If you're a fan of tabletop RPGs, there's a chance you are familiar with D&D Beyond. This digital platform is an online service where players can build characters for a Dungeons and Dragons campaign, conveniently purchase digital versions of prewritten material, as well as consult rules and descriptions for various, mechanics, spells, and monster statblocks. The platform was so resourceful and convenient for players that the platform was purchased recently by Wizards of the Coast for $146.3 million. Now, in celebration of this acquisition, the developers of D&D Beyond have announced that two books will be available for free to all of their users.
Which Two Books Are Free on D&D Beyond?
This announcement came as a part of a developer update video on the D&D Beyond YouTube channel. In the video, Joe Starr revealed that all users will be receiving free materials as part of their weekly Acquisitions Update. This update is where Starr and the team openly discuss the transitionary struggles due to the purchase by Wizards of the Coast. These usually involve technical and logistical details that may affect services behind the scenes. In this update, Starr officially announced that on May 19 and for a limited time of seven days afterward, users can download the sourcebook Acquisitions Inc. completely for free. This book is based on the exploits of the adventuring party of the same name that debuted back in 2008 as part of a collaboration with Wizards of the Coast and Penny Arcade.
The second free book that will be available on D&D Beyond starting May 19 is the adventure Lost Mines of Phandelver. This was originally a starting adventure included in Essentials Kits intended to help new players and DMs get a basic understanding of a Dungeons and Dragons campaign. However, Wizards of the Coast have relied less on this particular adventure in more recent starter sets, such as the recently announced Dragons of Stormwreck Isle. But since Lost Mines of Phandelver will be available for free in perpetuity for all users, it can continue to help newer players along, as well as demonstrate the differences between newer and older starter adventures.
What Else Was Mentioned As Part of the D&D Beyond Dev Update?
Starr concluded this Acquisitions Update with a warning for D&D Beyond users. While confident that users will not be affected, Starr did mention the possibility that service might be interrupted on May 18, as that is when they are making their transition tin being part of the Wizards family. Coincidentally, this is the same date where two Dungeons and Dragons books, Volo's Guide To Monsters and Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, will be de-listed from the service, their information folded into the newest book, Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse, which has also become possible to purchase a day early on D&D Beyond.