D&D (2024) D&D VTT: Nerd Immersion talks about his recent playtest.

[Parmandur]

There is some really great D&D terrain available for tabletop simulator. The official VTT stuff will probably be prettier, but it will take years for them to get a big library -- unless they partner with someone like Dwarven Forge, and then you are talking about a pretty big expense or (more likely) multiple subscriptions (one to the VTT, one to DF, one to Hero Forge, etc...)

WotC producing loads of quality art assets in a timely manner is, like, their core competence as a company: look at Magic, and more relevant lyrics, what they do for Arena on a constantly releasing basis now.

I'm sure there is some great stuff for Tabletop Simulator, but there is for Magic as well and that's just not the same thing as Arena. Too much hobbyist set-up work, which is why I say there is nothing quite like what WotC VTT is looking to turn into: a high-quality, easy to use and casual 3D tabletop simulator.

 

[darjr]

There was talk about tablets and phones and eventually consoles.

Nerd Immersion didn’t try it in phones or tablets. Said it might not have been an option but it also didn’t occur to him to try.

 

[Reynard]

They can make up a lot if they allow modding.

I seriously doubt they are going to inhibit their own revenue that way.

 

[Reynard]

WotC producing loads of quality art assets in a timely manner is

3D art assets? because that is what we are talking about here, and it isn't anything WotC has ever proven they can manage.

 

[tetrasodium]

It didn't seem like he's super experienced with vrts so there wasn't much useful comparison that could have conveyed a lot and what came through was more just spotlighting how it's a very early build. Tight now it's so early that even hmm worthy elements he noted have good odds of being rooted in how far from done it is.

The apparent focus on module automation is noteworthy though and the feature request desirability survey questions were interesting

It's good that wotc isn't trying to build crysis the ttrpg based on his computer but wotc still has a very large hill to climb before they can catch up to existing vtts or even start bragging about it.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

I seriously doubt they are going to inhibit their own revenue that way.

Or encourage it and turn it into a revenue stream. Fantasygrounds have user extension that users can charge for, using a virtual currency. Not sure how that works from the modders point of view.
They allow DMsGuild which is a type of modding, it uses their IP.

 

[Parmandur]

3D art assets? because that is what we are talking about here, and it isn't anything WotC has ever proven they can manage.

Yes, they do, with Arena.

 

[Hussar]

For most VTTs there are 3rd party/fan importers. Getting your DNDB character to Foundry or Roll20 or FGU is generally pretty trivial.

The other thing I can imagine being unique and a driver though is verticality. If the engine does end up being capably 3D and open, folks may well want to use it to get elevation. Both BG3 and Solasta improve on 5E combat by adding a 3rd dimension and I can't imagine WotC isn't paying attention to that.

That’s not true for Fantasy Grounds. Yes there are importers. No they don’t work.

For example anything in a container like a backpack won’t import. The caster classes don’t import right at all - a wizard for example cannot prepare spells. The character sheet is a horrible mess.

 

[EthanSental]

I still enjoy using Tabletop Connect that Carl Pinder created before he joined Fantasy Grounds. I literally pushed the beta version by creating the 1st level of Undermountain. It had a scaling of the 2d map and then placing the walls and floors, and even height/depth changes.

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

Like most of these guys, I’ve soured on his channel over the last 6 months or so (dude wotc doesn’t care about your videos “leaking” dnd stuff calm down).

Yeah, it's not like WotC sends goons to the homes of youtube leakers or anything.