Sell me on D&D Beyond

[lkj]

Doh!

Is this newer or have I just been abtuse? Looking at it now it is freaking obvious. Actually, this is fine for me. Better to search and tap a circle than have to select a source from a search form or something clunky list that.

Now the only thing I would like is the ability to limit a search to the book that I am currently looking at, though now I worry you'll tell me I can already do that.

I would also like a better way to access the table of contents of a book in the Web site. I find it easier to browse a book in the app because I can bring up the TOC and jump to a section in two taps, instead of clicking "go to top" and then clicking on the books top level link in the breadcrumb trail, and then clicking on the section in the TOC I want to go to.

I honestly don't know when it was implemented. I just noticed it one day and thought 'hey that's useful'. For both our sakes, let's just say it was recently implemented.

I don't think there's a way to search within the book you are looking at on the website. You can filter by source when searching for spells or monsters on the spell and monster page (not through the global search). Does it work like that for the app? Haven't done much searching there. Anyway, it's possible that sort of functionality will come with the source management they keep mentioning.

That table of contents feature on the website would be good. I agree.

Have you thrown this stuff as suggestions on their feedback forum? They do a really good job of keeping track of suggestions.

AD

 

[MNblockhead]

I honestly don't know when it was implemented. I just noticed it one day and thought 'hey that's useful'. For both our sakes, let's just say it was recently implemented.

I don't think there's a way to search within the book you are looking at on the website. You can filter by source when searching for spells or monsters on the spell and monster page (not through the global search). Does it work like that for the app? Haven't done much searching there. Anyway, it's possible that sort of functionality will come with the source management they keep mentioning.

That table of contents feature on the website would be good. I agree.

Have you thrown this stuff as suggestions on their feedback forum? They do a really good job of keeping track of suggestions.

AD

Other people generally already have and I upvote them.

One problem with the filter is if I chose "compendium" it includes Adventure material, even those I don't own. For example, try to search for "scroll" to find the rules for scrolls in the DMG. I wish they would break up the compendium search filter into "Rules" and "Adventures". At least they generally prioritize the results by rules before adventures, so the rules are usually sorted to the top.

 

[akr71]

I have hard copy and dndbeyond copies, but I don’t use FG. I can say that the online search capability, along with the ongoing development around campaign/encounter management in addition to the homebrew creation/sharing functionality makes DNDB a good investment for me.

I play in-person games almost exclusively, so my situation may not match yours.

This matches my thoughts exactly. I have to date only purchased the core 3 books and only recently went the subscription route. I like having my phone or laptop at the table so that I can quickly reference a spell or monster stat block. The books still have their place, but being able to quickly search when I need to is worth the investment.

You do not need the subscription tier. I'm trying it out for a few months to see what I think. We are wrapping up a campaign and as we start a new one, we'll see if the subscription has any benefit to us. My wife has started managing her character on DND Beyond and quite enjoys it.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

While there are various pros and cons, options to weigh, YMMV, etc., the decision to purchase content on D&D Beyond basically boils down to:

• Buy it because you would feel guilty about torrenting a PDF of the core rule books.
• OR, don't buy it because you don't feel guilty about torrenting a PDF of the core rule books.

This would only seem true with a shallow understanding of what DDB provides. Having the PHB on DDB is strictly more valuable than having a PDF of the PHB. By far.

Like, I can't even fathom how one could equate them.
[MENTION=467]Reynard[/MENTION] DDB is better than other digital versions of the books because of a few factors.

1, Indexed searching with in depth filters

2, hyperlinks

3, multiple ways to find information. You can either open the PHB via the Compendium tab, or go to Characters>Classes>Official>Wizard, and look there, or just type in Spellbook, and scroll down.

4, easy access to what is being playtested in unearthed arcana

5, great way to tinker with homebrew, and maintain a searchable collection of it, and then use it in conjuction with official material.

6, mobile app. it's still in beta, but it already has offline viewing of the books, and will eventually have the full functionality of the service. So, even if DDB goes away, you still have whatever books you downloaded to your devices from the app.

Also, if you get the Legendary Bundle, it's all 15% down from normal amazon prices, including anything you ever buy on the service going forward. Also, if you just by the core books right now, and decided to buy the bundle later, they discount the bundle by the cost of the books you already purchased.

