Is there aaaaaannnnyyyy way to link your physical books with DnD Beyond? It seems so incredibly ridiculous that in 2020, we cannot sell physical books with keys that allow you to access the online content for even a discounted price.
Is there any talk in future of doing this? I want to visit my local game stores and groups, I want to support mom and pop shops, but if I have to pay £30 extra to access the content online, I feel like Wizards of the Coast is shaking me down.
Is there aaaaaannnnyyyy way to link your physical books with DnD Beyond?
Nope, the books are printed by WotC and sold to your local store. D&D Beyond has a license arrangement with WotC and provides a service. None of the money you paid for your physical book goes to D&D Beyond to pay for the costs of running the service.
It seems so incredibly ridiculous that in 2020, we cannot sell physical books with keys that allow you to access the online content for even a discounted price.
This would require changing how the books are printed and/or distributed, creating a cascade of costs that would increase the cost of the books/services, negating any discount.
That being said, the digital books are already discounted compared to physical; they're $29.99 per book compared $49.99 MSRP for physical books. And that discount doesn't require you purchase the physical book first.
Is there any talk in future of doing this?
Nothing currently, there was an experiment with including codes in the Essential Kit, but this was possible for two reasons:
The Essentials Kit was a sealed product, allowing the code to be secured
The Essentials Kit was a box set, not a book, making adding unique codes easier
I want to support mom and pop shops, but if I have to pay £30 extra to access the content online, I feel like Wizards of the Coast is shaking me down.
The books on D&D Beyond aren't £30, they're closer to £25 (half the RRP of the books in the UK) and that's before any discounts such as codes or bundle discount.
This isn't Wizard of the Coast 'shaking you down', this is D&D Beyond needing to be able to pay their staff to develop the tools, pay for hosting of the 2.3 million plus characters, and most of importantly, pay for the license they've bought from Wizards to create D&D tools and distribute content.
Anyone else feel the same way?
Likely yes, due to this topic being absolutely discussed to death.
Or you can take the time to go through the book, and import everything as a private homebrew, which is the only way currently to do it for free because, as stated by Dave there, DDB is a totally separate company offering a licensed service with content made by WotC.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Formerly Devan Avalon.
Trying to get your physical content on Beyond is like going to Microsoft and saying "I have a physical Playstation disk, give me a digital Xbox version!"
There are a dozen or more threads already discussing this in great detail Dave did a great job of addressing your concerns thought so I'll leave it at that.
Having read all this obviously the cost of the service would increase and maybe the real cost of maintaining this service is that high. I cannot believe there isn't a way to work it out as this website does work against local gaming stores. (Why would you buy the books when you can get them online.) Honestly, the business model should change and it should be better.
Eh, I figure the more threads, the more demand for a change in the service.
Except it won't happen because ***BEYOND IS A DIFFERENT COMPANY WHO HAS TO MAKE MONEY THROUGH THEIR SALES TO MAINTAIN SERVERS***. They have nothing to do with WotC except they are licensed to distribute DnD content and tools.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Formerly Devan Avalon.
Trying to get your physical content on Beyond is like going to Microsoft and saying "I have a physical Playstation disk, give me a digital Xbox version!"
I understand what you're saying my dude, but ***THERE IS AN UNTAPPED MARKET OF PEOPLE WHO LIKE THE BOOKS AND REFUSE TO USE THE SERVICE*** Merging the online and physical market would add value and I imagine could increase profits for both parties. 😘
I understand what you're saying my dude, but ***THERE IS AN UNTAPPED MARKET OF PEOPLE WHO LIKE THE BOOKS AND REFUSE TO USE THE SERVICE*** Merging the online and physical market would add value and I imagine could increase profits for both parties. 😘
They can't merge the online and physical markets because the physical market isn't theirs to merge with. D&D Beyond has no affiliation with the physical distribution process, that's WotC >> Printers >> Stores.
