I suspect I am not the first person to ask this question, but does D&D Beyond have any plans to create an in-house VTT? Something that is integrated with their in-house tools? That seems like a great and obvious path, but I can't find any information about it. I use Roll20, which is fine, but man oh man, it it were all in one place...
Its gonna take a lot of time, money and effort to make a VTT, and DDB have a good corner of the market with what they are doing, and they would be facing a lot of competition straight away. Things like Roll20 or Foundry already have a stable hold on the market, DDB would need to have the features they have plus more, to draw in older fans. Because if you are already familiar with and own lots on Roll20, why would you switch to DDB. They would need a big hook.
I suspect if there is a plan to make one, its not their priority, they are gonna focus on what DDB is good at, and really bring in that audience.
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"The D&D rules help you and the other players have a good time, but the rules aren't in charge. You're the DM, and you are in charge of the game" - Dungeon Masters Guide
This is asked probably once a week. The answers are (1) there is no VTT currently, (2) there is no current mechanism of seamlessly and officially integrating with other VTTS (though unofficial, player-made options for this do exist), and (3) there is no word on when, or whether, there will ever be a DDB VTT. I suspect they'd kinda like to do it since they could easily see this as a cash cow. But given how slow their development has been on the individual pieces of a VTT (their combat tracker being in perpetual beta being a perfect example), I would not hold my breath. You'll be lucky to see one before 6e comes out, frankly.
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WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
I once was of this mind, but when you look at the changelog and the length of time for features to be done, I'd actually prefer if they didn't do a VTT. The VTT vendors are able to iterate on features at a much faster pace. What I hope they are doing is a public API that VTT vendors can hook into. No doubt this will come at a cost, raising the price for DM's in their subscription, but that's a cost that can be shared out amongst the players so no big deal.
I once was of this mind, but when you look at the changelog and the length of time for features to be done, I'd actually prefer if they didn't do a VTT. The VTT vendors are able to iterate on features at a much faster pace.
This is my thought as well. When you look at how fast Foundry updates things, as well as the active modders for the Foundry mods, and how long it takes for DDB to do anything, there is no question that we don't want DDB to be running our VTT.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
I watch the developer videos every week, which I recommend others do. They are surprisingly candid, and you’ll get a much better understanding on what they are currently focusing on, what they’d like to do next, and why things like a VTT will take a very long time indeed to launch.
I do agree I’d love it if one did get launched tho. Owlbear Rodeo in the meantime.
I'm anxious to see how Talespire may turn out, even in early access it's looking amazing. If DNDB or WoTC got in bed with them, i'd be very happy. Just a pipe dream though.
Didn't I read that D&D/Magic the Gathering made upwards of $800 million in revenue last year for Hasboro?
JUST BUY ROLL20! For heaven's sake.
That wouldn't really help D&D Beyond, though, would it?
Even if Fandom (the owners of DDB) bought Roll20, it wouldn't simply be a matter of saying "There you go, a nice, integrated VTT with all the DDB content available". There would be massive amounts of development involved in integrating the two.
Didn't I read that D&D/Magic the Gathering made upwards of $800 million in revenue last year for Hasboro?
JUST BUY ROLL20! For heaven's sake.
That wouldn't really help D&D Beyond, though, would it?
Even if Fandom (the owners of DDB) bought Roll20, it wouldn't simply be a matter of saying "There you go, a nice, integrated VTT with all the DDB content available". There would be massive amounts of development involved in integrating the two.
Not to mention that Roll20 supports a lot of other gaming systems. So what does DNDB and WoTC do about all that existing support and code? Just drop it, pissing off a ton of consumers? Or take the legal nightmare and still try to maintain support for products that aren't even theirs?
If DND is going to partner or buy anything, it will probably have to be a product in early development, before a playerbase really starts digging into it.
Not to mention that Roll20 supports a lot of other gaming systems. So what does DNDB and WoTC do about all that existing support and code? Just drop it, pissing off a ton of consumers?
And not only all the customers of other other games would get angry. Even people who only play D&D, and none of the other games, but are friends with or sympathize with everyone who got their game zapped, would be angered by something like this.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
If WotC coast bought foundry it would not change anything for the DDB user. I don't think WotC feel they need to support on line play directly that's why they partner so closely with DDB.
I would like to see DDB work toward a VTT of there own although I believe it will be a while but then again all the work they are doing re-building from the ground up the backstage stuff might mean the other things we are longing for might suddenly appear a lot closer than we thought.
Making a map grid and placing tokens is the easy bit I would imagine, all the dice roll stat block stuff and linking that to tokens and trackers must me harder but they are fast getting that all sorted in the combat tracker anyway.
I don't speak from any experience I know nothing about programming. But I find the DDB site the most solid and easy to use Character sheet out there and trust as they increase the DM and party play elements they will become equally good.
