Quote from thebeliever >>

So I just paid $150 for the books and now I will have to pay another $60 to access them digitally?  Can there not be a way to show you recently purchased the books and get a bigger discount on the digital version? 

Quote from Rubahak >>

Quote from harrisben >>

Quote from Rubahak >>

Quote from Silverwolf75 >>

Quote from Khellion >>

Quote from Stormknight >>

Quote from theandyhawk >

Windows App?

Not currently planned.

 I really hope they reconsider this as some of us don't use android or apple devices as their tabletop aid while playing. I am a windows user, so unless the web app will also work offline as well as online then we windows users also need an app as well.

 Actually good question. Will the apps support Offline use or only online?

 The Android and iOS apps will receive offline support.  That was a very important feature to Curse, and also the primary reason why you pay for the books outright.  After you buy them, and you log in with your device, what you've purchased will be available offline on your devices from there on out.  They were aware that not everyone games in areas where there are internet connections, whether through wi-fi or cellular, and they wanted everyone to have access to their tools whenever we need them.

That being said, I don't believe that there are any Windows or macOS apps that would provide the same functionality in the works.  I can actually see the usefulness in it, especially for streaming, because PCs are better suited for streaming than tablets, and a native app would likely be more flexible, even if I'm sure they'll have something on here that will make it manageable.  I would think that more intuitive streaming tools would be possible in a native app than through a website, but in all fairness, I'm a writer, not a programmer, so I could be dead wrong.

 I'll say it again: buyer beware. When you sign up you get what the product is at the time. Curse/Twitch are not required to follow through and deliver any promised features or functionality, no matter how many times they've mentioned them. Features that are delivered later are also not guaranteed to contain all of the promised (or not) functionality.

Just make sure when you sign up that you're happy with the product "as is". No one knows what will happen in the future!

 As I mentioned before, on all of the other future features, I agree with you.  There are a lot of things that I'm super excited about that are a factor in my decision to purchase that may never come to fruition, which I'm willing to take a risk on.  That's the price you pay as an early adopter, which I very frequently am.  Tabet and smart phone apps, however, are not a risk.  Not only is it in active development, which they've mentioned many times, but it's literally pictured on the front page.  We do risk being stuck with a nearly useless campaign manager, yes, because that's all we can see, even if they've promised that they're going to be working on improving it, including things like encounter and inititiative trackers.  However, app functionality has been a staple of their selling point since the very beginning, and I'm sure the only reason why we don't have anything right now is specifically because they had to lock in the design and function of the site/platform first.  D&D Beyond has changed dramatically in just the beta, and starting on the app earlier than they were ready would've been a waste of resources.  Based on the functionality of the site already, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the August 15th release date is to give time for the app team, which is also giving the rest of them time to add more features in the meantime.

I think if you wanted to convince people of the differences between paying for content vs. free vs. monthly tiers produce short intro videos because it's very hard to conceptualize for a lot of people what they are getting (or missing) with the various levels of commitment. 

Quote from Lichequeen >>

I think if you wanted to convince people of the differences between paying for content vs. free vs. monthly tiers produce short intro videos because it's very hard to conceptualize for a lot of people what they are getting (or missing) with the various levels of commitment. 

Quote from harrisben >>

Quote from Rubahak >>

Quote from harrisben >>

Quote from Rubahak >>

Quote from Silverwolf75 >>

Quote from Khellion >>

Quote from Stormknight >>

Quote from theandyhawk >

Windows App?

Not currently planned.

 I really hope they reconsider this as some of us don't use android or apple devices as their tabletop aid while playing. I am a windows user, so unless the web app will also work offline as well as online then we windows users also need an app as well.

 Actually good question. Will the apps support Offline use or only online?

 The Android and iOS apps will receive offline support.  That was a very important feature to Curse, and also the primary reason why you pay for the books outright.  After you buy them, and you log in with your device, what you've purchased will be available offline on your devices from there on out.  They were aware that not everyone games in areas where there are internet connections, whether through wi-fi or cellular, and they wanted everyone to have access to their tools whenever we need them.

