D&D Beyond executives explain why subscribers can't share Drops content

D&D Beyond executives claim that content sharing isn't enabled for their new Drops material because they want to make sure designers get paid. On Friday, D&D Beyond's executive producer Brian Perry and new head of Drops content Jay Jani answered questions on Reddit about D&D Beyond Drops, a new compendium of maps, images, and rules exclusive to D&D Beyond subscribers. Unsurprisingly, the biggest question on many users' minds were why Drops content wasn't sharable via the Master tier subscription like other material. In several posts, Perry stated that the reason was monetary in nature.

"We need to pay the great designers, artists, and developers working on D&D Beyond Drops," Perry said in a comment. "We also really think it's important to make the entire subscriber content library accessible to Hero Tier subscribers (as well as Master Tier). Not making Drops content eligible for content sharing was a necessary tradeoff to hit these goals."

However, given the amount of feedback among fans about making Drops content sharable among players, Perry said they were actively looking at alternative solutions. "With that said, I hear and really appreciate the feedback on being able to share Drops content with players in your group that don't have the disposable income for a Hero Tier subscription," Perry said. "The team is taking another look at the tradeoffs and considering other solutions."

 

[EthanSental]

It’s a small subset that was upset, but now with these announcements, I’m sure YouTube will have the end of D&D and Wotc videos but by Saturday night….like other have jokingly said

 

[Selas]

It's people thinking that this is the start of nickel n' dime'ing everything about DnD through online platforms and live service models. (aka, corpo greed and bad faith)

 

[MonsterEnvy]

It's people thinking that this is the start of nickel n' dime'ing everything about DnD through online platforms and live service models. (aka, corpo greed and bad faith)

But that doesn’t make sense. These subscriptions already existed and cost the exact same. They just got more stuff added to them l.

 

[Selas]

But that doesn’t make sense. These subscriptions already existed and cost the exact same. They just got more stuff added to them l.

But if you unsubscribe, you no longer have access to them, and you can't share them with Master subscription share feature; add also that they're digital only, may not be added to any books in the future, and that they're actual gameplay elements, and now you have a bunch of angry gamers raising pitchforks about microtransactions and "enxxxxification" of D&D.

 

[Clint_L]

If the DM disables it, is it still accessible?

Does a DM no longer have a say in what is allowed in their game and must allow drops, no matter what they are?

Many of your posts confuse me. Why could a DM not say "no" if they don't want something allowed? You seem to dislike digital gaming, but if a player shows up at your game with a book that you don't want to use in your campaign, do you feel you have to allow it, since they have access to it?

Like, what do you think has changed in terms of the DM's ability to decide what they will allow in their games? It's not like the WotC police will show up at your house and require you to let the player use the thing you don't want.

 

[Afroconan]

There's an almost infinite amount of content available for D&D.

If WotC publishes some content only in Beyond it may as well not exist for me or my table and that's fine. If a player wants to use it they can send me a screenshot and I'll decide if I allow it but that's it.

I still don't understand what's so alarming about all this.

 

[orial]

I legit don’t understand any upset right now related to this.

Me neither. I have lots of subscriptions. I can’t share those either. Like Playstation plus, Netflix etc. Also if i stop my subscription there i lose everything to. But now WOTC does it and all internet hell breaks lose. Come on people. Really getting tired of this WOTC bashing all over again. Be happy with this content.

 

[orial]

But if you unsubscribe, you no longer have access to them, and you can't share them with Master subscription share feature; add also that they're digital only, may not be added to any books in the future, and that they're actual gameplay elements, and now you have a bunch of angry gamers raising pitchforks about microtransactions and "enxxxxification" of D&D.

Just like all my other subscriptions. I can’t share my playstation plus games and if i cancel my plus subscription i’ll lose everything for ever, even if i re subcribe. Please people get over it. It’s a cool new feature on D&D beyond. I like it.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Where do we get if we pay people for doing their jobs...

 

[Deset Gled]

The reasons are monetary.