D&D 5E D&D Beyond Player Tools app is now live!

Retreater · Jul 7, 2020

Mistwell said:
If this is what you think, they you are unaware of what is in DnDBeyond these days.

They are not the same services. They are complimentary services, not competitive services. You use DnDBeyond WITH Roll20, not instead of it.

I (tried to) use DnD Beyond literally yesterday for another DM's game. He wants to use DNDB (against my preferences). I couldn't even create a fighter. I gave up. Will have to create my character by hand and input everything manually in their awful character sheet. And if you're doing that, you might as well just use a form-fillable PDF character sheet.
I can't find a single thing it does that I prefer to Roll20 (which I'll grant you isn't perfect). Roll20 has a stable enough voice chat, automated rolling, facilitates online play (which is the only play I am doing now or in the foreseeable future).
Even in an in-person game, I could run the entire adventure using Roll20. DNDB would be a nightmare to navigate. You have to back out every time you want to look at a character or monster or read the PDF.
Sorry if I seem so negative about this, but I know there are better tech solutions. The wide adoption of DNDB just means that we're not going to get it. Even the 4E stuff 10 years ago was better.

Jacqual · Jul 7, 2020

Retreater said:
I (tried to) use DnD Beyond literally yesterday for another DM's game. He wants to use DNDB (against my preferences). I couldn't even create a fighter. I gave up. Will have to create my character by hand and input everything manually in their awful character sheet. And if you're doing that, you might as well just use a form-fillable PDF character sheet.
I can't find a single thing it does that I prefer to Roll20 (which I'll grant you isn't perfect). Roll20 has a stable enough voice chat, automated rolling, facilitates online play (which is the only play I am doing now or in the foreseeable future).
Even in an in-person game, I could run the entire adventure using Roll20. DNDB would be a nightmare to navigate. You have to back out every time you want to look at a character or monster or read the PDF.
Sorry if I seem so negative about this, but I know there are better tech solutions. The wide adoption of DNDB just means that we're not going to get it. Even the 4E stuff 10 years ago was better.

Myself I got into DDB when it first started so I had no problems purchasing the books there, and a copy of a Deadtree version if I wanted. Then I had a bad stroke and became handicapped. Now I only buy my books on DDB due to finance issues but having the ability to have every book on my phone with the DDB app is great. I saved money and got a Inexpensive android tablet, as well as a chromebook now when I go to games I can literally carry 3 copies of every official book which even when I was healthy I couldn't carry 3 copies of each. Now with the player app I can have all my stuff if I go somewhere offline that alone in my book beats roll20. With the Beyond20 extension added to my chrome browser if I choose to use Roll20 I could but don't it is just an option I do have left open. DDB does plan to integrate into a virtual TT down the road in a few years it is on the long term plans where if you go to DDB you can look for the link in the forums I believe.

Umbran · Jul 7, 2020

Retreater said:
Not free. You have to purchase every rules option you want to use that's not in the Basic Rules.

The GM of the campaign is the only one who has to buy - they may extend content to all the other players.

Mistwell · Jul 7, 2020

Retreater said:
I (tried to) use DnD Beyond literally yesterday for another DM's game. He wants to use DNDB (against my preferences). I couldn't even create a fighter. I gave up. Will have to create my character by hand and input everything manually in their awful character sheet. And if you're doing that, you might as well just use a form-fillable PDF character sheet.

Your experience is, I suspect, unusual and baffling to most. Myself included.

cbwjm · Jul 7, 2020

doctorbadwolf said:
They still need a better pdf export sheet, but otherwise ddb is absolutely miles better as a character builder and sheet than anything else I’ve seen

Been a while since I've exported to PDF, I think I ended up having to edit/add some of the information because it was headings only for abilities but otherwise, if just creating a quick PC, particularly one of a medium/high level, its pretty good to quickly get most of the info in there.

cbwjm · Jul 7, 2020

SkidAce said:
This is how we do it.

Roll20 is map and tokens, DnD Beyond is everything else.

Works great...OH, Discord for voice...

Exactly that, just sorted out my discord now so all 3 of those things will be used on game day.

Uni-the-Unicorn! · Jul 7, 2020

Retreater said:
Not free. You have to purchase every rules option you want to use that's not in the Basic Rules.

True, but you also don’t need the extra’s to play the game.

Uni-the-Unicorn! · Jul 7, 2020

Retreater said:
Roll20 is free (with the SRD). And has a VTT.
DnDBeyond adds no value to that, and its UI is terrible.

Not sure about Roll20, but I believe DnD Beyond has a ton of homebrew content that is free as well

Umbran · Jul 7, 2020

SkidAce said:
Works great...OH, Discord for voice...

I my personal experience, Discord's had worse voice quality than Roll20. Usually, once per Roll20 session I have to click to reconnect the A/V, but I get less distortion on voices.

Umbran · Jul 7, 2020

Retreater said:
DnDBeyond adds no value to that, and its UI is terrible.

Roll20's character UI is far less polished than DDB's.

D&D 5E D&D Beyond Player Tools app is now live!

Retreater

Legend

Jacqual

Explorer

Umbran

Mod Squad

Mistwell

Crusty Old Meatwad (he/him)

cbwjm

Seb-wejem

cbwjm

Seb-wejem

Uni-the-Unicorn!

Hero

Uni-the-Unicorn!

Hero

Umbran

Mod Squad

Umbran

Mod Squad

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