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

[The Firebird]

There is no evidence that we have to subscribe to play. None. The books are top sellers in Amazon every release. You didn't even need to subscribe to use the digital service.

I know. I never said otherwise.

My claim is that we know WotC is trying to make more from D&D, by emphasizing their brand identity and trying to encourage recurring spending, like subscriptions. Fine; they're a company, their goal is to make money, that doesn't make them evil.

It does mean that they're going to be putting more things behind the subscription wall to encourage consumers to spend more. As a consumer, I don't want to spend more. So I look at it with some concern.

 

[Zaukrie]

I know. I never said otherwise.

My claim is that we know WotC is trying to make more from D&D, by emphasizing their brand identity and trying to encourage recurring spending, like subscriptions. Fine; they're a company, their goal is to make money, that doesn't make them evil.

It does mean that they're going to be putting more things behind the subscription wall to encourage consumers to spend more. As a consumer, I don't want to spend more. So I look at it with some concern.

Fair. My guess is the things behind the sub going forward are the VTT and minis and terrain for that......and PC art? Not sure, but the VTT is the spot they'll do micro transactions, which I have no issue with. I can use it or not.

There MIGHT be an occasional group of monsters coming behind a sub, I'd guess, and I get that will anger some....but it's a game, not a competition like Magic, and there are more monsters than anyone can use anyway......

But, I don't think that if people want to play DnD they have to worry about subscriptions making that harder/more expensive for years yet.

 

[Oofta]

I know. I never said otherwise.

My claim is that we know WotC is trying to make more from D&D, by emphasizing their brand identity and trying to encourage recurring spending, like subscriptions. Fine; they're a company, their goal is to make money, that doesn't make them evil.

It does mean that they're going to be putting more things behind the subscription wall to encourage consumers to spend more. As a consumer, I don't want to spend more. So I look at it with some concern.

Other than getting some stuff a whole 14 days earlier (GASP!!!) is there any indication that they currently or have any plans to move access to anything significant behind a paywall? Or is this just speculation with no basis?

 

[The Firebird]

Fair. My guess is the things behind the sub going forward are the VTT and minis and terrain for that......and PC art? Not sure, but the VTT is the spot they'll do micro transactions, which I have no issue with. I can use it or not.

There MIGHT be an occasional group of monsters coming behind a sub, I'd guess, and I get that will anger some....but it's a game, not a competition like Magic, and there are more monsters than anyone can use anyway......

But, I don't think that if people want to play DnD they have to worry about subscriptions making that harder/more expensive for years yet.

I will give them credit for keeping the books the same price as the 2014 ones, despite a decade of inflation. I suspect we will see more and more stuff put out behind a subscription. They're not idiots; you don't do this all at once. You slowly introduce the subscription program, then gate more and more...pre-access to books here, a monster or two there. Then you ramp up.

It's the same way many streaming services have started including ads.

Other than getting some stuff a whole 14 days earlier (GASP!!!) is there any indication that they currently or have any plans to move access to anything significant behind a paywall? Or is this just speculation with no basis?

I never claimed it was anything other than speculation. I think there is a basis to it, because they are starting to put more stuff behind the subscription and because doing so makes sense for them as a business. Companies in almost every industry have employed similar strategies successfully.

 

[Remathilis]

I really hate corporations who pretend they have your best interest at heart (all of them) and it boggles my mind that people still go to bat for them. Have the last 40+ years taught no one that Corps are bad and only want as much of your money as they can get anyway they can get it? Corps are never ever ever your friend.

...but that's a whole different topic for a different thread probably on a whole different forum.

It's tiring when such immutable truths get dragged out every discussion on every topic. WotC is a greedy SoB. Disney is a greedy SoB. Microsoft is a greedy SoB. Every discussion is just black-pill nihilism about modern capitalism and yet nobody ever talks about fixing it because it might mean they lose 2 day Amazon delivery and 24 hour tacos.

You're right, this isn't a topic for this thread or forum, but it is absolutely frustrating that the bulk of discussion about topics we "love" are actually about how much we despise them.

 

[Oofta]

...

I never claimed it was anything other than speculation. I think there is a basis to it, because they are starting to put more stuff behind the subscription and because doing so makes sense for them as a business. Companies in almost every industry have employed similar strategies successfully.

Such as? I mean, you need a free subscription to access some stuff but other than a minor benefit of earlier access what have they put behind the subscription that you actually pay for?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I am not going to "bat" for WOTC.

Really? How many posts have you made now sticking up for them? What's the number when it becomes "going to bat for them?" A half-dozen? A dozen? Two dozen?

 

[UngeheuerLich]

They keep pushing DDB more and more and people will keep making excuses for them.

Yeah. Excuses. I hate it. They should offer it for free. The people working there should do it bonna fide in their free time. And servers should be free anyway.

 

[DarkCrisis]

Yeah. Excuses. I hate it. They should offer it for free. The people working there should do it bonna fide in their free time. And servers should be free anyway.

Can you point to me where I or anyone in this thread said that? Thank you.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Can you point to me where I or anyone in this thread said that? Thank you.

Not those words, but what is your problem with companies offering things pople want in exchange for money?