Maps Feature on D&D Beyond Becomes Free to Use

Wizards of the Coast is making its popular 2D VTT service Maps free-to-use over on D&D Beyond. Announced today over on their website (and likely coinciding with a press event over on Gen Con), D&D Head of Franchise Dan Ayoub announced that its Maps VTT service will be free to anyone with a D&D Beyond account starting on September 16th. Anyone with an account will be able to host a game over on Maps, a privilege that was previously reserved for Master-tier subscribers.

Maps became the default VTT service for Wizards of the Coast after it started to wind down the expensive 3D Sigil service just a few days after launch. The service allows players to use official D&D maps pulled from most adventures as well as 2D tokens. Starting with Dragon Delves, the service also includes pre-made maps using encounters from adventures.

 

[abazaba]

Well I read the article that was linked to (regarding the free maps), and the following phrase stood out to me (emphasis mine) :

The core experience will be made available to everyone: If you own a map, module, or adventure on D&D Beyond, you can use it on Maps and invite your friends to play. Period.

The way I read it (but perhaps I'm just being too cynical here) is that you still need to buy stuff (like a map, module, or adventure) on D&D Beyond, before you can actually use the map part of the 2D VTT for free ? So it's not like they give the maps away for free, but if you bought one then (and only then) can you use it in combination with the maps part of D&D Beyond ?

 

[Juomari Veren]

I don't think they have one for "Magic" as such. They do have groups for various Magic formats – Commander and, I believe, Pauper.

They don't have one for the game as a whole, but the Commander group went through a whole bunch of drama and ultimately got absorbed into Wizards when before it was an independently run committee. And with all due respect, Commander is their most popular format, they've admitted as such, so it's a big deal that the main way people engage with their game has a separate player-run group to oversee it. Obviously D&D Beyond is probably not exactly equivalent but it is definitely utilized by a huge chunk of the modern 5e playerbase, so the parallel to me is significant.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Well I read the article that was linked to (regarding the free maps), and the following phrase stood out to me (emphasis mine) :



The way I read it (but perhaps I'm just being too cynical here) is that you still need to buy stuff (like a map, module, or adventure) on D&D Beyond, before you can actually use the map part of the 2D VTT for free ? So it's not like they give the maps away for free, but if you bought one then (and only then) can you use it in combination with the maps part of D&D Beyond ?

That was always the case with the exception of the free stuff they released

 

[Zaukrie]

Well I read the article that was linked to (regarding the free maps), and the following phrase stood out to me (emphasis mine) :



The way I read it (but perhaps I'm just being too cynical here) is that you still need to buy stuff (like a map, module, or adventure) on D&D Beyond, before you can actually use the map part of the 2D VTT for free ? So it's not like they give the maps away for free, but if you bought one then (and only then) can you use it in combination with the maps part of D&D Beyond ?

It doesn't say only...... You can import maps now.

 

[Spectral Anomaly]

It doesn't say only...... You can import maps now.

Yes, but you can only use the upcoming free version of maps with content you've acquired via D&DB. Uploading other maps will be a feature if the paid tier.

 

[AlViking]

Well I read the article that was linked to (regarding the free maps), and the following phrase stood out to me (emphasis mine) :



The way I read it (but perhaps I'm just being too cynical here) is that you still need to buy stuff (like a map, module, or adventure) on D&D Beyond, before you can actually use the map part of the 2D VTT for free ? So it's not like they give the maps away for free, but if you bought one then (and only then) can you use it in combination with the maps part of D&D Beyond ?

You can always import images, make your own maps and so on. So if someone has access to the map they can download the jpeg, give it to the DM and the DM can then import and use it. There might be some new bells and whistles I don't know about but the basic map is not really an issue.

 

[AlViking]

Yes, but you can only use the upcoming free version of maps with content you've acquired via D&DB. Uploading other maps will be a feature if the paid tier.

I see no reason to believe that. People use Maps for homebrew and custom maps as well, it wouldn't make any business sense for them to block those.

 

[abazaba]

That was always the case with the exception of the free stuff they released

Well, I guess then that I don't understand the value proposition of only buying adventure modules on D&D Beyond without also buying the 'map feature'. What use is a digital version of an adventure (instead of a physical product) when you do not also get a map/VTT to go along with it ? Yes, I know I must be missing something blindingly obvious here, but I really just don't see it.

Also: is this also the case for other VTT's ? (Roll20/Foundry/Fantasy Grounds/etc) ? Do these also have a division between 'just buying the adventure text in a digital format' and 'being able to use that on a map with tokens and so on ?

 

[Zaukrie]

Well, I guess then that I don't understand the value proposition of only buying adventure modules on D&D Beyond without also buying the 'map feature'. What use is a digital version of an adventure (instead of a physical product) when you do not also get a map/VTT to go along with it ? Yes, I know I must be missing something blindingly obvious here, but I really just don't see it.

Also: is this also the case for other VTT's ? (Roll20/Foundry/Fantasy Grounds/etc) ? Do these also have a division between 'just buying the adventure text in a digital format' and 'being able to use that on a map with tokens and so on ?

Well, you can run the adventure off line if you own it on DNDbeyond. And that's way cheaper than print. You can run it on another VTT. I'm not sure what your question is?

 

[Spectral Anomaly]

I see no reason to believe that. People use Maps for homebrew and custom maps as well, it wouldn't make any business sense for them to block those.

You see no reason to believe what they've explicitly stated? (emphasis added)

If you own a map, module, or adventure on D&D Beyond, you can use it on Maps and invite your friends to play. Period.

Our Master Tier subscription will unlock more customizability for DMs who need it. You’ll be able to upload homebrew maps, custom tokens, and access exciting tools built just for you.