OH, and if you watch Critical Role, there is probably a discount code for DDB, or if not there will be one again soon. Last time I saw one it was 25% off. That includes getting the Legendary Bundle, which in case you didn't know, is everything punblished by wotc for 5e so far, including stuff like the Tortle Package, and the Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron.

I can't really tell you if the subscriptions are worth it, though. We're considering it, because we share our account with the whole group right now, and 6 character slots isn't enough, but honestly its not that hard to make due without. the service is fully functional and incredibly useful without a sub.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I would also like a better way to access the table of contents of a book in the Web site. I find it easier to browse a book in the app because I can bring up the TOC and jump to a section in two taps, instead of clicking "go to top" and then clicking on the books top level link in the breadcrumb trail, and then clicking on the section in the TOC I want to go to.

This, and the format of the exported character sheet, are the two things I still don't like about DDB.

Which sucks, because I don't like having to open my phone in order to check my character sheet. I refuse to print double sided, as it is, because I find stuff faster if it's printed single side, so opening my phone and then clicking to find something is...not ideal.

 

[guachi]

The major benefit I've found to online stuff at the table (I have tons from dndclassics/DMsGuild as well as homemade documents) is for the documents I'm likely to rarely use and don't want to have a stack of books/papers on the off chance I need it.

I have no real need for digital versions of stuff I'll use all the time at the gaming table. Now, if I gamed in my living room and I had my computer hooked to my 55 inch TV I'm sure I could find tons of uses for digital stuff at the table. But I don't so I don't.

 

[guachi]

A second thing I'll add. When I buy a physical movie disc of a new release movie (and most current catalog titles) I also get a digital code. But as of last year, it's even better. Now your digital code propagates among a number of digital content providers - Vudu, Movies Anywhere, iTunes - when you redeem the code.

That's what I want with my D&D. I don't know how, exactly, it can be done. But that's what I want.

 

[MNblockhead]

A second thing I'll add. When I buy a physical movie disc of a new release movie (and most current catalog titles) I also get a digital code. But as of last year, it's even better. Now your digital code propagates among a number of digital content providers - Vudu, Movies Anywhere, iTunes - when you redeem the code.

That's what I want with my D&D. I don't know how, exactly, it can be done. But that's what I want.

If this model works with music and video, it should work here. As the competition increases, I expect we'll eventually see something similar. Already, it there is friction for me making a VTT decision. I've already invested in the books and in DDB that, while it would be nice to have all the rules integrated into a VTT, I have payment fatigue. I would rather spend that money on a new video game or board game or minis, etc. But if there were some digital code I could use to that would give me a significant discount, I would be far more likely to consider a subscription with Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds.

If there was a dependable way to prove you bought a rulebook, then I could see someone like Fantasy Ground giving you access to that content on their platform with a subscription, if they can make enough money on the subscriptions to cover the licensing costs.

To some extent, Paizo is already doing this. Already Paizo has a payment system that VTT and other third-party providers of their content tie into. If you buy a book from Paizo's website, you get discounts on the PDFs already, and third-parties can give discounts for their versions of the content. Now, this isn't the same as full portability, but a discount across formats and across services is certainly welcome.

But, full portability is only going to work with subscription models. So this may drive up monthly subscription rates or require longer subscription lockins. Digital gaming material just doesn't have the volume of content or number of users to cover licensing costs under current subscription rates.

 

[fjw70]

I love DDB. Since it have had it I barely touch my physical books. It is great having my entire library with me at all times. If I have some downtime during lunch, at the doctor’s office, or wherever then I can read or look stuff up on DDB.

I still tend to use paper and pencil at the table when I DM so I don’t have to jump from window to window on my ipad (but as a player I am fine with a digital character sheet). I will probably continue to but the 5e adventures to use at the table (some day I will get around to actually running those).

 

[schnee]

I own the physical books, and I don't touch them any more.

I use an iPad at the table when I play, and a laptop web browser with a bunch of tabs open when I DM, and it's made things easier and faster to find for me - I just create 'saved tabs' for any adventure or character and I have it all at my disposal.

It definitely has flaws, but I can live with them.