Even if integration at that level was possible, the users who own the books/only buy the books but won't buy digital for extra aren't going to be happy if they're forced to pay for digital versions by an increase in the physical copies to offset the cost of digital (D&D Beyond still needs to generate revenue in order to exist). And if the expectation is that the physical book price doesn't change, but still includes a free digital version, that's functionally worse for DDB than the users simply not using the service; DDB isn't generating any revenue, but system load is increasing due to more users.
It'd be great if I bought a book at the shop and later that day the author's publisher sent me the chaptered audiobook and searchable ebook versions for free. Except that one was produced by Audible, the other by an ebook publisher. Those parties are in the business of making money and will be charging somebody for their versions of the text... if the customer's getting it for free, the invoice is heading back to the book publisher. Will they absorb it? Probably by hiking the book price.
What you want is like asking Apple to give you a discount on an ebook in their store because you bought the hard copy from Amazon.
By way of comparison, not even Amazon do this. They sell physical and hard copy books but don’t give you a discount because you own one or the other... and they’re one company.
I understand what you're saying my dude, but ***THERE IS AN UNTAPPED MARKET OF PEOPLE WHO LIKE THE BOOKS AND REFUSE TO USE THE SERVICE*** Merging the online and physical market would add value and I imagine could increase profits for both parties. 😘
This website is not owned by the same company that publishes D&D. This website is more like an online bookstore that only sells digital D&D books. And they made all of these additional tools like the character builder for us to use for free with the materials we purchase.
Think of the paper books as like X-Box copies of video games, and the digital books as like PlayStation versions of the same games. This website is like Amazon, and wherever you bought your books is like GameStop. If you buy an X-Box version of a game from GameStop, would you expect Amazon to give you a free PlayStation copy of the same game?
Not to mention, the company that runs this website has to follow a specific contract with the company that publishes the game, Wizards of the Coast. They have no choice. And they worked like heck to build this website, so they deserve to get paid too.
All of this seems like an obvious reason for WoTC to acquire DDB much as Lego just acquired BrickLink. Even the name of DDB indicates that this was the plan all along ...
All of this seems like an obvious reason for WoTC to acquire DDB much as Lego just acquired BrickLink. Even the name of DDB indicates that this was the plan all along ...
WOTC contracted out to DDB because they don't want to do online rendtions in house. This is for good reason with the exception of MTG Arena every online product WOTC has been a total failure just look at magic online that programed is so old and crusty we are talking windows 95 era software.
WOTC dropped the ball at launch by not having online options ready. Once they realized how big the demand was they essentially sold it off the DDB. TBH we have already begun to see physical and digital integration with some of the boxed sets. I wouldn't be surprised that we will see full integration in 6e.
If you have to choose between the 2 print is the superior option for one simple reason. Once you have the books you will always have access to them. Having all of your books tied to a 3rd party means that you only have access as long as the 3rd party wants you to. DDB may decide it no longer makes sense to operate the site for whatever reason now you don't have access to anything. If you like 5e print is where you should put your money since then you get to decide when/how you move to another edition not a 3rd party deciding for you.
I still don't see why a book can't be linked to an account especially if someone is already paying for a yearly service....
I barely use D and D Beyond yet I have subscribed to the yearly fee as I like to create multiple charecters and wanted a way to organize.
I own physical copies of all my books [I always will] I have every book of the Forgotten Realms Campaign 3rd edition. Along with multiple specialty books sutch as the Draconian <Easily my favorite>
All of the books and box set back to 2ed addition. I'm dating my self.
I even brought several Books with me when I deployed to Both Afghanistan and Iraq to have a little bit of home with me when I was operating in the FOB.
Now to gain access to any of 5th EDDITION on this site I have to Re-purchase the 26 + books I OWN and both box sets?
Yeah I'm sorry why would I do that?
or have anything to do with a site I am already paying for with a yearly service???
That is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard of.
Sounds like I will be canceling a service that has 0 use for me if the content can't be accessed by me.
Now to gain access to any of 5th EDDITION on this site I have to Re-purchase the 26 + books I OWN and both box sets?
Yeah I'm sorry why would I do that?
