Sounds like I will be canceling a service that has 0 use for me if the content can't be accessed by me.
Yes. Exactly.
I mean, that's how it's supposed to work. If a product or service has no value for you, you don't purchase it. Simple. Why is this such a source of discontent and annoyance?
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Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
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.
Hm, you can say that with a lot of products. Why would it be different for books?
If you've bought one harry potter book from reseller A, do you then expect to be able to redeem a 2nd book, or a digital version from reseller B?
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? 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?
Not sure why this needs to be repeated in this thread, but - WotC isn't shaking you down to access content online. You can buy the physical book, your money goes to Wizards. You can buy the content online, your money goes to (in this case) D&D Beyond (who pay money for the licence they have with WotC). Completely separate companies.
Furthermore, you're not quite buying content online. You're really paying for a licence to access content online. Note that you can't buy legal .pdf versions of 5th edition books. WotC doesn't allow this. Providers of said access also typically provide it in conjunction with other services: in the case of DDB that's interactive character sheets, the encounter builder, etc; in other cases it might be a VTT or something else.
So, to be absolutely clear: no, you can't link your physical books with online versions to get a discount and no, there's no talk of doing this in the future.
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Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
One big reason is that tons of gamers love go to their FLGS and leaf through a D&D book or two to see what it has to offer, this increases the chances of the person buying the book by a huge margin.
box sets are sealed products so they're easy, but also good old pen & paper is great if you have some physical splatbook you wish to use ( I.E. Tasha's, Xanathar's, Mordy's, etc. ), or if you're using a homebrew class.
It genuinely baffles me how few people recognize that DnD Beyond/Fandom and an entirely different company from Wizards of the Coast, and simply have a license agreement.
Maybe you can input the isbn code? Or the 9 character code that is next to where it says it was printed in?
and what would stop someone going to a store writing down the number and going home to input it - it would then need to be sealed like the Starter/essentials kits so no having a quick flick through at your FLGS to help you decide to purchase
I have discussed an idea like this with physical book sellers in the past. The idea we came up with was to have the customer deface the original book in some way. In our case, it was to write a code, given out at "redemption" time, on a specific page within the book using large permanent marker. This would obscure the words on that page, making it less useful and resellable without quite ruining it, and it would stop the same book being used to redeem twice.
However, this never came about because we couldn't get the original publishers on board. All we wanted was a small discount on the e-book license where this happened, which we would then pass on to the customer, but they weren't interested. I cannot see WotC being interested either.
So, DDB's products are a bit more than ebooks. They're tools. I don't know of a TTRPG publisher available via DriveThru or their own site whose ebook (usually pfd) is as functional as what DDB offers. It's digital tools mapped to content in line with the format of published books, but they're different things and way beyond the "I want to read it online" option ebooks grant a user. The "I don't want to buy it twice" argument doesn't really have any standing if the complainant is honest about what they're talking about. I don't see how folks think a enabling a retailer to "enhance" your purchase with a DDB toolset at the time of physical purchase will reduce the cost of the DDB tool. I mean you're adding a whole intrastate system to the retailer and publishers operations. And there are folks like me who say bought VRGtR in hardcover. Still haven't really read it yet, but from I've skimmed it's interesting. Still most of it is dungeon master "how to" stuff. There are player options the DDB version has ready to go, but the only thing I'm more interested in is the Dark Gifts, which aren't supported. I don't feel like buying a product that doesn't have the function I want, so, does the physical retailer incur any responsibility in a hypothetical enhanced sale when a costumer is dissatisfied with the product? These complexities are why the present arrangement probably makes the most sense to perpetuate.
