D&D (2024) Early access to 2024 books in DnDBeyond is tied to subscription tier.

[MerricB]

I need to write wotc and ask how my education subscription works. I don't know if I have to buy the books or not...

Interesting. Let's hope it does!

 

[Echohawk]

OK - I need to get the physical and digital bundle to get it. I'm not doing that, so that is unfortunate.

It's hard to tell if the digital perks are included with the digital only bundle. I suspect they are, because the Product Details section for the digital only bundle looks like this, with all those digital perks listed as "New Features":

 

[MerricB]

It's hard to tell if the digital perks are included with the digital only bundle. I suspect they are, because the Product Details section for the digital only bundle looks like this, with all those digital perks listed as "New Features":

View attachment 367902

From this page... 2024 Digital Core Rulebook Bundle - Marketplace - D&D Beyond

 

[MerricB]

It's hard to tell if the digital perks are included with the digital only bundle. I suspect they are, because the Product Details section for the digital only bundle looks like this, with all those digital perks listed as "New Features":

Here's the subscription page:

D&D Beyond Subscriptions | Official Toolset for Dungeons & Dragons

Start your first month free with the Hero and Master Tiers of D&D Beyond. Receive monthly perks, access homebrew content and create unlimited characters.

www.dndbeyond.com

Cheers,
Merric

 

[Incenjucar]

A general issue with tier systems is that they give companies more levers for increasing prices or degrading default quality. While there is obviously a need to increase baseline prices over time due to rising costs, tier systems are how you end up with ads in everything unless you pay an ever-growing premium.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

OK - I need to get the physical and digital bundle to get it. I'm not doing that, so that is unfortunate.

You don't need to get one of those to get early access. Those are for other stuff.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

The tiers. People pay more for earlier access. That’s crappy.

Nah. What makes it crappy? That people get more benefit from their subscription?

 

[MonsterEnvy]

A general issue with tier systems is that they give companies more levers for increasing prices or degrading default quality. While there is obviously a need to increase baseline prices over time due to rising costs, tier systems are how you end up with ads in everything unless you pay an ever-growing premium.

This tier system has already existed for years, nothing has changed about it other than Early Access to the new Core Books now being a part of it.

 

[Echohawk]

A general issue with tier systems is that they give companies more levers for increasing prices or degrading default quality. While there is obviously a need to increase baseline prices over time due to rising costs, tier systems are how you end up with ads in everything unless you pay an ever-growing premium.

I share your feelings about subscriptions in general, and I try to avoid them. However, my experience with Beyond has been the opposite. The value of the subscription feels like it has increased over time. The ability to share content with players becomes more valuable with more content. Then they threw in access to Maps, and now I'm getting early access. Are they just setting me up not to find a coming price increase objectionable? Probably. Will it work? It might.

 

[Incenjucar]

This tier system has already existed for years, nothing has changed about it other than Early Access to the new Core Books now being a part of it.

That is a pretty standard part of the tier strategy, and is a typical hook. You see plenty of the same with streaming and video games. Eventually you realize that it's not that you're getting Early Access, everyone else is just getting Delayed Access.

Edit: To be clear, I'm not here to yuck your yum, but it's a reasonable concern for folks, especially anyone on a limited or fixed income.