Foundry VTT Proposal
The Proposal
What if we could self-host our own D&D Beyond, but jailbroken to work with community mods, any content from any source, and better automation than the official platforms?
We can. It's called Foundry, and it's fucking great.
Option A: Full D&D 5e Experience We split the cost: $50 for the software and $90 for the three official 2024 D&D core books (same content D&D Beyond uses). That's $70 each and we get the official ruleset with all the automation.
Option B: Try It Free with Pathfinder 2e I buy Foundry myself for $50, we skip the D&D books and play Pathfinder 2e instead. It's a completely free ruleset that's similar to D&D but arguably better balanced. $0 for you while we test if the group actually shows up.
How It Works
The Deal (Option A): Just Venmo me $70. That's it. You're trusting me with the money, so at bare minimum you get:
- Full admin rights on Foundry (guaranteed)
- VM access through XenOrchestra if you want it (I'll send you Authentik OAuth access)
- SSH access to manage at the system level if you're interested
- Co-ownership of the infrastructure, not just shared licenses
Hosting: I'll set up foundry.bros.ninja. It's always online, just a browser bookmark, and works on any device. Compare this to D&D Beyond's $150 bundle plus $6-11/month forever, whereas we pay once and own it.
Full Feature Comparison
| Feature | D&D Beyond + Roll20 | Foundry VTT |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Cost | $150 (books on sale) | $140 (software + books) |
| Monthly Fees | $11-16/month for full features | $0 |
| Official D&D Content | ✅ WotC marketplace only | ✅ WotC + Paizo + Multiple publishers |
| Content Ownership | Subscription-based access | Permanent ownership |
| Settings & Adventures | $30-50 each (text + basic maps) | $30 official + thousands free community enhanced versions |
| Community Modules | ❌ None | ✅ 1000+ free (automation, QoL, effects) |
| System Flexibility | D&D 5e only | Any TTRPG (Pathfinder, Call of Cthulhu, etc.) |
| Homebrew Support | Must rebuild in their builder | Direct implementation, no restrictions |
| Dynamic Lighting | Roll20 Plus ($5/month) | Included free |
| Weather & Effects | ❌ Not available | ✅ Full suite included |
| Token Art | Limited free, rest costs $ | Unlimited custom + huge free libraries |
| Battle Maps | Basic or purchase packs | Infinite free community maps |
| Music & Sound | ❌ Not integrated | ✅ Built-in audio system |
| Automation Level | Manual tracking | Full automation (HP, conditions, ranges) |
| Character Sheets | 6 free, then need subscription | Unlimited |
| Multiple DMs | Each needs own subscription | Unlimited worlds/DMs on one license |
| Hosting | Their servers (can lose access) | Self-hosted at foundry.bros.ninja |
| Data Portability | ❌ Locked to platform | ✅ Full export/backup control |
The Key Advantages
Community Content Changes Everything: Take Curse of Strahd. D&D Beyond charges $30 for text and static maps. Foundry charges the same $30 for the official version, but the community provides FREE enhanced versions with:
- Pre-configured dynamic lighting on every map
- Weather effects and ambient sounds
- Token art for every NPC
- Rebalanced encounters
- Extra content and story hooks
This pattern repeats for EVERY official module. Plus thousands of free modules add features like 3D dice, advanced vision modes, language scripts, and automation tools that would cost hundreds on other platforms (if they existed at all).
Remove Friction, Not Guilt People: The real philosophy here isn't about testing commitment, it's about removing every barrier to playing. When the game is always online, books are always available, and anyone can run a one-shot, people actually play instead of letting scheduling conflicts kill the campaign.
Bottom Line
Your original plan: You'd spend $150+ upfront and then $6-11/month forever while being locked to one platform.
This plan: We each pay $70 once, own it forever, and get access to everything from any publisher.
Want to co-own a D&D server?
See it in action: Why Foundry VTT is Worth It
Venmo: @MadManMike (last 4 digits if asked: 8834)