D&D 5E Here's to hoping for an iOS character generator...

[iwarrior-poet]

There seems to be a bit of news about the possibility of a digital character generator. I PRAY that WoTC gets ahead of the curve and launches an iOS and/or Android character generator at the launch of 5e.

This would be ideal---particularly with a 'In-App Purchases' option that would allow for the purchase of additional rules/data sets.

Oh please, oh please, oh please!!!

 

[Ruin Explorer]

iOS alone would be dumb, Android alone almost as dumb, hopefully they have both. That said - either would be better than none.

Requiring purchases for future books would be a poor model, I suspect, though (for simple chargen/management).

 

[iwarrior-poet]

Though I prefer not to spat---I think paying for books would be an excellent model.

It would give WoTC (and its CharGen developer), motivation ($$$) to add new content to its app on a regular basis---also to tweek/upgrade the app if enough folks buy it.

Are you suggesting that all one would have to do is buy the app in order to get access to all datasets/rule revisions?-----because I guarantee that won't happen.

 

[Thaumaturge]

I'm new school enough to think character generation apps would be pretty neat and old school enough to not be too concerned if there aren't.

Also, I spent the build up to the last 2 editions getting excited about the electronic support possibilities. And I've felt burned both times. This time, I'm trying a different tactic--I'm setting my expectations for electronic support at 0. I will be very happy with just the books and paper. Anything additional they choose to sell/provide will be a bonus.

As far as payment models, it seems like there are a couple of valid methods, should this actually happen. A DDi subscription could allow the apps to become full featured, or they could go the "pay per bucket of content" method. I'd probably prefer the latter. WotC would probably prefer the former.

But, again, I'm setting my expectations intentionally very low. Them having character creation rules available on their site is already pretty great.

Thaumaturge.

 

[Blackbrrd]

A better alternative would be a html5*-based app that works on all platforms, and was smart enough to scale decently from smartphones to desktop PC's. Basically a web page in other words.

*Using whatever tricks necessary to get it running on browser that don't support the whole specification.

 

[iwarrior-poet]

A better alternative would be a html5*-based app that works on all platforms, and was smart enough to scale decently from smartphones to desktop PC's. Basically a web page in other words.

*Using whatever tricks necessary to get it running on browser that don't support the whole specification.

Yeah---but this would mean the user would have to be constantly connected to the web (not always easy/desirable), and it might start hitting some serious download data usage over the course of a 4-6 hour gaming session.

 

[Blackbrrd]

Yeah---but this would mean the user would have to be constantly connected to the web (not always easy/desirable), and it might start hitting some serious download data usage over the course of a 4-6 hour gaming session.

I am actually assuming that WotC would require a internet connection whatever approach they choose. It's the easiest way to avoid piracy.

I can see the issues you with requiring always-on, but looking at how we are doing it now, we are always playing at a place with wireless internet. I don't know anybody without it actually, including my 70 year old mother...

 

[Thaumaturge]

Yeah---but this would mean the user would have to be constantly connected to the web (not always easy/desirable), and it might start hitting some serious download data usage over the course of a 4-6 hour gaming session.

Man, I am SO not an expert here. But I believe html5 apps/pages can be written to install themselves and run without a constant data connection.

Thaumaturge.

Someone, who knows what he's talking about, coming in to correct me in 5, 4,...

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Though I prefer not to spat---I think paying for books would be an excellent model.

It would give WoTC (and its CharGen developer), motivation ($$$) to add new content to its app on a regular basis---also to tweek/upgrade the app if enough folks buy it.

Are you suggesting that all one would have to do is buy the app in order to get access to all datasets/rule revisions?-----because I guarantee that won't happen.

Yeah you must be right because that's how the character builder right now works... OH WAIT! Nope, it works the way I suggested! Despite your "guarantee"! Shocking.

Forcing every single player to spend $$ to simply get access to stuff they can get FOR FREE if they use a paper sheet or non-WotC char builder is simply asking for people to be pissed off and see WotC as penny-grabbers. I have a group full of rich players, all of whom could afford what you suggest, none of whom would go for it, because guess what well-off people hate? Being made to pay for something they can get for free, because they're good at assessing value, and have used character sheets for years.

All this would do is annoy them. That's not smart when they are happy to buy things which don't look like a cheap money-grab.

 

[Morrus]

Just a license to let third parties do it would be the most amazing thing. You'd get a wide variety of awesome mobile apps (and a load of crappy ones). But I don't think that will happen. WotC will want to hold the chargen part close to their chest - it's such a powerful part of the package.