I despise much of the marketing garbage Hasbro companies go through, but we DO live in a world where microsoft office can turn a bunch of screen shots into a printable pdf.
Since the source books can only be used with D&D Beyond then they should be a fraction of the price of a physical book. Then I could see buying it again. If I pay $30 for a hard copy why should I have to pay double to use the site?
Since the source books can only be used with D&D Beyond then they should be a fraction of the price of a physical book. Then I could see buying it again. If I pay $30 for a hard copy why should I have to pay double to use the site?
MSRP on most 5E books (including, notably, the core rulebooks) is $49.95. If you pay $29.99 for the DDB version, you're getting 40% off. Amazon prices are not representative. If you're only paying for content, you're getting the compendium version - which is $19.99 for those MSRP $49.95 books, or 60% off. If you're paying $29.99, you're paying in part for the functionality of the digital tools. Did you expect using those (beyond the basic SRD content) would be free?
Buy things from Amazon on sale, maybe you can get it cheaper than you can get it here. I suggest you go try to buy the Core Rules Boxed set and the Artificer class without buying whatever book they came out of. I'm not all that good with math. I know you can get just the Artificer itself for 2 dollars here. Just what is your saving over the MSRP for those four things, I don't know but I do admit, the Core Rules Boxed set comes with a handy DM's screen, and I had to make a copy of that for myself. What exactly is your total savings?
except why not have a code with books that unlocks the digital content here if you buy the physical copy?
Or why not include the content in the subscription tier... Id imagine people would pay 10 bucks a month to have all the content. If I subscribe to Netflix I don't get the app and have to purchase movies.....
Because this is not a Wizards of the coast owned product, Wizards license it to DnD beyond, so DnD beyond as a company have to make back money to cover the license. In addition they have to pay the developers for converting the rules into a web app that applies them. This is not just about copy pasting in the text of the book.
If a DnD beyond code was included in the books then it would be because Wizards have bought DnD beyond and they would increase the cost of buying the book significantly. I also imagine part of the contract with Wizards is that the price of a book can’t be significantly cheaper then the physical copy so as to prevent DnD beyond competing with Wizards.
I think the problem with the current model is that DDB is not the only place asking for money for digital versions of the game.
If for example you want physical books for your table sessions, DDB for organization, a PDF for your Ipad and for example Fantasy Grounds for your VT you would have to pay for the same content 3-4 times. Now I understand the business logic, but its a pretty big ask.
I don't understand, though. Just get a Masters sub. Everyone can then access the content on their character sheets, you can download the content for offline reading to your ipad, or whatever other device, you can use Beyond20 to roll stuff from the character sheet into Roll20 or Foundry (unsure if they do FG too, they've recently updated), you can copy maps etc from adventures bought on D&D Beyond to the VTT rather easily (especially Roll 20, as I've done that myself).
The only additional costs beyond paying for the book once is the sub which is less than a starbucks coffee. I've done this, myself, never having to pay more than once. I genuinely don't understand your example here.
AboveVTT free to use chrome plugin that integrates with DnD beyond.
I think the problem with the current model is that DDB is not the only place asking for money for digital versions of the game.
If for example you want physical books for your table sessions, DDB for organization, a PDF for your Ipad and for example Fantasy Grounds for your VT you would have to pay for the same content 3-4 times. Now I understand the business logic, but its a pretty big ask. The whole thing feels like a greedy microtransaction money grab and its sustainable only because the D&D community puts up with it. If there was some solidarity in the community to reject the business model, all of this stuff would drop in price overnight. The margins on these digital products are experiencing something of a golden age at the moment, but I suspect it won't last, I don't think its sustainable, in particular when the inevitable 6th edition edition is released and people realize that their digital products they purchased where nothing more than a rental on the content rather than real ownership.
I predict that some day soon there is going to be a lot of people who will feel cheated by the infrastructure in place today.
Wizards of the Coast was on the right track during the 4e era when they were creating their own digital content and VT's. I suspect they will come back to that concept in the future. As it stands they are doing very unnecessary profit sharing.
In any case the situation is as it is, there is not much you can do but make the decision. You either shell out the cash or you don't.
