D&D General Hey, are we all cool with having to buy the same book twice, or what?

[Morrus]

The one thing that I do dislike with this system that is solvable is how they delayed Mythic Odysseys of Theros, and I preordered the physical copy. They didn't delay the digital copy, so I guess I'll be left out of the loop for more than a month and a half. I understand this happened because the pandemic caused physical delays, and they don't want to delay the digital version, but now I either have to buy the copy online as well, or just wait a month to get it.

Well there, that’s unfortunate, but pandemic. That’s a pretty trivial pandemic-related problem. Just wait a month.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Well there, that’s unfortunate, but pandemic. That’s a pretty trivial pandemic-related problem. Just wait a month.

Yes, I know.
First world problems.
It's unfortunate, and I will just wait a month. I wasn't complaining about them doing this, more of how I bought the book already, and there was a downside to preordering a book. I'm going to have to wait a month, I just wish there was some way to have access to it before the physical book's release date. I'm aware this is a trivial problem, but it sucks that I won't get to read it, while being locked inside, for more than 6 weeks.

 

[dave2008]

My question is this: is the consensus that this is fine and normal and the other publishers are wrong or should we be banging a drum about how this is a anti-consumer practice?

A couple of things:

1. You assessment of the situation is wron. I haven't read all of the posts yet, but I am sure someone has pointed out how DnDBeyond is not a PDF/simple digital copy of a physical book and not owned or run by WotC.
2. WotC's method is acceptable.
3. Other publishers are not wrong for having a different digital strategy.
4. WorC's works for them, but may not be possible for other publishers.
5. If you really want to get a consensus, you should set up a poll. I suggest testing the questions here before you post the poll though.

 

[Morrus]

should we be banging a drum about how this is a anti-consumer practice?

I think maybe you should read up on what the term “anti-consumer practices” means. I assure you that licensing a company to sell a digital version of your book doesn’t qualify.

 

[jgsugden]

After using one of the free D&D Beyond adventures to play an online game, I see the appeal. It's a slick service and the books cost less in digital form. My major problem with it is what happens to my purchases when it goes away?

Well, if you bought the physical books and are talking about them, typically they go into a box and get brought out maybe once every 10 years. Oh, you meant the digital materials? You enjoy the released materials they provide to you so that you don't feel bitter when they ask you to buy the next virtual edition from them.

 

[eyeheartawk]

I think maybe you should read up on what the term “anti-consumer practices” means. I assure you that licensing a company to sell a digital version of your book doesn’t qualify.

If that licensee wasn't the only vector to acquire the book digitally, sure.

Also, considering that if/when Beyond stops existing you won't "own" your copy anymore, I think I'm on pretty solid ground here.

 

[Parmandur]

If that licensee wasn't the only vector to acquire the book digitally, sure.

Also, considering that if/when Beyond stops existing you won't "own" your copy anymore, I think I'm on pretty solid ground here.

They have three distinct licensees. Options are the opposite of anti-consumer behavior, even if a particular option isn't made available.

 

[Morrus]

If that licensee wasn't the only vector to acquire the book digitally, sure.

Also, considering that if/when Beyond stops existing you won't "own" your copy anymore, I think I'm on pretty solid ground here.

That’s not what anti-consumerism is!

 

[DammitVictor]

It's not a moral issue for me, it's a simple issue of value for money-- if I enjoyed 5e, and if each separate purchase weren't already more expensive than physical plus digital for games I like better, then I'd happily purchase separate copies of their product separately.

Like I'm planning on purchasing or repurchasing one or more copies of a substantial portion of their "Classics" catalog, to replace copies I've lost and copies that are showing their age, and to have multiple table copies for the next time I run Rules Cyclopedia.

 

[eyeheartawk]

That’s not what anti-consumerism is!

Sure it is.

When I buy a PDF from Drivethru and download it, it's mine forever.

When you buy a book on Beyond or one of those other VTTs it's yours as long as they find it worth their while to exist.

You used to own a thing forever, now you don't. Who benefits? The consumer?