Hi all,

I'm wanting to branch out from the free to play side of DND Beyond, and I was wondering if paying the subscription gives access to things like extra class features. Like in my current free account, when a wizard hits level 2, it says that there are 8 schools to choose from, however, the only option available is evocation. Would subscribing give me the other options, or would I need to just buy the books? I mainly ask this because I was hoping to make a necromancer. This is the third character I've ever made, and third campaign so I don't have a lot of experience here.

Thanks!

Subscribing wouldn't do that. The only way to do what you are looking for is to buy the books here in digital format.

Subscribing gives you:

• Create unlimited characters (there is a limit to the number you have right now)
• Create unlimited encounters (if you are using the DM side of things)
• Add publicly shared homebrew content (you can share your homebrew with other people who might choose to use it themselves)
• Early access to new player tools (Some alpha and beta tests as they add new VTt type features)
• Monthly subscriber perks (an email with "digital stuff" each month, like free dice, but not any sourcebooks or published adventures).

The only ways you can increase your options in the character builder are to either buy the books yourself, or join a campaign where the DM has enabled content sharing (because they bought the books). OF course, if you leave that campaign, you lose access.

As mentioned above, buying the digital content is what will open options.  Now, to be fair, having the Master allows content sharing, SO, any content you, or others in the campaign own, can be used by all in the campaign.  If you play with a regular group, it's a great option, so everyone can buy a little bit and through sharing, you can all benefit.

Also worth mentioning, all the books have options to buy piecemeal, so you can buy the classes and subclasses from the books and no other content if you want.  Same for Races, Feats and so on.  Our group has pretty much every race, class and subclass open, through my and others purchasing stuff and we have also bought a number of "monster packs" and a couple spell packs.  We actually own very few FULL books.

It really depends on your situation.

The main use is the Master Tier sub if members of your party have books to share, everyone gets access.

Beyond that, the benefits are pretty small in my opinion, the next most useful one removes the 6 character limit. If content sharing is of use, go for it. It could literally save your party thousands. Beyond that, the benefits probably aren't worth the cost by themselves.

For the Hero Tier, it's only useful if you want to share homebrews or make a bunch of characters. Master Tier is mainly useful if your group plays digitally (either fully online or just using online resources/character sheets at the table) and one or more members already owns several of the books here, since as mentioned above it allows for content sharing. The content sharing is pretty nice; one person activating it for the campaign allows all members of the campaign to pool their books.

Please see my signature for detailed answers to your questions and follow up questions you will almost certainly have. 

It's been well summarised by AEDorsay, although I might disagree a little that "new features" is...  a very generous description and there's a fair few things I would expect as part of the package that aren't there.
I'm also grossly cynical about WOTC in general, but I do have the disposable income where I don't "feel" the loss of money and for me, it's incredibly convenient to organise a Campaign (at DM tier).
Personally, I'd suggest you bare minimum own the Player's Handbook, probably the Dungeon Master's Guide and then the "big 3" Tasha's, Xanathar's and Mordenkainen's - that'll give you excellent coverage or character classes/races and they're more/less good value for money - especially if on sale (I would definitely wait until they're on sale for any purchase (and the Sales come up fairly regularly)).

Beyond that, what else do you want to do?  DM, or play as a PC?  A good DM's worth their weight in gold ;)
There's some good rundowns/breakdowns of those books online - if you want to play a Rogue (for example), have a search for "5e Rogue subclasses" and you'll find something that'll break down EVERYthing available and see what flavours you like and what books you need to access that.  Again, depending on your circumstances, Xmas, birthdays, family, friends etc. can gift stuff to you via the online store.  I originally purchased 1 book every few months (getting back into the hobby at 5e level) and more/less completed the set in a couple years - along with Sales and poor self-control, but that's my disposable income and appetite for nerd stuff.

Maybe a subscription's a bit hasty - but you should definitely own the PHB - and be able to recite it by heart*

*joke.

For me, the subscription is very helpful. Mostly because I don't know how to do physical sheets.

I finally broke down and got a subscription at the end of November, and it's been helpful for me, but it really depends on your situation whether it would work for you.

In my case, I already have 15 books in my DDB collection and I'm running a very large game at the local library. I was already using DDB sources in my sessions because an iPad is a lot easier to transport than a bunch of print books, and the subscription's content sharing lets me review all the characters much more easily. Many of my players have never played D&D before and being able to check things myself rather than asking them to find something on their sheet is a godsend.

My own take is that a player is better off just buying what they need piecemeal to start, though the full PHB is helpful. I really don't see much point to Hero Tier at all, but Master Tier can be worth it especially if you're in a situation like mine.

Quote from Wiz_Khaleeba >>

Hi all,

...it says that there are 8 schools to choose from, however, the only option available is evocation....

Well a couple of things, a Subscription is needed if you are DMing from DnDB, most of my players don't pay for a sub, and as long as I make a campaign and share all my books they have access to all my content. The only thing having a sub gives you is more room for more characters. For more subclass options you will need the books that contain those things, or join a campaign that has them unlocked. 

There are minor other perks for membership, but until you own books all you have access to are what your DM shares or the basic rule books. (aka the free players handbook) 

Sadly as DM I have to sub at the highest level, and buy each book that comes out, so my players have access to all options, and I can run a lot of games. 

I'll play counterpoint here, and state that I've never, ever - not even for the tiniest fraction of a second - considered subscribing. It offers a sum total of no benefit to me what so ever.

Quote from Acromos >>

I'll play counterpoint here, and state that I've never, ever - not even for the tiniest fraction of a second - considered subscribing. It offers a sum total of no benefit to me what so ever.

 And I think for most players that's the case; I went four years without feeling the need to subscribe for that very reason. As a DM, I do find the Master Tier has value for me, but that doesn't mean it has value for everyone.

As someone who has over 30 characters after my last cull (which cut the total by more than half), I need it. That, and I'm also given content sharing to my group, but I mostly just want unlimited characters. 

In addition to what others have said about buying subclasses and other stuff piecemeal it's worth noting that the amount you've paid for that content gets deducted from the total cost of the book it comes from.  I started out by buying just what I need and then grabbing the full book when it was in a sale, often with up to 40% off plus the $1.99 I'd already paid taken off. It's amazing how quickly you can build up a decent library like that and then getting a Master tier subscription so you can share with other players becomes much more worthwhile

You cant buy specific things feom the books anymore. Now you have to buy the full book.