Wizards of the coast do not own roll 20 or dnd beyond so each one has to charge money to cover the licensing fee. In addition Wizards of the coast have realised the cost and effort of creating there own version of DnD beyond is not worth it.
I also imagine part of the contract with Wizards is that the price of a book can’t be significantly cheaper then the physical copy so as to prevent DnD beyond competing with Wizards.
The compendium version of the books on DDB is already 60% cheaper than the MSRP on physical books anyway.
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Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
I also imagine part of the contract with Wizards is that the price of a book can’t be significantly cheaper then the physical copy so as to prevent DnD beyond competing with Wizards.
The compendium version of the books on DDB is already 60% cheaper than the MSRP on physical books anyway.
I also imagine part of the contract with Wizards is that the price of a book can’t be significantly cheaper then the physical copy so as to prevent DnD beyond competing with Wizards.
The compendium version of the books on DDB is already 60% cheaper than the MSRP on physical books anyway.
And the Full Version is still 40% cheaper too.
This is still not a hugely significant reduction compared to the digital versions of most books. For instance a novel I recently bought for my kindle was £1.50 compared to 12.99 for the physical equivalent, the largest discount also require you buy a full set of books. my local hobby shop offers a discount of you bulk buy the books, not quite the same as ddb but still about a 30% discount if you get the PHB, DMG, MM and then any other books.
I also imagine part of the contract with Wizards is that the price of a book can’t be significantly cheaper then the physical copy so as to prevent DnD beyond competing with Wizards.
The compendium version of the books on DDB is already 60% cheaper than the MSRP on physical books anyway.
And the Full Version is still 40% cheaper too.
This is still not a hugely significant reduction compared to the digital versions of most books. For instance a novel I recently bought for my kindle was £1.50 compared to 12.99 for the physical equivalent, the largest discount also require you buy a full set of books. my local hobby shop offers a discount of you bulk buy the books, not quite the same as ddb but still about a 30% discount if you get the PHB, DMG, MM and then any other books.
Those are not digital and interactive. Here on DDB, you can get twice that discount (60% off MSRP) for non interactive versions and you only need to purchase a single book, not 4 (or more) of them.
As for that novel, since it is not a TTRPG sourcebook or adventure it is irrelevant to the conversation at hand.
Your argument is that you get less of a discount with more expense than you would here, so here should be even cheaper?!? You may want to reassess your argument.
I also imagine part of the contract with Wizards is that the price of a book can’t be significantly cheaper then the physical copy so as to prevent DnD beyond competing with Wizards.
The compendium version of the books on DDB is already 60% cheaper than the MSRP on physical books anyway.
And the Full Version is still 40% cheaper too.
This is still not a hugely significant reduction compared to the digital versions of most books. For instance a novel I recently bought for my kindle was £1.50 compared to 12.99 for the physical equivalent, the largest discount also require you buy a full set of books. my local hobby shop offers a discount of you bulk buy the books, not quite the same as ddb but still about a 30% discount if you get the PHB, DMG, MM and then any other books.
Paizo, probably the best comparison, drops $49.99 physical books to $14.99 for the .pdf. A slightly bigger reduction, but Paizo also doesn't have to pay itself a licence.
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Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
I have a Kindle of my own. The most recent version of the Fire variety. I love to read. The ones that I get on sale for about 2 dollars (I haven't a clue what things cost in dollars in Wales) are almost always self-published stuff from very long series. Anything on the Best-Seller list either costs the same as the hardcover version, or it ends up costing more. They like to offer it slightly cheaper if you order it before the release date, and then they jack up the price for the people who didn't get it then.
I really doubt it. For better or worse, the policy as is seems to work for WotC. The whole publication model is actually pretty complex, and I imagine WotC paid some smart, knowledgeable people good money to figure out the pros and cons of the various options and will stick with their well-informed decision.
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Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
If "I already bought the book, I should get a free code to redeem it on DDB too!" was reality? Wizards would need to pay DDB for every single code that got redeemed on DDB. DDB has to make money on this venture somehow, and if they have to constantly give away their product for free to anyone who buys a physical book they don't see a penny on? Wizards has to make up the difference.
