2/7 DDI Update

[moxcamel]

There is something to be said for complaining; if you don't, they'll think you're a satisfied customer and become complacent.

And in fact I think an argument could be made that the focus should have been on features FIRST, before adding any more content. As more content is added, any underlying changes necessary to include a basic feature may mean lots of underlying metadata changes to accommodate the new feature. If WotC were building a car, they're mucking about with the interior while the frame, drivetrain, and suspension still aren't completed.

 

[Quickleaf]

Hi [MENTION=67606]Stumblewyk[/MENTION]

I think you're misunderstanding my criticism of Quickleaf's comment...

I just don't think it's fair to holler and yell about not having feature X, and then to snarkily jab at them when "all they do" is implement feature X in an update.

I joined ENWorld in 2004 and I can't recall a single time I've been described as hollering and snarky. So I guess first blood goes to you

You wanted it, you got it.

I think there's a world if difference between "wanting above and beyond" and "wanting basic functionality." To confuse those two is to misconstrue my (admitedly sarcastic) point.

But to gripe about receiving a feature you feel entitled to having and not much else? Just doesn't seem kosher in my book.

Entitled? Were talking about expectations not entitlement. An entitlement would be "I deserve to have special privileges" or "I have a legal right." I made neither of those assertions.

Considering that I too, like Jester, am letting my DDi subscription expire (consistent for 2 years), I've got no subscriber expectations concerning DDi.

I am pointing out that the new program is still building back to the old program's level of functionality. Hence the irony of the "update."

 

[Stumblewyk]

I am pointing out that the new program is still building back to the old program's level of functionality. Hence the irony of the "update."

Fair enough, [MENTION=20323]Quickleaf[/MENTION]. To be completely fair on my own behalf, I should have clarified and said I wasn't directing my criticisms 100% in your direction - just sentiments a lot like yours. I've seen a lot of people who are justifiably unhappy with the CB, Adventure Tools, and DDI in general. Many of them make similar comments to your own, but it seems like sometimes WotC gets it coming and going - they have a litany of problems they can't fix fast enough for many people, and when they actually try to make some headway, it's not enough.

All I'm saying.

(Also, I don't want any "first blood." I don't have any beef with you, or anyone on this board.)

 

[the Jester]

I also think it was an extremely bad decision to have the final update for the old Monster Builder strip a bunch of content out. I know that it was RPGA stuff full of potential issues, but so what? It was in there long enough that some people were using it, and then (assuming they applied the last update) they couldn't any more (unless they had it printed out). They weren't going to support the old MB anymore, just leave it out of the new one.

It seems like there have been a series of decisions at WotC, seemingly at least somewhat based on concerns with IP and piracy, that have served to substantially degrade the quality of the e-tools that were just dragging WotC's name out of the mud when it came to electronic offerings. It's so frustrating watching them go from an F to a B+ and then back to a D-.

The worst thing about it is that not one of the changes has improved the experience for the customer. Eventually, one hopes, it will; but customers don't pay for what they will get in 18 months, they pay for what you are offering them today.

I'm glad that each update brings us closer to where we were a year or two ago, but it's a shame that it's taking so long to regain the lost ground. I'm not patient or wealthy enough to wait for it.

 

[Mithreinmaethor]

OMV! (Vecna, in case you were wondering) They fixed my single biggest remaining complaint -- the cards on the Character Sheet are no longer a chaotic mess, but (generally) go at-will, encounter, daily, items.

Before they fixed it, my solution was to print to PDF, screen capture each card separately, paste the cards into cells in a spreadsheet in the order I wanted them, screen capture the sheet, and then print the capture. That's a lot of work I can skip now.

Yay, WotC team!

A lot of people cut the cards out and place them in card sleeves.

 

[LightPhoenix]

And in fact I think an argument could be made that the focus should have been on features FIRST, before adding any more content.

I don't disagree with your initial point, but I do disagree with this. Their focus should be on fixing what's broken before adding in "new" features or new content.

