D&D 5E So why no PDFs? Is their fear of piracy -that- bad?

[Iosue]

D&D Encounters is store-only.
D&D Expeditions is store, public place or convention only.

However, the Hoard of the Dragon Queen adventure can be played at home. Given Encounters uses HotDQ, it means that the adventure can be played at home, but strictly speaking the D&D Encounters program is only played in-store.

Cheers!

This may be a distinction without a difference, because per the Adventurer's League FAQ, "home play will be supported though the initial adventure released for sale each season. For the first season, Tyranny of Dragons, Hoard of the Dragon Queen is the adventure that coincides with D&D Encounters and can be played at home. The characters that you use in these adventures can be used in home play or can be used in any of our public play programs (D&D Encounters, D&D Expeditions or D&D Epics)."

If Encounters uses the initial adventure released for sale each season, and that can be played at home, with characters used in those home games usable at any other public play program, I'm not sure I understand how Encounters is store-only, or how more generally Adventurer's League adventures are convention or store only...

 

[MerricB]

You can only get the magic item certificates for in-store play. The character folders are likewise only for encounters players.

 

[Chocolategravy]

The answer is obvious. PDFs don't work on their Apple Newtons.