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I suspect I am not the first person to ask this question, but does D&D Beyond have any plans to create an in-house VTT? Something that is integrated with their in-house tools? That seems like a great and obvious path, but I can't find any information about it. I use Roll20, which is fine, but man oh man, it it were all in one place...
Its gonna take a lot of time, money and effort to make a VTT, and DDB have a good corner of the market with what they are doing, and they would be facing a lot of competition straight away. Things like Roll20 or Foundry already have a stable hold on the market, DDB would need to have the features they have plus more, to draw in older fans. Because if you are already familiar with and own lots on Roll20, why would you switch to DDB. They would need a big hook.
I suspect if there is a plan to make one, its not their priority, they are gonna focus on what DDB is good at, and really bring in that audience.
"The D&D rules help you and the other players have a good time, but the rules aren't in charge. You're the DM, and you are in charge of the game" - Dungeon Masters Guide
This is asked probably once a week. The answers are (1) there is no VTT currently, (2) there is no current mechanism of seamlessly and officially integrating with other VTTS (though unofficial, player-made options for this do exist), and (3) there is no word on when, or whether, there will ever be a DDB VTT. I suspect they'd kinda like to do it since they could easily see this as a cash cow. But given how slow their development has been on the individual pieces of a VTT (their combat tracker being in perpetual beta being a perfect example), I would not hold my breath. You'll be lucky to see one before 6e comes out, frankly.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
Didn't I read that D&D/Magic the Gathering made upwards of $800 million in revenue last year for Hasboro?
JUST BUY ROLL20! For heaven's sake.
6e?
I once was of this mind, but when you look at the changelog and the length of time for features to be done, I'd actually prefer if they didn't do a VTT. The VTT vendors are able to iterate on features at a much faster pace. What I hope they are doing is a public API that VTT vendors can hook into. No doubt this will come at a cost, raising the price for DM's in their subscription, but that's a cost that can be shared out amongst the players so no big deal.
There is someone working on a chrome extension that gives VTT features to DNDBeyond : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpEL7ViwUxg
I have/use:
Encounter+
FoundryVTT
Sounds like you need the Beyond20 chrome extension, which let's you roll directly from the character sheet in DNDBeyond.
This is my thought as well. When you look at how fast Foundry updates things, as well as the active modders for the Foundry mods, and how long it takes for DDB to do anything, there is no question that we don't want DDB to be running our VTT.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
"No, there is another." At least on the horizon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DcD8-5i3X4&t=2s PC/MAC/iOS/Android.
DM Approved's Dungeon Adventures
WoTC used to have Virtual Tables in the making during 4E and 5E development i was BETA tester for.
I hope they don't because roll20 isn't all that good.
I am the obligatory dude who points to AboveVTT, which is already great in alpha and will be totally amazing when done.
I watch the developer videos every week, which I recommend others do. They are surprisingly candid, and you’ll get a much better understanding on what they are currently focusing on, what they’d like to do next, and why things like a VTT will take a very long time indeed to launch.
I do agree I’d love it if one did get launched tho. Owlbear Rodeo in the meantime.
I'm anxious to see how Talespire may turn out, even in early access it's looking amazing. If DNDB or WoTC got in bed with them, i'd be very happy. Just a pipe dream though.
That wouldn't really help D&D Beyond, though, would it?
Even if Fandom (the owners of DDB) bought Roll20, it wouldn't simply be a matter of saying "There you go, a nice, integrated VTT with all the DDB content available". There would be massive amounts of development involved in integrating the two.
Not to mention that Roll20 supports a lot of other gaming systems. So what does DNDB and WoTC do about all that existing support and code? Just drop it, pissing off a ton of consumers? Or take the legal nightmare and still try to maintain support for products that aren't even theirs?
If DND is going to partner or buy anything, it will probably have to be a product in early development, before a playerbase really starts digging into it.
And not only all the customers of other other games would get angry. Even people who only play D&D, and none of the other games, but are friends with or sympathize with everyone who got their game zapped, would be angered by something like this.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
WOTC must buy Foundry VTT :)
There is a balance of virtual vs physical. I think they realize that for them to profit from it, they can't cannibalize sales from physical items.
DM Approved's Dungeon Adventures
Here are a couple of screenshots from our VTT...
3D View
Top View
DM Approved's Dungeon Adventures
If WotC coast bought foundry it would not change anything for the DDB user. I don't think WotC feel they need to support on line play directly that's why they partner so closely with DDB.
I would like to see DDB work toward a VTT of there own although I believe it will be a while but then again all the work they are doing re-building from the ground up the backstage stuff might mean the other things we are longing for might suddenly appear a lot closer than we thought.
Making a map grid and placing tokens is the easy bit I would imagine, all the dice roll stat block stuff and linking that to tokens and trackers must me harder but they are fast getting that all sorted in the combat tracker anyway.
I don't speak from any experience I know nothing about programming. But I find the DDB site the most solid and easy to use Character sheet out there and trust as they increase the DM and party play elements they will become equally good.