D&D Beyond is now fully released! [Archive] - Giant in the Playground Forums

Ravinsild

2017-08-15, 01:55 PM

The SRD is extremely limited in scope and ability, which is disappointing. In addition you must re-purchase everything you already own (so buy the hardcopy of the books which literally everyone has already done, then the "digital copy") to "unlock" it for the character builder and other features.

I wish this were like when Blizzard integrated Battle.net and any old CD Keys you had could be input from Diablo 1, Starcraft 1, Warcraft 2 and 3 etc so you could get credit for them and have them added to your account forever without having to repurchase a "digital" edition of the game.

The books should be able to have their serial number input or something for unlock credit.

Mellack

2017-08-15, 02:24 PM

They want you to pay again for the books you own, which is why I doubt it will be very popular.

Koren

2017-08-15, 03:26 PM

I think I smell a money pit.

Sariel Vailo

2017-08-15, 03:29 PM

Money pit indeed.boys and girls do you have the hardcovers to bad buy em again.

Dudewithknives

2017-08-15, 03:58 PM

j_spencer93

2017-08-15, 04:02 PM

Actually think its set up great.

T0kumei

2017-08-16, 07:58 AM

This could have used another month or 2 of polish.

Also subscription fee, sure, ok.

Wait, buy my books again and then still perscription... no.

I have hardcovers, I have pdf versions from drivethruRPG. I am not buying them again.

The MPMB character sheet is a much better character builder than the one on D&DBeyond.

This if the subscription meant I didn't have to pay for the digital books I would use this online service, but as it is now it's a massive ripoff.

Easy_Lee

2017-08-16, 08:11 AM

D&D Beyond is short sighted. They're obviously trying to make a lot of money off of each person who uses it. But that's silly. They should have made it cheap and approachable so they could expand their fanbase.

Yagyujubei

2017-08-16, 08:13 AM

yeah whoever was making the choices behind this was a huge moron...it's so overpriced that its ridiculous

Vogie

2017-08-16, 08:17 AM

This if the subscription meant I didn't have to pay for the digital books I would use this online service, but as it is now it's a massive ripoff.

Same. I could certainly see if they went for a Software-As-Service route (a la Netflix) or even the Snowballing Subscription route (such as PSN), but as it is, you're absolutely right.

yeah whoever was making the choices behind this was a huge moron...it's so overpriced that its ridiculous

Well, no... it's basically a redux of the MTGOnline, but for 5e DnD. It doesn't matter how big your Magic collection is, you start from the beginning by going on MTGO.

So, it's typical WotC fair

Yagyujubei

2017-08-16, 08:37 AM

i dont know how you could possibly compare this to MtGO...MtG is a totally different game and actually includes the game so the payment structure makes sense(plus there's no sub fee). DnD is not a CCG and DnDB doesn't provide a platform to actually play DnD on (a la r20) and costs more? i call shenanigans

why couldn't we just get a 5e version of the character creator/SRD they have for 4E. that thing was amazing and cheap...

Oramac

2017-08-16, 08:57 AM

This if the subscription meant I didn't have to pay for the digital books I would use this online service, but as it is now it's a massive ripoff.

QFT. I'd use it if the sub gave access to all the books, since I'd be buying the books anyway.

Yagyujubei

2017-08-16, 09:05 AM

seriously, i know i haven't met tons of players, but all of my buddies (and im assuming most people) who are into DnD are the type to collect all the content books because it's such a niche hobby to begin with you're either really into it or you don't even know it exists. Having this payment structure feels like a slap to the face honestly.

Cybren

2017-08-16, 09:09 AM

They're probably overreacting to 4E, where they DID offer all the rules via a one time subscription, and they may perceive that as having negatively impacted hardcover sales

Easy_Lee

2017-08-16, 09:23 AM

They're probably overreacting to 4E, where they DID offer all the rules via a one time subscription, and they may perceive that as having negatively impacted hardcover sales

In that case, buying the hard copy should unlock the content in D&D next. More likely, I think, is that they don't know how to ensure each book is registered to its real owner. They don't know how to prevent people from taking screenshots of identification numbers in shops and using those to iligitimately unlock content.