In this particular interest WotC wouldn't/isn't interested in creating a system that includes a redemption page they'd have to lay out in their product design because DDB isn't their product. DDB and WotC tried out a program with Theros on a small scale and are either still thinking on it or rejecting going forward with that model with subsequent D&D releases.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
So, DDB's products are a bit more than ebooks. They're tools. I don't know of a TTRPG publisher available via DriveThru or their own site whose ebook (usually pfd) is as functional as what DDB offers. It's digital tools mapped to content in line with the format of published books, but they're different things and way beyond the "I want to read it online" option ebooks grant a user. The "I don't want to buy it twice" argument doesn't really have any standing if the complainant is honest about what they're talking about. I don't see how folks think a enabling a retailer to "enhance" your purchase with a DDB toolset at the time of physical purchase will reduce the cost of the DDB tool. I mean you're adding a whole intrastate system to the retailer and publishers operations. And there are folks like me who say bought VRGtR in hardcover. Still haven't really read it yet, but from I've skimmed it's interesting. Still most of it is dungeon master "how to" stuff. There are player options the DDB version has ready to go, but the only thing I'm more interested in is the Dark Gifts, which aren't supported. I don't feel like buying a product that doesn't have the function I want, so, does the physical retailer incur any responsibility in a hypothetical enhanced sale when a costumer is dissatisfied with the product? These complexities are why the present arrangement probably makes the most sense to perpetuate.
I think nine times out of ten when people say "I don't want to pay for book X twice" what they really mean is "if I'd known, I'd not have bought the physical book but have gone straight to DDB". Sure, those who want both the digital functionality and the physical book on the shelf (like me) would obviousy like a bit of a discount but the main issue seems to be people who unknowingly bought the (for them) wrong product out of the two on offer.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Sounds like I will be canceling a service that has 0 use for me if the content can't be accessed by me.
It might have been wiser to actually read the website and learn what you were buying before wasting your money on something you don't want in the first place. What you did was comparable to buying a bus pass and complaining that you didn't get a Lamborghini with it.
So, DDB's products are a bit more than ebooks. They're tools. I don't know of a TTRPG publisher available via DriveThru or their own site whose ebook (usually pfd) is as functional as what DDB offers. It's digital tools mapped to content in line with the format of published books, but they're different things and way beyond the "I want to read it online" option ebooks grant a user. The "I don't want to buy it twice" argument doesn't really have any standing if the complainant is honest about what they're talking about. I don't see how folks think a enabling a retailer to "enhance" your purchase with a DDB toolset at the time of physical purchase will reduce the cost of the DDB tool. I mean you're adding a whole intrastate system to the retailer and publishers operations. And there are folks like me who say bought VRGtR in hardcover. Still haven't really read it yet, but from I've skimmed it's interesting. Still most of it is dungeon master "how to" stuff. There are player options the DDB version has ready to go, but the only thing I'm more interested in is the Dark Gifts, which aren't supported. I don't feel like buying a product that doesn't have the function I want, so, does the physical retailer incur any responsibility in a hypothetical enhanced sale when a costumer is dissatisfied with the product? These complexities are why the present arrangement probably makes the most sense to perpetuate.
In this particular interest WotC wouldn't/isn't interested in creating a system that includes a redemption page they'd have to lay out in their product design because DDB isn't their product. DDB and WotC tried out a program with Theros on a small scale and are either still thinking on it or rejecting going forward with that model with subsequent D&D releases.
Herolab online for PF2e, PF, and Shadowrunner is a good comparison. You buy the module in Herolab and can use it as part of a subscription to build characters.
You buy the PDFs separately from the modules still though as you do with DnDBeyond so its pretty comparable.
They are a lot faster at updating content though TBF....
So, DDB's products are a bit more than ebooks. They're tools. I don't know of a TTRPG publisher available via DriveThru or their own site whose ebook (usually pfd) is as functional as what DDB offers. It's digital tools mapped to content in line with the format of published books, but they're different things and way beyond the "I want to read it online" option ebooks grant a user. The "I don't want to buy it twice" argument doesn't really have any standing if the complainant is honest about what they're talking about. I don't see how folks think a enabling a retailer to "enhance" your purchase with a DDB toolset at the time of physical purchase will reduce the cost of the DDB tool. I mean you're adding a whole intrastate system to the retailer and publishers operations. And there are folks like me who say bought VRGtR in hardcover. Still haven't really read it yet, but from I've skimmed it's interesting. Still most of it is dungeon master "how to" stuff. There are player options the DDB version has ready to go, but the only thing I'm more interested in is the Dark Gifts, which aren't supported. I don't feel like buying a product that doesn't have the function I want, so, does the physical retailer incur any responsibility in a hypothetical enhanced sale when a costumer is dissatisfied with the product? These complexities are why the present arrangement probably makes the most sense to perpetuate.
