I'll just say it cause i'm a tightwad. It seems to me that everything DND related has to come with a price. I love the game (probably more than i should) but as a casual gamer it stinks to have to pay to really play the game.
for instance, i got started on 4th edition. Our local shop didn't run it so my friends and i HAD to get a dnd insider account simply so we woudln't mess up our leveling and could understand how different armor and weapons affected our characters. WE already spent 100's on books and insider was one more thing we had to pay for, for a game we weren't even sure if we would like.
All that to say, now this is an amazing idea, and the beta seems to be going very smoothly. I just hate that another amazing tool will be out there, but in order to use it to full potential then $$ has to be involved.
-side note: we only had our insider account for about 3 months. We deemed we'd either figure it out or give up all together. no game should be this much trouble to play.
my friends and i HAD to get a dnd insider account simply so we woudln't mess up our leveling and could understand how different armor and weapons affected our characters
Don't take this wrong, but I genuinely don't understand this mindset. I'll reveal my age, but I started with BECMI and quickly moved into AD&D 1E. It was a big deal when TSR released official character record sheets (they were kinda ugly and not free, so I kept using college-ruled notebook paper until the 1990s, when someone in the group created a Word or Excel-based sheet). Yes, we messed up some rules, but we still had fun and it worked.
Now, I'm far from a Luddite. I'm a professional developer and use tools, when they're available or build my own. It drives me nuts when people at work can't seem to get rid of their physical file folders. I love a pretty character sheet, and even my old characters have been scanned in and pushed to my cloud storage. Given a nice mobile app, I'd happily ditch a physical sheet altogether. But, any sort of computer tool for the game should be viewed as an extra or "nice to have". D&D is not, and should never be made to be, too complex to play with a notepad and some physical books.
I also am looking for a ruling on the paid content. Star Wars Special editions come to mind "with 10 seconds of extra footage!!". I own everything already and have paid full MSRP for them. I should not have to pay again for essentially the same information.
I just don't understand this mindset. When you purchased your books you knew what you were getting. No such digital right was purchased. I saw no notice within my books stating when/if a digital tool is released I would get access to it... Why, now that there is a tool being developed do you think you're entitled to it for free? There is an added value having access to the content digitally. Furthermore, you're asking a 3rd party company that's developing this to grant you free access to a tool they're creating just because you previously purchased a hard copy at another retailer for a product that this 3rd party company now has a license to develop a toolset for?
I understand that many (I may even think this myself) would want access to digital content to be included when we purchase the hardcopy books, however I don't think anyone should be expecting entitlement to content they have already purchased. Maybe they'll bundle something in the future. Maybe they wont.
If you don't want to pay for access to the digital content, don't. There is added value to having it for some users, if it's not valuable enough for you to want to pay for it then by all means don't spend your money on it. I would hope people wouldn't go attacking the developer for not giving it to them for free...
I'm not looking for something for nothing. I'm looking for a reasonable price tag.
It was stated that the players would not have to buy all of the content just what they would use. Like for instance someone who always plays a fighter would only need to but the fighter pack. I am only wondering about DMs and if we would have to buy everything or if there would be a DM package. I understand that money makes the world go round. I want new content to keep coming out. I want to use this service but a subscription based service would have to be indefinably exceptional for me personally to pay for it. I mean no disrespect to those who are willing and able to afford this but many of us cannot. We could however save out pennies and purchase all the parts in piece meal.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I am first and foremost a husband and father. DMing comes in at a VERY close third.
interesting so far, but nothing really of use at this point. Been a long time since i had a group, but if the monetary angle is a no-sell then taking up a pot or letting one person have access that can be shared across the group (much like everyone ended up sharing books at some point) may be a work-around.
oops. just got to the mod message. how do i delete?
They said you could manage a few characters for free. I'm guessing the monthly subscription will unlock dm tools and additional character slots. Finally they said you can purchase resources and then made it sound like they might break up books to buy just the parts you need. So you should have a choice between nickels dimes tenners or fives. If this works out it could replace print media and allow them to get content out faster and more affordable.
Once this digital content requires a paid subscription, an option should be available that when one purchases a book, he/she obtains a passcode for 1-3 months free to DDB. Or, obtain a discount on subscription fee for a limited time.
Note: I am still a paid user of 4th edition tools. Glad to have it.
I bought the books because I didn't want to wait for the digital format to a tabletop game to be released before I got to play it... that made more sense before I typed it, I swear!
I didn't want to wait to play 5e, so I bought the PH. I didn't want to wait to DM, so I paid for MM and DMG. By that point, buying SCAG and Volo's was inevitable. I HAVE the books! (Cards too!)
I don't mind paying for a digital version that ties it all together BUT it better have EVERYTHING!
Unearthed Arcana? Check.
Easy to use, versatile character sheets? Yup.
DM's tools like character trackers and encounter builders? Better believe it.
Build guide forums? Sure.
Exclusive content? Why not!
Easy cross referencing? Mmmmm-hmmmm...
New creatures with stat-blocks? Oh yeah.
Play-test feedback? Yeah buddy!
Access to the DM's guild? Yes, please!
Pizza delivery app? Maybe too far...
I love the game, I'll keep buying the books. Make this worth it and people will pay for it, including us book buyers.
One last humble request, please don't charge a subscription fee and plaster our service with ads!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When the people of the future learn of my deeds, they'll surely say he was human - mistakes were made
The dev team might have an internal plan, but stuff can go wrong, so I doubt it will be shared - doing so sets expectations and then people get upset when the next phase isn't released "on time"
I think the real answer is (to use an overused phrase), next phase will be ready when it's ready.