For your convenience - read the whole document but to answer your question, pay special attention to the Why should I pay for access to the Digital Books? section :)
Have the Physical Books? Confused as to why you're not allowed to redeem them for free on D&D Beyond? Questions answered here at the Hardcover Books, D&D Beyond and You FAQ
Looking to add mouse-over triggered tooltips to such things like magic items, monsters or combat actions? Then dash over to the How to Add Tooltips thread.
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Is there aaaaaannnnyyyy way to link your physical books with DnD Beyond? It seems so incredibly ridiculous that in 2020, we cannot sell physical books with keys that allow you to access the online content for even a discounted price.
Is there any talk in future of doing this? I want to visit my local game stores and groups, I want to support mom and pop shops, but if I have to pay £30 extra to access the content online, I feel like Wizards of the Coast is shaking me down.
Anyone else feel the same way?
Nope, the books are printed by WotC and sold to your local store. D&D Beyond has a license arrangement with WotC and provides a service. None of the money you paid for your physical book goes to D&D Beyond to pay for the costs of running the service.
This would require changing how the books are printed and/or distributed, creating a cascade of costs that would increase the cost of the books/services, negating any discount.
That being said, the digital books are already discounted compared to physical; they're $29.99 per book compared $49.99 MSRP for physical books. And that discount doesn't require you purchase the physical book first.
Nothing currently, there was an experiment with including codes in the Essential Kit, but this was possible for two reasons:
The books on D&D Beyond aren't £30, they're closer to £25 (half the RRP of the books in the UK) and that's before any discounts such as codes or bundle discount.
This isn't Wizard of the Coast 'shaking you down', this is D&D Beyond needing to be able to pay their staff to develop the tools, pay for hosting of the 2.3 million plus characters, and most of importantly, pay for the license they've bought from Wizards to create D&D tools and distribute content.
Likely yes, due to this topic being absolutely discussed to death.
Find my D&D Beyond articles here
Or you can take the time to go through the book, and import everything as a private homebrew, which is the only way currently to do it for free because, as stated by Dave there, DDB is a totally separate company offering a licensed service with content made by WotC.
Formerly Devan Avalon.
Trying to get your physical content on Beyond is like going to Microsoft and saying "I have a physical Playstation disk, give me a digital Xbox version!"
There are a dozen or more threads already discussing this in great detail Dave did a great job of addressing your concerns thought so I'll leave it at that.
Glad I took the time to search the forums thoroughly before opening a new thread, LoL
Thanks for taking the time.
Having read all this obviously the cost of the service would increase and maybe the real cost of maintaining this service is that high. I cannot believe there isn't a way to work it out as this website does work against local gaming stores. (Why would you buy the books when you can get them online.) Honestly, the business model should change and it should be better.
Eh, I figure the more threads, the more demand for a change in the service.
Except it won't happen because ***BEYOND IS A DIFFERENT COMPANY WHO HAS TO MAKE MONEY THROUGH THEIR SALES TO MAINTAIN SERVERS***. They have nothing to do with WotC except they are licensed to distribute DnD content and tools.
Formerly Devan Avalon.
Trying to get your physical content on Beyond is like going to Microsoft and saying "I have a physical Playstation disk, give me a digital Xbox version!"
I understand what you're saying my dude, but ***THERE IS AN UNTAPPED MARKET OF PEOPLE WHO LIKE THE BOOKS AND REFUSE TO USE THE SERVICE*** Merging the online and physical market would add value and I imagine could increase profits for both parties. 😘
They can't merge the online and physical markets because the physical market isn't theirs to merge with. D&D Beyond has no affiliation with the physical distribution process, that's WotC >> Printers >> Stores.
Even if integration at that level was possible, the users who own the books/only buy the books but won't buy digital for extra aren't going to be happy if they're forced to pay for digital versions by an increase in the physical copies to offset the cost of digital (D&D Beyond still needs to generate revenue in order to exist). And if the expectation is that the physical book price doesn't change, but still includes a free digital version, that's functionally worse for DDB than the users simply not using the service; DDB isn't generating any revenue, but system load is increasing due to more users.
