Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
Frozen Sick
D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Basic Rules (2014)
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Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer CreaturesFrozen SickD&D Beyond Basic RulesBasic Rules (2014)Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
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That would require a massive amount of oversight, or it would destroy their entire business.
Not to mention reinventing the wheel (or jet engine).
I did add "at GM discretion". No reason there can't be a "Guild Hall" That spans DDB with access to merchants, even work out quest sign ups through the guildhall (LFG/LFP space). Whatever. Like I said, my 2 cents.
So what? Reinvent away! Isn't that what is happening now anyway!?!
Can you elaborate on how you believe it would destroy their business please?
On a new game (one where people haven't already invested heavily) it could be made to work... though people would hate it (it would turn D&D into a live service game). However, their existing business model is based on selling books, so a model that makes it unnecessary to buy books is directly contrary to their business model.
This is a WotC-owned website. It's only natural that critics avoid platforms controlled by the entities they critique; we tend to gravitate toward independent spaces where our voices won't be ignored or reflexively shouted down. If you set aside the noise and histrionics, you'll find that the most reasoned criticism and analysis of WotC happens elsewhere. I encourage you to seek those voices.
Those tools offer genuine value for players who prioritize convenience over ownership. But for those of us who view game materials as permanent assets, the lack of true ownership is a dealbreaker. My stance is simple: when a platform like D&D Beyond inevitably shuts down or changes its terms, my pdfs will remain accessible. I have a library of thousands of RPG pdfs, many from games long out of print.
Furthermore, as someone who moves frequently, carrying a full physical library of 5e books is impractical. Pdfs solve this dilemma perfectly, offering the portability of digital files with the permanence of owned property. Convenience need not come at the cost of long-term security.
Maybe, but many other RPG outlets offer hyperlinked pdfs with bookmarking capabilities. But that misses the core point: this isn't about format quality--it's about control. You may be fine renting access through Beyond, and I respect that choice. However, I am not willing to tie my gameplay to a corporation's server uptime or licensing terms.
I want the autonomy to print specific sections, play in areas without wifi, and guarantee my books remain usable for decades--regardless of what any digital storefront decides to do. That is the fundamental difference between owning a resource and licensing a service.
Crucially, none of these arguments rely on painting Hasbro or WotC as evil. It ultimately doesn't matter whether they are virtuous, nefarious, or anything in between; companies rise, fall, and pivot. My concern is structural: even a well-intentioned company can discontinue a service, leaving renters with nothing while owners keep their assets intact.
A case in point: I don't think WotC was "evil" for discontinuing D&D Insider. But all subscribers lost access anyway--and that's precisely my worry about platforms like Beyond today. History shows it's not about intent... it's about what happens when services end.
It would require a lot of oversight, or people would "put on tournaments" for the sole purpose of getting access to everything for free then sharing it. "Public Campaigns" where the slots are all filled with their friends already, same thing. That sort of thing would by it's nature need to be managed by WOTC tightly to avoid it becoming a wild free-for-all where people get all their content for free and reduce sale.
So either they spend a lot of money and people to manage it and retain legitimacy, or it becomes a free-for-all where they don't profit. Either way costs them significantly, which is why it's not worth it.
So the plan is wotc give everything away to... streamers? I guess? And they have "public" campaigns? Maybe a battle royale format? And this generates "excitement"? Which causes more people to play dnd for free?
But someone will by some virtual dice skins and wotc can pay for everything that way?
"guarantee my books remain usable for decades"
This is ridiculous. If you only cared about having books and permanent content, then buy your books, swear off the internet entirely, and be happy about it.
The fact that you arent, suggests that you dont want just books, it seems pretty clear that the folks complaining the loudest about subscriptions whatnot arent happy tp take their physical books and play, but rather they want everyone else to stop enjoying their subscriptions and force players and wotc to use a model you approve of.