Wizards is not about to pay another company to sell their own product. And if they were? The "DDB Code Included!" books would cost significantly more to account for the fact that Wizards has to pay DDB for that code. there's no way around it. Each company makes its money differently, and the two business methods are kinda remarkably incompatible. The Essentials Kit was a ground-up experiment that can't really be applied retroactively to existing books, or to new book releases coming out.
Exactly this, I can't believe these threads and questions crop up so often. Besides the economical reasoning you mentioned people also seem to neglect the whole interactive tool being something that needs updating and upkeep, its as if they think DDB just pop the full books in a magic scanner and suddenly all interactable character features and sheets, items and spells suddenly just work.
The only way I could ever see this working in a policable manner would be for there to be an option to buy both at once from DDB at a reduced rate - paying a single charge for the property and then a DDB charge and a book charge, then getting the book shipped out to you whilst you also get the digital version. It would need to be agreed with by WotC, and DDB would need to have distributers (or a contract with some), and that's all a lot of work for DDB to make no extra profit, and WotC to make less.
Philanthropy is rarely regarded as a strong business model.
The issue is that the rules to the game are behind an unescessary paywall and that is a mistake in my opinion.
The Basic Rules are free. This arguably isn't advertised as well as it could/should be, but they are.
That aside, my guess is that a lot of the current business model is still predicated on WotC's relationship with game stores. That's almost certainly the reason for the "no .pdf versions of current edition books" rules. That relationship is undoubtedly changing, so the business model might well change with it, but I think it's rather unlikely WotC have been making major errors in their business strategy and policy decisions or haven't done their due diligence getting to those decisions. Not saying they're infallible, just that they do have reasons for the decisions that were made (and they have an industry giant and its resources behind them).
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Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
The issue is that the rules to the game are behind an unescessary paywall and that is a mistake in my opinion. Give them the rules, let them buy the adventures.
The "paywall" is not unnecessary, D&D Beyond cannot give away for free content that Wizards of the Coast has not decided should be free. This is both from a financial standpoint and and a licensing standpoint.
As for "Give them the rules, let them buy the adventures", well that's literally what the Basic Rules are.
To me WotC got very lucky with 5e's success, I mean really they barely had anything to do with it.
I mean, apart from designing an accessible ruleset that was well enough written to be adopted by so many people.
I despise much of the marketing garbage Hasbro companies go through, but we DO live in a world where microsoft office can turn a bunch of screen shots into a printable pdf.
DM's take note:
If the game can be rigged, players can cheat.
Since the source books can only be used with D&D Beyond then they should be a fraction of the price of a physical book. Then I could see buying it again. If I pay $30 for a hard copy why should I have to pay double to use the site?
MSRP on most 5E books (including, notably, the core rulebooks) is $49.95. If you pay $29.99 for the DDB version, you're getting 40% off. Amazon prices are not representative.
If you're only paying for content, you're getting the compendium version - which is $19.99 for those MSRP $49.95 books, or 60% off.
If you're paying $29.99, you're paying in part for the functionality of the digital tools. Did you expect using those (beyond the basic SRD content) would be free?
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Buy things from Amazon on sale, maybe you can get it cheaper than you can get it here. I suggest you go try to buy the Core Rules Boxed set and the Artificer class without buying whatever book they came out of. I'm not all that good with math. I know you can get just the Artificer itself for 2 dollars here. Just what is your saving over the MSRP for those four things, I don't know but I do admit, the Core Rules Boxed set comes with a handy DM's screen, and I had to make a copy of that for myself. What exactly is your total savings?
<Insert clever signature here>
Because this is not a Wizards of the coast owned product, Wizards license it to DnD beyond, so DnD beyond as a company have to make back money to cover the license. In addition they have to pay the developers for converting the rules into a web app that applies them. This is not just about copy pasting in the text of the book.
If a DnD beyond code was included in the books then it would be because Wizards have bought DnD beyond and they would increase the cost of buying the book significantly. I also imagine part of the contract with Wizards is that the price of a book can’t be significantly cheaper then the physical copy so as to prevent DnD beyond competing with Wizards.
AboveVTT free to use chrome plugin that integrates with DnD beyond.
Wizards of the coast do not own roll 20 or dnd beyond so each one has to charge money to cover the licensing fee. In addition Wizards of the coast have realised the cost and effort of creating there own version of DnD beyond is not worth it.