That being said, I don't believe that there are any Windows or macOS apps that would provide the same functionality in the works.  I can actually see the usefulness in it, especially for streaming, because PCs are better suited for streaming than tablets, and a native app would likely be more flexible, even if I'm sure they'll have something on here that will make it manageable.  I would think that more intuitive streaming tools would be possible in a native app than through a website, but in all fairness, I'm a writer, not a programmer, so I could be dead wrong.

 I'll say it again: buyer beware. When you sign up you get what the product is at the time. Curse/Twitch are not required to follow through and deliver any promised features or functionality, no matter how many times they've mentioned them. Features that are delivered later are also not guaranteed to contain all of the promised (or not) functionality.

Just make sure when you sign up that you're happy with the product "as is". No one knows what will happen in the future!

 As I mentioned before, on all of the other future features, I agree with you.  There are a lot of things that I'm super excited about that are a factor in my decision to purchase that may never come to fruition, which I'm willing to take a risk on.  That's the price you pay as an early adopter, which I very frequently am.  Tabet and smart phone apps, however, are not a risk.  Not only is it in active development, which they've mentioned many times, but it's literally pictured on the front page.  We do risk being stuck with a nearly useless campaign manager, yes, because that's all we can see, even if they've promised that they're going to be working on improving it, including things like encounter and inititiative trackers.  However, app functionality has been a staple of their selling point since the very beginning, and I'm sure the only reason why we don't have anything right now is specifically because they had to lock in the design and function of the site/platform first.  D&D Beyond has changed dramatically in just the beta, and starting on the app earlier than they were ready would've been a waste of resources.  Based on the functionality of the site already, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the August 15th release date is to give time for the app team, which is also giving the rest of them time to add more features in the meantime.

You're aware of the risk going in, which is good, but just because they've got pictures of something on the front page doesn't mean they will 100% definitely deliver it. Like I said, the product is what it is when you sign up. Anything else is vaporware until it's part of the product, it doesn't matter how actively in development it is - it can be not actively in development pretty abruptly and images on a website be changed just as quickly. Even after something is part of the product they can just as easily decide it won't be, a feature of every T&C's I've ever seen for software/services.

I don't doubt Curse's intentions, but they're a business and planning to do something doesn't always work out financially.

Not an entirely relevant observation but I'm pretty sure the devs have said the picture on the front page is not the app. It's just the mobile realization of their website. Which incidentally is pretty excellent in my opinion. Doesn't change the fact that they say the apps are being developed. But they aren't promoting them on the front page. Not should they until it's released.

AD

I'm assuming I'll get a discount I bought all the advanced d&d books in 1985. Just joking I'll be in from launch.

Quote from Cmcbriarty >>

I'm assuming I'll get a discount I bought all the advanced d&d books in 1985. Just joking I'll be in from launch.

It is possible for more than one point of view to exist in the universe.

Quote from harrisben >>

It is possible for more than one point of view to exist in the universe.

Don't worry Rubahak, I wasn't referring to you :P I know it may not seem it but I'm incredibly excited about D&D Beyond too, though I have misgivings about the pricing.

Please excuse my pessimism about everything, it comes from working with a software vendor who literally said "We are not required to fix bugs or develop new features. It doesn't say it in our contract."

It's all good, dude.  I totally get where you're coming from.

Why are you spending time justifying not buying something that you seem to feel, for various reasons, is over-priced and will not deliver? Just don't buy it and move on.  If you wish to use the free content in DDB, it will remain free.  If the premium content is not for you, then there is nothing to fret about, just don't buy it.  Your time should have value, and spending it writing lengthy posts about why you don't want to buy something is not a good use of this value.  Finally, I am not sure what your point is about "flyover" states? I was born and bred in Indiana, and I never had any expectation that any business, whether local or out-of-state, would give me a special discount based on my earnings.  Businesses are not charities, they exist for the sole purpose of making money and the price they charge is based on what the market will bear.  In some cases, there is a regional variation in pricing, but many things cost the same no matter where you live because people pay the set price.  There obviously must be enough people in "flyover" states who can afford to pay the listed prices for paper published and online content since books, video games, subscriptions, etc all sell well in those states.  Neither WOTC nor Curse make all or even most of their money just selling to affluent people living on the coasts (and many people living on the coasts are not affluent).

