[RPG] legal way to get D&D 5e core rulebook PDFs

booksdnd-5e

As much as I like having the hardcover core rule-books in front of me, usually I read or reference most information for RPGs on my computer. Unfortunately, my google-fu has failed me at finding places to buy a Player's Handbook PDF, or even whether said PDF exists at all. My question is this: Is there any place I can go to legally buy a D&D 5e core rulebook PDF? I'm not looking for the starter set or basic rules, since those are incomplete (and free), I'm just looking for the core books in PDF format.

Best Answer

Not as of October 2017.

Per the Mike Mearls interview of 3 November 2014:

We're definitely looking at PDFs, ebooks, and other digital platforms, but no news yet. The goal with anything along those lines will be grow D&D, not just sell ebooks to people who already play the game, so we're putting a lot of work into figuring out that side of the equation.

It is likely that if and when a PDF version is made available, it will appear on http://www.dndclassics.com/ alongside the other PDF material from Wizards of the Coast.

January 2016 Update: The 5E system reference document is available in PDF format. For many people this may fulfill the need for reference material (looking up spells and creatures, etc)

October 2017 Update: While a PDF version is still not available, there are now a number of options for electronic reference.