I think nine times out of ten when people say "I don't want to pay for book X twice" what they really mean is "if I'd known, I'd not have bought the physical book but have gone straight to DDB". Sure, those who want both the digital functionality and the physical book on the shelf (like me) would obviousy like a bit of a discount but the main issue seems to be people who unknowingly bought the (for them) wrong product out of the two on offer.
That's sort of fair, maybe skewing to too generous a read on the complaints. The thing is, receipts and returns are a thing where one can refund their money and then use that money to buy what they really wanted. Even gift receipts are a thing if it's a gift from a well meaning but not best informed relative or friend. Most of the most irate, in my experience and interactions are people who want to use DDB because they have the physical books and aren't interested in such a refund and correct purchase strategy.
Herolab online for PF2e, PF, and Shadowrunner is a good comparison. You buy the module in Herolab and can use it as part of a subscription to build characters.
You buy the PDFs separately from the modules still though as you do with DnDBeyond so its pretty comparable.
They are a lot faster at updating content though TBF....
Thanks OG, I was actually hoping someone would point to exceptions to my claim. I'll have to take a look at those and see if I think they're comparable or offer something DDB could do better.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
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. 😘
Would kind of be like buying a drink at McDonalds and then asking Burger King to refill the cup for free or at a discounted price because you already paid full price at McDonalds.
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. 😘
Would kind of be like buying a drink at McDonalds and then asking Burger King to refill the cup for free or at a discounted price because you already paid full price at McDonalds.
Or like buying GTA V for PS3 and expecting to get it for PS4 and PS5.
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Yes. Exactly.
I mean, that's how it's supposed to work. If a product or service has no value for you, you don't purchase it. Simple. Why is this such a source of discontent and annoyance?
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Hm, you can say that with a lot of products. Why would it be different for books?
If you've bought one harry potter book from reseller A, do you then expect to be able to redeem a 2nd book, or a digital version from reseller B?
Altrazin Aghanes - Wizard/Fighter
Varpulis Windhowl - Fighter
Skolson Demjon - Cleric/Fighter
Not sure why this needs to be repeated in this thread, but - WotC isn't shaking you down to access content online. You can buy the physical book, your money goes to Wizards. You can buy the content online, your money goes to (in this case) D&D Beyond (who pay money for the licence they have with WotC). Completely separate companies.
Furthermore, you're not quite buying content online. You're really paying for a licence to access content online. Note that you can't buy legal .pdf versions of 5th edition books. WotC doesn't allow this. Providers of said access also typically provide it in conjunction with other services: in the case of DDB that's interactive character sheets, the encounter builder, etc; in other cases it might be a VTT or something else.
So, to be absolutely clear: no, you can't link your physical books with online versions to get a discount and no, there's no talk of doing this in the future.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
One big reason is that tons of gamers love go to their FLGS and leaf through a D&D book or two to see what it has to offer, this increases the chances of the person buying the book by a huge margin.
box sets are sealed products so they're easy, but also good old pen & paper is great if you have some physical splatbook you wish to use ( I.E. Tasha's, Xanathar's, Mordy's, etc. ), or if you're using a homebrew class.
Mystic v3 should be official, nuff said.
It genuinely baffles me how few people recognize that DnD Beyond/Fandom and an entirely different company from Wizards of the Coast, and simply have a license agreement.
Maybe you can input the isbn code? Or the 9 character code that is next to where it says it was printed in?
