There have been digital tabletop tools that allow you to play any game for so long, that are free, I don’t see how they would ever really get anyone on board with a subscription service to do the same thing.
I use a couple myself with my group. They have some premium features like access to tilesets; but they also allow importing an image to use so it’s not like I feel compelled to subscribe.
Those free versions only exist because of the OGL, which WotC wanted to rein in. In part because of their own VTT being in development. This was also before WotC changed how they sold their books, now they are slanted to being part of a Beyond membership. While 3rd party seller still have a supply of books, the WotC main website is now only selling physical books as a bundle with a digital one for an up charge. Wizards is changing and is very much transitioning to prioritize their digital goods.
There have been digital tabletop tools that allow you to play any game for so long, that are free, I don’t see how they would ever really get anyone on board with a subscription service to do the same thing.
I use a couple myself with my group. They have some premium features like access to tilesets; but they also allow importing an image to use so it’s not like I feel compelled to subscribe.
Those free versions only exist because of the OGL, which WotC wanted to rein in. In part because of their own VTT being in development. This was also before WotC changed how they sold their books, now they are slanted to being part of a Beyond membership. While 3rd party seller still have a supply of books, the WotC main website is now only selling physical books as a bundle with a digital one for an up charge. Wizards is changing and is very much transitioning to prioritize their digital goods.
I mean this isn’t just a wild conspiracy theroy, Wizards themselves said as much during an investor meeting.
It’s what the point of the licensing mess a few months back was: to rope dnd-one away from third party VTTs