This is beyond ridiculous that I have to purchase so much content to make this site usable. I own every 5e book hardcopy, but would like to use the character sheet feature for an upcoming campaign. Even though I've already spent hundreds of dollars on books, I have to buy them all again or $1.99 per item to fill out a character. This is nothing but a gatekeeping cash grab. I was more than willing to sign up for subscription, thinking I would have access to all of the books as long as I was subscribed. You would think a partner company of WotC would make it easier for it's customers to use its content, not more difficult.
This is beyond ridiculous that I have to purchase so much content to make this site usable. I own every 5e book hardcopy, but would like to use the character sheet feature for an upcoming campaign. Even though I've already spent hundreds of dollars on books, I have to buy them all again or $1.99 per item to fill out a character. This is nothing but a gatekeeping cash grab. I was more than willing to sign up for subscription, thinking I would have access to all of the books as long as I was subscribed. You would think a partner company of WotC would make it easier for it's customers to use its content, not more difficult.
You don't have to do anything. D&D Beyond is a tool that can enhance a variety of ways of playing D&D, but it's neither essential to play nor is it an entitlement to people who own everything in print.
It's possible, though time consuming, to homebrew everything you want in your print collection so you can integrate your print collection into D&D Beyond without spending a dime (except for the Artificer Class, you'll have to buy a subclass to get access to it, so $1.99). I've easily homebrewed a PHB's worth of races, subclasses and background from a 3rd party hardback in less time than it takes to read through some of the longer complaint threads about "why does DDB's online tool sets cost money if I have the books?"
You have every right to declare your displeasure at D&D Beyond's means to generate revenue. Do realize though that you're posting on a forum largely frequented by DDB users who through a mix of financial expenditures on the marketplace and sweat equity in the homebrew builder, and thus likely don't at all share your outrage. I don't know if I'd call it a joke, but I'd at least call the stance in ironic juxtaposition with the bulk of your audience.
You're also free to try any of the other digital vendors or VTT spaces out there to see if you can land a better deal in the free market that doesn't compel you to use any of those services when playing either.
DDB is neither owned nor operated by WotC. It’s an independent, 3rd-party retailer just like wherever you purchased those hardcopies. This retailer also happens to have a (mostly) implemented and interactive digital toolset that it provides for free to site users as a incentive to purchase here. It works with all of the free content published by WotC without having to purchase anything at all. Complaining about having to purchase digital licenses to content here after you purchased hardcopies is as… inappropriate as if one were to complain in outrage to Amazon, Barnes & Nobels, or your LGS that they would charge you for hardcopies after you purchased digital licenses here.
This is beyond ridiculous that I have to purchase so much content to make this site usable. I own every 5e book hardcopy, but would like to use the character sheet feature for an upcoming campaign. Even though I've already spent hundreds of dollars on books, I have to buy them all again or $1.99 per item to fill out a character. This is nothing but a gatekeeping cash grab. I was more than willing to sign up for subscription, thinking I would have access to all of the books as long as I was subscribed. You would think a partner company of WotC would make it easier for it's customers to use its content, not more difficult.
You don't own the content. You just don't. You own the books, which gives you the knowledge of what the content is. You don't own anything yourself. You don't own the licenses, characters, etc.
In terms of digital toolsets, you don't own the content digitally. D&D Beyond, as well as Fantasy Grounds, Roll20, etc have created massive systems to enable the content digitally. That took time and effort, and they are well within their bounds to charge for that effort as they had to pay Wizards to use that content.
Is it a cash grab? 100%. Is it gatekeeping? Nope, you're using that word wrong.
If you don't like that, you are more than welcome to invest what would have been thousands and thousands of hours to code this yourself. When you do that, please post the link and I'll make a decision on if I'll spend money on your thing instead.
Once again, someone made an account and the ONLY thing that the person posts in the forums is a new (duplicate and dead horsed) thread how the person wants free stuff. I miss the days when a user had to participate in the forums a bit before starting a new thread.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider. My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong. I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲 “It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
Once again, someone made an account and the ONLY thing that the person posts in the forums is a new (duplicate and dead horsed) thread how the person wants free stuff. I miss the days when a user had to participate in the forums a bit before starting a new thread.