The compendium version of the books on DDB is already 60% cheaper than the MSRP on physical books anyway.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
And the Full Version is still 40% cheaper too.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
This is still not a hugely significant reduction compared to the digital versions of most books. For instance a novel I recently bought for my kindle was £1.50 compared to 12.99 for the physical equivalent, the largest discount also require you buy a full set of books. my local hobby shop offers a discount of you bulk buy the books, not quite the same as ddb but still about a 30% discount if you get the PHB, DMG, MM and then any other books.
Those are not digital and interactive. Here on DDB, you can get twice that discount (60% off MSRP) for non interactive versions and you only need to purchase a single book, not 4 (or more) of them.
As for that novel, since it is not a TTRPG sourcebook or adventure it is irrelevant to the conversation at hand.
Your argument is that you get less of a discount with more expense than you would here, so here should be even cheaper?!? You may want to reassess your argument.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Paizo, probably the best comparison, drops $49.99 physical books to $14.99 for the .pdf. A slightly bigger reduction, but Paizo also doesn't have to pay itself a licence.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
I have a Kindle of my own. The most recent version of the Fire variety. I love to read. The ones that I get on sale for about 2 dollars (I haven't a clue what things cost in dollars in Wales) are almost always self-published stuff from very long series. Anything on the Best-Seller list either costs the same as the hardcover version, or it ends up costing more. They like to offer it slightly cheaper if you order it before the release date, and then they jack up the price for the people who didn't get it then.
<Insert clever signature here>
are there any plans to change this?
I really doubt it. For better or worse, the policy as is seems to work for WotC. The whole publication model is actually pretty complex, and I imagine WotC paid some smart, knowledgeable people good money to figure out the pros and cons of the various options and will stick with their well-informed decision.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Put it this way.
If "I already bought the book, I should get a free code to redeem it on DDB too!" was reality? Wizards would need to pay DDB for every single code that got redeemed on DDB. DDB has to make money on this venture somehow, and if they have to constantly give away their product for free to anyone who buys a physical book they don't see a penny on? Wizards has to make up the difference.
Wizards is not about to pay another company to sell their own product. And if they were? The "DDB Code Included!" books would cost significantly more to account for the fact that Wizards has to pay DDB for that code. there's no way around it. Each company makes its money differently, and the two business methods are kinda remarkably incompatible. The Essentials Kit was a ground-up experiment that can't really be applied retroactively to existing books, or to new book releases coming out.
Please do not contact or message me.
Exactly this, I can't believe these threads and questions crop up so often. Besides the economical reasoning you mentioned people also seem to neglect the whole interactive tool being something that needs updating and upkeep, its as if they think DDB just pop the full books in a magic scanner and suddenly all interactable character features and sheets, items and spells suddenly just work.
The only way I could ever see this working in a policable manner would be for there to be an option to buy both at once from DDB at a reduced rate - paying a single charge for the property and then a DDB charge and a book charge, then getting the book shipped out to you whilst you also get the digital version. It would need to be agreed with by WotC, and DDB would need to have distributers (or a contract with some), and that's all a lot of work for DDB to make no extra profit, and WotC to make less.
Philanthropy is rarely regarded as a strong business model.
Make your Artificer work with any other class with 174 Multiclassing Feats for your Artificer Multiclass Character!
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The Basic Rules are free. This arguably isn't advertised as well as it could/should be, but they are.
That aside, my guess is that a lot of the current business model is still predicated on WotC's relationship with game stores. That's almost certainly the reason for the "no .pdf versions of current edition books" rules. That relationship is undoubtedly changing, so the business model might well change with it, but I think it's rather unlikely WotC have been making major errors in their business strategy and policy decisions or haven't done their due diligence getting to those decisions. Not saying they're infallible, just that they do have reasons for the decisions that were made (and they have an industry giant and its resources behind them).
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
The "paywall" is not unnecessary, D&D Beyond cannot give away for free content that Wizards of the Coast has not decided should be free. This is both from a financial standpoint and and a licensing standpoint.
As for "Give them the rules, let them buy the adventures", well that's literally what the Basic Rules are.
I mean, apart from designing an accessible ruleset that was well enough written to be adopted by so many people.
Find my D&D Beyond articles here