I really don't like the Compendium links in articles.

[malkav666]

It seems to me that a PDF with embedded links to another service is a strange malfunction, as it makes the PDF unreadable anywhere where there is no internet (and where that internet is being monitored or blocked). If it was in a free article then maybe it makes a little sense (but honestly if I am trying to preview something to my potential customers I would want the info to be as accessable as possible, making them log into another service after already coming to my website seems a bit much), but if I paid whatever WOTC is asking nowadays for a DDI sub (read as any amount more than free, as opposed to a complaint over whatever the pricing is) and they gave me an useless PDF where all of the crunch was linked to yet another service, then I would send them an e-mail as well expressing my displeasure.

And I would not continue to subscribe if that was to be the default way things would be handled. I subscribe to dungeonaday.com and I would be one pissed off customer if the PDFs I got with the sub just led to the PW protected portion of the website. Hell, I am trying to think of a digital content model where it would work. Maybe if there was a lesser tier of DDI that did not include PDFs then asking a user to log into the compendium to get info seems to make sense (but it does once again make the PDF moot).

Anyways, those are just my thoughts, they should not be read as statement of fact.


love,

malkav

 

[Squizzle]

Isn't one of the selling points for DDI that once you download the PDFs, you have the content forever? This isn't a bait & switch, but it's very much a bait & disappoint.

 

[Harlekin]

That might possibly be true, but frankly I doubt this would do more than slow initial pirates up slightly (and then people using pirated material get hold of it as quickly as before) - and in the mean time it irritates legitimate users.

Seems like a lose-lose to me.

This seems to assume that once a few ppl have pirated something, these pirated copies will be available all over the internet. Is that actually true? (I honestly don't know) Or do copies disappear at a certain rate over time, and are replenished by newly pirates copies?

 

[Harlekin]

Hi yall

I just tried to read the Psion article that has just been published and instead of writing out the full powers WotC in their wisdom have instead included the title, fluff description and a link to the compendium. Does any one else out there think that really really sucks? I have just extended for a year just before they did this, this is enough to make me want to cancel my sub. It means I cannot read this PDF on my eReader, it means I cannot even read it on the PC. I find jumping from link to link (which takes a good 5 seconds per power, if not more) to read through the powers virtually impossible! It is not like reading through 4E class powers is a nice flow anyway, this is worse!

Just to be clear, this type of Compendium-only release only happened to thePHB III prerelease information(the Psion), everything in Dungeon and Dragon still comes in prettily layed out pdfs.

Maybe this is an attempt of Wotc to add extra value to the DDI without adding extra costs for themselves. Updating the compendium is something they will have to do anyway once the PHBIII is published so doing it early doesn't cost them anything. On the other hand, creating a well-layed out pdf with pictures and all may actually have some notable costs attached.

 

[mach1.9pants]

Every dungeon and dragon PDF is available to pirate, people pay the subscription then put it on the torrents. They take the time to scan books in and OCR them. People will still add those extra DDi bits if at all possible for the warm fuzzy feeling they get for a quick 'orsum, thanx' in their torrents comment column!

 

[I'm A Banana]

Just to be clear, this type of Compendium-only release only happened to thePHB III prerelease information(the Psion), everything in Dungeon and Dragon still comes in prettily layed out pdfs.

My initial conspiracy theory was that it was an antipiracy measure, but this makes sense, too. Maybe MORE sense, given the above point about how it was supposed to be initially JUST for the compendium/character builder.

I hope the negative reaction will steer them away from this type of thing, though. Honestly, even if it is a "pure compendium" update, just copy/paste the stuff. This is an ungodly hassle to deal with, and really limits how useful the info can be. I want something I can give to one of my players (most of whom don't have a DDI sub) so that they can make a psion. I'm assuming my group isn't unique in this position, and, given that my primary group is recruited online, I'd think it would be more common for most players NOT to have the sub.

Thaaaaaaaaaaat's bupkiss.

 

[Harlekin]

My initial conspiracy theory was that it was an antipiracy measure, but this makes sense, too. Maybe MORE sense, given the above point about how it was supposed to be initially JUST for the compendium/character builder.

I hope the negative reaction will steer them away from this type of thing, though. Honestly, even if it is a "pure compendium" update, just copy/paste the stuff. This is an ungodly hassle to deal with, and really limits how useful the info can be. I want something I can give to one of my players (most of whom don't have a DDI sub) so that they can make a psion. I'm assuming my group isn't unique in this position, and, given that my primary group is recruited online, I'd think it would be more common for most players NOT to have the sub.

Thaaaaaaaaaaat's bupkiss.

Remember that Wotc like every one else only has limited resources.
I think that if the reaction is sufficiently negative it may also steer them towards either not doing any further previews (as they don't have the money for it) or to do them only a short time before the actual product is printed when they have layed out pages and all the art in place.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Remember that Wotc like every one else only has limited resources.
I think that if the reaction is sufficiently negative it may also steer them towards either not doing any further previews (as they don't have the money for it) or to do them only a short time before the actual product is printed when they have layed out pages and all the art in place.

I don't think very many people at all would get huffy about a new previewed class in place of a typical Dragon article, for instance. They're already releasing new crunch there, for subscribers only.

Not that the copy/paste thing eats up that much time. Hell, make an intern do it, if you're that concerned. You can get those for free.

 

[hvg3akaek]

Remember that Wotc like every one else only has limited resources.
I think that if the reaction is sufficiently negative it may also steer them towards either not doing any further previews (as they don't have the money for it) or to do them only a short time before the actual product is printed when they have layed out pages and all the art in place.

That's a bit over the top. How much time does a little copy-and-pasting take, when they have all the resources in front of them? Hey, if I could create a pdf looking like theirs, I would make one for myself from the psions powers (and wouldn't get paid!)

Simply, the pdf they gave is very annoying to use, and is not of the "expanded quality" we were advertised about, with the raise in price of DnDi

 

[Allaric]

RE: Dragon Magazine I really don't like the Compendium links in articles.

I really dislike this change in article format as well. I am hoping that when the compiled issue of Dragon Magazine is put out it will be normal and complete. Every subscriber is entitled to keep copies of Dragon Magazine articles from their subscription period. It is part of the deal.

I was hoping this bit of on-line linking cheese was actually a bit of laziness on their part to get the class pdf to the subscribers quicker. But, I noticed the D&DI team introduced a bug into the character builder yesterday regarding gold on the character sheet. They did a very late night update last night and fixed it. So, they don't sound lazy.

Again, like most gamers I do not Dungeon Master with a computer on. I am a big fan of the Character Builder and the Compendium but everything is printed out well before the game session. Using on-line compendium links on a regular basis is going to extremely hamper my ability to add new content to my game and reduce the overall value of this new system.