D&D Beyond Launches on August 15th for $3-6/m

$3/ month isn't that bad. And you really only need it if you want to use homebrew.

 

[Caliban]

Well, it's essentially digital version of the books, so you're not getting more content than you would from the books. So, you get what digital gives you: it all fits on your phone, tablet laptop, rather than a bookshelf full (or half full since there aren't that many books) and a robust search engine and filters to help to navigate and sort the material much better and quicker than you could shuffling through your books.

And compared to what you can already get online: You can get all the content legally, not just the basic rules and odds and ends like the elemental evil guide.

But if you've already been buying this stuff through Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds, You're not really getting anything new as far as I can tell.


Here's the big selling point for me, and I think this will work: If I was to buy Curse of Strahd through this, I would run it off my tablets (because I already use multiple tablets for DMing my homebrew adventures) and never need to buy the book itself.

Since I don't use a tablet, just a PC and my smartphone, it doesn't sound as if I'm the target audience. Maybe later.

 

[Demetrios1453]

Well, it's essentially digital version of the books, so you're not getting more content than you would from the books. So, you get what digital gives you: it all fits on your phone, tablet laptop, rather than a bookshelf full (or half full since there aren't that many books) and a robust search engine and filters to help to navigate and sort the material much better and quicker than you could shuffling through your books.

And compared to what you can already get online: You can get all the content legally, not just the basic rules and odds and ends like the elemental evil guide.

But if you've already been buying this stuff through Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds, You're not really getting anything new as far as I can tell.


Here's the big selling point for me, and I think this will work: If I was to buy Curse of Strahd through this, I would run it off my tablets (because I already use multiple tablets for DMing my homebrew adventures) and never need to buy the book itself.

For me, one of the big selling points (other than allowing for large groups of heterogeneous monsters in one combat without shuffling from page to page and book to book) is the ability to share with my group in the $6 tier. We have an extreme shortage of books in my group, and when, say, a level up for the group happens, we have several players impatiently waiting as the PHBs, SCAG, and VGtM are passed around. Or during combat, people are often waiting for an available PHB to look up a spell, ability, and so on, which causes annoyance and wastes time. With DDB, no one connected to my account will have to wait any more!

Sent from my VS987 using EN World mobile app

 

[Demetrios1453]

The functionality is already there. At least, it should be. There should really be no difference in the function that lets you look up a monster, regardless of what book you're looking it up from. So no, you're not purchasing functionality; you're purchasing the addition of the book's content to the digital content accessible by the existing functionality, and that is fundamentally the same as buying another copy of the book (only without the benefits of getting a hardcover, or having the book survive if the company fails).

The functionality isn't there. If I want to have a mixed group of monsters in one combat, I can have them all in front of me at once with DDB. There isn't a way for me to do that with a book, unless I buy multiple books (which would be bulky, and, despite the complaints here on the matter, will still cost me more to purchase in hard copy than on DDB for even two monster types in combat, let alone 3 or more), or simply tear out the pages (which has limited utility - and if the monsters I'm using ate on opposite sides of the same page, I would still be no better off)

Sent from my VS987 using EN World mobile app

 

[MechaPilot]

The functionality isn't there. If I want to have a mixed group of monsters in one combat, I can have them all in front of me at once with DDB. There isn't a way for me to do that with a book, unless I buy multiple books, or simply tear out the pages (which has limited utility - and if the monsters I'm using ate on opposite sides of the same page, I would still be no better of).

Your argument indicates that you have misread what I wrote. I said the functionality is already there in the programming of DDB.

Paying to add the book's content to the functionality that already comes with the subscription price (or for letting yourself be subjected to ads) is essentially being forced to buy the same content again, only with fewer rights to use it as you will, no survivability if the company producing DDB goes under, and no inherent physical copy that so many gamers enjoy.

 

[Demetrios1453]

Your argument indicates that you have misread what I wrote. I said the functionality is already there in the programming of DDB.

Paying to add the book's content to the functionality that already comes with the subscription price (or for letting yourself be subjected to ads) is essentially being forced to buy the same content again, only with fewer rights to use it as you will, no survivability if the company producing DDB goes under, and no inherent physical copy that so many gamers enjoy.

I'm perfectly fine with that since it will marry the books to the functionality to meet my needs, as well as helping me provide access to the books to my players who struggle to afford even hard copies.

 

[Sadras]

A lot of us have been able to customise sections within the PHB - changing up Races, Abilities, Feats, Skills, Weapons and Armour, Combat Rules, Spells, Rests using the homebrewey to address our specific wants. Does the DDB cater for that?

 

[lkj]

Since I don't use a tablet, just a PC and my smartphone, it doesn't sound as if I'm the target audience. Maybe later.

Actually, you are exactly the target audience. It's designed to work on a desktop, a tablet, or a phone. In fact it's the only D&D reference site that looks pretty good on a smart phone.

AD

 

[Caliban]

Actually, you are exactly the target audience. It's designed to work on a desktop, a tablet, or a phone. In fact it's the only D&D reference site that looks pretty good on a smart phone.

AD

I'm not sure how, if it's main purpose is to help me run the game. I don't drag my PC out to the gaming table, and while my smartphone has a decent size screen, it's not really enough to track multiple monsters and such on. I've already got a magnetic initiative tracker I use.

 

[lkj]

I'm not sure how, if it's main purpose is to help me run the game. I don't drag my PC out to the gaming table, and while my smartphone has a decent size screen, it's not really enough to track multiple monsters and such on. I've already got a magnetic initiative tracker I use.

I don't know how it would work for tracking multiple monsters. That functionality isn't available and is post launch. So we'll see if they can pull that off.

However-- as a rules reference it is very handy and works well on the smart phone.

Also, they've developed a digital character sheet that is easy to navigate on a smartphone (i.e., has all your stats, keep track of spell slots etc., easy look up for spells and abilities). Certainly easy to pull up monsters as well.

But, yes, for combat management, the features aren't there yet on any platform. Right now its main functions are as a character sheet, a character builder, and a rules reference.

AD

 

[Caliban]

I don't know how it would work for tracking multiple monsters. That functionality isn't available and is post launch. So we'll see if they can pull that off.

However-- as a rules reference it is very handy and works well on the smart phone.

Also, they've developed a digital character sheet that is easy to navigate on a smartphone (i.e., has all your stats, keep track of spell slots etc., easy look up for spells and abilities). Certainly easy to pull up monsters as well.

But, yes, for combat management, the features aren't there yet on any platform. Right now its main functions are as a character sheet, a character builder, and a rules reference.

AD

Eh, I've got a fairly prodigious memory and a full set of books, and I personally don't like tracking my character on a small screen. I prefer a printed out sheet (currently the form fillable Clean Sheet). I don't trust software to build my characters, I just prefer to do it myself. It helps make sure I actually know how my character works (specifically any spell/class/feat combo's I want the character to use). Plus I like a full sheet to refer to during play, for ease of use.

I'm not claiming to be typical in this aspect, I'm sure for many people it's a great aid. I just don't feel like it's something I need or will use. Maybe if I ever get around to buying a tablet.