WotC Guessing as to WotC's VTT plans

[Hussar]

There are some port forwarding issues which happen on older routers

Note, this is an issue I've run into before. I could not port forward and needed to use Hamachi for years in order to use Fantasy Grounds.

To be fair though, that was a problem on my end, totally.

 

[Steel_Wind]

Note, this is an issue I've run into before. I could not port forward and needed to use Hamachi for years in order to use Fantasy Grounds.

To be fair though, that was a problem on my end, totally.

With modern routers and an adequate ISP, you don't even have to change a setting on your router. The Foundry software handles it all in the background, automagically. The extra-setup step takes, literally, 0 seconds as a modern router does this automatically without user intervention.

What causes this persistent issue among a fairly large swath of the American East-coast is Comcast. Its system is setup to STOP all of its subscribers from having any router automatically do port-forwarding for installed software. It's a nutty technical design; a built in and deliberate crippling of their high-speed network.

 

[darjr]

Point of order. WotC didn’t drop PDFs because of DnDBeyond.

WotC said they did it in an attempt to thwart piracy.

My pet anecdotal theory is they also did it to appease the retail stores.

Kinda a perfect storm of bad decisions. Imho.

 

[Steel_Wind]

Point of order. WotC didn’t drop PDFs because of DnDBeyond.

WotC said they did it in an attempt to thwart piracy.

My pet anecdotal theory is they also did it to appease the retail stores.

Kinda a perfect storm of bad decisions. Imho.

I think it was mostly aimed at retailers, too.

Paizo's sale of PDFs and direct subscriber PDF benefits is a stone in the shoe of many store owners. The vast majority sell Paizo products anyway, but many grumble about it.

If WotC's only relationship with FLGS owners was their selling D&D books? WotC would sell direct to customers, too.

Of course, that isn't their main relationship at all. WotC has a critically important relationship with FLGS owners who sell M:TG. That sales relationship changes everything - and dominates every aspect of their relationship with store owners. WotC no longer attends at Gencon for the same reason: (other than DDB) -- they don't want to sell direct to fans because they have promised FLGS owners that they won't. WotC won't compete with their retail partners.

DDB ended up working out for them far beyond expectations. It's been an unexpected great success, but it was never the reason for not selling PDFs. WotC's prolonged absence from Gencon tells you all you need to know.

Whether DDB is seen by store owners as competition subsequent to WotC's purchase of it is unclear. I haven't heard or seen any shop owners complain about it like they do with Paizo though. Perhaps that's the real point. Close to the line - but not over. Not yet anyways.

 

[darjr]

I think it was mostly aimed at retailers, too.

Paizo's sale of PDFs and direct subscriber PDF benefits is a stone in the shoe of many store owners. The vast majority sell Paizo products anyway, but many grumble about it.

If WotC's only relationship with FLGS owners was their selling D&D books? WotC would sell direct to customers, too.

Of course, that isn't their main relationship at all. WotC has a critically important relationship with FLGS owners who sell M:TG. That sales relationship changes everything - and dominates every aspect of their relationship with store owners. WotC no longer attends at Gencon for the same reason: (other than DDB) -- they don't want to sell direct to fans because they have promised FLGS owners that they won't. WotC won't compete with their retail partners.

DDB ended up working out for them far beyond expectations. It's been an unexpected great success, but it was never the reason for not selling PDFs. WotC's prolonged absence from Gencon tells you all you need to know.

Whether DDB is seen by store owners as competition subsequent to WotC's purchase of it is unclear. I haven't heard or seen any shop owners complain about it like they do with Paizo though. Perhaps that's the real point. Close to the line - but not over. Not yet anyways.

Oh I have!

In some areas where store owners talk it was a five alarm panic mode. But strangely still about magic.

 

[Hussar]

With modern routers and an adequate ISP, you don't even have to change a setting on your router. The Foundry software handles it all in the background, automagically. The extra-setup step takes, literally, 0 seconds as a modern router does this automatically without user intervention.

What causes this persistent issue among a fairly large swath of the American East-coast is Comcast. Its system is setup to STOP all of its subscribers from having any router automatically do port-forwarding for installed software. It's a nutty technical design; a built in and deliberate crippling of their high-speed network.

Not all of us live in America too.

 

[MostlyHarmless42]

Point of order. WotC didn’t drop PDFs because of DnDBeyond.

WotC said they did it in an attempt to thwart piracy.

My pet anecdotal theory is they also did it to appease the retail stores.

Kinda a perfect storm of bad decisions. Imho.

Yes. Because Wizards, a corporate entity under Hasbro would totally tell the truth about a major reason for not releasing pdfs being that they want to "encourage" people to use their proprietary (and now 1st party) system in order to have any sort of electronic access to their ruleset, especially when, ya know, specifically admitting to that is a crime in the United States? In other news: everything you read on the internet is true, there's a certain Nigerian prince out there who wants to give you money, and there really are hot singles in yor local area looking to meet you.

More to the rest of your post: I can see the argument that perhaps retailers may have been worried about sales of physical books, but...as has been brought up in this age old argument for why there are no pdfs time and time again, why not simply attach codes to download pdfs to the sale of physical books? Both sides win.

And before you claim this would detract from sales rom people pirating the pdfs, news flash bud, they already do. It just ain't legal. (Obligatory disclaimer that I do not endorse piracy).

 

[MonsterEnvy]

They don’t want to use PDFs they want to use Beyond. That is literally the extent of it.

 

[iv23]

Delete this please

 

[iv23]

Delete this please