6 npc designer reviews at the same time

[Odhanan]

Just got NPC Designer from ENWorld. This product rocks. And David Jones (the guy behind the software) is a great help.

Man, the time I'm going to save to generate NPCs now... !

 

[DonTadow]

Me too. I bought the Gold package a couple of days ago. It's really VERY helpful. I need to look into the export to DM Genie stat-block thing, though. That would send it over the EDGE for me. I use DM Genie in depth and having that capability is a sure fire way to keep me a user!

I've been using it for dmgenie for a few months and it works great. Everything ports over and sincs really nicely. Its real easy too. Select DM genie and the program automatically configures npc geneartor for a dmgenie export.

By the way thanks Vascant for putting in that new feature.

 

[MonsterMash]

I'll say that it was striking that so many reviews have come up at once and all are that positive to be 5 stars. As I said in my original post I find it easier to use reviews from posters who've either got a lot of posts or reviews in already as I know what they think about things and even if they like their game to be very different than mine at least I know that from their posts and other reviews.

These very short reviews as the only post that has been made by a user doesn't have the background or information that I find useful in a review and I don't have any kind of handle on that reviewers approach to the game. I hope that these guys will review more of the stuff that they have used as well as we can always use more reviews.

I do like to see a decent length of review, but don't necessarily expect them to be as thorough as a staff reviewers (especially say John Cooper on rules).

 

[rom90125]

Edit: naw, don't do that...

 

[Vascant]

MonsterMash:

I personally do not use reviews and in fact never read them for one main reason, I think I am educated and mature enough to form my own opinion for my own needs and desires. This does not mean I am saying reviews are worthless, just regarding myself. When this all started I did not expect what the results were, I am very critical of myself so the idea all would be 5 stars never crossed my mind. Even in the small reviews though I learned something about myself and how I have delt with the users of NPC Designer since June when it was initially released as a beta. I have been approached in the past by reviewers and the first thing to be said is this, "Give me a free copy", it becomes crystal clear what the motive is.
NPC Designer has a full life cycle plan which ends on Feb 1st, at which time I need to make the same decision I made on Aug 1st, What direction? Before all this started, I was seriously thinking about stop selling it and focus on the users I do have and continue to update and improve NPC Designer for them. After this last few days, this plan is looking very good because I owe those that took a few minutes to leave a review the same loyalty as they have shown me, that's success. RPGAttitude is about being different then most in the industry, I have yet to miss a release date and run a very aggressive release schudule (115 Updates since Aug 1st, 116 will be today) and while I have achieved all my goals there are things I want to attempt to do with regard to NPC Generation.

So please don't mind the users of NPC Designer, their low count in posts only means they do not run around posting NPC Designer everywhere and have taken a moment to review their thoughts and opinion of a product they are happy with as a paying customer.

 

[Psion]

I personally do not use reviews and in fact never read them for one main reason, I think I am educated and mature enough to form my own opinion for my own needs and desires.

AFAIAC, reviews are not useful because those who don't get use out of them are not educated. Reviews are useful because those who use them are not clairvoyant.

 

[DonTadow]

I think there are different reviews for different people and different situations. I use movie reviews, especially now days, to decide on if i want to see a movie, rent it or avoid it all together. In the days where corporations and businesses have reduced returning products and such, it can be very helpful.

With online stuff I always go to the reviews. If its a product I'm iffy on (50/50) a short (hey i liked it review) is pretty good if there are 2 or 3. IF I'm really not convincned or its over 25 or 50 bucks then i'll scour enworld or rpg.net for a more thorough review of the product.

I'd even go as far as to say that reviews are a way of educating yourself on the product. The only thing you'll learn from a company is what the marketing people want you to learn, a non biased review eliminates the sell and gets to the meet, even if its a "cool product dude".

If I was buying npcdesigner even the short reviews (because there are so many) would be sufficient enough for me to buy the product.

 

[Vascant]

AFAIAC, reviews are not useful because those who don't get use out of them are not educated. Reviews are useful because those who use them are not clairvoyant.

Well since I know for a fact there are those that do create different names and such so they can leave a review of their own product, kind of destroys the merit of the review system. There are those that review just for the free products. How do you tell the difference between either or a review based on the merit of the product? It is impossible. So I have came up with my own system and I use that to decide what I purchase and what I do not. So if because I am not a fool means I am not educated in your opinion, I am okay with that.

It isn't a matter of being clairvoyant, like I said just a matter of educating yourself to the authors and different publishers, finding from each that create products of your/mine interest and flavor.

 

[Psion]

Well since I know for a fact there are those that do create different names and such so they can leave a review of their own product, kind of destroys the merit of the review system.

If you care to inform me of these with sufficient evidence, I will make sure they are taken care of.

But again, I am not clairvoyant either.

There are those that review just for the free products. How do you tell the difference between either or a review based on the merit of the product?

We are in disagreement over the notion that reviewing complimentary product necessarily invalidates the review.

It isn't a matter of being clairvoyant, like I said just a matter of educating yourself to the authors and different publishers, finding from each that create products of your/mine interest and flavor.

How does one become educated about a product without getting input about the content of the product, short of owning or otherwise having unfettered access to the content? The entire point of the standards that seem to be causing you such frustration, is to make sure that the reviews are informative.

If you own the product, then the review is largely not for you. You can form your own opinion; I don't see how the existence of reviews suggests otherwise.

That said, if you consider the review system so without value, why did you ask your users to post reviews (presuming it was you)?

 

[Crothian]

Well since I know for a fact there are those that do create different names and such so they can leave a review of their own product, kind of destroys the merit of the review system. There are those that review just for the free products. How do you tell the difference between either or a review based on the merit of the product?

Reviews are all based on the merit of the product, those that are not get deleted.