I'll also note that this was a recurring problem with the old CB as well - there were a number of bugs that weren't getting fixed, and the problem was compounded by them releasing new content.

So, in as much as WotC can be lauded for anything regarding the online CB debacle, I feel they do deserve some accolades for actively fixing bugs. Furthermore, and I freely admit I may be being gullible, it suggests to me that WotC does want this to work, and that gives me some hope that it will get better.

 

[moxcamel]

I don't disagree with your initial point, but I do disagree with this. Their focus should be on fixing what's broken before adding in "new" features or new content.

Yeah, poor wording on my part, and is what I actually meant to say. Basically I'm arguing that the functionality "framework" be taken care of before adding content. That way, when you go to add, say, Dark Sun themes, well the functionality already exists and you don't have to retrofit it.

I'll also note that this was a recurring problem with the old CB as well - there were a number of bugs that weren't getting fixed, and the problem was compounded by them releasing new content.

Absolutely. And so it's all the more frustrating to see that when they had the opportunity for a clean start, they learned absolutely no lessons from the past.

So, in as much as WotC can be lauded for anything regarding the online CB debacle, I feel they do deserve some accolades for actively fixing bugs. Furthermore, and I freely admit I may be being gullible, it suggests to me that WotC does want this to work, and that gives me some hope that it will get better.

Oh there's no doubt in my mind they want this to work. I said this once in another post, and I think it's worth repeating: WotC has absolutely no business writing software, and we can plainly see what happens when content providers try to write their own software.

WotC had the right idea in the beginning, which was to outsource software development. Unfortunately they outsourced it to a company that couldn't deliver, but that doesn't falsefy the strategy. In fact, they probably tried to get away with doing it on the cheap, and that outcome should have been obvious too.

If they absolutely felt the need to develop in-house, what they should have done was just develop an API. There are zillions of developers out there that can and would put together character builders, monster designers, virtual tables, and everything else under the sun if they just had an API to develop against. Any number of them would have been magnitudes better than what WotC will ever put out, and WotC could focus on the things they're good at, namely content.

 

[Prestidigitalis]

A lot of people cut the cards out and place them in card sleeves.

I did that too, once. It got annoying after a while for a variety of reasons.

 

[GameDoc]

I think this is likely another departmental miscommunication in regards to the Executioner. There's no mention in D394 of this just being another playtest...

I hope so.

Honestly, I am a bit frustrated at this because it's the part of the update I was most looking forward to. I know that's my problem as many others have noted other fixes and updates that were more relevant to their interests.

My frustration isn't just because I can't make an Executioner without the CB (been doing it on paper for several weeks now). Moreover, it's that this is another eleventh hour change in plans with no warning that feels all too familiar where WotC is concerned.

I just renewed my DDI subscription in December, having decided to get back into 4e after a year-long absence. I was hoping that with time, WotC had worked out the bugs, found their focus, and this sort of unreliability had gone by the wayside.

If WotC were a person, I would describe them as "flaky." Not deceptive or malicious, just unreliable.

I love 4e and am not dropping it again for the foreseeable future. But I kind of feel like they guy who watches his buddy make the same obtuse mistakes over and over and all you can do is sigh and say "well, bless his heart, that's just Buddy."

 

[Nemesis Destiny]

I did that too, once. It got annoying after a while for a variety of reasons.

&

A lot of people cut the cards out and place them in card sleeves.

I like using the Magic Set Editor to do power cards. You can take either approach; paper print out sheets, or print them on card stock and cut them out (lamination optional). Using the D&D 4e template that is floating around out there, they're much more readable and completely customizable, which is awesome for me, since I do a lot of refluffing, keyword swapping, and homebrewing.

I don't even keep a printed character sheet - it remains on the computer to save paper, and I just update HP, defences, surges, skills and whatnot on their own card(s).

That's the other nice thing about the MSE cards - they leave blanks for you to fill in. Just cover the blanks with a piece of tape and you can write and re-write on that spot for a long time without damaging the card.