/SRD.... for those with tight purses.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
CENSORSHIP IS THE TOOL OF COWARDS and WANNA BE TYRANTS.
Really need to just save a response to cut and paste every time it comes up.
You are not just purchasing a digital copy of the book when you buy DDB content. You are buying the ability to use that content in the online tools. You are paying for a service, the content is just a side-effect of that service.
This is not Playstation versus Xbox. That's apples and apples. This is apples and oranges.
If paying for a service sounds like a scam to you, then don't buy it. But the online tools have their own value, and your purchase of the physical book does not cover the value of that service.
The mobile app lets you offline your books, much like you can offline a show on the Netflix app (e.g. for a long flight with no wifi). But yes, you're still reliant on that app to access the content.
You can still access your characters, and read any books you downloaded to your phone through the app.
So without an internet connection, you can play the game in an in-person situation. You just cant do things that require internet connections like updating sources or leveling up and creating characters.
We've done this when at a friends house playing and his internet went down. A mix of physical tools and our character sheets on DNDB worked just fine. Even the dice roller works.
You can still access your characters, and read any books you downloaded to your phone through the app.
So without an internet connection, you can play the game in an in-person situation. You just cant do things that require internet connections like updating sources or leveling up and creating characters.
We've done this when at a friends house playing and his internet went down. A mix of physical tools and our character sheets on DNDB worked just fine. Even the dice roller works.
0 out of 5 mobile devices will load a character sheet without an internet connection be it wifi, or cellular if there is no connection to the internet (DDB?) no access to the sheets.
Am I missing a setting?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
CENSORSHIP IS THE TOOL OF COWARDS and WANNA BE TYRANTS.
only thing i can think of is that you do need to first make sure everything is sync'd up first. so that part needs an internet connection. i just tested my phone on airplane mode (Galaxy S20 FE) and i can get to everything.
maybe it's an Android version issue? Or maybe load it on a network connection first to make sure everything gets downloaded and then try it. But it is supposed to work offline.
only thing i can think of is that you do need to first make sure everything is sync'd up first. so that part needs an internet connection. i just tested my phone on airplane mode (Galaxy S20 FE) and i can get to everything.
maybe it's an Android version issue? Or maybe load it on a network connection first to make sure everything gets downloaded and then try it. But it is supposed to work offline.
I will update everything and give it a try, works fine unless I have no connection (airplane mode on), when I turn any internet connection on it works. turn it off and none of my character sheets will load even if I was just looking at them.
Thanks for your help.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
CENSORSHIP IS THE TOOL OF COWARDS and WANNA BE TYRANTS.
I don't know whether you need to already be connected to access character sheets offline, but character sheets can be exported to PDF if you know you're going to be without internet, both from the mobile site and the app (just tested both.)
I don't know whether you need to already be connected to access character sheets offline, but character sheets can be exported to PDF if you know you're going to be without internet, both from the mobile site and the app (just tested both.)
I did know about the PDF's, have them saved and update them regularly.
I have updated my device and the app, only on one device and there were no updates available, restarted the device and loaded 2 sheets. Turned airplane mode on and both sheets loaded, other sheets would not load. It looks like after that even restarting the app and phone those 2 sheets are available. I will get the other sheets synced and still do the PDF's for backup.
Big thanks to you and Wheezal for all of the help!!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
CENSORSHIP IS THE TOOL OF COWARDS and WANNA BE TYRANTS.
i dont know if it is just me but i prefer having my books irl compared to reading on a screen so i bought some books irl and then later found out if i want to use anything from these books on the dnd beyond character creator i would have to buy them again on the app am i the only one that feels i shouldnt be locked out of the content i technically already have bought.
and i know i can just use pen and paper character sheets and circumvent this whole issue but i do like using dnd beyond and have now started buying the books on here exclusively but i also find this a sad solution cus i really do prefer having my books in my own hands.
anyways thanks for listening to me rant
There are several reasons why buying the hard copies makes sense, each with varying strength of value:
1. You want to preserve parts of 5e when 6e rolls out, and have a method in place to play in person or online with hard copies. A DM will need hard copies that he can lend/distribute to new players or players that want to try something from 5e, because if the pattern is repeated, no one will be able to buy the "legacied" material after 6e comes out. Those that have access to the soft copies now will continue to, but new access, extremely unlikely.