Those are the same for every copy of the book, so they wouldn't prove ownership. You can look up isbn nrs on Amazon, for instance.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Crap
and what would stop someone going to a store writing down the number and going home to input it - it would then need to be sealed like the Starter/essentials kits so no having a quick flick through at your FLGS to help you decide to purchase
I was just thinking. I do not want to pay for tasha’s twice
I have discussed an idea like this with physical book sellers in the past. The idea we came up with was to have the customer deface the original book in some way. In our case, it was to write a code, given out at "redemption" time, on a specific page within the book using large permanent marker. This would obscure the words on that page, making it less useful and resellable without quite ruining it, and it would stop the same book being used to redeem twice.
However, this never came about because we couldn't get the original publishers on board. All we wanted was a small discount on the e-book license where this happened, which we would then pass on to the customer, but they weren't interested. I cannot see WotC being interested either.
So, DDB's products are a bit more than ebooks. They're tools. I don't know of a TTRPG publisher available via DriveThru or their own site whose ebook (usually pfd) is as functional as what DDB offers. It's digital tools mapped to content in line with the format of published books, but they're different things and way beyond the "I want to read it online" option ebooks grant a user. The "I don't want to buy it twice" argument doesn't really have any standing if the complainant is honest about what they're talking about. I don't see how folks think a enabling a retailer to "enhance" your purchase with a DDB toolset at the time of physical purchase will reduce the cost of the DDB tool. I mean you're adding a whole intrastate system to the retailer and publishers operations. And there are folks like me who say bought VRGtR in hardcover. Still haven't really read it yet, but from I've skimmed it's interesting. Still most of it is dungeon master "how to" stuff. There are player options the DDB version has ready to go, but the only thing I'm more interested in is the Dark Gifts, which aren't supported. I don't feel like buying a product that doesn't have the function I want, so, does the physical retailer incur any responsibility in a hypothetical enhanced sale when a costumer is dissatisfied with the product? These complexities are why the present arrangement probably makes the most sense to perpetuate.
In this particular interest WotC wouldn't/isn't interested in creating a system that includes a redemption page they'd have to lay out in their product design because DDB isn't their product. DDB and WotC tried out a program with Theros on a small scale and are either still thinking on it or rejecting going forward with that model with subsequent D&D releases.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
I think nine times out of ten when people say "I don't want to pay for book X twice" what they really mean is "if I'd known, I'd not have bought the physical book but have gone straight to DDB". Sure, those who want both the digital functionality and the physical book on the shelf (like me) would obviousy like a bit of a discount but the main issue seems to be people who unknowingly bought the (for them) wrong product out of the two on offer.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
It might have been wiser to actually read the website and learn what you were buying before wasting your money on something you don't want in the first place. What you did was comparable to buying a bus pass and complaining that you didn't get a Lamborghini with it.
Herolab online for PF2e, PF, and Shadowrunner is a good comparison. You buy the module in Herolab and can use it as part of a subscription to build characters.
You buy the PDFs separately from the modules still though as you do with DnDBeyond so its pretty comparable.
They are a lot faster at updating content though TBF....
That's sort of fair, maybe skewing to too generous a read on the complaints. The thing is, receipts and returns are a thing where one can refund their money and then use that money to buy what they really wanted. Even gift receipts are a thing if it's a gift from a well meaning but not best informed relative or friend. Most of the most irate, in my experience and interactions are people who want to use DDB because they have the physical books and aren't interested in such a refund and correct purchase strategy.
Thanks OG, I was actually hoping someone would point to exceptions to my claim. I'll have to take a look at those and see if I think they're comparable or offer something DDB could do better.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Yeah it's not very well known so easy to overlook....I know I did for a long time!
Would kind of be like buying a drink at McDonalds and then asking Burger King to refill the cup for free or at a discounted price because you already paid full price at McDonalds.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
Or like buying GTA V for PS3 and expecting to get it for PS4 and PS5.