The dev team might have an internal plan, but stuff can go wrong, so I doubt it will be shared - doing so sets expectations and then people get upset when the next phase isn't released "on time"
I think the real answer is (to use an overused phrase), next phase will be ready when it's ready.
They're looking towards a summer rollout, but no info yet on how long each phase will last.
Well I remember a time, not sure if they still do this, but if you bought a physical book from Amazon you got a digital copy free. So there is such a thing as getting a digital copy of books you own. I understand that probably won't be the case here since there is no way of knowing that you actually bought the book. I'd pay for a mobile app with all this info in it but I hope they don't make it a monthly subscription thing. I hate that. It's why I play D&D on Roll20 and not Fantasy Grounds. Yes I play D&D but I don't play a game every week. I'd constantly be paying a month then canceling my subscription.
Well I remember a time, not sure if they still do this, but if you bought a physical book from Amazon you got a digital copy free. So there is such a thing as getting a digital copy of books you own. I understand that probably won't be the case here since there is no way of knowing that you actually bought the book. I'd pay for a mobile app with all this info in it but I hope they don't make it a monthly subscription thing. I hate that. It's why I play D&D on Roll20 and not Fantasy Grounds. Yes I play D&D but I don't play a game every week. I'd constantly be paying a month then canceling my subscription.
I buy many physical books from Amazon. They do have a program where some books grant you access to the kindle edition. However, it's based on the deals they make with the publisher of the books. For example, Tor books never granted me the digital copy for any of the Wheel of Time books or any of Brandon Sanderson's series of books. I looked for it too as I prefer to read on the kindle. I also have an issue where I want the physical book for my little library ;)
Maybe WoTC will work something out that's similar. Maybe Hasbro wont let them. We'll have to wait and see :)
I'll just say it cause i'm a tightwad. It seems to me that everything DND related has to come with a price. I love the game (probably more than i should) but as a casual gamer it stinks to have to pay to really play the game.
for instance, i got started on 4th edition. Our local shop didn't run it so my friends and i HAD to get a dnd insider account simply so we woudln't mess up our leveling and could understand how different armor and weapons affected our characters. WE already spent 100's on books and insider was one more thing we had to pay for, for a game we weren't even sure if we would like.
All that to say, now this is an amazing idea, and the beta seems to be going very smoothly. I just hate that another amazing tool will be out there, but in order to use it to full potential then $$ has to be involved.
-side note: we only had our insider account for about 3 months. We deemed we'd either figure it out or give up all together. no game should be this much trouble to play.
Rev. 6:8
I hear ya. I bought the big package at fantasy grounds for almost a thousand dollars.
The nice thing about that is, that people playing my campaign can share my content with a free app.
I am first and foremost a husband and father. DMing comes in at a VERY close third.
Let's try to keep all price/subscription discussions in this thread please.
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interesting so far, but nothing really of use at this point. Been a long time since i had a group, but if the monetary angle is a no-sell then taking up a pot or letting one person have access that can be shared across the group (much like everyone ended up sharing books at some point) may be a work-around.
oops. just got to the mod message. how do i delete?
----
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They said you could manage a few characters for free. I'm guessing the monthly subscription will unlock dm tools and additional character slots. Finally they said you can purchase resources and then made it sound like they might break up books to buy just the parts you need. So you should have a choice between nickels dimes tenners or fives. If this works out it could replace print media and allow them to get content out faster and more affordable.
Once this digital content requires a paid subscription, an option should be available that when one purchases a book, he/she obtains a passcode for 1-3 months free to DDB. Or, obtain a discount on subscription fee for a limited time.
Note: I am still a paid user of 4th edition tools. Glad to have it.
Does anyone know how long between each beta?
I bought the books because I didn't want to wait for the digital format to a tabletop game to be released before I got to play it... that made more sense before I typed it, I swear!
I didn't want to wait to play 5e, so I bought the PH. I didn't want to wait to DM, so I paid for MM and DMG. By that point, buying SCAG and Volo's was inevitable. I HAVE the books! (Cards too!)
I don't mind paying for a digital version that ties it all together BUT it better have EVERYTHING!
Unearthed Arcana? Check.
Easy to use, versatile character sheets? Yup.
DM's tools like character trackers and encounter builders? Better believe it.
Build guide forums? Sure.
Exclusive content? Why not!
Easy cross referencing? Mmmmm-hmmmm...
New creatures with stat-blocks? Oh yeah.
Play-test feedback? Yeah buddy!
Access to the DM's guild? Yes, please!
Pizza delivery app? Maybe too far...
I love the game, I'll keep buying the books. Make this worth it and people will pay for it, including us book buyers.
One last humble request, please don't charge a subscription fee and plaster our service with ads!
Looking forward to seeing how Beyond rolls out over the course of this. Hopin' for a nat 20, but realistic enough to know that's only a 5% chance. ;)
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Well I remember a time, not sure if they still do this, but if you bought a physical book from Amazon you got a digital copy free. So there is such a thing as getting a digital copy of books you own. I understand that probably won't be the case here since there is no way of knowing that you actually bought the book. I'd pay for a mobile app with all this info in it but I hope they don't make it a monthly subscription thing. I hate that. It's why I play D&D on Roll20 and not Fantasy Grounds. Yes I play D&D but I don't play a game every week. I'd constantly be paying a month then canceling my subscription.
Neato
Where did they say homebrew would require a subscription fee?
I hadn't hear anything about that
Abeir, Anchorome, Kara-Tur, Katashaka, Maztica, Zakhara, and Laerakond need some 5E love
It's this type of attitude that leads to consumers being raked over the coals.