2. You are a collector of the material, and want something lasting.
3. When the great schism occurs, you plan on sticking with 5e exclusively. See point #1.
This is so true. I do feel the Legacy tags are not a bad way to deal with it, but I do not agree with it. End of the day I will own a physical copy of anything I feel is important to my games.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
CENSORSHIP IS THE TOOL OF COWARDS and WANNA BE TYRANTS.
In any case, to use the DnD Beyond services will require you to either spend time, money or both. How you want to tackle it depends on your needs.
If you're the DM, you may want to unlock as much content as possible for your players. There is the Sourcebook bundle that will unlock pretty much most content needed for character creation. You may want to wait for a 30% off though as it isn't cheap (Black Friday?). Then you'll have to pay a small monthly/annual fee to share that content with your friends. Some friends do share the cost (all or the monthly fee) but it can be tricky over time because one person owns the account.
If you're a player (or DM), maybe you'd want to look to buy specific books that relates to your (or your friends) character or the feature itself as you can buy specific items in a book such as feats. I believe that if you've bought a portion of a book, that book cost would be cheaper if you end up deciding to buy the book later. You could of course as some said, create customized options to use for your character.
I was like you when i came here, but i eventually understood the reason behind as explained by fellow players here. I ended up waiting to buy the Legendary bundle at a discount (well , let's say that the value was the same but in CAN instead of US) as going each book trying to see how much it would cost me in the end to unlock all character features concluded that i was not saving much per book in the end...(sourcebook that is). So i bought the Sourcebook bundle and later that day upgraded to Legendary as i figured, may as well have everything unlock. I have all the physical books too as it is a moment for me to spend not being in from of a monitor...
In the end, pounce the good and bad for each options and choose what suits you
Really need to just save a response to cut and paste every time it comes up.
Yep. :-)
I'also use the comparison that buying a book and expecting access to online content is like buying a DVD at a store and then expecting the movie theatre to let you in for free because you own the DVD.
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.
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Unless you get them early!
(Sorry, couldn't resist 😛)
DDB technically IS a streaming service. You need to connect to their servers to (temporarily) download the material.
But the value proposition is greater than simply not having to lug dead trees around. The search engine and other tools could use additional work, but they're a definite step up over flipping through pages and pages of text to find things, or filling out character sheets manually.
The early comment made me laugh, thanks!
As for the streaming service, a connection is pretty much mandatory on a pc, and to use the character sheets on the app or web, unless I am missing a way to download them and use them with all of the interactive features.
The compendium is the only thing that doesn't require a constant connection to DDB as far as I have been able to find. though the table of contents and search functions work well with no connection.
When DDB/internet goes down not having a pdf character sheet and a device with the app and books downloaded or physical books at the table makes the game pretty hard to play. More than once we have had to turn a D&D session into a different game those nights that DDB or internet is down. It is the nature of modern digital content and game play.
DDB is awesome, but physical books always work. If you're diligent and actively look/wait for sales a person can get many books both formats for ~$20 each. between Amazon and sales here I have bought several books average price under $20 per book.
There is always the Legendary Bundle for the impatient, and the basic rules/SRD.... for those with tight purses.
CENSORSHIP IS THE TOOL OF COWARDS and WANNA BE TYRANTS.
Really need to just save a response to cut and paste every time it comes up.
You are not just purchasing a digital copy of the book when you buy DDB content. You are buying the ability to use that content in the online tools. You are paying for a service, the content is just a side-effect of that service.
This is not Playstation versus Xbox. That's apples and apples. This is apples and oranges.
If paying for a service sounds like a scam to you, then don't buy it. But the online tools have their own value, and your purchase of the physical book does not cover the value of that service.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
The mobile app lets you offline your books, much like you can offline a show on the Netflix app (e.g. for a long flight with no wifi). But yes, you're still reliant on that app to access the content.
