I just got my group to get accounts here on D&D Beyond for the easy character sheets and info that is on here.
I bught my self the adventure "Dragon of Icespire peak" and the master tier so that I can share the content like images and so on, but boy was I wrong. I created a campaign and thought ok I can add the adventure to it after I clicked on the create button. But no I couldn't, why can't I import the adventure that I want them to play so I don't have to write the plot my self? sure it aint that hard but still.
The "New Player Guide" is shite, the info there doesn't tell you how to start an adventure or how to give the players experience when the adventure is over. Sure I need to read the rules a bit more before we start, but when I made a character for my self I noticed that we can roll digital dices from our charcter sheets and thought, wow nice, but how can I as a DM see what my players roll ? and where in the adventure can I as a DM roll a digital dice ? How can I share a map to my players in my campaign? Can I do that with only using D&D Beyond or do I still need Roll20 or Foundry Virtual Tabletop for example?
I'm really thankfull for answer on this that will help me get started with the campaign.
So to be able to play online I still need a second app? Any suggestions on which to use with D&D beyond?
Okay - let's see if I can help here!
Roll20 is (currently) the books digitally, integrated with a set of tools to manage characters and encounters while you play - not just play online, but play in general. D&D Beyond is just as useful when playing at a real-life table as it is playing online. I use it just as much there as I have used it online, and it's amazing for both.
So, you technically have everything you need if you want to run a game using 'theater of the mind', but it sounds like you're both looking for a Virtual Table Top (VTT). While not required to run a game, many people do find that the virtual table top makes battles easier to manage online. I actually really like how theater of the mind encourages players to roleplay even during combat, but it's cool if you think that would feel uncomfortable for you.
Once you've picked which VTT you'd like to use (Roll20 is free, foundry is better - either is fine) you can go ahead and set the game up there. A lot of it is drag&drop, and (for Dragon of Icespire peak at least) doesn't take very long to set up yourself. The extension above will send your player's rolls directly to the vtt for you.
That takes us to your other question, MoriMcBeard - Why bother with DND Beyond, and not just use Roll20? Now, I've brought content on both - but while I might buy some modules on Roll20, I've brought almost everything here. DND Beyond makes DM'ing just so, so much easier. The character sheets are easier to use, the hypertexting through the modules make them easier to use and (most importantly) the ability to instantly look up monsters/items/spells from across the entire game is easy to do. That means I can run games where the player can improvise and run off track - and it will take me just seconds to adjust to what they're doing. I used to play a range of different RPGs... Pathfinder, D&D 3e, Dungeon World, Daggers in the Dark, Shadowrun... but the D&D Beyond Toolset is so powerful that I basically only play 5e now. I might buy a single large module on Roll20, but I then have to go and change it anyway - add maps for other locations I think my players will want to visit and so forth. The one thing I always have on hand is a tab or two with D&D beyond open, so anything the players do I'm ready for.
So - if you have any specific questions, I'm happy to help answer them.
Well, the reason I want a VTT is that is will take away any chance to cheat with the dices if the get a bad throw. When we are all around the table we have always used "Theather of mind" kind of game, but now, when one of the players moving to Scotland to study we thought that a VTT could be fun and easy for all. They often draw maps of what I'm describes and makes dots to see where thay are.
I have just finnished setting up Foundry, now I just need to read up on the rules for D&D 5e and set a date for the group to play.
Well, the reason I want a VTT is that is will take away any chance to cheat with the dices if the get a bad throw. When we are all around the table we have always used "Theather of mind" kind of game, but now, when one of the players moving to Scotland to study we thought that a VTT could be fun and easy for all.
Good luck! That extention can output to Foundry (or discord) automatically, so no cheating possible. :)
I'm not sure with foundry, but Roll20 lets players draw directly on a blank-white grid. I have played games where players have had to map out the dungeon themselves (although I admit there was more than a little graffiti). Would be neat if foundry does the same.
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I Cancelled my Master Tier Subscription January 12th 2023 because of "OGL" 1.1 - Resubscribed 28th of Jan, now the SRD is in CC-BY-4.0
We've used DndBeyond for 2 or 3 years now. Everyone tracked their characters while the dm and i looked up rules and such on it. Used it at the table before moving to online due to covid.
Now we use it in combination with roll20. Most of us feel it's a lot easier to use DndBeyond for the character sheets and reference, especially those using a pc, like me.
Roll20 is used for encounters and relaying info or rolls, although we use honor system for those that want to roll real dice. Roll20 began having a lot of audio issues for everyone a few months ago and has never been resolved for us, so we use discord now for voice chat.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Hi
I just got my group to get accounts here on D&D Beyond for the easy character sheets and info that is on here.
I bught my self the adventure "Dragon of Icespire peak" and the master tier so that I can share the content like images and so on, but boy was I wrong. I created a campaign and thought ok I can add the adventure to it after I clicked on the create button. But no I couldn't, why can't I import the adventure that I want them to play so I don't have to write the plot my self? sure it aint that hard but still.
The "New Player Guide" is shite, the info there doesn't tell you how to start an adventure or how to give the players experience when the adventure is over. Sure I need to read the rules a bit more before we start, but when I made a character for my self I noticed that we can roll digital dices from our charcter sheets and thought, wow nice, but how can I as a DM see what my players roll ? and where in the adventure can I as a DM roll a digital dice ? How can I share a map to my players in my campaign? Can I do that with only using D&D Beyond or do I still need Roll20 or Foundry Virtual Tabletop for example?
I'm really thankfull for answer on this that will help me get started with the campaign.
Best whishes
Mattias Emmoth
You don't, DDB is an online character sheet with online books.
Ok so I could just have bought it on Roll20 instead and had everything there.
So to be able to play online I still need a second app? Any suggestions on which to use with D&D beyond?
If you can figure out network stuff foundry is the best.
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D&D Beyond FoundersYou may find this article useful!
https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/750-new-players-guide-how-to-play-d-d-online
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Why not make a link to that page under "New Player Guide" ??
Ditto this. I have no clue where to start since all the menus seem geared toward ppl who have been using DND Beyond for a while.
Okay - let's see if I can help here!
Roll20 is (currently) the books digitally, integrated with a set of tools to manage characters and encounters while you play - not just play online, but play in general. D&D Beyond is just as useful when playing at a real-life table as it is playing online. I use it just as much there as I have used it online, and it's amazing for both.
So, you technically have everything you need if you want to run a game using 'theater of the mind', but it sounds like you're both looking for a Virtual Table Top (VTT). While not required to run a game, many people do find that the virtual table top makes battles easier to manage online. I actually really like how theater of the mind encourages players to roleplay even during combat, but it's cool if you think that would feel uncomfortable for you.
Firstly, I highly recommend 'Beyond20' - it's a chrome and firefox browser extension that will both allow you to roll directly from monster stat blocks, and sends player rolls directly to either Roll20, Foundry VTT or Discord:
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/beyond-20/gnblbpbepfbfmoobegdogkglpbhcjofh?hl=en
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/beyond-20/
Once you've picked which VTT you'd like to use (Roll20 is free, foundry is better - either is fine) you can go ahead and set the game up there. A lot of it is drag&drop, and (for Dragon of Icespire peak at least) doesn't take very long to set up yourself. The extension above will send your player's rolls directly to the vtt for you.
That takes us to your other question, MoriMcBeard - Why bother with DND Beyond, and not just use Roll20? Now, I've brought content on both - but while I might buy some modules on Roll20, I've brought almost everything here. DND Beyond makes DM'ing just so, so much easier. The character sheets are easier to use, the hypertexting through the modules make them easier to use and (most importantly) the ability to instantly look up monsters/items/spells from across the entire game is easy to do. That means I can run games where the player can improvise and run off track - and it will take me just seconds to adjust to what they're doing.
I used to play a range of different RPGs... Pathfinder, D&D 3e, Dungeon World, Daggers in the Dark, Shadowrun... but the D&D Beyond Toolset is so powerful that I basically only play 5e now. I might buy a single large module on Roll20, but I then have to go and change it anyway - add maps for other locations I think my players will want to visit and so forth. The one thing I always have on hand is a tab or two with D&D beyond open, so anything the players do I'm ready for.
So - if you have any specific questions, I'm happy to help answer them.
I Cancelled my Master Tier Subscription January 12th 2023 because of "OGL" 1.1 - Resubscribed 28th of Jan, now the SRD is in CC-BY-4.0
Thanks for the detailed answer Tel_Prydain.
Well, the reason I want a VTT is that is will take away any chance to cheat with the dices if the get a bad throw.
When we are all around the table we have always used "Theather of mind" kind of game, but now, when one of the players moving to Scotland to study we thought that a VTT could be fun and easy for all.
They often draw maps of what I'm describes and makes dots to see where thay are.
I have just finnished setting up Foundry, now I just need to read up on the rules for D&D 5e and set a date for the group to play.
Good luck! That extention can output to Foundry (or discord) automatically, so no cheating possible. :)
I'm not sure with foundry, but Roll20 lets players draw directly on a blank-white grid. I have played games where players have had to map out the dungeon themselves (although I admit there was more than a little graffiti). Would be neat if foundry does the same.
I Cancelled my Master Tier Subscription January 12th 2023 because of "OGL" 1.1 - Resubscribed 28th of Jan, now the SRD is in CC-BY-4.0
We've used DndBeyond for 2 or 3 years now. Everyone tracked their characters while the dm and i looked up rules and such on it. Used it at the table before moving to online due to covid.
Now we use it in combination with roll20. Most of us feel it's a lot easier to use DndBeyond for the character sheets and reference, especially those using a pc, like me.
Roll20 is used for encounters and relaying info or rolls, although we use honor system for those that want to roll real dice. Roll20 began having a lot of audio issues for everyone a few months ago and has never been resolved for us, so we use discord now for voice chat.