I'm debating (re)buying all the material for 5E through DndBeyond and was wondering, what exactly do I get with my purchase? I understand I get access to all the reference material for that module on the site, but is there anything else you get as a reference for the information I (re)purchase? Digital version of the book via PDF or other resource? Some sort of organized archive I can reference without going through all the tabs in the site? Is an internet connection required 100% of the time I want to use the information or is there an offline mode?
You get that book in the Compendium section. It is not a PDF, but web pages like the Basic Rules as an example. So the entire book (artwork, silly disclaimer, etc.) in that section presented as close to the book as possible, but just for web pages (and mobile friendly - I use it a ton on my iPad and even my phone is decent for reading the books). How the Basic Rules are presented in the Compendium is exactly how any purchase book is presented, just with artwork and maps incorporated (which the Basic Rules does not have). Here is a screenshot from Curse of Strahd they posted to Twitter.
I don't see much of this in the Basic Rules since they are pretty self-contained, but the Compendium books also link to the details for everything. So, for example, if in the adventure there is an Aboleth it links to it like hopefully that just did.
Also, the content from it is incorporated into the various other sections of the site. So all monsters will be available under Monsters, magic items with magic items, all classes and subclasses in books you purchase are available in the Character Builder, etc.
So it actually has a best of both worlds to it. If you are looking for a monster - in the Monsters section is every one from all of the books you purchase with great search filters. If you want to read the book (either particular section or cover-to-cover), go to the Compendium.
The Search works across all sections with handy buttons along the top to filter the results to just a particular section.
Currently, it is not available offline BUT there is an Android and iOS app that is nearing beta testing that will allow offline reading of Compendium content. There is a demo of it here around the 22 minute mark.
Thanks a ton for the info! Definitely makes me feel a little better about it, also about the offline app. It might be asking a bit much, but would you be willing to PM me a screengrab on what the interface looks like? If not I totally get it, or if its identical to the Basic Rules. Thanks again for all the info!
I'm debating (re)buying all the material for 5E through DndBeyond and was wondering, what exactly do I get with my purchase? I understand I get access to all the reference material for that module on the site, but is there anything else you get as a reference for the information I (re)purchase? Digital version of the book via PDF or other resource? Some sort of organized archive I can reference without going through all the tabs in the site? Is an internet connection required 100% of the time I want to use the information or is there an offline mode?
To expand a bit on what KenMarable said: You get an online (and eventually offline with app) copy of the full rules that is easily searched, and cross-referenced. One of the great things about buying the books on DDB is that when a rule refers to another rule (or spell, monster, item, etc) there is usually a link, and when you hover over that link you get a pop-up that shows you a condensed (or sometimes full) version of the information being references. Very handy.
If you buy the MM, you have all the monsters at your fingertips.
If you buy the PHB, or XGtE, or Volo's, you have access to the full breadth of character options when creating characters.
If you are a DM you can get the Master Tier subscription in addition to purchasing the digital books, and then share those books you've purchases with your players.
As KenMarable mentioned, there will eventually be an app for offline use of the books you purchase, which will be better than a PDF because they will be in a much more useful format.
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"Orcs are savage raiders and pillagers with stooped postures, low foreheads, and piggish faces with prominent lower canines that resemble tusks." MM p245 (original printing) You don't OWN your books on DDB: WotC can change them any time. What do you think will happen when OneD&D comes out?
Yeah I really like how everything is cross referenced, that is definitely a positive, as is the eventual app. Thanks for the reply and info! Much appreciated :)
Thanks a ton for the info! Definitely makes me feel a little better about it, also about the offline app. It might be asking a bit much, but would you be willing to PM me a screengrab on what the interface looks like? If not I totally get it, or if its identical to the Basic Rules. Thanks again for all the info!
Sorry I edited my post a few times. Does that Curse of Strahd screenshot help a bit?