Quote from Stormknight >>

Quote from Rubahak >>

I still haven't seen an answer whether they're going to offer a "Complete My Book" option for purchases, which is a little concerning.  It's not a concern for me, because I'm buying in up front, but I don't want people who can't afford to double purchase to have made uninformed decisions.  It's least fair for those who can't afford it to have to double pay within the platform because it wasn't explained to them, nor were they warned.

Hi Rubahak,

that question has been asked several times and, you're right, hasn't been answered to date. You're also right that it would be unreasonable to ask people to pay full price for a digital sourcebook, if they have already purchased some of the content from it.

The Curse staff team have to consider the marketing approach, as well as getting information out to the user base, so I am sure that we will see an official answer fairly soon (definitely before launch day).

Further, 

Quote from Sipian >>

Why are you spending time justifying not buying something that you seem to feel, for various reasons, is over-priced and will not deliver? Just don't buy it and move on.  If you wish to use the free content in DDB, it will remain free.  If the premium content is not for you, then there is nothing to fret about, just don't buy it.  Your time should have value, and spending it writing lengthy posts about why you don't want to buy something is not a good use of this value.  Finally, I am not sure what your point is about "flyover" states? I was born and bred in Indiana, and I never had any expectation that any business, whether local or out-of-state, would give me a special discount based on my earnings.  Businesses are not charities, they exist for the sole purpose of making money and the price they charge is based on what the market will bear.  In some cases, there is a regional variation in pricing, but many things cost the same no matter where you live because people pay the set price.  There obviously must be enough people in "flyover" states who can afford to pay the listed prices for paper published and online content since books, video games, subscriptions, etc all sell well in those states.  Neither WOTC nor Curse make all or even most of their money just selling to affluent people living on the coasts (and many people living on the coasts are not affluent).

Apologies in advance: I did not read this entire thread, but jumped from staff response to staff response only. It is slightly unclear to me (and forgive me for being dense here) what the cost of this service actually is, so I'm just looking to confirm. Frankly, I think part of it is the OP is probably quite clear to the poster and the people working on this, a little less so if you don't have certain background knowledge. Or, I didn't spend enough time carefully reading it and am being dense. Either way:

At first, I was not sure if it is: (a) a monthly subscription fee ON TOP of the fee to purchase the books; or (b) a monthly subscription option that you can use instead of purchasing the books? In other words, would the content from the sourcebooks be available--just not in digital sourcebook form--for simply the monthly subscription? Or would you need both the digital sourcebook AND subscribe?

After re-reading everything, it seems to be the latter, based upon: (a) the phrase in the OP regarding the Master Tier that says, "It grants all the benefits of the Hero Tier, and also allows a DM to share all her unlocked official content with other players within a campaign - so content does not have to be unlocked by every player"; (b) Post #73 - "You will get the book re-created in digital format, as well as unlock all of that book's content for use throughout the toolset - both for current tools and anything on the roadmap (such as encounter building/ combat tracking, etc.)"; and Post #373, which says "The three core rulebooks are $19.99 each for the first week (which is the lowest I've ever seen them priced). This includes not only the book content in digital form, but all the options available in those books for complete use within the toolset (both for currently-available character management tools and any future tools, such as an encounter builder)." (Emphasis added in all the quotes above). 

To be clear, then, it seems like if you want to run D&D using D&D Beyond with all core handbook options, it basically equates to a one time purchase of $59.97 (for PHB, DMG and MM) at a minimum, and if you want your players to share in everything, then $5.99/mo ($72/year). Correct? 

I didn't see any mention of a discount to purchasing an annual subscription instead of monthly (like Roll20 I think did, or used to do)--did I miss that? 

