I started making a couple characters expecting character creation to not have any restrictions. To only discover that you really can't make much. Example cleric I can't pick my divine domain (which I gather as a core feature of the class). So while D&D Beyond is "free" it seems to me we are expected to buy stuff for ease of use character sheet and updating as we level and get gear. When, what I was expecting was no restrictions and buy the books if I wanted digital access instead of hard copies. Perhaps I'm missing something? Especially after the impression I got from reading the Buyer's Guide sticky that you can just homebrew the stuff that isn't free. I'm not opposed to buying stuff but given this is new to the gaming group I attend I wish not to be hasty in buying stuff that could end up being wasted money if in less than a year playing D&D goes south and I'm sitting at money spent on stuff I'll probably never use again.

Thanks for any insight, help, etc.

Can the missing pieces of a class be homebrewed? I refer to the example I posted about as an example as I'm assuming there is more situations like that where a drop down list is missing core class stuff. If to be a cleric I have to pick one of a handful of divine domains to be one. By not allowing me to pick they might as well say you can't make a cleric. And I can't find a I "piece meal" option for divine domains. That aside the people that are playing all own hard copies of the core books effectively equal to sharing their purchase on here yet I'm not seeing exactly how to homebrew the missing portions to create characters from the core stuff.

You can either homebrew a subclass (like a Divine Domain) or you can purchase it separately from the Marketplace (when you view the PHB page there there will be sections where you can buy individual pieces).

Anything purchased will count towards the cost of future purchases - for example, if you buy the War Domain and the Eldritch Knight subclass, and then later decided to buy the PHB, the money already spent on those 2 subclasses from the PHB is taken off the total of the PHB price.

Wizards of the Coast have licensing requirements that mean we can't just provide everything for free. This is the same with all of their licensing partners.

I see, thanks for the clarification. I didn't understand that divine domain was a subclass. Which is probably why I couldn't find it in the "piece meal" stuff. If the outlook is good for D&D with this game group and I decide to buy pieces that ultimately add up to the price of the book does it automatically give me the whole book? Or would I need to keep track so I don't overpay?

All subclasses can be brought piece meal - should be under the subclasses section here: https://www.dndbeyond.com/marketplace/source/2

It does not auto purchase the book for you, you'd need to add it to your cart (which would then tally the discount based on previously purchased things. If you've bought over the amount of the PHB, the extra would then roll over to other purchases.

Just to be clear, you couldn't pick a Divine domain at all?  Or just the one you wanted was unavailable?

You should be able to create a Cleric with the Life Domain with just the SRD.

Also, check out this Buyer's Guide thread full of helpful information put together by Arwen'sDaughter.  

@Sorce, it is good they roll over any excess.

@LtDarien, I could only pick life. My confusion/aggravation arose from not knowing it was a sub class thing. Being new to 5e it threw me off. In 2e you didn't need to choose a sub class that I can remember which is why I reacted the way I did when creating the thread.

Thanks again all.

Yeah, one of the initially confusing things for new players is that nearly every class uses a different term for subclass (domain for clerics, martial archetypes for fighters, oaths for paladins, etc.); and classes get subclasses at different levels (some at 1st, some at 2nd, some at 3rd).