Hello fellow adventurers, when I buy a digital book, will it last forever and be available on Beyond? (I'm more a book fan but wanna get to digital slowly). Thanks!
Forever? No. Eventually, they'll decide that shutting down DDB is more profitable than keeping it going. When that happens...it'll be likely that the books will go to.
However, that will not be likely any time soon. You're probably talking a decade or so at minimum. To be honest, by the time they decide to get rid of it...you'll be into playing something else (possibly D&D7e). Also remember that physical books don't last forever either.
If buying digital suits you, then go ahead. It'll almost certainly outlast your need of the game.
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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.
It seems reasonable to assume that they're going to be supported for a good many years. DDB is currently a big part of their business model going forward; they're not going to scuttle it by dumping people's books. We don't 100% know how the old PHB, DMG, MM will be handled when they release the revised ones, but the legacy treatment that the old monster books got seems pretty likely.
In the long run? They're going to do a 6th edition eventually, but it's not going to happen any time soon. (My personal guess is no fewer than five years, and more likely 8-10.) 5e is still selling well, and they're releasing a new revised version which will probably get them a decent bump in sales. 6e won't even really be on the drawing board until sales slow significantly.
But it'll happen. What they do with the ******** at that point is anyone's guess. They kept the 4e tools going until Microsoft stopped supporting the tech they were built on. 5e is built on normal web tech, so theoretically can be kept operating forever, but that costs money. (Not just keeping the servers going, but also making sure it keeps working as they have to upgrade the underlying software for security reasons.)
Will they shut it down outright? Let everyone download PDFs of their books, then shut it down? License it out to some smaller company who thinks they can make money keeping it running? Open source it? All these are possible, and many more.
Odds are by the time we're looking at the next version or 5e fades away we'll all be used to 3d virtual tabletops anyway or will need them for that version.
Im never buying the books on DnD Beyond Aeleronn, if DnD beyond gets shut down i would lose everything, I got the IRL copys and i can just open up the Homebrew section of DnD beyond and copy it down from the books
I am contemplating getting the Master Tier subscription so i can have Maps, but i am not quite sure how they work yet, and homebrewing every monster from the books i own would be quite a tedious process, so in my opinion its best to just buy the stuff IRL, only way to lose that is to water damage or a fire, but even then insurance will likely cover that
EDIT: TCOE might be a good purchase so you can use the Artificer in the charecter creator though, might buy that if i ever want to use DnD Beyond to play one, but for now im sticking to paper
Also remember that physical books don't last forever either.
I have to disagree. Physical books can last a lifetime.
Digital anything only last if it resides on at least 3 different storage drives. Remember MySpace, Friendster, Google+, Megaupload, MediaFire, etc? All closed down with everyone's personal content.
And remember the 100's of adventure modules like I3 series?
I tend to buy the rule books in hard cover AND digital, and the adventures as digital only.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
I buy books, then either buy or create Monster Cards, Spell Cards, etc. I always buy at least double sets of Spellbook Cards Arcane, Paladin, Druide, Ranger, etc. because either two at the table, else I have them on hand so we're not fumbling about with what's what, keeping the adventure as smooth as possible.
Regarding adventures - I prefer paper and pen, old-school, by hand, yet migrated to digitally produced and printed for the table game (think elaborate, old-school adventure modules good for a session or two, max).
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Hello fellow adventurers, when I buy a digital book, will it last forever and be available on Beyond? (I'm more a book fan but wanna get to digital slowly). Thanks!
Forever? No. Eventually, they'll decide that shutting down DDB is more profitable than keeping it going. When that happens...it'll be likely that the books will go to.
However, that will not be likely any time soon. You're probably talking a decade or so at minimum. To be honest, by the time they decide to get rid of it...you'll be into playing something else (possibly D&D7e). Also remember that physical books don't last forever either.
If buying digital suits you, then go ahead. It'll almost certainly outlast your need of the game.
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.
Nobody knows. This includes WotC.
It seems reasonable to assume that they're going to be supported for a good many years. DDB is currently a big part of their business model going forward; they're not going to scuttle it by dumping people's books. We don't 100% know how the old PHB, DMG, MM will be handled when they release the revised ones, but the legacy treatment that the old monster books got seems pretty likely.
In the long run? They're going to do a 6th edition eventually, but it's not going to happen any time soon. (My personal guess is no fewer than five years, and more likely 8-10.) 5e is still selling well, and they're releasing a new revised version which will probably get them a decent bump in sales. 6e won't even really be on the drawing board until sales slow significantly.
But it'll happen. What they do with the ******** at that point is anyone's guess. They kept the 4e tools going until Microsoft stopped supporting the tech they were built on. 5e is built on normal web tech, so theoretically can be kept operating forever, but that costs money. (Not just keeping the servers going, but also making sure it keeps working as they have to upgrade the underlying software for security reasons.)
Will they shut it down outright? Let everyone download PDFs of their books, then shut it down? License it out to some smaller company who thinks they can make money keeping it running? Open source it? All these are possible, and many more.
Anyone who thinks anything will last forever has not studied their history. Even mountains don’t last forever.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Or check the more recent history with digital movies purchased from Sony's video app on the Playstation Network.
Digital content is never permanent.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
One good EMP event, and everything digital will be gone.
It's not the arrow with my name on it that worries me. It's the arrow that says, "To whom it may concern".
i am quite confident in saying i know it will not stay online forever. i don't suspect...i just know.
now, if you were to ask 'will the digital books be online longer than i will be?' meh-who knows.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
Odds are by the time we're looking at the next version or 5e fades away we'll all be used to 3d virtual tabletops anyway or will need them for that version.
No. But there are ways to download the digital content on DnDBeyond into PDFs.
Free Content: [Basic Rules],
[Phandelver],[Frozen Sick],[Acquisitions Inc.],[Vecna Dossier],[Radiant Citadel], [Spelljammer],[Dragonlance], [Prisoner 13],[Minecraft],[Star Forge], [Baldur’s Gate], [Lightning Keep], [Stormwreck Isle], [Pinebrook], [Caverns of Tsojcanth], [The Lost Horn], [Elemental Evil].Free Dice: [Frostmaiden],
[Flourishing], [Sanguine],[Themberchaud], [Baldur's Gate 3], [Lego].Im never buying the books on DnD Beyond Aeleronn, if DnD beyond gets shut down i would lose everything, I got the IRL copys and i can just open up the Homebrew section of DnD beyond and copy it down from the books
I am contemplating getting the Master Tier subscription so i can have Maps, but i am not quite sure how they work yet, and homebrewing every monster from the books i own would be quite a tedious process, so in my opinion its best to just buy the stuff IRL, only way to lose that is to water damage or a fire, but even then insurance will likely cover that
EDIT: TCOE might be a good purchase so you can use the Artificer in the charecter creator though, might buy that if i ever want to use DnD Beyond to play one, but for now im sticking to paper
I have to disagree. Physical books can last a lifetime.
Digital anything only last if it resides on at least 3 different storage drives. Remember MySpace, Friendster, Google+, Megaupload, MediaFire, etc? All closed down with everyone's personal content.
And remember the 100's of adventure modules like I3 series?
Thanks for that trip down memory lane. Awesome!
I tend to buy the rule books in hard cover AND digital, and the adventures as digital only.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
I buy books, then either buy or create Monster Cards, Spell Cards, etc. I always buy at least double sets of Spellbook Cards Arcane, Paladin, Druide, Ranger, etc. because either two at the table, else I have them on hand so we're not fumbling about with what's what, keeping the adventure as smooth as possible.
Regarding adventures - I prefer paper and pen, old-school, by hand, yet migrated to digitally produced and printed for the table game (think elaborate, old-school adventure modules good for a session or two, max).