The Problem of DDI...Solved! (Well, not really)

[Mercurius]

We all know that Wizards of the Coast no longer offers an offline Character Builder or Monster Builder, and the general consensus is that both range from somewhat worse to drastically worse than their older brethren. Now it may be that both will improve - Character Builder has, from most accounts, and one would assume that the bugs will continue to be worked out. But regardless of how much they improve, there will always be the problem of the requirement of not only an internet connection but an ongoing subscription.

So I have an idea. My knowledge of computer programming begins and ends with the most rudimentary HTML coding, so I don't have any idea as to the feasibility and cost of this idea. But let me know what you think.

How about WotC offers an offline, downloadable "D&D Insider Suite," that includes Character Builder, Monster Builder, and whatever-other-Builders they plan for, perhaps even Virtual Tabletop and other goodies - all for a one-time fee to download (say, $30-40, or approximately the cost of a hardcover book), and then optional updates, either quarterly ($5 for a quarter's worth of stuff) as a kind of subscription, or cumulative (maybe $10).

Now you could argue that this doesn't make them nearly as much money as the current scheme. But I would say that it offers the best of both worlds. It does include the whole DDI package - Dragon, Dungeon, and perhaps one or two "online exclusives," perhaps including the VTT. But it does open the door again to the many folks that have left DDI since it went to online only, and thereby makes money that it wouldn't have otherwise and fosters goodwill.

All of the above is just one possible way that it could be done - how it is done is less important than that it is done, in some form or fashion. "It" being offering the Builders tools in an offline format again.

Just the other day I was waiting in my car for someone and pulled out my laptop and fiddled with my old version of Character Builder. I am not saying that WotC should find a way for weirdos like me to use Character Builder in parking lots, but that there are numerous instances like this that have been lost. Not to mention numerous former-customers who don't want to pay $10 a month for the infrequent and seemingly increasingly rare update and erratic Dragon and Dungeon articles.

Make it so, Mearlslaviscek.

 

[Ferdil]

One simple reason this wouldn't work: piracy.

The offline CB was pirated as hell. I can't disclose details or I'd get people into trouble, but I assure you this is real. Keeping it online only is a way to avoid piracy. In fact, as I know, the new CB has a 0% piracy rate, because it's technically impossible (or really difficult and dangerous and not for everyone) to bypass the protection on an online service.

 

[Erudite Frog]

Nothing is technically impossible in information systems. That being said, one raises the threshold of those able to defeat such implementations by moving to this new format. Your point is still valid though, in that they are trying to thwart rampant piracy.

 

[wayne62682]

From what I recall about the old one the only way it could be "pirated to hell" would be to use somebody else's account details to get updates for your copy, or pay for a month of updates and then cancel it, and pay again later for it.. which isn't pirating anything since it's subscription based (although could be against TOU just like in WoW I technically can't log in with somebody else's account, but it's not pirating anything). I don't recall a way to pirate it (I can only assume you mean that there was a way to copy the update files and make it think it was updated without a valid DDI sub), but I never tried to disassemble the thing either despite knowing .NET

 

[Ferdil]

Nothing is technically impossible in information systems. That being said, one raises the threshold of those able to defeat such implementations by moving to this new format. Your point is still valid though, in that they are trying to thwart rampant piracy.

I sure know this, in fact I specified: «(or really difficult and dangerous and not for everyone)».

[MENTION=40455]wayne62682[/MENTION]: I can't really say more, but I assure you it was done, and it was as easy as downloading a file and pressing a button. I can only tell you that your last hypothesis is very close to the truth. Don't ask and you will not be lied to.

 

[wayne62682]

I figured it had to be something like that; I never played around too much with it since it was at the end of my D&D tenure.

Personally I don't mind an online format as long as it doesn't sacrifice too much usability (some is going to have to be sacrificed; there's no way around it). One of the biggest complaints was that there was no Mac/Linux version so I hope moving to an online format fixes that.

I have yet to check it out, however, since there's no more "trial" that I can tell.

 

[Viking Bastard]

I have thinking about this a lot recently and I wonder if a business model similar to the one used by a lot of iOS apps and games might work well for D&D.

You'd buy a cheap subscription that'd give you access to the core game (presumably PHB/DMG/MM material with steady updates through Dragon and Dungeon) and then you could buy in-app pay-once expansions. For example, that each year we'd get a setting expansion, some themed splat expansions, a monster vault expansion etc.

Optimally, they would find a way to deliver both fluff and crunch through the interface, but maybe it would just be the crunch. And, of course, as long as they'd sell, each expansion would have a corresponding print book (that would preferably come with access to the online version as well).

Theoretically, GSL-approved expansions could also be sold (separately) in-app, either with WotC taking a small cut or just as an easy low-cost way to provide extra support to subscribers.

 

[TheUltramark]

there were many many keygens around for the character builder. Here is the thing I don't quite understand...is it really so hard to use a blank sheet and a pencil? I am not trying to upset anybody, but is it possible that maybe a bigger deal is being made of this than needs be?

 

[Mercurius]

Ultramark, I'm all for making characters the old-fashioned way but the Character Builder was/is very convenient - you don't need to own all the books or lug them around with you. Not to mention that quite a few powers and feats were errata-ed, so my 2008 copy of the PHB has numerous errors.

 

[Neverfate]

Just like you'll never be able to hold more than 20 characters on the online builder. Less sharing that way.