D&D General Is D&D Beyond Exclusivity Bad for D&D?

[Remathilis]

I want to re-state something because there seems to be a little confusion: this is not about things you can buy in other formats. This is about things that are only available in D&D Beyond. Right now, that is relatively small stuff, but we don't know what the future looks like. RIGHT NOW, they are producing D&D content that can only be purchased on Beyond. How do you feel about THAT.

I don't imagine they are going to branch beyond "small stuff" for a while. WotC is making big books into events via the Seasons system, so right now the only exclusive stuff is dlc which is very niche.

I bought Astarion's Book of Hungers because I like vampires and I wanted to new Dhampir early. It was a bit pricey for the content (what isn't these days?) but i understood it's a completely niche product that would not have been produced otherwise. But then again, I also don't have a problem dropping $15 on a video game cosmetic like a costume or mount if it's something I really wanted.

 

[jdrakeh]

Yes, but only because I have a love/hate relationship with Beyond. It's great when it works and frustrating as hell when it doesn't. And since I use Beyond across multiple devices and operating systems, I've had a lot of "Works great on X today but won't perform basic functions on Y." experiences. Theoretically, it's the best thing to happen to D&D players for years after numerous false starts with other (ultimately incomplete and subsequently abandoned) official electronic D&D tools. Theoretically. Some days it's just a broken mess.

 

[Remathilis]

I don't care about owning a library of videos or music, but I care about owning books. So, if I cared about D&D (under WoTC's watch), then yea, I wouldn't like it.

This interests me. You don't care that due Spotify could remove access to your favorite band due to royalty disputes or that Netflix can remove your favorite show from ever being seen again? Or how a video game you spent money on can have its servers shut down and all the money spent on it gone. D&D Beyond to me is the same risk. You could end up with Elder Scrolls Online and have 12 years of service, or you could end up with New World and be gone in half a decade.

Im just curious why the difference?

 

[Brendan Byrd]

I want to re-state something because there seems to be a little confusion: this is not about things you can buy in other formats. This is about things that are only available in D&D Beyond. Right now, that is relatively small stuff, but we don't know what the future looks like. RIGHT NOW, they are producing D&D content that can only be purchased on Beyond. How do you feel about THAT.

1. If it isn’t available at the FLGS, it doesn’t “exist”.
2. Since it doesn’t “exist”, my money stays in my wallet.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Can you buy the future books in print?

Currently yes

 

[Reynard]

Currently yes

Ummm....

 

[cranberry]

This interests me. You don't care that due Spotify could remove access to your favorite band due to royalty disputes or that Netflix can remove your favorite show from ever being seen again? Or how a video game you spent money on can have its servers shut down and all the money spent on it gone. D&D Beyond to me is the same risk. You could end up with Elder Scrolls Online and have 12 years of service, or you could end up with New World and be gone in half a decade.

Im just curious why the difference?

I don't subscribe to music services, and if I really cared about owning a movie, there are a variety of sources for getting a copy. I don't play video games indefinitely. Once I complete a game, I move on. It would be nice to own, but not a priority. Besides, I don't think they'll ever shut down the Steam servers. That company is an absolute cash cow.

I care about TTRPG books (.pdfs nowadays) because I will often refer back to them.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Ummm....

It’s true. They were talking about major books there.

Anyway I view it as fine. Beyond has mostly been more useful than PDFs for me, and it’s not going to go away anytime soon. It has an integrated VTT now, and is getting it’s enter foundation code redone.

 

[Reynard]

I don't subscribe to music services, and if I really cared about owning a movie, there are a variety of sources for getting a copy. I don't play video games indefinitely. Once I complete a game, I move on. It would be nice to own, but not a priority. Besides, I don't think they'll ever shut down the Steam servers. That company is an absolute cash cow.

I care about TTRPG books (.pdfs nowadays) because I will often refer back to them.

I do think that there is a category difference -- not between the forms, but between folks preferences. i know movie nerds who would NEVER be happy with straming services. Same with music nerds etc. Some RPG nerds feel the same way*.

*It'sa me! I'm "some RPG nerds"!

 

[AlViking]

I want to re-state something because there seems to be a little confusion: this is not about things you can buy in other formats. This is about things that are only available in D&D Beyond. Right now, that is relatively small stuff, but we don't know what the future looks like. RIGHT NOW, they are producing D&D content that can only be purchased on Beyond. How do you feel about THAT.

If it ever happens and the price they're charging doesn't work for me I won't purchase it. What else is there to say? I could happily play D&D for the rest of my life with the rules I currently have. If DDB becomes too expensive I'll cancel my subscription and dig out my old character sheet spreadsheet.

But until then keep proclaiming ...

... any day now ... just you wait...

Which is contradicted by...

For clarity: I am not. I am talking about the situation right now.

Is it an issue now or not? Because right now there's only a handful of small adventures that we wouldn't have if the only option was a physical copy.