I just made my dnd beyond account because my campaign wanted to start using better maps, I know Maps is currently in beta but, I was wondering if there is any way to add a hard copy of a book, I own onto my account without having to buy it again?
I just made my dnd beyond account because my campaign wanted to start using better maps, I know Maps is currently in beta but, I was wondering if there is any way to add a hard copy of a book, I own onto my account without having to buy it again?
This comes up perennially, and the answer is no. They don't even know which books you own.
The physical books and the DDB copies are two separate producys so yes you do have to buy them again. It's like buying a physical book on Amazon and not getting the audio book or kindle edition for free
I just made my dnd beyond account because my campaign wanted to start using better maps, I know Maps is currently in beta but, I was wondering if there is any way to add a hard copy of a book, I own onto my account without having to buy it again?
This comes up perennially, and the answer is no. They don't even know which books you own.
If it comes up perennially, then why in all that is good and holy does WOTC not try to fix it
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In the words of the great philosopher, Unicorse, "Aaaannnnd why should I care??"
Best quote from a book ever: "If you love with your eyes, death is forever. If you love with your heart, there is no such thing as parting."- Jonah Cook, Ascendant, Songs of Chaos by Michael R. Miller. Highly recommend
I just made my dnd beyond account because my campaign wanted to start using better maps, I know Maps is currently in beta but, I was wondering if there is any way to add a hard copy of a book, I own onto my account without having to buy it again?
This comes up perennially, and the answer is no. They don't even know which books you own.
If it comes up perennially, then why in all that is good and holy does WOTC not try to fix it
Presumably they'd rather sell the books to people who want books, and digital to people who want digital, and discounted bundles to people who want both, instead of hiking the price and selling everything to people whether they want it or not.
If it comes up perennially, then why in all that is good and holy does WOTC not try to fix it
There is no possible way for them to know that you bought a given book from your FLGS at some point in the past (the data doesn't exist), and no particularly feasible way of doing it in the future. It's possible for them to sell a package deal (you get both physical and electronic, at a discount off of buying them separately, as long as you use the same electronic storefront to buy both products), and they've done that.
It can actually be worse than you describe. Digital copies don't carry over between platforms. So, if you want a hard copy to play at home, a copy for your D&D Beyond game and characters, a copy for that game you run on Roll20 and a copy for that game that happens to use Fantasy Grounds then you can end up buying the same material four or more times.
The Beyond20 app helps a lot with using characters and NPCs from D&D Beyond in other virtual table tops but the bottom line is that owning the hard copy books give you access to the content in the hard copy books and that is all. Access on other platforms and formats needs to be purchased separately.
There are lots of reasons for this - not least is revenue since selling both physical and digital copies results in more revenues when people decide to buy both. Similarly, each of the partner organizations want to maintain their own revenues and user base so they also sell access to the digital content customized for their platforms. From a WotC perspective, selling a digital copy on Roll20 earns WotC additional revenue while also supplementing Roll20 revenues. If a single digital purchase worked for all platforms then WotC would need to pay Roll20 and other partners to host their content (or have some similar arrangement) which would change a revenue stream into a cost that reduces profits. Unless there was a way for this to enhance profitability, WotC is unlikely to sell a digital license for all platforms.
It can actually be worse than you describe. Digital copies don't carry over between platforms. So, if you want a hard copy to play at home, a copy for your D&D Beyond game and characters, a copy for that game you run on Roll20 and a copy for that game that happens to use Fantasy Grounds then you can end up buying the same material four or more times.
The Beyond20 app helps a lot with using characters and NPCs from D&D Beyond in other virtual table tops but the bottom line is that owning the hard copy books give you access to the content in the hard copy books and that is all. Access on other platforms and formats needs to be purchased separately.
There are lots of reasons for this - not least is revenue since selling both physical and digital copies results in more revenues when people decide to buy both. Similarly, each of the partner organizations want to maintain their own revenues and user base so they also sell access to the digital content customized for their platforms. From a WotC perspective, selling a digital copy on Roll20 earns WotC additional revenue while also supplementing Roll20 revenues. If a single digital purchase worked for all platforms then WotC would need to pay Roll20 and other partners to host their content (or have some similar arrangement) which would change a revenue stream into a cost that reduces profits. Unless there was a way for this to enhance profitability, WotC is unlikely to sell a digital license for all platforms.
Yeah this is a rough one.. you can buy the books from Dnd marketplace to bundle digital and physical. but if you want the hobby cover then you are out of luck
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I just made my dnd beyond account because my campaign wanted to start using better maps, I know Maps is currently in beta but, I was wondering if there is any way to add a hard copy of a book, I own onto my account without having to buy it again?
This comes up perennially, and the answer is no. They don't even know which books you own.
The physical books and the DDB copies are two separate producys so yes you do have to buy them again. It's like buying a physical book on Amazon and not getting the audio book or kindle edition for free
If it comes up perennially, then why in all that is good and holy does WOTC not try to fix it
In the words of the great philosopher, Unicorse, "Aaaannnnd why should I care??"
Best quote from a book ever: "If you love with your eyes, death is forever. If you love with your heart, there is no such thing as parting."- Jonah Cook, Ascendant, Songs of Chaos by Michael R. Miller. Highly recommend
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DM session planning template - My version of maps for 'Lost Mine of Phandelver' - Send your party to The Circus - Other DM Resources - Maps, Tokens, Quests - 'Better' Player Character Injury Tables?
Actor, Writer, Director & Teacher by day - GM/DM in my off hours.
Presumably they'd rather sell the books to people who want books, and digital to people who want digital, and discounted bundles to people who want both, instead of hiking the price and selling everything to people whether they want it or not.
There is no possible way for them to know that you bought a given book from your FLGS at some point in the past (the data doesn't exist), and no particularly feasible way of doing it in the future. It's possible for them to sell a package deal (you get both physical and electronic, at a discount off of buying them separately, as long as you use the same electronic storefront to buy both products), and they've done that.
It can actually be worse than you describe. Digital copies don't carry over between platforms. So, if you want a hard copy to play at home, a copy for your D&D Beyond game and characters, a copy for that game you run on Roll20 and a copy for that game that happens to use Fantasy Grounds then you can end up buying the same material four or more times.
The Beyond20 app helps a lot with using characters and NPCs from D&D Beyond in other virtual table tops but the bottom line is that owning the hard copy books give you access to the content in the hard copy books and that is all. Access on other platforms and formats needs to be purchased separately.
There are lots of reasons for this - not least is revenue since selling both physical and digital copies results in more revenues when people decide to buy both. Similarly, each of the partner organizations want to maintain their own revenues and user base so they also sell access to the digital content customized for their platforms. From a WotC perspective, selling a digital copy on Roll20 earns WotC additional revenue while also supplementing Roll20 revenues. If a single digital purchase worked for all platforms then WotC would need to pay Roll20 and other partners to host their content (or have some similar arrangement) which would change a revenue stream into a cost that reduces profits. Unless there was a way for this to enhance profitability, WotC is unlikely to sell a digital license for all platforms.
Yeah this is a rough one.. you can buy the books from Dnd marketplace to bundle digital and physical. but if you want the hobby cover then you are out of luck