Find my D&D Beyond articles here
The simple answer is, if you don't want to pay to have the content from the books put into D&D Beyond for you, do it yourself.
The tools on this website are the same tools used by the D&D Beyond team to input the data.
It'd be great if I bought a book at the shop and later that day the author's publisher sent me the chaptered audiobook and searchable ebook versions for free. Except that one was produced by Audible, the other by an ebook publisher. Those parties are in the business of making money and will be charging somebody for their versions of the text... if the customer's getting it for free, the invoice is heading back to the book publisher. Will they absorb it? Probably by hiking the book price.
What you want is like asking Apple to give you a discount on an ebook in their store because you bought the hard copy from Amazon.
By way of comparison, not even Amazon do this. They sell physical and hard copy books but don’t give you a discount because you own one or the other... and they’re one company.
This website is not owned by the same company that publishes D&D. This website is more like an online bookstore that only sells digital D&D books. And they made all of these additional tools like the character builder for us to use for free with the materials we purchase.
Think of the paper books as like X-Box copies of video games, and the digital books as like PlayStation versions of the same games. This website is like Amazon, and wherever you bought your books is like GameStop. If you buy an X-Box version of a game from GameStop, would you expect Amazon to give you a free PlayStation copy of the same game?
Not to mention, the company that runs this website has to follow a specific contract with the company that publishes the game, Wizards of the Coast. They have no choice. And they worked like heck to build this website, so they deserve to get paid too.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
It would be ridiculous if Wizards of the Coast who publish the books was providing the online content, but they are not.
All of this seems like an obvious reason for WoTC to acquire DDB much as Lego just acquired BrickLink. Even the name of DDB indicates that this was the plan all along ...
WOTC contracted out to DDB because they don't want to do online rendtions in house. This is for good reason with the exception of MTG Arena every online product WOTC has been a total failure just look at magic online that programed is so old and crusty we are talking windows 95 era software.
WOTC dropped the ball at launch by not having online options ready. Once they realized how big the demand was they essentially sold it off the DDB. TBH we have already begun to see physical and digital integration with some of the boxed sets. I wouldn't be surprised that we will see full integration in 6e.
If you have to choose between the 2 print is the superior option for one simple reason. Once you have the books you will always have access to them. Having all of your books tied to a 3rd party means that you only have access as long as the 3rd party wants you to. DDB may decide it no longer makes sense to operate the site for whatever reason now you don't have access to anything. If you like 5e print is where you should put your money since then you get to decide when/how you move to another edition not a 3rd party deciding for you.
^
plus the books are so beautiful on your shelf, and to read on your balcony in the sun.
I still don't see why a book can't be linked to an account especially if someone is already paying for a yearly service....
I barely use D and D Beyond yet I have subscribed to the yearly fee as I like to create multiple charecters and wanted a way to organize.
I own physical copies of all my books [I always will] I have every book of the Forgotten Realms Campaign 3rd edition. Along with multiple specialty books sutch as the Draconian <Easily my favorite>
All of the books and box set back to 2ed addition. I'm dating my self.
I even brought several Books with me when I deployed to Both Afghanistan and Iraq to have a little bit of home with me when I was operating in the FOB.
Now to gain access to any of 5th EDDITION on this site I have to Re-purchase the 26 + books I OWN and both box sets?
Yeah I'm sorry why would I do that?
or have anything to do with a site I am already paying for with a yearly service???
That is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard of.
Sounds like I will be canceling a service that has 0 use for me if the content can't be accessed by me.
Waist of time
For your convenience - read the whole document but to answer your question, pay special attention to the Why should I pay for access to the Digital Books? section :)
#Open D&D
Have the Physical Books? Confused as to why you're not allowed to redeem them for free on D&D Beyond? Questions answered here at the Hardcover Books, D&D Beyond and You FAQ
Looking to add mouse-over triggered tooltips to such things like magic items, monsters or combat actions? Then dash over to the How to Add Tooltips thread.