Yagyujubei

2017-08-16, 09:25 AM

In that case, buying the hard copy should unlock the content in D&D next. More likely, I think, is that they don't know how to ensure each book is registered to its real owner. They don't know how to prevent people from taking screenshots of identification numbers in shops and using those to iligitimately unlock content.

not a perfect solution, but an easy one...when you checkout at your FNGS you get a # on your receipt, or they give you a card with the number on it. honestly with all the free handouts they throw at you during AL and FNM you'd think they could have figured this out.

I think it's greed more than not knowing how to do this, or this is their not so subtle declaration that they want to phase out physical copies completely and go digital.

Lombra

2017-08-16, 09:44 AM

rbstr

2017-08-16, 09:47 AM

Yeah, they really should have it where any new book comes with a key or some sort of thing that unlocks it on Beyond. Put it in a sealed insert or shrinkwrap the book.

But anyone with an old book...you're SOL. And nuts if you ever though you'd get credit for them. The books have no unique identifiers.

Outside of no the hardcopy problem I don't think $30 is bad for a digital edition of something that MSRPs for $50.
The ala carte options are expensive. But...they give you full purchase price credit to the book they come from.

Like, I'm a new player using a loaned PhB. I'm seriously considering buying in except I really prefer hard copy. Wish the character generator could produce a printable sheet.

Yagyujubei

2017-08-16, 10:08 AM

Again... it's not meant for veterans who already have a fixed discrete group to play with who already owns all the books. It's gonna be a handy tool fornew players and new content that has yet to come, either for this, previous, or future editions.

"This is stupid because I already own everything" is pretty silly to say, it's like buying a remaster of a game you already have, or two versions of the same game because you own two consoles that support it.

except its not, because in this case one side of it is entirely paper and physical which is bulky and cumbersome, and the other side is digital and convenient. carrying 10+ hardcover books around is a pain in the ass, and yeah DnDB would be convenient, but it doesn't justify making people pay for a product twice.

Cybren

2017-08-16, 10:19 AM

In that case, buying the hard copy should unlock the content in D&D next. More likely, I think, is that they don't know how to ensure each book is registered to its real owner. They don't know how to prevent people from taking screenshots of identification numbers in shops and using those to iligitimately unlock content.

printing a one-time usable QR code in shrink-wrapped PHBs (or codes that are printed on the receipt) that give a digital license to the book would have been easy to handle. But that assumes that they were committed to doing a new digital service during the initial development of the game. They may have only decided to do it because 5E was more successful than they anticipated, or an internal policy change only made it possible. Their initial digital plan may have been limited to partnerships with sites like roll20, or just the DMs guild, where they didn't plan to release any PDFs except adventures

Lombra

2017-08-16, 10:20 AM

except its not, because in this case one side of it is entirely paper and physical which is bulky and cumbersome, and the other side is digital and convenient. carrying 10+ hardcover books around is a pain in the ass, and yeah DnDB would be convenient, but it doesn't justify making people pay for a product twice.

There literally are 5 books total that you can buy (PhB, DMG, MM, VGtM, SCAG) (I'm not sure if EE has been released in a physical copy) with one more to come in october if I correctly recall, and they all fit in a normal schoolbag. Six books if you are playing off of a hardcover adventure. Not to mention that scanning what you already own and making PDFs of it is totally legal if you don't share it in a public space like forums and such. Plus, if one really wants to use the service, doesn't have to buy the full books, because there is an option to share DnDB products with up to 12 people, this way, if you have a group of say, 6 people that play D&D, all of you can get the products for one sixth of the retail price.

Anonymouswizard

2017-08-16, 10:48 AM

I have hardcovers, I have pdf versions from drivethruRPG. I am not buying them again.

Wait, they've released pdf versions of the corebooks? when?

not a perfect solution, but an easy one...when you checkout at your FNGS you get a # on your receipt, or they give you a card with the number on it. honestly with all the free handouts they throw at you during AL and FNM you'd think they could have figured this out.

I think it's greed more than not knowing how to do this, or this is their not so subtle declaration that they want to phase out physical copies completely and go digital.

So like Bits and Mortar? I've got several pdfs from that, it really is a great scheme.

Yeah, get out of D&D and there's companies that give free pdfs with every physical copy. Who knew?

And if they want to go full digital, where are the pdf copies of the corebooks? Seriously WotC, you'd make money from those who want a pdf but don't want to pirate it.

Again... it's not meant for veterans who already have a fixed discrete group to play with who already owns all the books.

[citation needed]

Please either provide proof of this or stop posting this statement. It's tiring. Before saying it's not aimed at me provide proof that it isn't.

Until then, I shall assume that it's aimed at everybody already playing D&D and everybody interested in playing D&D. The evidence seems to support that.

Azgeroth

2017-08-16, 10:48 AM

There literally are 5 books total that you can buy (PhB, DMG, MM, VGtM, SCAG) (I'm not sure if EE has been released in a physical copy) with one more to come in october if I correctly recall, and they all fit in a normal schoolbag. Six books if you are playing off of a hardcover adventure. Not to mention that scanning what you already own and making PDFs of it is totally legal if you don't share it in a public space like forums and such. Plus, if one really wants to use the service, doesn't have to buy the full books, because there is an option to share DnDB products with up to 12 people, this way, if you have a group of say, 6 people that play D&D, all of you can get the products for one sixth of the retail price.

i was originally opposed to the idea along with everyone else here, seems like a massive money grab, if some one told me when i purchased the books i would have to pay a monthly fee to keep them i would of likely punched them in the face...

however, if what your sayying is true, and with a single purchase up to 12 people can have access to it, that makes it worth while, especially if they can all access it at the same time, if as the DM, all the books you purchase you can let your players view, and also store/keep track of their character sheets. that is awesome.

polymphus

2017-08-16, 10:49 AM

It doesn't even come with basic PHB stuff -- why can't why can't I make a Valor Bard?

Yagyujubei

2017-08-16, 11:25 AM

i was originally opposed to the idea along with everyone else here, seems like a massive money grab, if some one told me when i purchased the books i would have to pay a monthly fee to keep them i would of likely punched them in the face...

however, if what your sayying is true, and with a single purchase up to 12 people can have access to it, that makes it worth while, especially if they can all access it at the same time, if as the DM, all the books you purchase you can let your players view, and also store/keep track of their character sheets. that is awesome.

yeah if you pay 55 bucks a year you can share 3 campaigns with up to 12 ppl but thats still over a hundred dollars of books and extras to unlock all the content on the app. and it isn't clear exactly what you get to "share" from the subscription page either.

huttj509

2017-08-16, 11:49 AM

i was originally opposed to the idea along with everyone else here, seems like a massive money grab, if some one told me when i purchased the books i would have to pay a monthly fee to keep them i would of likely punched them in the face...

however, if what your sayying is true, and with a single purchase up to 12 people can have access to it, that makes it worth while, especially if they can all access it at the same time, if as the DM, all the books you purchase you can let your players view, and also store/keep track of their character sheets. that is awesome.

Even better. When you get a campaign subscription, and make a campaign group, anyone in the group can use any resources anyone has bought. It doesn't have to be the DM who has bought the Beyond access for the book.

It's the digital equivalent of player A asking player B "oh, hey, can I see your copy of Volo's? I think I wanna make a Tabaxi this campaign."

Lombra

2017-08-16, 12:12 PM

[citation needed]

Please either provide proof of this or stop posting this statement. It's tiring. Before saying it's not aimed at me provide proof that it isn't.

Until then, I shall assume that it's aimed at everybody already playing D&D and everybody interested in playing D&D. The evidence seems to support that.

Well then, assume thar Ferrari and Lamborghini cars are aimed at everyone with a driving license. I'm just trying to see through the money and not pretending to be always in the spotlight. Just because a product is related to your hobby it doesn't mean that you are the target of it. They sell loads of stuff for D&D, but you are likely not the target for all those products.
A more fitting example, always with cars, are optionals: optionals are not aimed at every buyer of the car, some want/need the GPS or the massage seats, others are not intreasted in them.

GlenSmash!

2017-08-16, 12:19 PM

i'm unsure about whether I will use D&D beyond, but there are definitely some misconceptions on here.

You do not need to subscribe. You can buy the content in D&D beyond and use it without ever subscribing. Subscribing only gets you more character slots, the ability to consume other peoples homebrew, or at the master subscription the ability to share content you have purchased with other accounts.

I will am very unlikely to ever subscribe unless I have enough friends who want to split up the subscription to share content.

I may buy the PHB content at the discounted rate to be able to build characters and quickly look up Spells. If I like it I may try the MM. I'm not sure I would get anything out of the DMG apart from magic items and if I'm buying adventures on here I probably wouldn't even need those.

