I was looking into possibly buying the Monster Manual, but I see that there is 20 dollars worth of compendium content available to purchase. I had previously thought the Monster Manual only includes a bunch of monsters. What kind of other content will I find in the compendium? I understand what's included in setting books, but I'm unsure if it's worth it for me here, since I'm only interested in the monsters, technically. In the explanation next to it it also says "with all the artwork", does that mean buying the monsters indiviually or as a bundle won't include the monster pictures?
The “compendium” is basically just the ebook. You can read the whole thing cover to cover as much as you want. You can download it to the free DDB app to read and use even when offline. If all you want is the information is the least expensive legal option you will find anywhere.
But it won’t actually unlock anything for use on DDB.
If you want all the bells and whistles unlocked on this site, you need the “full version” to get those. It costs $10 more, so $30 total. And it includes the compendium as well.
I'm not sure I understand what that means... So the compendium is the monsters but only to read, not to use? And if buy the monsters and not the compendium, what exactly is the drawback then, I can't access it as ebook? But I still got the monsters to use in encounters, don't I? Or am I misunderstanding?
I'm not sure I understand what that means... So the compendium is the monsters but only to read, not to use? And if buy the monsters and not the compendium, what exactly is the drawback then, I can't access it as ebook? But I still got the monsters to use in encounters, don't I? Or am I misunderstanding?
D&D Beyond has two classes of content; compendium and listings.
Compendium content is basically the ebook version of the physical book. If you go to the sources menu and select monster manual, you're taken to a digital replica of the physical book. You can browse and read, but you can't use the content in the various tools
Listings content is the broken out, dissected version of the compendium optimised for the tools. When you go to an individual monster or item page, say by following a tooltip, that's a listing. Listings can't be be viewed in one place, but can be used in the tools.
Here's a practical example involving Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes. You buy the compendium and can go to the A section and read about the Allip. But you can't load that monster in the encounter builder and you can't copy that monster in the homebrew tools. However, if you buy the individual Allip entry, you'll be able to access https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/Allip, but you won't be able to access https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/mtof/bestiary#Allip.
So the compendium is the monsters but only to read, not to use?
Correctish. You can “use” them, at home, just not on this site unless you “homebrew” them in for private use. That compendium costs $20. (If you bought the hardback for $30-$50 from a store or Amazon it would be the same.)
If you decided later to buy the “full version” you get credit for the $20 you spent on the compendium, so you would only have to spend the additional $10.
And if buy the monsters and not the compendium, what exactly is the drawback then, I can't access it as ebook? But I still got the monsters to use in encounters, don't I?
Mostly Correct. If you look here: https://www.dndbeyond.com/marketplace/sourcebooks/monster-manual, you should see different purchase options. You can buy the “Full Version,” the “Compendium Only,” and options to buy specific Monsters/Monster Groups in pieces for just a few dollars each. (I bought the full version so I don’t see that stuff anymore and don’t remember precisely.) Every piece you purchase also gives you credit towards the “full version” as well. If you purchase just those bits you get just those monsters and you get access to read just those bits and you get the option to download just those bits to the app for offline use.
If you purchase the “Full Version” you get everything. (No steak knives though)
I know how credits towards the full purchase work, that's not what my questions were about.
But I understand what the compendium would give me now, I had thought it would be something that is not the monsters. I think in this case I only need the listings content, so thank you both for answering my questions and clearing that up.
Happy to help. I wasn’t sure what you knew or didn’t so I included everything related to your question. But I will also say that if you buy all of those listings individually it costs the same as the full version, but the full version gets you everything so it’s more cost effective long run.
Happy to help. I wasn’t sure what you knew or didn’t so I included everything related to your question. But I will also say that if you buy all of those listings individually it costs the same as the full version, but the full version gets you everything so it’s more cost effective long run.
It says the Monsters cost $19.99 and the full book would be $29.99?
I logged out and looked and you are correct. My sincerest apologies for the inaccurate/outdated information. As I remember from back when I purchased it that was not an option.
