This really needs to be explained in clear, concise language. Something like, "Please note that you will only be able to access your purchases through our app or on our website, and will not be able to download a PDF Of these."
It is, right in the shopping cart before it even lets you pay it states:
All purchases are for digital products for use on dndbeyond.com. You will NOTreceive physical item(s).
Minimum cart total of $1.99 regardless of the coupons or previously purchased content credits that are applied.
All transactions are in U.S. Dollars (USD)
In addition, DDB only issues licenses to digital content from the game’s actual publisher, WotC, and only from the current (5th) edition of the game.
While most of the content from older editions of D&D can be found online and legally downloaded in PDF format, there are only three official WotC publications that can legally be downloaded as PDFs:
(I took the liberty of including hyperlinks for you where you can download those directly from WotC.)
If you see any other WotC products for 5th Edition D&D available for download as PDFs, those are illegally pirated copies, and both posting and downloading them is against the law.
This sucks. WotC stopped other services. They will end 5e online support some day. I fully expected to get a PDF out of my purchase. I like reading, but hate scrolling. The app won´t even install on linux.
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My advice: don´t buy online content that you cannot download. So don't buy here.
WotC doesn’t run DDB, Fandom owns & operates it. You know, the same Fandom that runs all of those game wikis. I imagine that by the time DDB stops supporting 5e it’ll be because D&D will be up to at least 7e and all of this will be on a wiki like the others (know the data will already be entered*):
I mean, it'd be great if McDonalds would clearly post the nutritional value as well as the sugar and fat content of all items on the menu so everyone who ordered got to read that info first too. There are limits to what corporations will do to inform customers if that information might dissuade from being customers in the first place. Fandom could be more up front about this, sure, but probably not without scaring people off and the info is effectively shown with every purchase. At some point the customer starts to share in the responsibility of understanding what they shell out money for, and I think we're well past that point here.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
I mean, it'd be great if McDonalds would clearly post the nutritional value as well as the sugar and fat content of all items on the menu so everyone who ordered got to read that info first too.
They do, Fats = X, Sugars = Y, and there is no other nutritional value.
I mean, it'd be great if McDonalds would clearly post the nutritional value as well as the sugar and fat content of all items on the menu so everyone who ordered got to read that info first too. There are limits to what corporations will do to inform customers if that information might dissuade from being customers in the first place. Fandom could be more up front about this, sure, but probably not without scaring people off and the info is effectively shown with every purchase. At some point the customer starts to share in the responsibility of understanding what they shell out money for, and I think we're well past that point here.
As someone who eats almost daily at McDonald's, depending on your country, but they absolutely list the nutritional values on multiple sources. On the kiosks, it tells you the calories. On the mats, there is often breakdown of the fats, calories, cholesterol, sugars in their major foods, and usually there are books available that tell you the extended nutritional values of their entire menu. If you use your head, you can eat a pretty healthy little meal at McDonald's for very cheap.
That said, for everyone who posted the disclaimer that none of these purchases come with a physical product? PDFs aren't physical products. They're digital products and therefore, it is not irrational to see this warning and assume you are buying a PDF. That said, DDB is better than a lot of PDFs I've seen and you can buy a downloadable digital copy of these books, but the format is awful: Fantasy Grounds. I love Fantasy Grounds, but reading books in the software is ... not good. That said, DDB does give people access to downloadable versions through the mobile app.
However, I think printing all of the websites as PDFs through your browser is a pretty great middleground for someone wanting a PDF. When running a game though, Beyond wins every time.
It is disappointing that you don't also get the PDF.
New user here, was just looking for it myself purely because online everyone references the damn PHB page number, and its not the same (unless someone can tell me how to search by page number?).
Though its not super critical considering that my single use case it isn't the end of the world and the accessibility of the DNDBeyond websites format of the content in general is just sensational.
Anyway, if this service stops working (which would be very sad of course - lets not do that!) there is no doubt that there will be alternatives to make use of the WotC 5ed licenses that DNDBeyond have issued you.
It is disappointing that you don't also get the PDF.
New user here, was just looking for it myself purely because online everyone references the damn PHB page number, and its not the same (unless someone can tell me how to search by page number?).
Though its not super critical considering that my single use case it isn't the end of the world and the accessibility of the DNDBeyond websites format of the content in general is just sensational.
Anyway, if this service stops working (which would be very sad of course - lets not do that!) there is no doubt that there will be alternatives to make use of the WotC 5ed licenses that DNDBeyond have issued you.
After launching that thread, fohswe launched a website that allows you to find links by page number for a large number of books, including, PHB, DMG, XGTE, FTOD, TCOE, MM and SCAG, which is slowly being updated. The link is in the final post of the thread linked above, but I have also put it on this post for convenience
It is disappointing that you don't also get the PDF.
New user here, was just looking for it myself purely because online everyone references the damn PHB page number, and its not the same (unless someone can tell me how to search by page number?).
Though its not super critical considering that my single use case it isn't the end of the world and the accessibility of the DNDBeyond websites format of the content in general is just sensational.
Anyway, if this service stops working (which would be very sad of course - lets not do that!) there is no doubt that there will be alternatives to make use of the WotC 5ed licenses that DNDBeyond have issued you.
After launching that thread, fohswe launched a website that allows you to find links by page number for a large number of books, including, PHB, DMG, XGTE, FTOD, TCOE, MM and SCAG, which is slowly being updated. The link is in the final post of the thread linked above, but I have also put it on this post for convenience
If you have a tablet, I highly recommend trying out the app. I have the books downloaded on it so I can read them if I don't have internet, and the format is close to having the book. Swipe to next and previous page, can bookmark sections to find easily, etc.
I just tried the app (on my phone) and the content there is nowhere near "close to having the book", at least in my opinion, because one point of having a (rpg) book is that there is some kind of hand crafted layout, which neither the website nor the app does have.
So, yes, I can read my bought content on the website or the app, but it definitely is no fun. :-/ And it really doesn't justice to the quality of the content presented. So the fact that DDB is the only way to buy core 5e content in digital form really is a quite big failure for what claims to be the World's Greatest Roleplaying Game. But I guess this is once again one of those (supposedly) "too big to fail" cases ...
Is there any update on download PDF option? I've bought a few books but using my 5 inches phone to read is a bit difficult. I would like to print it on my own printer and read it in a comfortable way
It is, right in the shopping cart before it even lets you pay it states:
In addition, DDB only issues licenses to digital content from the game’s actual publisher, WotC, and only from the current (5th) edition of the game.
While most of the content from older editions of D&D can be found online and legally downloaded in PDF format, there are only three official WotC publications that can legally be downloaded as PDFs:
(I took the liberty of including hyperlinks for you where you can download those directly from WotC.)
If you see any other WotC products for 5th Edition D&D available for download as PDFs, those are illegally pirated copies, and both posting and downloading them is against the law.
I hope that helps.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
This sucks. WotC stopped other services. They will end 5e online support some day. I fully expected to get a PDF out of my purchase. I like reading, but hate scrolling. The app won´t even install on linux.
My advice: don´t buy online content that you cannot download. So don't buy here.
WotC doesn’t run DDB, Fandom owns & operates it. You know, the same Fandom that runs all of those game wikis. I imagine that by the time DDB stops supporting 5e it’ll be because D&D will be up to at least 7e and all of this will be on a wiki like the others (know the data will already be entered*):
*Hopefully fewer ads, I genuinely hate having to use any other fandom site than this one.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
I mean, it'd be great if McDonalds would clearly post the nutritional value as well as the sugar and fat content of all items on the menu so everyone who ordered got to read that info first too. There are limits to what corporations will do to inform customers if that information might dissuade from being customers in the first place. Fandom could be more up front about this, sure, but probably not without scaring people off and the info is effectively shown with every purchase. At some point the customer starts to share in the responsibility of understanding what they shell out money for, and I think we're well past that point here.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
They do, Fats = X, Sugars = Y, and there is no other nutritional value.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
As someone who eats almost daily at McDonald's, depending on your country, but they absolutely list the nutritional values on multiple sources. On the kiosks, it tells you the calories. On the mats, there is often breakdown of the fats, calories, cholesterol, sugars in their major foods, and usually there are books available that tell you the extended nutritional values of their entire menu. If you use your head, you can eat a pretty healthy little meal at McDonald's for very cheap.
That said, for everyone who posted the disclaimer that none of these purchases come with a physical product? PDFs aren't physical products. They're digital products and therefore, it is not irrational to see this warning and assume you are buying a PDF. That said, DDB is better than a lot of PDFs I've seen and you can buy a downloadable digital copy of these books, but the format is awful: Fantasy Grounds. I love Fantasy Grounds, but reading books in the software is ... not good. That said, DDB does give people access to downloadable versions through the mobile app.
However, I think printing all of the websites as PDFs through your browser is a pretty great middleground for someone wanting a PDF. When running a game though, Beyond wins every time.
It is disappointing that you don't also get the PDF.
New user here, was just looking for it myself purely because online everyone references the damn PHB page number, and its not the same (unless someone can tell me how to search by page number?).
Though its not super critical considering that my single use case it isn't the end of the world and the accessibility of the DNDBeyond websites format of the content in general is just sensational.
Anyway, if this service stops working (which would be very sad of course - lets not do that!) there is no doubt that there will be alternatives to make use of the WotC 5ed licenses that DNDBeyond have issued you.
For page number referencing, here you go: https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/dungeons-dragons-discussion/rules-game-mechanics/35037-page-references-d-d-beyond-to-core-rules
Helpful rewriter of Japanese->English translation and delver into software codebases (she/e/they)
After launching that thread, fohswe launched a website that allows you to find links by page number for a large number of books, including, PHB, DMG, XGTE, FTOD, TCOE, MM and SCAG, which is slowly being updated. The link is in the final post of the thread linked above, but I have also put it on this post for convenience
Page Number to DDB Redirecter (plutoneld.github.io)
Thank you both!!
I just tried the app (on my phone) and the content there is nowhere near "close to having the book", at least in my opinion, because one point of having a (rpg) book is that there is some kind of hand crafted layout, which neither the website nor the app does have.
So, yes, I can read my bought content on the website or the app, but it definitely is no fun. :-/ And it really doesn't justice to the quality of the content presented.
So the fact that DDB is the only way to buy core 5e content in digital form really is a quite big failure for what claims to be the World's Greatest Roleplaying Game.
But I guess this is once again one of those (supposedly) "too big to fail" cases ...
Is there any update on download PDF option? I've bought a few books but using my 5 inches phone to read is a bit difficult. I would like to print it on my own printer and read it in a comfortable way
There will likely never be downloadable PDFs.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting