Well that's interesting, not unexpected though.

[Nylanfs]

WotC buys D&D Beyond

https://dnd.wizards.com/news/announcement_04132022?utm_source=ddb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=motm_preorder_dice&utm_content=04_11_2022&utm_term=All%20DDB%20Users%20Opted%20In%20at%20Sig n%20Up

[Myrdin Potter]

“Similarly, with more than 80% of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS fans having already played the game virtually in 2021, aided by online digital platforms such as D&D Beyond, this acquisition accelerates the game’s ability to penetrate new markets, gather valuable consumer insights and provide players with the best DUNGEONS & DRAGONS experience on all platforms.”

Seems that they are targeting VTT as well and Fantasy Grounds has the least (really no) integration with D&D Beyond.

[LordEntrails]

Interesting is certainly correct. Lots of things might come from this, or very little. But I won't worry too much until their is reason :)

[Lazybones1969]

Based on WotC's past efforts with tabletop-assist software, they've got a ways to go until they can rival FGU or one of the other VTTs out there.

However, I can see them developing or purchasing some kind of VTT to go with their release of D&D "5.5e" in 2024.

They could instantly capture a big chunk of the online-play market by offering a free or deeply discounted digital edition with every print book purchased (or vice-versa). That's one of the most common responses to posts on the various RPG boards I frequent, asking why D&D Beyond didn't offer discounts to people who already owned the hardcover books, "It's a different company." Now they won't have that excuse. But I think it's more likely that they'd try to revise their licensing system to limit competitors, while forcing their fans to continue double-purchasing or even do some kind of mandatory subscription to access their content.

I hope I'm wrong, since I see competition as one of the great things driving the game forward. I'm heavily invested in FGU and think it's a great piece of software, but I'm sure that this move is going to create some uncertainty about the future.

[Max Silver]

I like WotC, I despise Hasbro.

[DmHesh]

I can see this ending licensing to groups like FG, and making it so you have to come to them for VTT gaming. Don't think they will pull the licenses yet, but maybe not renew them when they are up...

[celestian]

I can see this ending licensing to groups like FG, and making it so you have to come to them for VTT gaming. Don't think they will pull the licenses yet, but maybe not renew them when they are up...

Why? Having the sole source of D&D content in one VTT is not how you get more people to buy your product... Even assuming they get a VTT up (I'm not holding my breath) can you imagine how long it will take to be on par with the current platforms? Will the bulk of the VTT users want to be forced to use a limited platform just to have licensed content? Yeah, some people will, a lot won't. Having your product on the top platforms will get more profit than limiting it.

[DmHesh]

Supposedly there is already some map building, and VTT capabilities on D&D Beyond that have not been released. Ted at Nerd Immersion was mentioning it today after the announcement. You're right they could keep licensing their product to everyone, or force everyone to one table. Depends on Hasbro/WotC need for money, or to make you come to them and have all the market. Another scenario is they combine D&D Beyond and one of the existing VTT's together and cut out time and development then cut the others out. I personally think it will not happen till next version of D&D (5.5,6) what ever they want to call it, and make you have to use their content exclusively.

[Markd102]

It's definitely a wait and see situation.
I'm no businessman, but i just can't see WotC continuing to licence competitors once they have their own VTT. I hope I'm wrong.
But what it will do is make me very hesitant to purchase any more source book material for FGU.

I also agree that nothing will happen before the next version release in 2024.

[Valyar]

I don't think WotC will pull the plug to Fantasy Grounds or Roll20. As celestian said, it is not how you gain more customers and more income. But, we should not forget that WOTC are controlled by corporate people that look at Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations and financial forecasts based on various sources that none of us have access to. If there is even slight possibility and clear spike in the charts that income will be higher for the stakeholders in the next quarter or two, they plug immediately.

Nobody cares for the hobby and what the people really want. If something was clearly demonstrated by Apple and the whole consumer mentality - people will adjust, you need to take care for the masses. The other are minority, even if vocal - they don't care.

On the good side - Paizo has momentum, it seems PF2 is doing quite well and with the new announcement for partnership with Foundry, it will further rock the boat in a good way I hope.