I'd agree if so much basic level "customer service" weren't handled by forum community. The legit customer service avenue, as far as I can tell, isn't as well integrated in DDB as the forum is.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
This is beyond ridiculous that I have to purchase so much content to make this site usable. I own every 5e book hardcopy, but would like to use the character sheet feature for an upcoming campaign. Even though I've already spent hundreds of dollars on books, I have to buy them all again or $1.99 per item to fill out a character. This is nothing but a gatekeeping cash grab. I was more than willing to sign up for subscription, thinking I would have access to all of the books as long as I was subscribed. You would think a partner company of WotC would make it easier for it's customers to use its content, not more difficult.
You don't have to do anything. D&D Beyond is a tool that can enhance a variety of ways of playing D&D, but it's neither essential to play nor is it an entitlement to people who own everything in print.
It's possible, though time consuming, to homebrew everything you want in your print collection so you can integrate your print collection into D&D Beyond without spending a dime (except for the Artificer Class, you'll have to buy a subclass to get access to it, so $1.99). I've easily homebrewed a PHB's worth of races, subclasses and background from a 3rd party hardback in less time than it takes to read through some of the longer complaint threads about "why does DDB's online tool sets cost money if I have the books?"
You have every right to declare your displeasure at D&D Beyond's means to generate revenue. Do realize though that you're posting on a forum largely frequented by DDB users who through a mix of financial expenditures on the marketplace and sweat equity in the homebrew builder, and thus likely don't at all share your outrage. I don't know if I'd call it a joke, but I'd at least call the stance in ironic juxtaposition with the bulk of your audience.
You're also free to try any of the other digital vendors or VTT spaces out there to see if you can land a better deal in the free market that doesn't compel you to use any of those services when playing either.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
DDB is neither owned nor operated by WotC. It’s an independent, 3rd-party retailer just like wherever you purchased those hardcopies. This retailer also happens to have a (mostly) implemented and interactive digital toolset that it provides for free to site users as a incentive to purchase here. It works with all of the free content published by WotC without having to purchase anything at all. Complaining about having to purchase digital licenses to content here after you purchased hardcopies is as… inappropriate as if one were to complain in outrage to Amazon, Barnes & Nobels, or your LGS that they would charge you for hardcopies after you purchased digital licenses here.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Hey look, it's this thread again.
Please see the top link in my signature for more information.
Please do not contact or message me.
I feel as if the site rules should outline the fact that you don't just "get stuff" because you bought it in real life. Clearly, and in bold.
N/A
You don't own the content. You just don't. You own the books, which gives you the knowledge of what the content is. You don't own anything yourself. You don't own the licenses, characters, etc.
In terms of digital toolsets, you don't own the content digitally. D&D Beyond, as well as Fantasy Grounds, Roll20, etc have created massive systems to enable the content digitally. That took time and effort, and they are well within their bounds to charge for that effort as they had to pay Wizards to use that content.
Is it a cash grab? 100%. Is it gatekeeping? Nope, you're using that word wrong.
If you don't like that, you are more than welcome to invest what would have been thousands and thousands of hours to code this yourself. When you do that, please post the link and I'll make a decision on if I'll spend money on your thing instead.
Once again, someone made an account and the ONLY thing that the person posts in the forums is a new (duplicate and dead horsed) thread how the person wants free stuff. I miss the days when a user had to participate in the forums a bit before starting a new thread.
Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider.
My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong.
I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲
“It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
They do, in the “Terms of Service” and “Terms of Sale” that nobody reads before creating an account. (Literally in bold.)
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
I'd agree if so much basic level "customer service" weren't handled by forum community. The legit customer service avenue, as far as I can tell, isn't as well integrated in DDB as the forum is.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Eh it's D&D so undead stuff like horses shouldn't be a surprise.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale