An API is a set of functions available to the public that would allow users to query the DnDBeyond databases and maybe even make changes.
For example, I wrote a script in MapTools that rolls loot based on the loot tables in the DM Guide. Problem with that is I had to manually input everything into custom Maptool tables, and now that it's done, I have no intention of updating them when new content is released. However, with an API, I could query their loot tables directly over the web and display or use that information in my own software, ie: MapTools. When D&DBeyond updates their loot tables because of new content, my scripts automatically (if well written) includes the updates.
Or, if it is possible to update the database via API, then it would be possible for me as a DM to apply damage to Player character sheets from MapTools, so I could do everything in one program! Or I could add equipment to their sheets when I roll for that sweet sweet loot.
There are many more possibilities, but I hope you get the gist of it.
I take it that MapTools is an app, correct? So it’s a thing for apps to talk to each other? Stand for “Application Program Interface” or “Automatically Populated Information” something such other similar kind of thing?
Well, I would like a DnDBeyond API to use in MapTools, which is a VTT (yes, an app), but API's can do so much more than that. You can build websites with the data from an API.
If someone doesn't like the way DnDBeyond does encounter tracking, or can't wait for a DM Screen, or wants to create a website bag of holding/list of items, they could create the website and query the database via API to do all those things themselves.
You could do research, depending on what is made available. You could query the database and see what is the most popular class, item, spell, etc...
It's access to data. You can do what you want with it (well, there would probably be terms and conditions).
Okay, thank you for the information. Computers generally got too complicated for me to keep up with a long time ago, so I’m not really up on all of that anymore. I appreciate you taking the time.
People are already doing that. The problem is that some people will just create stuff and people will stop using ddb. So that idea is counter productive. Just look at whats happening with lions thing on ios and androids. People are spamming thell out of the database. But the app... Barely anybody uses it now. Thanks to everyone who downloaded their database.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM of two gaming groups. Likes to create stuff. Check out my homebrew --> Monsters --> Magical Items --> Races --> Subclasses If you like --> Upvote, If you wanna comment --> Comment
Play by Post Games --> One Shot Adventure - House of Artwood (DM) (Completed)
The D&DBeyond development team is busy with what they think is important for most of the users. But some users have some niche use cases that they deem very important and can spare the brain power to write the tool themselves. All they need is access to the DDB database.
I, for example, would love to be able to tell DDB, "Hi! Yes, it's me. Please give me all the fourth level spells that are available for Campaign X in my account so I can roll a random scroll for my Wizard player." Instead of going to the spells page, counting how many spells, then finding the correct spell when the player rolls for it.
That's the reason for an API designed to be public facing; it'll regulate content access, have authentication, scraping countermeasures etc. For example, they could configure the API to only allow access to character sheet details such as HP, ability scores and skill proficiencies, but prevent scraping of spell descriptions.
What people are currently doing is accessing json data that is not intended for this purpose and scraping/pulling/parsing data in a way that is in violation of the terms of service.
I haven't seen this posted before, pardon me if it has been.
with the 'extra' campaign capacity due to COVID-19 being available, will there be an option in the future for master subscribers to continue to have 5 campaigns available? Maybe for a higher cost or something?
There's been no mention of making this a permanent feature, no. It's been stated that for anyone with content sharing active on 3 or fewer campaigns come the end of May, the limit will return to 3. If you have content sharing active on 4 or 5 campaigns, you'll be able to keep it active on this campaigns. However you won't be able to activate it on new campaigns until you're below the limit of 3.
Basically, you won't lose anything once the extended limit ends, but it's not a permanent change.
For character's and encounter monsters we need access to the HP, saves, background info, equipment, spell slots, spells known, and character name.
With such we could provide the data to be presented during our game streaming without all the copy and paste.
Details such as description and rules etc, should not really be needed via API. Obviously, you must adhere to the license agreement and we all understand that.
Doesn't matter if its public facing or not, people will find a way to just use the database and ditch the interface for their own. again look at what hapenned to the IOS app. which by the way is still being updated by the community. what you are asking the DDB team is to ditch everything and make their database public. and then you go further and requires them to actually update their database so you can do whatever you want with it.
basically what you guys are asking is for ddb to become open source ! that's literally the inverse of what they are trying to achieve here. hence why it will never happen.
but feel free to make browser addons that actually have access to the web pages. for my part, i have created a lot of apps for myself and most of the tools they are creating here i already have made. when it comes to database, i started creating my own and i know how long that is. but if its a necessity, parsing is not hard to do. i created my own treasure rolling tools and i did have all the scrolls and spells added to my text database. it wasn't long... thanks to ddb it only took me like 15 minutes to create and parse.
copy/paste is your friend my friend ! between my apps and DDB, i have no need for anything else.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM of two gaming groups. Likes to create stuff. Check out my homebrew --> Monsters --> Magical Items --> Races --> Subclasses If you like --> Upvote, If you wanna comment --> Comment
Play by Post Games --> One Shot Adventure - House of Artwood (DM) (Completed)
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Well, there you go. If there was any change they could mention, they would mention it. As far as I'm aware, it's still being worked on
Find my D&D Beyond articles here
Thank you
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Yes. It was last mentioned on the 02/27 update but it was mentioned almost every week before.
I follow the progress so you can follow it too, in the unofficial summary document.
Check out all my important links here.
May we live in Less Interesting Times
Oh?
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Public Development API (User Tool)
Man, I can't wait.
?
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Unless I missed the release of one, I'm excited about having a public API released.
EDIT: Typo
Could you please educate a poor old Luddite about APIs and why you’re excited about one?
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
An API is a set of functions available to the public that would allow users to query the DnDBeyond databases and maybe even make changes.
For example, I wrote a script in MapTools that rolls loot based on the loot tables in the DM Guide. Problem with that is I had to manually input everything into custom Maptool tables, and now that it's done, I have no intention of updating them when new content is released. However, with an API, I could query their loot tables directly over the web and display or use that information in my own software, ie: MapTools. When D&DBeyond updates their loot tables because of new content, my scripts automatically (if well written) includes the updates.
Or, if it is possible to update the database via API, then it would be possible for me as a DM to apply damage to Player character sheets from MapTools, so I could do everything in one program! Or I could add equipment to their sheets when I roll for that sweet sweet loot.
There are many more possibilities, but I hope you get the gist of it.
I take it that MapTools is an app, correct? So it’s a thing for apps to talk to each other? Stand for “Application Program Interface” or “Automatically Populated Information” something such other similar kind of thing?
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Well, I would like a DnDBeyond API to use in MapTools, which is a VTT (yes, an app), but API's can do so much more than that. You can build websites with the data from an API.
If someone doesn't like the way DnDBeyond does encounter tracking, or can't wait for a DM Screen, or wants to create a website bag of holding/list of items, they could create the website and query the database via API to do all those things themselves.
You could do research, depending on what is made available. You could query the database and see what is the most popular class, item, spell, etc...
It's access to data. You can do what you want with it (well, there would probably be terms and conditions).
Okay, thank you for the information. Computers generally got too complicated for me to keep up with a long time ago, so I’m not really up on all of that anymore. I appreciate you taking the time.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
People are already doing that. The problem is that some people will just create stuff and people will stop using ddb. So that idea is counter productive. Just look at whats happening with lions thing on ios and androids. People are spamming thell out of the database. But the app... Barely anybody uses it now. Thanks to everyone who downloaded their database.
DM of two gaming groups.
Likes to create stuff.
Check out my homebrew --> Monsters --> Magical Items --> Races --> Subclasses
If you like --> Upvote, If you wanna comment --> Comment
Play by Post Games
--> One Shot Adventure - House of Artwood (DM) (Completed)
The D&DBeyond development team is busy with what they think is important for most of the users. But some users have some niche use cases that they deem very important and can spare the brain power to write the tool themselves. All they need is access to the DDB database.
I, for example, would love to be able to tell DDB, "Hi! Yes, it's me. Please give me all the fourth level spells that are available for Campaign X in my account so I can roll a random scroll for my Wizard player." Instead of going to the spells page, counting how many spells, then finding the correct spell when the player rolls for it.
Check out all my important links here.
May we live in Less Interesting Times
That's the reason for an API designed to be public facing; it'll regulate content access, have authentication, scraping countermeasures etc. For example, they could configure the API to only allow access to character sheet details such as HP, ability scores and skill proficiencies, but prevent scraping of spell descriptions.
What people are currently doing is accessing json data that is not intended for this purpose and scraping/pulling/parsing data in a way that is in violation of the terms of service.
Find my D&D Beyond articles here
I haven't seen this posted before, pardon me if it has been.
with the 'extra' campaign capacity due to COVID-19 being available, will there be an option in the future for master subscribers to continue to have 5 campaigns available? Maybe for a higher cost or something?
There's been no mention of making this a permanent feature, no. It's been stated that for anyone with content sharing active on 3 or fewer campaigns come the end of May, the limit will return to 3. If you have content sharing active on 4 or 5 campaigns, you'll be able to keep it active on this campaigns. However you won't be able to activate it on new campaigns until you're below the limit of 3.
Basically, you won't lose anything once the extended limit ends, but it's not a permanent change.
Find my D&D Beyond articles here
For character's and encounter monsters we need access to the HP, saves, background info, equipment, spell slots, spells known, and character name.
With such we could provide the data to be presented during our game streaming without all the copy and paste.
Details such as description and rules etc, should not really be needed via API. Obviously, you must adhere to the license agreement and we all understand that.
Understood, I was hoping there would be a way to increase to 5 permanently, even if there was an up charge for that upgrade.
Doesn't matter if its public facing or not, people will find a way to just use the database and ditch the interface for their own.
again look at what hapenned to the IOS app. which by the way is still being updated by the community.
what you are asking the DDB team is to ditch everything and make their database public.
and then you go further and requires them to actually update their database so you can do whatever you want with it.
basically what you guys are asking is for ddb to become open source !
that's literally the inverse of what they are trying to achieve here.
hence why it will never happen.
but feel free to make browser addons that actually have access to the web pages.
for my part, i have created a lot of apps for myself and most of the tools they are creating here i already have made.
when it comes to database, i started creating my own and i know how long that is. but if its a necessity, parsing is not hard to do.
i created my own treasure rolling tools and i did have all the scrolls and spells added to my text database.
it wasn't long... thanks to ddb it only took me like 15 minutes to create and parse.
copy/paste is your friend my friend !
between my apps and DDB, i have no need for anything else.
DM of two gaming groups.
Likes to create stuff.
Check out my homebrew --> Monsters --> Magical Items --> Races --> Subclasses
If you like --> Upvote, If you wanna comment --> Comment
Play by Post Games
--> One Shot Adventure - House of Artwood (DM) (Completed)