Since Lost Mind of Phandelver has been around a while, hopefully it's fine if I screenshot that. (Mods, if there is a problem with it, just let me know and I'll take it down.) But hopefully just showing a snippet of how it looks.
Edit: Gotta remember to refresh a thread if I take took long writing a post. :)
Keep in mind that anyone in your group can enable Content Sharing with their Master Tier subscription, and that once Content Sharing is turned on for a campaign, everyone shares all of their content. These are all valid options for sharing content with your group:
You buy a Legendary Bundle, Alice gets a Master Tier subscription.
You buy the Player's Handbook, Alice buys the Monster Manual and Dungeon Master's Guide, Bob gets a Master Tier subscription.
You buy the classes, races, and feats you need for your character; Alice and Bob do the same; Charlie gets a Master Tier subscription.
Also keep in mind that there's no easy way to integrate the adventures or monsters into a virtual tabletop. If you use or are planning on using Fantasy Grounds or Roll20, you might want to purchase the Monster Manual and your adventure of choice there instead of on DDB.
While it's not easily incorporated with VTTs yet, I would argue against buying the MM elsewhere, but it depends on how you value your time.
I use Roll20. On Roll20 the MM costs $50. On DDB it costs $25. The only difference between them is that on Roll20 the monsters are already set up with tokens and NPC sheets so you can drag them into a game and then go from there.
I have been running games on Roll20 for almost 2 years now, and each time I need a new monster I set it up as an NPC. Since you can import characters (and NPCs) into your vault and then export them into other games you create on Roll20, you can build up your own MM over time. I use TokenTool to make my tokens, but you can also find lots of pre-made tokens in .png format online. So if you're willing to do the work yourself, you can save $25 by copying and pasting the abilities etc from DDB to Roll20. It also means all your books are in one place. If you buy the MM on Roll20, you won't have offline access to it like you will with DDB once the app is out.
Same goes for adventures. They are cheaper on DDB, and you can copy and paste as you need to into Roll20. The DDB adventures all come with the maps in a format that will work just fine in Roll20. Again, you then have the advantage of offline access to the adventures.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Orcs are savage raiders and pillagers with stooped postures, low foreheads, and piggish faces with prominent lower canines that resemble tusks." MM p245 (original printing) You don't OWN your books on DDB: WotC can change them any time. What do you think will happen when OneD&D comes out?
DM here. One caution. I've bought all the core books and LMoP here (I own the hardcopies) and all the supplements (no hardcopies) and a master tier subscription, so I'm all in and really excited about where this product is going, BUT the search function is pretty naff at the moment. Like many things I know the DDB team will get to it in time, but right now it's not as useful as I'd hoped. If you want the product for the search function, I'd just dip my toe in the water to start with.
Myself I have been so happy with DDB, that I went and bought the whole shebang and a Master subscription. With the upcoming app I might not ever buy another dead tree D&D 5th edition book again, and this is from someone that loves reading a real book.
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Hi all,
I'm debating (re)buying all the material for 5E through DndBeyond and was wondering, what exactly do I get with my purchase? I understand I get access to all the reference material for that module on the site, but is there anything else you get as a reference for the information I (re)purchase? Digital version of the book via PDF or other resource? Some sort of organized archive I can reference without going through all the tabs in the site? Is an internet connection required 100% of the time I want to use the information or is there an offline mode?
You get that book in the Compendium section. It is not a PDF, but web pages like the Basic Rules as an example. So the entire book (artwork, silly disclaimer, etc.) in that section presented as close to the book as possible, but just for web pages (and mobile friendly - I use it a ton on my iPad and even my phone is decent for reading the books). How the Basic Rules are presented in the Compendium is exactly how any purchase book is presented, just with artwork and maps incorporated (which the Basic Rules does not have). Here is a screenshot from Curse of Strahd they posted to Twitter.
I don't see much of this in the Basic Rules since they are pretty self-contained, but the Compendium books also link to the details for everything. So, for example, if in the adventure there is an Aboleth it links to it like hopefully that just did.
Also, the content from it is incorporated into the various other sections of the site. So all monsters will be available under Monsters, magic items with magic items, all classes and subclasses in books you purchase are available in the Character Builder, etc.
So it actually has a best of both worlds to it. If you are looking for a monster - in the Monsters section is every one from all of the books you purchase with great search filters. If you want to read the book (either particular section or cover-to-cover), go to the Compendium.
The Search works across all sections with handy buttons along the top to filter the results to just a particular section.
Currently, it is not available offline BUT there is an Android and iOS app that is nearing beta testing that will allow offline reading of Compendium content. There is a demo of it here around the 22 minute mark.
Thanks a ton for the info! Definitely makes me feel a little better about it, also about the offline app. It might be asking a bit much, but would you be willing to PM me a screengrab on what the interface looks like? If not I totally get it, or if its identical to the Basic Rules. Thanks again for all the info!
Just saw your edit, Thanks for that :)
"Orcs are savage raiders and pillagers with stooped postures, low foreheads, and piggish faces with prominent lower canines that resemble tusks." MM p245 (original printing)
You don't OWN your books on DDB: WotC can change them any time. What do you think will happen when OneD&D comes out?
Yeah I really like how everything is cross referenced, that is definitely a positive, as is the eventual app. Thanks for the reply and info! Much appreciated :)
Sorry I edited my post a few times. Does that Curse of Strahd screenshot help a bit?This helps a bunch! I actually like that layout, so thanks for that :) The decision is definitely becoming more difficult haha.
Keep in mind that anyone in your group can enable Content Sharing with their Master Tier subscription, and that once Content Sharing is turned on for a campaign, everyone shares all of their content. These are all valid options for sharing content with your group:
Also keep in mind that there's no easy way to integrate the adventures or monsters into a virtual tabletop. If you use or are planning on using Fantasy Grounds or Roll20, you might want to purchase the Monster Manual and your adventure of choice there instead of on DDB.
The Forum Infestation (TM)
While it's not easily incorporated with VTTs yet, I would argue against buying the MM elsewhere, but it depends on how you value your time.
I use Roll20. On Roll20 the MM costs $50. On DDB it costs $25. The only difference between them is that on Roll20 the monsters are already set up with tokens and NPC sheets so you can drag them into a game and then go from there.
I have been running games on Roll20 for almost 2 years now, and each time I need a new monster I set it up as an NPC. Since you can import characters (and NPCs) into your vault and then export them into other games you create on Roll20, you can build up your own MM over time. I use TokenTool to make my tokens, but you can also find lots of pre-made tokens in .png format online. So if you're willing to do the work yourself, you can save $25 by copying and pasting the abilities etc from DDB to Roll20. It also means all your books are in one place. If you buy the MM on Roll20, you won't have offline access to it like you will with DDB once the app is out.
Same goes for adventures. They are cheaper on DDB, and you can copy and paste as you need to into Roll20. The DDB adventures all come with the maps in a format that will work just fine in Roll20. Again, you then have the advantage of offline access to the adventures.
"Orcs are savage raiders and pillagers with stooped postures, low foreheads, and piggish faces with prominent lower canines that resemble tusks." MM p245 (original printing)
You don't OWN your books on DDB: WotC can change them any time. What do you think will happen when OneD&D comes out?
DM here. One caution. I've bought all the core books and LMoP here (I own the hardcopies) and all the supplements (no hardcopies) and a master tier subscription, so I'm all in and really excited about where this product is going, BUT the search function is pretty naff at the moment. Like many things I know the DDB team will get to it in time, but right now it's not as useful as I'd hoped. If you want the product for the search function, I'd just dip my toe in the water to start with.
Myself I have been so happy with DDB, that I went and bought the whole shebang and a Master subscription. With the upcoming app I might not ever buy another dead tree D&D 5th edition book again, and this is from someone that loves reading a real book.