[LordEntrails]

One of the key reasons I chose FG as my digital platform of choice is architecture. Everything I buy is downloaded to my computer and is kept safe in my backups. Unlike the other digital platforms, nothing that I have purchased can be taken away from me. If SmiteWorks loses the D&D license, all that can happen is that my opportunity to purchase new/more content from WotC goes away. Not my ability to play 5E or use anything I have purchased. It actually gives me more reason to purchase WotC content on FG while I know that I can. Not less reason.

[Sulimo]

I don't have a horse in this race as I do not play D&D.

However, as others have suggested WotC/Hasbro would be leaving revenue on the table if they tried to force everyone into their platform (if they make one).

If they tried, I suspect they would end up like 3Dfx (anyone remember them?). There are a lot of other options for Roleplaying that people could go to. Some will stay, but I would bet the majority would switch to something else.

Someone mentioned Apple in a previous reply, but Apple is a special case, Apple users are Devoted (it almost borders on fanaticism), so Apple can do almost no wrong.

I am not sure that WotC users have the same level of devotion, however, I could be wrong, as I am not involved in those communities.

[The Decepticon]

The worst thing that could happen is to not offer new content to FG for WOTC products, which others have stated will be 5.5e or 6e. We (the users) own the books for 5e and all the source content, not sure how they would take that away from the end user based on how FG runs.

If it happens it happens, potentially Roll20 and Foundry would be in the same boat if they develop their own VTT. That is a lot of pissed off consumers. Honestly, it depends on corporate greed and what is best for the shareholders and such.

[ddavison]

I posted this in another thread, but I will repost it here for convenience.

Wizards of the Coast will be making a public announcement at some point in the near future about Roll20 and Fantasy Grounds, but you don't have anything to fear. Wizards of the Coast views our community as a valuable thing and they don't want to do anything to upset or disrupt that. We currently have a license which renews with Wizards each year and they intend to continue this.

Our license already includes a clause which allows all our customers to keep a copy of any purchased content regardless of the status of our license. We are also allowed to keep a copy of all the licensed content we produced on our servers for customer support. This means that you would be able to redownload and install them even if we were ever to lose our license with Wizards of the Coast. We don't currently have any concerns of that happening.

[Mytherus]

Thanks for sharing that information. I saw the news post about d&d beyond and my only thought as a DM heavily invested in Fantasy Grounds was concern about wotc license status with smiteworks in the future. What Doug posted takes that concern away.

Of course having read and viewed videos from a few YouTube personalities in our hobby, a couple very well known with many followers, speculation is don’t hold your breath for a 6e in 2024. A 5.5e is more likely and yes I know no one but wotc knows what they will really produce I agree 6 is probably not as likely. The simple logic is 5e is a printing press of money it’s doing so well, as a business why would you want to risk messing with such profits and success?

Then there’s a thought that “5.5” would also include tons of “social justice” kind of revisions. Which I think is absolutely going to be the case whatever we get in ‘24. I don’t have interest in paying for that as I don’t adjust to those terms or rules in my games, but I do know there’s a lot of improvement that could be had in 5e in and of course new content (I personally really like new spells and character options for example) so I’m not sure if I’d rush to get new rule books from wotc anyway.

Hopefully they at least change stupid systems like how prone works and could beef up the excitement of combat a bit (hint to wotc execs please play a pathfinder game…just saying) :)

[similarly]

Here are my predictions (based completely on my own imagination):

1. DDB will continue in the direction it's been going, with probably not many changes other than the normal course of improvements already in the roadmap/pipeline.
2. For some time, DDB has been working on its own VTT. WotC will continue this work, and I predict their DDB VTT will become available within 12-18 months. I predict this VTT will be cheaper than FGU Ultimate, maybe more in line with Standard, but will be a "lighter" VTT than FGU, with fewer features and less automation, but will be a comparable VTT that will have its own fans and adherents (and detractors) and will probably do some things better than FGU, some things not as well, and maybe have some features FGU doesn't and vice versa.
3. WotC will continue working with Roll 20 and Smiteworks. Both of these, I think, have had good relationships with WotC that have been beneficial and profitable. I believe these relationships won't change.
4. WotC will close the security loopholes in DDB that have allowed Foundry users to skim and share data from DDB.
5. WotC will then work with Foundry to set up licensing agreements for Foundry content, on the understanding that Foundry make changes to control how WotC content is shared, to bring it more in line with how Roll20 and FGU work.