As far as putting codes in the physical books, by FLGS does not keep the RPG books in the packaging. Customers are free to peruse through the pages to decide whether or not they would buy it. IMHO having the code in the packaging could (but admittedly might not) hurt brick and mortar store sales.

I do know that my books are getting awfully heavy to carry around to different places, and a Laptop, Tablet, or my personal favorite a RPI connected to a pico-projector are much more convenient. Though maybe I should just work on increasing my STR score :smallwink:

Anonymouswizard

2017-08-16, 12:27 PM

Well then, assume thar Ferrari and Lamborghini cars are aimed at everyone with a driving license. I'm just trying to see through the money and not pretending to be always in the spotlight. Just because a product is related to your hobby it doesn't mean that you are the target of it. They sell loads of stuff for D&D, but you are likely not the target for all those products.
A more fitting example, always with cars, are optionals: optionals are not aimed at every buyer of the car, some want/need the GPS or the massage seats, others are not intreasted in them.

No, but I've been looking at the advertising, and it's not been advertised any differently than a new book would be. Therefore, I shall assume it has the same market as a new book.

A Ferrari or Lamborghini will be advertised differently to, say, a Ford Escort. Because they're not aimed at the same market as the Ford Escort is.

Random Sanity

2017-08-16, 03:08 PM

Overpriced - strike one. Under-functional - strike two. Requires signing up to a 3rd-party service - strike three.

That they would try to pass off this hot mess as a useful system when there's free alternatives online that do it far better is rather insulting.

j_spencer93

2017-08-16, 03:18 PM

Anonymouswizard

2017-08-16, 03:42 PM

Id love to know about these free services that do better

For 'being an SRD', the hypertext d20 srd (although that can't have non SRD content).

For character creation? None spring to mind.

Anyway, D&DB is really annoying to use, you get like ten monsters to a page.

greenstone

2017-08-16, 08:09 PM

It doesn't even come with basic PHB stuff -- why can't why can't I make a Valor Bard?
Have you bought the PHB? If you haven't then you are (as I understand it) limited to the SRD, which only contains one archetype for each class (the Lore College for Bard).

except its not, because in this case one side of it is entirely paper and physical which is bulky and cumbersome, and the other side is digital and convenient. carrying 10+ hardcover books around is a pain in the ass, and yeah DnDB would be convenient, but it doesn't justify making people pay for a product twice.

On the other hand...

I can carry my five books anywhere and not require power points and cables and an Internet access. Examples: A room at a local University where I am not a student. A FLGS. A mate's garage.

If D&DB goes under in a year, I can still use my books.

Cloud computing is great, but it does have its own unique downsides.

mephnick

2017-08-16, 08:54 PM

Again... it's not meant for veterans who already have a fixed discrete group to play with who already owns all the books.

Ok let's get this straight. The game's been out 3 years. Almost everyone that is going to play 5e already owns the books or is in a group with someone who has the books. So you're saying their strategy is to immediately alienate 95% of their market and hope new players that stumble into the system in 2018-2xxx will pay for Beyond instead of just the books? Is that the marketing genius behind this?

metaridley18

2017-08-17, 11:30 AM

For 'being an SRD', the hypertext d20 srd (although that can't have non SRD content).

For character creation? None spring to mind.

Anyway, D&DB is really annoying to use, you get like ten monsters to a page.

There are several dubiously legal [EDIT: I mean, absolutely illegal. I know for a fact they don't have the right permissions] character creation apps for Android that are, quite frankly, amazing. If D&DB could do what the app I have does I would subscribe in a heartbeat. Unfortunately the D&DB character creation seems terrible. The advantage of the app is that I can create a character in about a minute. The advantage of D&DB is that I can pay a ton of money to store my character sheet online?

Seriously, I can create a character manually on an editable PDF sheet and store in on my cloud drive cheaper and easier (and probably faster since their interface is bad). Plus I'll have a cloud drive for all other types of files. Once my character is made at home, I can bring my PHB (only) to whatever game I'm going to and not have to worry about it, since the other rules are all in the char sheet.

In other news, their "random character" creator is pretty much that...a rules legal random character. They don't even appear to have rules to prioritize ability scores for particular classes.

Lombra

2017-08-17, 11:56 AM

Ok let's get this straight. The game's been out 3 years. Almost everyone that is going to play 5e already owns the books or is in a group with someone who has the books. So you're saying their strategy is to immediately alienate 95% of their market and hope new players that stumble into the system in 2018-2xxx will pay for Beyond instead of just the books? Is that the marketing genius behind this?

Beards have been out since forever, yet new razors still get sold, because new men grow beard and so need new razors, preferably newer models.

D&D next is the edition that calls lots of new players constantly so yes, I believe that it is not intended for you or me.

Ravinsild

2017-08-17, 12:06 PM

Beards have been out since forever, yet new razors still get sold, because new men grow beard and so need new razors, preferably newer models.

D&D next is the edition that calls lots of new players constantly so yes, I believe that it is not intended for you or me.

That is the stupidest analogy I've ever seen. Razors get dull over time, that's why they are sold. Have you ever shaved? My beard is so thick I need to replace a razor after 1 or 2 uses. Also the hair never stops growing so it's constantly being shaved.

What are you even saying here? With beards it's the same grown men who buy new razors their entire life time because razors grow dull and are naturally expendable.

D&D books are bought 1 time unless you somehow ruin your hardcopy book. D&D Next is just like 1, 2, 3 or 4th edition. Once you own the books you can play the game. D&DBeyond is essentially, eventually, the officially sanctioned "More Purple More Better" character PDF generator so if you use "MPMB" PDF Character generator, once D&DBeyond is all set up and includes all functionality and supports even UA stuff they'll be identical, but one is officially sanctioned by Wizards and one isn't.

Also the UI might suck and everything, but the PDF generators didn't come out perfect the first time either. They've been redesigned and iterated upon repeatedly until they're as good as they are now. Do you think D&DBeyond won't change past today?

This dicussion reminds me of the MMO debate. "The next WoW killer is coming out!" the game comes out and everyone tries it for a day then quits. "It didn't have all the things WoW has even though WoW has been around for 12 years and has 6 expansion packs and this new game just came out 3 seconds ago and has 0 expansions."

ROME. WAS. NOT. BUILT. IN. A. DAY.

WickerNipple

2017-08-17, 12:08 PM

Overpriced - strike one. Under-functional - strike two. Requires signing up to a 3rd-party service - strike three.

Sums up my feelings perfectly.

j_spencer93

2017-08-17, 12:16 PM

That is the stupidest analogy I've ever seen. Razors get dull over time, that's why they are sold. Have you ever shaved? My beard is so thick I need to replace a razor after 1 or 2 uses. Also the hair never stops growing so it's constantly being shaved.

What are you even saying here? With beards it's the same grown men who buy new razors their entire life time because razors grow dull and are naturally expendable.

D&D books are bought 1 time unless you somehow ruin your hardcopy book. D&D Next is just like 1, 2, 3 or 4th edition. Once you own the books you can play the game. D&DBeyond is essentially, eventually, the officially sanctioned "More Purple More Better" character PDF generator so if you use "MPMB" PDF Character generator, once D&DBeyond is all set up and includes all functionality and supports even UA stuff they'll be identical, but one is officially sanctioned by Wizards and one isn't.

Also the UI might suck and everything, but the PDF generators didn't come out perfect the first time either. They've been redesigned and iterated upon repeatedly until they're as good as they are now. Do you think D&DBeyond won't change past today?

This dicussion reminds me of the MMO debate. "The next WoW killer is coming out!" the game comes out and everyone tries it for a day then quits. "It didn't have all the things WoW has even though WoW has been around for 12 years and has 6 expansion packs and this new game just came out 3 seconds ago and has 0 expansions."

ROME. WAS. NOT. BUILT. IN. A. DAY.

Man...i would be lucky to get a second use out of mine but yea. I do believe the pricing is a little high but i like the set up.

Anonymouswizard

2017-08-17, 12:20 PM

There are several dubiously legal [EDIT: I mean, absolutely illegal. I know for a fact they don't have the right permissions] character creation apps for Android that are, quite frankly, amazing. If D&DB could do what the app I have does I would subscribe in a heartbeat. Unfortunately the D&DB character creation seems terrible. The advantage of the app is that I can create a character in about a minute. The advantage of D&DB is that I can pay a ton of money to store my character sheet online?

Seriously, I can create a character manually on an editable PDF sheet and store in on my cloud drive cheaper and easier (and probably faster since their interface is bad). Plus I'll have a cloud drive for all other types of files. Once my character is made at home, I can bring my PHB (only) to whatever game I'm going to and not have to worry about it, since the other rules are all in the char sheet.

