Wizards of the Coast launches official Dungeons & Dragons Actual Play show

Vicar In A Tutu · 2026-04-16T20:17:59+0100

I've been DM'ing D&D since the early 90's. In that period I've played every edition of D&D, buying countless books. Today I only have a few of those books. All the others I have either donated or thrown in the trash. I would much rather "rent space" on D&D beyond and have access to those options in the character builder than piling up more books that I will get rid of a in a few years.

AlViking · 2026-04-16T20:19:19+0100

liteberer said:
Seems pedantic. It's a distinction without a difference. I can fly the skull & crossbones and get it that way, as well. I'm just not interested in getting a janky version of something that I paid for through a phone app when there are so many other TTRPG companies that are more client-focused.

If they provided a PDF you would also have to go to a website to purchase it. You don't like that you don't own it which makes it a DRM issue. I was just commenting on a misuse of the term.

The fact that other companies have made different choices does not necessarily make them more client-focused, DDB is a fantastic tool and time saver for me.

AlViking · 2026-04-16T20:20:46+0100

Vicar In A Tutu said:
I've been DM'ing D&D since the early 90's. In that period I've played every edition of D&D, buying countless books. Today I only have a few of those books. All the others I have either donated or thrown in the trash. I would much rather "rent space" on D&D beyond and have access to those options in the character builder than piling up more books that I will get rid of a in a few years.

In addition it's not like we'd have these kind of short adventures at all if they weren't being provided on DDB. The days of dead tree distribution like Dragon Magazine are long gone.

Chaltab · 2026-04-16T20:21:13+0100

D&D Beyond is a fine service, but just... you know, it's a service as opposed to a product, and some people aren't going to gel with that.

liteberer · 2026-04-16T20:23:49+0100

AlViking said:
If they provided a PDF you would also have to go to a website to purchase it. You don't like that you don't own it which makes it a DRM issue. I was just commenting on a misuse of the term.

The fact that other companies have made different choices does not necessarily make them more client-focused, DDB is a fantastic tool and time saver for me.

Yes, but I'm not criticizing the way you choose to spend your play time and money.

I also wasn't planning on going into detail on definitions of what I mean by "owning" or discussing what I see D&DB's future plans are. But, like, this is my opinion, man.

Reynard · 2026-04-16T20:24:52+0100

AlViking said:
If they provided a PDF you would also have to go to a website to purchase it.

You are focusing on the wrong aspect. No one cares where you have to buy it from if you own the thing after purchase. The problem with Beyond is that you DO NOT own it.

Reynard · 2026-04-16T20:26:01+0100

AlViking said:
In addition it's not like we'd have these kind of short adventures at all if they weren't being provided on DDB. The days of dead tree distribution like Dragon Magazine are long gone.

Because WotC will not, for unfathomable reasons, produce new products on PDF -- even though they have old products on PDF, they have a whole-ass D&D PDF platform, and every other publisher in the industry does.

Chaltab · 2026-04-16T20:26:24+0100

That said we really don't need to turn every discussion of a DDB-only release into another endless debate about product and service... I'd rather talk about the show, you know, the actual topic of the thread.

So how 'bout that cast, huh? Nice to see Jasmine at the helm!

Planescape · 2026-04-16T20:26:35+0100

As much as watching 5 people I've never heard of play D&D sounds... oh wait that doesn't sound fun at all.

liteberer · 2026-04-16T20:27:32+0100

Vicar In A Tutu said:
I've been DM'ing D&D since the early 90's. In that period I've played every edition of D&D, buying countless books. Today I only have a few of those books. All the others I have either donated or thrown in the trash. I would much rather "rent space" on D&D beyond and have access to those options in the character builder than piling up more books that I will get rid of a in a few years.

Good for you. I'm all for you enjoying yourself the way you want. That's not my choice.

I love having books that my kids can look at and say, "Pop, those are really cool. Can you play with us?" And that gives me an enormous sense of happiness.

I can't point them to D&DB and say, "look at this...computer." I mean, I could. But I don't want to.