So I really only predict (and again, this is just me letting my imagination go) that DDB will gain a VTT. FGU and Roll 20 will be unaffected by WotC's acquisition of DDB, and it will have only a minimal effect on Foundry, in that it will set up licensing agreements more beneficial to WotC and more easily controlled.

That's just what I think.

I do think, though, that there's a SMALL chance, WotC might try to acquire a VTT and fold it into its current project to make a VTT, i.e. instead of continuing to build from scratch, they may prefer to buy out a current VTT. Out of the "Big 3" (Roll 20, Foundry or FGU), I would probably guess Foundry.

[damned]

Current model requires them to spend $0 on development.
Other people (r20 and Fantasy Grounds) do all the development, all the support, all the marketing etc and the Wizards get paid.

[Jiminimonka]

I predict (using my own imagination), that I will win the Euro Lottery and retire to the Bahamas, and that the VTT world will carry on improving, regardless of WOTC does with D&D Beyond or whatever new version of D&D they come up with - and 5e has been a huge cash cow for them so they probably won't do much for a while.

[similarly]

Current model requires them to spend $0 on development.
Other people (r20 and Fantasy Grounds) do all the development, all the support, all the marketing etc and the Wizards get paid.

Exactly. It's basically franchising, and it's easy money for them. They won't do anything to disturb that income.
Basically, companies are pretty conservative. If it turns a profit, they're not going to mess with it.

[Locotomo]

The have a VTT already. Do you know AboveVTT ? :)

[similarly]

The have a VTT already. Do you know AboveVTT ? :)

It would be more accurate in this case to say "there IS a vtt for D&D Beyond already". Above VTT is a chrome extension that uses DDB data, but I do not believe it was created or administered by DBB. I believe it's a 3rd party chrome extension. DDB is currently developing its own VTT. At least that's my understanding.

[andrewcr]

I think you may find the Baldur's Gate 3 engine is a pretty good mapping system for a VTT.

It all comes down to making the tools easy for a DM to build what they need fast.



Here are my predictions (based completely on my own imagination):

1. DDB will continue in the direction it's been going, with probably not many changes other than the normal course of improvements already in the roadmap/pipeline.
2. For some time, DDB has been working on its own VTT. WotC will continue this work, and I predict their DDB VTT will become available within 12-18 months. I predict this VTT will be cheaper than FGU Ultimate, maybe more in line with Standard, but will be a "lighter" VTT than FGU, with fewer features and less automation, but will be a comparable VTT that will have its own fans and adherents (and detractors) and will probably do some things better than FGU, some things not as well, and maybe have some features FGU doesn't and vice versa.
3. WotC will continue working with Roll 20 and Smiteworks. Both of these, I think, have had good relationships with WotC that have been beneficial and profitable. I believe these relationships won't change.
4. WotC will close the security loopholes in DDB that have allowed Foundry users to skim and share data from DDB.
5. WotC will then work with Foundry to set up licensing agreements for Foundry content, on the understanding that Foundry make changes to control how WotC content is shared, to bring it more in line with how Roll20 and FGU work.

So I really only predict (and again, this is just me letting my imagination go) that DDB will gain a VTT. FGU and Roll 20 will be unaffected by WotC's acquisition of DDB, and it will have only a minimal effect on Foundry, in that it will set up licensing agreements more beneficial to WotC and more easily controlled.

That's just what I think.

I do think, though, that there's a SMALL chance, WotC might try to acquire a VTT and fold it into its current project to make a VTT, i.e. instead of continuing to build from scratch, they may prefer to buy out a current VTT. Out of the "Big 3" (Roll 20, Foundry or FGU), I would probably guess Foundry.