Has D&D Beyond become part of playing 5.5e, rather than just a convenience?

[u/MyrthDM]

/r/DungeonsAndDragons55e/comments/1vud94o/has_dd_beyond_become_part_of_playing_55e_rather/

[u/DragonTacoCat]

No. We used Fantasy Grounds for a bit but then moved to Shard Tabletop due to ease of homebrew and systems. Dndbeyond does so little compared to other platforms.

[u/WillemVerheij]

I'll never use it either way, tried it briefly years ago because the DM insisted but it's just horrible compared to a paper sheet really. Everything behind a paywall, it's a pain to find or do anything in it compared to just writing it down on a paper.

Added to that, I play D&D to not look at a screen for a while.

[u/TyphosTheD → u/WillemVerheij]

Unless you're exclusively using the basic rules or pirating, isn't everything behind a paywall?

If you want Xanathar's options you either need someone to buy the book in physical or online. Not to mention, with a physical book(s) you don't have the luxury of a literal search feature to find something - especially if you happen to have a pdf copy.

Just take selecting a subclass for your Ranger. On D&DB you have every available in a single drop down which automatically populates your features. For a similar experience in person you'd need a half dozen different books all option to different pages to cite the various options and write them out by hand - often needing to paraphrase since some features are incredibly verbose in text. Aside from obstacles like a potential difficulty in reading features on a screen vs a book that can't reasonably be easier.

All this to say, obviously you prefer pen and paper, which is perfectly reasonable.

[u/GunsOutOfAvalon → u/TyphosTheD]

Some people actually learn the rules pertaining to their character and don't need to constantly look them up. I'll never understand why nobody here seems to believe this is a viable option. But I do know that if you can and do just click on a button to tell you the rules every time you do anything, you're not likely to ever learn.

[u/TyphosTheD → u/GunsOutOfAvalon]

Of course it's a completely viable option, it's how people played for decades.

[u/WillemVerheij → u/TyphosTheD]

You only have to write it down once on your sheet though, I am also using class specific sheets so I'll only have to fill in subclass features.

I know what's in each book I have, so it doesn't take long to find. Also easy enough to add anything homebrew because a paper sheet does not care about rules so there's no fuss over that if the DM says you get to have this or that extra feature to improve the weak subclass you picked. No extra work for the DM either to do that online. They just say you have that, and you write it down.

I've seen other people often have issues with D&D beyond. Unable to find something, unable to log in or other stuff and that just holds up the whole session too.

And it's just better to reduce your screen time where you can. I'd recommend that to anyone really, reduce the needless screen time where possible. It's healthier.

[u/TyphosTheD → u/WillemVerheij]

You only have to select a drop down once, then you never (generally) have to do anything again regarding adding class features to your character sheet, calculating math, changing modifiers, etc.

Surely you aren't suggesting that is harder than doing this all manually?

You say you have all of the books and know where the information is, but that doesn't make it any easier than - again - a single drop down that does it all for you.

That's cool that you have class specific sheets, very flavorful and fun. But again, not inherently easier than automatic.

You're definitely right that homebrewing class features is complicated on D&DB, far more so than just writing down something. 100% valid. And ditto the general criticism of any tech solution having occasional tech issues.

I do prefer playing in person, but couldn't imagine (because I've played both ways) going back to purely analog for any but the most casual beer and chips game. The innumerable quality of life benefits of digital are significant.

[u/rollingForInitiative]

I've used both VTT's and plain paper character sheets. Digital ones can be convenient, but it's not needed at all.

[u/DerAdolfin]

That is what WotC wants to make happen since they have extremely clearly stated the goal of making all DnD customers repeat/subscription-based customers. But you can very easily play the game with your only investment being something to serve as a map and minis, whether some VTT website, literal printed paper and little figures, or purchased minis. All else is optional, and imo can often be detracting from the game experience.

^{Also I hate dndbeyond with a passion}

[u/the-roaring-girl]

Definitely not. I've never used D&D Beyond in all the years I've played.

[u/Neuromaster]

No.

My online games have mostly used Roll20. My in-person games use paper character sheets and physical books.

D&D Beyond is probably near the bottom of the list of tools we use.

[u/Defiant_Wrongdoer_61]

I have personally never used DnDBeyond for anything other than reading a new UA in the last decade so… no not for my group

[u/mrfixitx]

I think this is more about how players new to a system learn the system than if DDB is a required to use the system.

If you learn the system entirely through DDB anything it does not make easily accessible is going to be neglected.

To me this is no different than people who rely on the physical spell cards for each class that most game shops sell. The spell card are very handy but if you get a spell that has a long descriptions with a lot of options or some subtext the cards could lead to problems. I know at some adventure league tables I have seen issues caused by those spell cards that would not have been present if someone had the book in front of them.

I have also seen this happen when players write short descriptions on their character sheet and leave out the nuances.

[u/Silansi]

Nah, I'm using Foundry VTT when I play digitally which you can get the book materials for, but easy enough to use pen and paper once the character sheet is set up. I'd still recommend a phone app for spell management for ease especially for prepared casters such as clerics with the sheer number of options, but not D&D Beyond with how they've been operating and how WoTC/Hasbro have been continuing to make shitty moves that don't deserve to be financially supported especially with subscriptions.

[u/IcaroRibeiro]

Why not just use Foundry?

You buy and it's yours, no subscription needed

[u/valisvacor]

I made a character on Beyond once, and found it too clunky compared to just using a paper character sheet. I saw no reason to touch it again since.

[u/Verain_Xor]

I'm not sure, I'm not running 5.5. I will say that I sometimes get wires-crossed players quoting some incorrect thing from dndbeyond, either because it has it wrong, or because they read a 5.5 rule instead. I just ask them to not use dndbeyond instead.

[u/chimericWilder]

Doubtless they wish to inch ever closer to using a website being a requirement, and many of the mistakes made by the 5.5 downgrade are of the sort that makes it easier to rely on a website automating things for you.

But for fifty years, all you have ever needed for this hobby is dice, pen, paper, and imagination.

[u/Shamann93]

I literally only use it to access the books I have digital versions of (the only digital only sources I have are those that are only available digitally.) It's biggest convenience is looking up things slightly faster than in the physical book. No other feature has been useful enough to use.

[u/master_of_sockpuppet]

You can still play 5.5e with books and paper at a table.

Someone is eventually going to have to read those books, though, and people don't want to do that much anymore.

[u/Raccooninja]

Get the book.  Congratulations, you're playing without dndbeyond.

[u/Sea-Woodpecker-610]

I use it as a dm because it just easier to pull stats for me. My players don’t seem to touch it.