The only thing you can do offline is access the compendium content and that is only through the mobile app?
I am just making sure I am not missing a way to do more without a connection either internet or the DDB servers.
CENSORSHIP IS THE TOOL OF COWARDS and WANNA BE TYRANTS.
You can still access your characters, and read any books you downloaded to your phone through the app.
So without an internet connection, you can play the game in an in-person situation. You just cant do things that require internet connections like updating sources or leveling up and creating characters.
We've done this when at a friends house playing and his internet went down. A mix of physical tools and our character sheets on DNDB worked just fine. Even the dice roller works.
0 out of 5 mobile devices will load a character sheet without an internet connection be it wifi, or cellular if there is no connection to the internet (DDB?) no access to the sheets.
Am I missing a setting?
CENSORSHIP IS THE TOOL OF COWARDS and WANNA BE TYRANTS.
only thing i can think of is that you do need to first make sure everything is sync'd up first. so that part needs an internet connection. i just tested my phone on airplane mode (Galaxy S20 FE) and i can get to everything.
maybe it's an Android version issue? Or maybe load it on a network connection first to make sure everything gets downloaded and then try it. But it is supposed to work offline.
I will update everything and give it a try, works fine unless I have no connection (airplane mode on), when I turn any internet connection on it works. turn it off and none of my character sheets will load even if I was just looking at them.
Thanks for your help.
CENSORSHIP IS THE TOOL OF COWARDS and WANNA BE TYRANTS.
I don't know whether you need to already be connected to access character sheets offline, but character sheets can be exported to PDF if you know you're going to be without internet, both from the mobile site and the app (just tested both.)
I did know about the PDF's, have them saved and update them regularly.
I have updated my device and the app, only on one device and there were no updates available, restarted the device and loaded 2 sheets. Turned airplane mode on and both sheets loaded, other sheets would not load. It looks like after that even restarting the app and phone those 2 sheets are available. I will get the other sheets synced and still do the PDF's for backup.
Big thanks to you and Wheezal for all of the help!!
CENSORSHIP IS THE TOOL OF COWARDS and WANNA BE TYRANTS.
This is so true. I do feel the Legacy tags are not a bad way to deal with it, but I do not agree with it. End of the day I will own a physical copy of anything I feel is important to my games.
CENSORSHIP IS THE TOOL OF COWARDS and WANNA BE TYRANTS.
In any case, to use the DnD Beyond services will require you to either spend time, money or both. How you want to tackle it depends on your needs.
If you're the DM, you may want to unlock as much content as possible for your players. There is the Sourcebook bundle that will unlock pretty much most content needed for character creation. You may want to wait for a 30% off though as it isn't cheap (Black Friday?). Then you'll have to pay a small monthly/annual fee to share that content with your friends. Some friends do share the cost (all or the monthly fee) but it can be tricky over time because one person owns the account.
If you're a player (or DM), maybe you'd want to look to buy specific books that relates to your (or your friends) character or the feature itself as you can buy specific items in a book such as feats. I believe that if you've bought a portion of a book, that book cost would be cheaper if you end up deciding to buy the book later. You could of course as some said, create customized options to use for your character.
I was like you when i came here, but i eventually understood the reason behind as explained by fellow players here. I ended up waiting to buy the Legendary bundle at a discount (well , let's say that the value was the same but in CAN instead of US) as going each book trying to see how much it would cost me in the end to unlock all character features concluded that i was not saving much per book in the end...(sourcebook that is). So i bought the Sourcebook bundle and later that day upgraded to Legendary as i figured, may as well have everything unlock. I have all the physical books too as it is a moment for me to spend not being in from of a monitor...
In the end, pounce the good and bad for each options and choose what suits you
Yep. :-)
I'also use the comparison that buying a book and expecting access to online content is like buying a DVD at a store and then expecting the movie theatre to let you in for free because you own the DVD.
I cast legend lore to remember the ultimate copy and paste job - Hardcover Books, D&D Beyond and You FAQ
#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.