DDI Survey Results posted

[lrsach01]

This must mean that WOTC... [gasp] ...listens to their customers sometimes?

What will the naysayers think?

About time?

 

[JeffB]

Interesting.

For my own part, I decided based on the "ho hum" content I saw in Dragon/Dungeon that I wouldn't be subbing until they get the "virtual tabletop" going.

Based on the results they posted, looks like that will be never.

 

[Verys Arkon]

As a DM with two existing groups, the VTT was never high on my list when it came to DDI tools. The relative value of the VTT is directly related to your current gaming situation. What I didn't want to see happen was to have the VTT added and my DDI subscription raised with no opt-out option.

The Campaign Tools (CT) sounds good to me. I've thought that a 'pro' version of the monster builder and encounter builder bonus tools would be great, if integrated with the Compendium. Add a 2D map builder and good printing options? Gravy coated awesome.

Posting the results of the survey (even if selective), helps to diffuse the vitriol when people learn that the VTT and Visualizer are, at the very best, still on the back-burner.

I hope WotC posts more news articles about the CT, even if they are technical and mundane.

Verys.

 

[Verys Arkon]

A quote from WotC_Trevor for those that don't get over to their boards

You can find the official article on our site here: D&D Insider Survey Results

I wanted to take a couple seconds to highlight the big points. This is the survey that we asked everyone to take a while ago concerning what you wanted to see from D&D Insider. Both subscribers and non-subscribers who took the survey had tools for managing campaigns, tools to customize and print monsters, and tools to customize and print premade adventures as their top three choices.

Based on that information plus the feedback we were recieving from all our other sources, we began working on applications for your campaigns. As the article states, "this includes monsters, encounters, maps, and adventures."

Now I know you want to know all the specific information about when the next tool is coming out and what exactly it will do, but we won't be releasing any of that information until we get closer to launching the application. We'll make sure to post up information in the articles and here in the forums whenever we have any new details to share, but I did want to make it clear that we are working right now to bring you these applications.

Thanks to everyone who took the survey for providing your feedback, and to all the D&D Insider subscribers!
__________________
Trevor Kidd
Community Team
Wizards of the Coast

 

[guivre]

Which were voted on by 83% and 82% of subscribers and 52% and 55% of non-subscribers, so that looks like they are actually doing something and it isn't a 'trust us' response at all.

No, they weren't voted on those percentages of subscribers and non-subscribers. 83% and 82% of the subscribers who voted, voted for those two. 52% and 55% of non-subscribers who voted voted for those two. (We also don't know the margin of error). There is a difference.

Perhaps more importantly we don't know the breakdown of subscriber votes versus non-subscriber votes. Splitting that number evenly, for lack of a better information, about 1500 subscribers voted for the first two tools and about 1000 non-subscribers voted for them.

The results would be more interesting if a) we saw the actual number of subscriber votes versus non-subscriber votes and b) we knew the total number of DDI subscribers.

 

[Hussar]

The results would be more interesting if a) we saw the actual number of subscriber votes versus non-subscriber votes and b) we knew the total number of DDI subscribers.

I've often wondered why there has been no news on this number. At least, if there has, I haven't seen any. When the magazines were in print, they had to release those numbers every year. And, it can't be illegal to post subscription numbers, because that information is tabulated by groups like LOCUS magazine. So, why haven't we heard any numbers on the DDI subscribers.

That actually does concern me much more than any delay in programs coming out. That's just a manpower issue and it will get done eventually (hopefully). But if the numbers for the DDI are really low, that's going to really hurt.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

You mean something like this:

Based on our analysis of the survey data and customer feedback, we have already begun work on applications for your campaigns. This includes monsters, encounters, maps and adventures.​

Breaking down the quote;
Monsters:
The monster builder is pretty much done, a way to print formatted cards and may be store them in a local/ central database and perhaps add custom art is al that is really needed.

Encounters:
Again, most of that application is is place, all it really needs is; a good printing and storage options and including producing the monsters as cards and/or printing layout options.

Maps: Nothing yet but a map builder is a prerequisite to the virtual table top and any maps should be compatible with the VTT application

Adventures:
This is essentially a database that holds monsters, maps and encounter information together. They might be wise to seek more feedback here because some people would be happy with a simple folder type structure and nothers may want something more interactive.
THe biggest question is where is this data stored?

If they get this done then add the character visualiser and you are well on the way to the VTT as long as the developers are well aware that that is where you are going eventually.

As far as development effort is the bigest issue is layout of these documents. I suspect they will go with pdf output. It makes sense, they are already using it and it gets around the issues of interacting with printer drivers.
Still if they can build a mapping application then some simple text printing layout options should not be too much toruble.
Local storage is easier to develop for and has less issues that WoTC providing storage. THat said from comments here a lot pf people are using stuff like the encounter builder in a manner that is more consistent with online storage.

 

[jbear]

I strongly agree with darjr's comments above. For the foreseeable future, I am not going to be a 4E player or DM. I did not participate in the survey - I wasn't even aware that it was going on (which says something about how distant I and my local gaming acquaintances are from the target customer base). But I draw the line at taking everything WotC reps say, do, or post in the worst possible light.

They ran a survey. Gamers - subscribers and non-subscribers - responded. WotC appears to be listening to the responses, and reacting accordingly. If you were expecting a detailed outline of their plans for the coming months/years, get used to disappointment. No sane company would be so stupid as to publish such plans.

They ran their survey. They put up a response. Time will now tell if they're BSing or not. Given my current understanding and interpretation of the information available, their generalized response is appropriate economy-wise, technically, business-wise, and timeline-wise. These tools don't just appear out of whole-cloth. As pointed out, they've over-promised before - and been smacked hard in the face, repeatedly, for it.

It is very early in this part of the hobby's lifecycle to villify the primary economic organization funding - and hopefully profiting from - the hobby. Constructive criticism is invaluable at times like this - for gamers and for WotC. Dumping buckets of vitriolic tar is not helpful, even if it is scented with attar of roses. It is much better to save those buckets, and their contents, for real screwups. A week or two of patience and moderation now costs nothing. Refilling those buckets and using them will quickly clog and seal the most valuable thing we have: Communication.

I, for one, would LOVE to discuss certain ideas with the game designers - why they decided to do or not do certain things with 4E. I don't think that opportunity will arise now, and it certainly can't happen while there is such a hate going on. That is an opportunity lost.

TSR made these mistakes with their buckets. I hope history does NOT repeat itself, especially with the community playing the part of TSR. Fortunately, we aren't there yet.

Well spoken. While I don't share your dislike of 4e I applaud your maturity and comments here. If only we could all express ourselve with similar calm and perspective. If I knew how to give xp I would have given them to you for what you have written.

I aren't as aware of the big promises WotC made before 4e hit the shops, apart from the Online Table Top and the Visual Character builder (which is really one and the same in a way). I can see how this would be enough for people to be disappointed. Are there more things?

Personally the new applications mentioned in the list, once all up in running (including and in my case ESPECIALLY including the virtual table top) would be enough for me to become a faithful suscriber. Until then I will wait. If it doesn't happen, I lose nothing.

Anyway sounds like positive news from where I'm standing. I certainly can't understand all the hate either.

 

[Malacoda]

Monsters: The monster builder is pretty much done, a way to print formatted cards and may be store them in a local/ central database and perhaps add custom art is al that is really needed.

Encounters: Again, most of that application is is place, all it really needs is; a good printing and storage options and including producing the monsters as cards and/or printing layout options.

I would love a combo monster creator/modifier and encounter design program, something non-web based, like the CB. I want a program that allows you to choose foes, balance encounters, add templates to creatures, choose treasure and so on, then put it all together with stat blocks and so on, in nice copyable text, as well as save it for future use or modification. Modified and created monsters could be saved for future use as well, of course.

4e already makes encounters easier to create. The DDI web tools help out. Something like this would be make it all that much smoother, and guarantee I keep my DDI subscription going in perpetuity.

 

[catsclaw227]

Except that what they want to do (more monsters, encounters, maps & adventures) has nothing to do with what they asked for and what the customers responded (managment tools, creation tools, etc.)

Sure it does. At least that's how I read it. They just aren't being specific how. Monsters, Encounters, Maps and Adventures are the huge part of campaign management and creation tools.