In other news, their "random character" creator is pretty much that...a rules legal random character. They don't even appear to have rules to prioritize ability scores for particular classes.

I mean, I haven't looked, so I wouldn't have found anything. That's why I admitted I have no clue, I like making characters manually.

Beards have been out since forever, yet new razors still get sold, because new men grow beard and so need new razors, preferably newer models.

D&D next is the edition that calls lots of new players constantly so yes, I believe that it is not intended for you or me.

Actually, in my short life I've failed to find the reason to prefer newer models. A basic single bladed safety razor is, assuming your blade is sharp, the most comfortable shave I've ever had. I tend to replace my blade somewhere around once a month, but I've had the same razor model for five, maybe seven years. But I also have a relatively thin beard which means I can get away with only shaving a couple of times a week right now. (yes I am making a difference between the body and blade here, the razor body is comparatively expensive and so is the rulebook, the razor blade is like the paper and pencil I use to record my character)

Also, just young men cannot account for new razor sales. While I have a razor I adore which is also durable, a lot of men don't have razors made from two pieces of metal and the blade. Then there's disposable razors meant to only be used a couple of times, maybe even only once.

Then there's all the men who buy new razors because this new model has 18 blades and gives you the closest shave ever. It's equivalent to buying 5e even when you already have an edition that you adore just because you were told 5e is better. Sometimes it's worthwhile, sometimes it isn't, but it's more investment than sticking with your functional body and just buying new blades. It's why, even though a family member accidentally bought me the old edition of Traveller for my birthday I'm not upgrading, although it's also really compatible with the new edition (the main change seems to be weapon ranges and changing how the mechanics are presented).

Easy_Lee

2017-08-17, 12:31 PM

metaridley18

2017-08-17, 12:31 PM

This dicussion reminds me of the MMO debate. "The next WoW killer is coming out!" the game comes out and everyone tries it for a day then quits. "It didn't have all the things WoW has even though WoW has been around for 12 years and has 6 expansion packs and this new game just came out 3 seconds ago and has 0 expansions."

ROME. WAS. NOT. BUILT. IN. A. DAY.

Sure but if I see that the product isn't meeting my needs I'll wait for a product to come out that does meet my needs rather than following the terrible method of "purchase and pray it becomes something I need one day."

Additionally, if a product DOESN'T meet my needs, I'm well within my rights to point out why that's the case.

Sad part for me is that I like the idea of a mobile / online platform for d&d. If I could take a tablet to game sessions, I could see that being pretty cool.

But from everything I can tell, Beyond just isn't a good product. Several forum posters, myself included, could build a more functional D&D app given time. The mechanics of character creation are simple, so art and data would be the most time-consuming parts. WotC, who should already have the art and data on hand, should have had an easy time creating a functional app.

If I had to guess, I'd say functionality was not their first priority with Beyond. That makes me wonder what else was more important. Maybe Twitch integration, or putting in all of the ads and pay gates.

Sad part is, there already exists a more functional (copyright infringing, ofc) D&D app.

McNinja

2017-08-17, 12:36 PM

The issue is that DDB is not WotC. It merely has the WotC license for D&D. That's why it charges for books when we already owned them - we paid WotC for the hardcovers, not Curse (the developer of DDB). That fact doesn't make it any less stupid, though.

Also, Curse is owned by twitch, and it's easier to use an already-existing login system than developing one from scratch.

Ravinsild

2017-08-17, 12:39 PM

Sad part for me is that I like the idea of a mobile / online platform for d&d. If I could take a tablet to game sessions, I could see that being pretty cool.

But from everything I can tell, Beyond just isn't a good product. Several forum posters, myself included, could build a more functional D&D app given time. The mechanics of character creation are simple, so art and data would be the most time-consuming parts. WotC, who should already have the art and data on hand, should have had an easy time creating a functional app.

If I had to guess, I'd say functionality was not their first priority with Beyond. That makes me wonder what else was more important. Maybe Twitch integration, or putting in all of the ads and pay gates.

Wizards of the Coast did not make D&DBeyond, they only officially sanctioned it. It was created by Twitch (AKA Curse), the MMO Add-on provider. You know, with e-Sports teams in League of Legends and stuff? Twitch bought Curse and rebranded their MMO Add-on App and then Wizards of the Coast hired Twitch (Curse) to make D&DBeyond. That's why you log in with your twitch account.