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posted November 7, 2022 by Christopher Cortez
How has technology changed Dungeons And Dragons
D&D has long been a game for nerds with too much time on their hands. Many people found it hard to get into the game as you needed so much setup. In 2017 a new site was launched, D&D Beyond. This site made many long grueling aspects of D&D a lot less time consuming allowing easier access to the game. Websites such as WikiDot and D&D Beyond have cataloged information, getting rid of the need for physical materials. D&D Beyond has a slew of useful information and services for players and Dungeon Masters alike.
What does D&D Beyond do?
D&D Beyond is a website that aims to be the jack of all trades website for D&D.
The website has many features but none more widely used than the character creator. This allows an easy way to add items and customize a character to your play-style. There is also a catalog of various information such as the stats and abilities of enemies and weapons. For Dungeon Masters (DMs) they offer an encounter builder allowing for easier worldbuilding. They also include a store that has many different items including Adventures which allow you to pick and choose what the plot of your game will be. For people checking what class or race to play there is a catalog with helpful information on everything there is for D&D.
Why should you use this?
Many tabletop games are notorious for taking far too long to set-up. This is especially true for D&D as games may take days to set-up and prepare. D&D Beyond has cut times for game setup drastically, even down to only a few hours. It is extremely user-friendly and has a tool for anything you may need. If there is a general question about D&D this should be your first stop before other places. If you need somewhere to buy D&D materials, this is a great trustable site to use for purchases.
Why shouldn't you use this.
D&D Beyond is the official site for the D&D fifth edition. While this is a good thing it is also the root of the site's issues. Most information is locked behind different adventures which you have to buy. This is the same system as before when you had to buy books to get more content. This locks useful information behind a paywall. Although this is annoying, you must remember that D&D is a business and created to make money. I have found it annoying when I look up creatures not in the base game and am unable to use them due to needing to buy them.
In conclusion I enjoy the game and appreciate all these sites have done to make it more accessible. I dislike the use of the old pay for information system but can see past this. I feel these sites have made the game a lot more enjoyable and less like work.
Sources: The D&D Beyond Official website
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