D&D 5E Volo's Guide will be available for Roll20

[SkidAce]

Here is the announcement.

https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/bundle/2/volos-guide-to-monsters

 

[Prakriti]

$50... I'm stunned. I like Roll20, but the pricing on this is ridiculous.

 

[darjr]

The price is probably mostly set by WotC. And it does seem like you get all the content, in a database like form.

 

[AaronOfBarbaria]

...the pricing on this is ridiculous.

It really isn't, considering you get the same content as is found in the dead tree version plus more because the Roll20 tokes are pre-set up, all the info is integrated for you, you get some maps in the digital equivalent of poster map (while I'm pretty sure the dead tree version doesn't come with maps you can just lay out on the table and put minis on), plus you have the benefit of the digital medium where you can prove purchase and acquire a new copy of the data if needed, rather than have to buy a new one like with a damaged or destroyed dead tree book.

 

[Prakriti]

plus you have the benefit of the digital medium where you can prove purchase and acquire a new copy of the data if needed

True, but it also depends on Roll20 being around for the near future and retaining its license with Wizards. Considering what happened with Soundcloud recently, I'm less trusting.

For those who don't know what happened there, Roll20 lost its access to the Soundcloud API. Without warning, all Roll20 users -- many of whom had spent hours finding suitable music and organizing playlists on Roll20 -- were unable to make use of their background music and ambience. Not only that, but the ability to transfer playlists between games was actually one of the perks of a Pro-level subscription. I was considering going Pro at the time just for this feature, before it was yanked out from under us.

So the benefits of a digital copy aren't looking too good to me at the moment...

 

[AaronOfBarbaria]

True, but it also depends on Roll20 being around for the near future and retaining its license with Wizards. Considering what happened with Soundcloud recently, I'm less trusting.

For those who don't know what happened there, Roll20 lost its access to the Soundcloud API. Without warning, all Roll20 users -- many of whom had spent hours finding suitable music and organizing playlists on Roll20 -- were unable to make use of their background music and ambience. Not only that, but the ability to transfer playlists between games was actually one of the perks of a Pro-level subscription. I was considering going Pro at the time just for this feature, before it was yanked out from under us.

So the benefits of a digital copy aren't looking too good to me at the moment...

...so, don't buy dead tree books because who knows when a house fire could happen?

I don't think paranoia is a great thing to base product pricing on.

 

[Prakriti]

...so, don't buy dead tree books because who knows when a house fire could happen

More like "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." Roll20 lost its Soundcloud license in the blink of an eye, and it can lose its Wizards license just as quickly. Considering that past failure, I'm not inclined to trust Roll20's ability to negotiate a contract with Wizards that actually guarantees my continuing access to the content I buy.

 

[AaronOfBarbaria]

More like "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." Roll20 lost its Soundcloud license in the blink of an eye, and it can lose its Wizards license just as quickly. Considering that past failure, I'm not inclined to trust Roll20's ability to negotiate a contract with Wizards that actually guarantees my continuing access to the content I buy.

Oh, so you know without a doubt what caused the license to be lost, and it is definitely something Roll20 could have done something differently to avoid? I wasn't aware - yes, that is different from paranoia that something bad could happen unexpectedly.

 

[Kryx]

Roll20 lost its Soundcloud license in the blink of an eye, and it can lose its Wizards license just as quickly.

Roll20 didn't have a license for Souncloud. Soundcloud had a public API which they decided to prevent Roll20 from accessing. There was never any legal agreement like there is with WotC's licensing.

It's pretty foolish to say these kind of things without having factual information..

 

[SkidAce]

But isn't the sheer fact that a new WotC book will be accessible electronically from a 3rd party a good sign for the future?

I certainly wasn't expecting Volo's to be part of any such endeavor. I like the concept and hope it expands.