So you seem to agree that DDB bring significant new functionality but you seem confused/angry that you have to pay for that functionality?

Quote from TheFabulousIronChef >>

Apologies in advance: I did not read this entire thread, but jumped from staff response to staff response only. It is slightly unclear to me (and forgive me for being dense here) what the cost of this service actually is, so I'm just looking to confirm. Frankly, I think part of it is the OP is probably quite clear to the poster and the people working on this, a little less so if you don't have certain background knowledge. Or, I didn't spend enough time carefully reading it and am being dense. Either way:

At first, I was not sure if it is: (a) a monthly subscription fee ON TOP of the fee to purchase the books; or (b) a monthly subscription option that you can use instead of purchasing the books? In other words, would the content from the sourcebooks be available--just not in digital sourcebook form--for simply the monthly subscription? Or would you need both the digital sourcebook AND subscribe?

After re-reading everything, it seems to be the latter, based upon: (a) the phrase in the OP regarding the Master Tier that says, "It grants all the benefits of the Hero Tier, and also allows a DM to share all her unlocked official content with other players within a campaign - so content does not have to be unlocked by every player"; (b) Post #73 - "You will get the book re-created in digital format, as well as unlock all of that book's content for use throughout the toolset - both for current tools and anything on the roadmap (such as encounter building/ combat tracking, etc.)"; and Post #373, which says "The three core rulebooks are $19.99 each for the first week (which is the lowest I've ever seen them priced). This includes not only the book content in digital form, but all the options available in those books for complete use within the toolset (both for currently-available character management tools and any future tools, such as an encounter builder)." (Emphasis added in all the quotes above). 

To be clear, then, it seems like if you want to run D&D using D&D Beyond with all core handbook options, it basically equates to a one time purchase of $59.97 (for PHB, DMG and MM) at a minimum, and if you want your players to share in everything, then $5.99/mo ($72/year). Correct? 

I didn't see any mention of a discount to purchasing an annual subscription instead of monthly (like Roll20 I think did, or used to do)--did I miss that? 

Quote from TheFabulousIronChef >>

Apologies in advance: I did not read this entire thread, but jumped from staff response to staff response only. It is slightly unclear to me (and forgive me for being dense here) what the cost of this service actually is, so I'm just looking to confirm. Frankly, I think part of it is the OP is probably quite clear to the poster and the people working on this, a little less so if you don't have certain background knowledge. Or, I didn't spend enough time carefully reading it and am being dense. Either way:

At first, I was not sure if it is: (a) a monthly subscription fee ON TOP of the fee to purchase the books; or (b) a monthly subscription option that you can use instead of purchasing the books? In other words, would the content from the sourcebooks be available--just not in digital sourcebook form--for simply the monthly subscription? Or would you need both the digital sourcebook AND subscribe?

After re-reading everything, it seems to be the latter, based upon: (a) the phrase in the OP regarding the Master Tier that says, "It grants all the benefits of the Hero Tier, and also allows a DM to share all her unlocked official content with other players within a campaign - so content does not have to be unlocked by every player"; (b) Post #73 - "You will get the book re-created in digital format, as well as unlock all of that book's content for use throughout the toolset - both for current tools and anything on the roadmap (such as encounter building/ combat tracking, etc.)"; and Post #373, which says "The three core rulebooks are $19.99 each for the first week (which is the lowest I've ever seen them priced). This includes not only the book content in digital form, but all the options available in those books for complete use within the toolset (both for currently-available character management tools and any future tools, such as an encounter builder)." (Emphasis added in all the quotes above). 

To be clear, then, it seems like if you want to run D&D using D&D Beyond with all core handbook options, it basically equates to a one time purchase of $59.97 (for PHB, DMG and MM) at a minimum, and if you want your players to share in everything, then $5.99/mo ($72/year). Correct? 

I didn't see any mention of a discount to purchasing an annual subscription instead of monthly (like Roll20 I think did, or used to do)--did I miss that?