You have had dnd books since the 70's. Youve got your perfect solution for how you want to play. Those of us using dndbeyond and using the subscription model are doing our own thing. Im good.
I mean, I have a bunch of RPG books sitting around... that I haven't opened in more than ten years. Yes, a D&D Beyond purchase doesn't give me that, but I don't actually mind, and it's not like physical books are actually permanent if you actually use them.
No, it's not. What you suggested would require completely starting from scratch on elements like the marketplace and subscriptions and building out non-scalable, cost-prohibitive new features (providing player character premium artwork). What is happening now is that WotC is rebuilding the infrastructure that underlies the site. After years of accrued technical debt, they need to do it to keep growing the site and it's features. That is growth, not reinvention. Building something entirely new adds long periods of alpha and beta testing, almost certainly a limited or gated initial release for public beta testing (oh the gnashing of teeth that would cause), lots of new bugs and a much higher cost to WotC. Guess who would likely absorb that cost.
I'm genuinely puzzled because you seem to have missed my actual argument. Let me be crystal clear:
I don't object to D&D Beyond. I've stated repeatedly that it offers genuine value for players who prioritize convenience. I respect that choice and don't want anyone to stop using it.
My concern isn't about you--it's about me. This is entirely personal risk management. I'm building a library I intend to keep accessible for decades, regardless of corporate decisions. That has zero impact on your subscription or your access.
The physical book solution you suggest is impractical for me. With 60+ official 5e books now in circulation, carrying that library isn't feasible--especially when moving frequently. Pdfs solve both portability and permanence.
No one needs to agree with my preference. A pdf marketplace wouldn't take anything away from subscribers. My stance is simply that I want ownership, while acknowledging that subscription models work well for others.
So if the question is "do I want WotC to change their model?" the answer is no. They're free to offer whichever options work for them. If the question is "do I want permanent access to what I purchase?" then yes, absolutely. Those positions aren't mutually exclusive.
I'm not trying to force my preferences on anyone. I'm explaining why my choices differ from yours. Can we acknowledge both approaches have merit without attributing motives to each other?
Unused books reflect personal habits, not a flaw in ownership. If physical copies sit untouched, that's a usage issue--not a format one.
More importantly, pdfs are arguably more durable than paper. Pages tear, spines crack, and water or moving damage is almost inevitable for travelers. A properly backed-up pdf doesn't degrade with use and survives catastrophes that could destroy a physical library.
You're optimizing for convenience and I'm optimizing for permanence. Your preference to accept licensing risks doesn't invalidate my wish for files I actually control. Both approaches work--for different priorities
Apologies, I thought the italics conveyed the tone that I find it utterly unbelievable that critics are underrepresented here because of all the frantic, overblown criticism that goes on here constantly. There's a reason I often say no online community seems to hate D&D and WotC as much as this one here on D&D Beyond. The idea that that critics here are being ignored or shouted down is absurd prima facie given that WotC has made changes specifically because of criticism expressed here and the mods here are johnny on the spot with deleting or redacting posts that go over lines, including when posters are being rude to critics.
Bit naive to assume I don't dabble in any other online D&D communities and I'm not aware of rational, well-founded criticisms of D&D and WotC, bee tee dubs.
I understood your point regarding the italics, and I disagree. However, I don't care to pursue this line of argument further. It's becoming pointless and off-topic.
I was attempting to brainstorm ways to make DDB more profitable for WoTC. What are your ideas to improve WoTC profitability of DDB?
I would like to see the Greyhawk campaign setting, as it was created, added to DDB, full map and adventure setting guide with pinned adventure locations, as well as all the 1e & 2e adventure modules, converted for 5e, made available again. I would enjoy playing those adventures again. Same for Forgotten Realms setting, convert those adventures to 5e and publish for us to buy.
That's not actually what this thread is about -- it's about what they can do to make money that won't make people mad.
Keeping in mind that some people have chosen to make a whole career path out of being mad at Wizards of the Coast and D&D Beyond.