The Monster bundle gives you the monster pages (i.e. https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/[INSERT_MONSTER_HERE]). This lets you use the monster in your Extras section of your character sheets and use them in the Encounter Builder. The Compendium gives you the digital version of the monster's entry in the book (i.e. https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/mtof/bestiary#[INSERT_MONSTER_HERE]). This lets you SEE all the stats and the lore, but no interaction with the online tools. The Monster Manual book gives you both of these at "buy 1, get the 2nd half off".
Is all this correct?
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Hello!
I was looking into possibly buying the Monster Manual, but I see that there is 20 dollars worth of compendium content available to purchase. I had previously thought the Monster Manual only includes a bunch of monsters. What kind of other content will I find in the compendium? I understand what's included in setting books, but I'm unsure if it's worth it for me here, since I'm only interested in the monsters, technically. In the explanation next to it it also says "with all the artwork", does that mean buying the monsters indiviually or as a bundle won't include the monster pictures?
The “compendium” is basically just the ebook. You can read the whole thing cover to cover as much as you want. You can download it to the free DDB app to read and use even when offline. If all you want is the information is the least expensive legal option you will find anywhere.
But it won’t actually unlock anything for use on DDB.
If you want all the bells and whistles unlocked on this site, you need the “full version” to get those. It costs $10 more, so $30 total. And it includes the compendium as well.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
I'm not sure I understand what that means... So the compendium is the monsters but only to read, not to use? And if buy the monsters and not the compendium, what exactly is the drawback then, I can't access it as ebook? But I still got the monsters to use in encounters, don't I? Or am I misunderstanding?
D&D Beyond has two classes of content; compendium and listings.
Here's a practical example involving Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes. You buy the compendium and can go to the A section and read about the Allip. But you can't load that monster in the encounter builder and you can't copy that monster in the homebrew tools. However, if you buy the individual Allip entry, you'll be able to access https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/Allip, but you won't be able to access https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/mtof/bestiary#Allip.
Buying the whole book gives you both
Find my D&D Beyond articles here
Correctish. You can “use” them, at home, just not on this site unless you “homebrew” them in for private use. That compendium costs $20. (If you bought the hardback for $30-$50 from a store or Amazon it would be the same.)
If you decided later to buy the “full version” you get credit for the $20 you spent on the compendium, so you would only have to spend the additional $10.
Mostly Correct. If you look here: https://www.dndbeyond.com/marketplace/sourcebooks/monster-manual, you should see different purchase options. You can buy the “Full Version,” the “Compendium Only,” and options to buy specific Monsters/Monster Groups in pieces for just a few dollars each. (I bought the full version so I don’t see that stuff anymore and don’t remember precisely.) Every piece you purchase also gives you credit towards the “full version” as well. If you purchase just those bits you get just those monsters and you get access to read just those bits and you get the option to download just those bits to the app for offline use.
If you purchase the “Full Version” you get everything. (No steak knives though)
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
I know how credits towards the full purchase work, that's not what my questions were about.
But I understand what the compendium would give me now, I had thought it would be something that is not the monsters. I think in this case I only need the listings content, so thank you both for answering my questions and clearing that up.
Happy to help. I wasn’t sure what you knew or didn’t so I included everything related to your question. But I will also say that if you buy all of those listings individually it costs the same as the full version, but the full version gets you everything so it’s more cost effective long run.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
It says the Monsters cost $19.99 and the full book would be $29.99?
I logged out and looked and you are correct. My sincerest apologies for the inaccurate/outdated information. As I remember from back when I purchased it that was not an option.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
No worries! Thank you for helping me
If y'all don't mind me restarting this thread:
The Monster bundle gives you the monster pages (i.e. https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/[INSERT_MONSTER_HERE]). This lets you use the monster in your Extras section of your character sheets and use them in the Encounter Builder.
The Compendium gives you the digital version of the monster's entry in the book (i.e. https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/mtof/bestiary#[INSERT_MONSTER_HERE]). This lets you SEE all the stats and the lore, but no interaction with the online tools.
The Monster Manual book gives you both of these at "buy 1, get the 2nd half off".
Is all this correct?