So to clarify, let's say I don't buy any of the "Digital Sourcebooks" since...you know...they'll be sitting next to my computer in the  form of a dead tree that I've already purchased, and I get a Master tier subscription.  What do I get with that subscription? will I still have access to spells, monsters, and the compendium?  Or, is that content unlocked with the purchase of digital sourcebooks?

 To ask it another way,  on August 15, if I subscribe to DND beyond,  but have not yet bought any of the sourcebooks… What do I get? 

Quote from RealityStorm >>

I'll reiterate the sentiment that there is little reason to purchase digital copies if you already own physical books. Which we nearly all so because it was the only option until now.  I'd be much more willing to buy digital content if the cost wasn't 75% or more of the physical price. 

If curse wants more digital purchases from people who already own the books, the price should be a smaller percentage of the physical price. 

If wizards wants to preserve physical purchases on future books, the digital price should be a smaller percentage of the physical price. 

The best option for both would be a discount based on owning a physical book, but I agree that likely isn't retroactively feasible. 

Quote from Corvinus >>

So to clarify, let's say I don't buy any of the "Digital Sourcebooks" since...you know...they'll be sitting next to my computer in the  form of a dead tree that I've already purchased, and I get a Master tier subscription.  What do I get with that subscription? will I still have access to spells, monsters, and the compendium?  Or, is that content unlocked with the purchase of digital sourcebooks?

 To ask it another way,  on August 15, if I subscribe to DND beyond,  but have not yet bought any of the sourcebooks… What do I get? 

Quote from BobGone >>

you should get a discount for owning the books, if there's not that, I'm out.

I'll never quite understand how people come to believe that a digital version of a game book should be a low percentage of the price for the physical version of the game book.

I mean, I understand that there is a difference in cost to create the product in regards to physical materials not actually needed for the digital version - but does no one else consider what a digital version has that the physical version doesn't? There are a lot of perks to a digital version - even more so with the D&D Beyond digital version since it isn't just the same book, but also integrated into a tools - that make it a lot more convenient.

Yet, it seems like entertainment is the only place where convenience is not granted any leeway by the general customer to have its own cost. No one bats an eye at paying more for fuel at a station on their route home from work. No one calls the price "insane" when it costs more to grab a gallon of milk at the fuel station's convenience store than it does at an actual grocery store. But tell somebody that maybe, just maybe, all the cool bits and bobs of a digital gaming book make it worth most of what the physical book costs? People loose their minds.

So, what happens to homebrew that someone shared and I'm using when they stop paying? 

Quote from Darklight >>

WotC has yet to figure out how to know if you actually DO own the books or not... Without a digital option, short of keeping your receipt until the end of time for buying the core books there's no way to convincingly prove you own them.

Quote from alficles >>

So, what happens to homebrew that someone shared and I'm using when they stop paying? 

For those of you stating that Curse creating an all inclusive "$X/month" level won't work because of offline mode... In this day and age, how easy do you think that actually is? Unless I have an expensive device that I can keep offline permanently and use solely for this purpose, I'm pretty much always online and it's pretty much unavoidable. The second I get online, either accidentally or willingly, and the app phones home that content's gone unless I maintain my subscription. It's as simple as that.

And if you think buying a $300 device to host this content offline just because you can't afford $10/month is a cost-effective idea... well... I really can't help you.

The problem is that WotC still lives in the stone age, and they have been historically incapable of understanding what I just described. For those of you that think that Curse came up with this pricing model, I can almost guarantee you without any hesitation that that's not the case... WotC is in full control of how this prices out. 

Seriously, if this product was priced at $10/month for all-inclusive access to all the core books (and only the core books), WotC and Curse would be making money by the crapload.

This pricing model is what doomed Trapdoor and Dungeonscape, but that's a whole other story...

I keep seeing people explain that they have to charge for their work. I see other people explain that they already paid for the content. 

What I am not seeing is some recognition that the target market for DnD Beyond has, almost without exception, purchased at least the basic content. This isn't about proving you bought a book. WotC knows you bought a book. Only a very tiny number of people are in the market for a Char Builder, but don't play DnD with a book. The whole point of this exercise is to sell people another product. 

The question is how much is the product they are offering worth and how many people can pay for it? 

Quote from AaronOfBarbaria >>

I'll never quite understand how people come to believe that a digital version of a game book should be a low percentage of the price for the physical version of the game book.

I mean, I understand that there is a difference in cost to create the product in regards to physical materials not actually needed for the digital version - but does no one else consider what a digital version has that the physical version doesn't? There are a lot of perks to a digital version - even more so with the D&D Beyond digital version since it isn't just the same book, but also integrated into a tools - that make it a lot more convenient.

Yet, it seems like entertainment is the only place where convenience is not granted any leeway by the general customer to have its own cost. No one bats an eye at paying more for fuel at a station on their route home from work. No one calls the price "insane" when it costs more to grab a gallon of milk at the fuel station's convenience store than it does at an actual grocery store. But tell somebody that maybe, just maybe, all the cool bits and bobs of a digital gaming book make it worth most of what the physical book costs? People loose their minds.

Quote from Locnar >>

I paid for the intellectual property contained in the Players Hand Book, not the form in which it came.

 

Quote from Janet_Van_Dyne >>

How does Unearthed Arcana fit into this? Is that considered official or more like homebrew level

I just wanted to also ask, because have been talking about the purchase of books, the character builder, all that. Will the Campaign Tracking, the Virtual Tabletop, and any other Builders/Randomizers be included in the pricing shown here, or will there be additional add on prices for those services?

Thanks,

Checking out as thread is becoming toxic, and i feel i had a hand in it so sorry about that.

final remarks on it, i like the pricing model, and personally can't wait!  I hope it develops more and things become clearer for all, and have the confidence it will.

Quote from LatnerG >>

Quote from Janet_Van_Dyne >>

How does Unearthed Arcana fit into this? Is that considered official or more like homebrew level

 Reddit UA?