WotC Anybody a little worried about how useful their paid VTT library will be in a year+?

[GMforPowergamers]

I use Roll20. They hyperlink to the SRD, and you can auto fill spells and stuff from the SRD.

Come the 15th will I still be able to do that? Will I have to manually enter every spell again?

 

[jgsugden]

It is always about saving time for me rather than any specific brand loyalty. Buying integrated assets (character builder, monster manuals) lets me focus on playing than typing/coding/drawing etc.

As I have D&DBeyond, all of that stuff is covered for the most part. I build some things in D&DBeyond, and some in Roll20 when I run on Roll20 - but it is never that burdensome.

 

[Clint_L]

I probably don't have as much as it sounds like you have, but I make use of all of mine by playing over Zoom and using a camera pointed at the table. I use Owlbear Rodeo and a scanned map for "exploration/TotM" mode and then set up the scene with minis and terrain when a fight breaks out.

I do the same but is a lot of work and not as awesome as at live games. I could be tempted by a good, easy to use VTT for my online games.

 

[Retreater]

Now I'm worried if online VTTs will even be functional within a year. If D&D is pulled, can they even keep the lights on?

 

[Nebulous]

I'm a little worried that the WotC VTT will be so good and easy to use that I will be less and less inclined to use my physical miniatures and terrain. And I have a LOT invested in those.

That's what happened to me at the beginning of the pandemic. I was forced to play online, and I had vehemently avoided Roll20 for years, didn't want to deal with the learning curve or "subpar online play". I had thousands invested in minis and terrain, BUT, when I got into the swing of online play...I loved it. In many ways I like it better than playing in person, so all my stuff is just collecting dust. I wouldn't sell it, I love all those boxes of plasticrack, but online play has distinct aspects that in person can't replicate (and it is infinitely less expensive than buying minis). If the new WotC VTT is super awesome, it might be hard to resist. I can't say for sure yet what I will do.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Now I'm worried if online VTTs will even be functional within a year. If D&D is pulled, can they even keep the lights on?

The VTT are fine, the only use case where they might loose out are "in person play" where the automation is used. They may be a lot harder to use for the DM but if you can only play online then what else are you going to use?

I do not for see changing my VTT use irrespective of how this goes.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

That's what happened to me at the beginning of the pandemic. I was forced to play online, and I had vehemently avoided Roll20 for years, didn't want to deal with the learning curve or "subpar online play". I had thousands invested in minis and terrain, BUT, when I got into the swing of online play...I loved it. In many ways I like it better than playing in person, so all my stuff is just collecting dust. I wouldn't sell it, I love all those boxes of plasticrack, but online play has distinct aspects that in person can't replicate (and it is infinitely less expensive than buying minis). If the new WotC VTT is super awesome, it might be hard to resist. I can't say for sure yet what I will do.

this is exactly my story

 

[FormerLurker]

I paid Roll20 some bucks for extra storage, but not for any of the game features. For D&D I tend to use DnDBeyond and the Beyond20 browser extension rather than futzing with Roll20's character sheet.
I don't see that changing...

 

[Retreater]

I paid Roll20 some bucks for extra storage, but not for any of the game features. For D&D I tend to use DnDBeyond and the Beyond20 browser extension rather than futzing with Roll20's character sheet.
I don't see that changing...

Oh, I think that will 100% change.
They will want you playing on DND's VTT the instant it's implemented. They'll shut down the Beyond20 browser extension. They want your monthly subscription on their VTT. They aren't going to let a free browser extension take that from them.

 

[FormerLurker]

Oh, I think that will 100% change.
They will want you playing on DND's VTT the instant it's implemented. They'll shut down the Beyond20 browser extension. They want your monthly subscription on their VTT. They aren't going to let a free browser extension take that from them.

I'm not sure they can shut down that extension, as it doesn't actually use the OGL or contain any copyrighted text. It just tells one window on your browser what is happening on another window, and adds an overlay on your screen allowing you to roll. It's independent of any license and as hard for WotC to stop as an "ad blocker" extension.

 

[SkidAce]

Oh, I think that will 100% change.
They will want you playing on DND's VTT the instant it's implemented. They'll shut down the Beyond20 browser extension. They want your monthly subscription on their VTT. They aren't going to let a free browser extension take that from them.

This has been a concern to us also.

I like the Beyond20 extension, and I buy books on Beyond, so I was hoping that was enough profit for WotC to keep allowing it, but I'm not sure anymore.

 

[Retreater]

I'm not sure they can shut down that extension, as it doesn't actually use the OGL or contain any copyrighted text. It just tells one window on your browser what is happening on another window, and adds an overlay on your screen allowing you to roll. It's independent of any license and as hard for WotC to stop as an "ad blocker" extension.

I'm not sure about tech requirements, but they've taken it down before. And taken down the Foundry equivalent. Others have come up to replace the originals, but I'm sure Wizards will be going after it with gusto.

 

[FormerLurker]

I'm not sure about tech requirements, but they've taken it down before.

Was that WotC?
It's stopped working a few times, but I believe that was following Roll20 updates.

And taken down the Foundry equivalent. Others have come up to replace the originals, but I'm sure Wizards will be going after it with gusto.

I'm unfamiliar with that story. Can you provide a link to a breakdown?

Also, Beyond20 works on the Foundry.

 

[Retreater]

Was that WotC?
It's stopped working a few times, but I believe that was following Roll20 updates.

Perhaps I didn't have all the facts since I didn't use the software. All I heard was from the DM who was running our group with Beyond20.
Still, I would imagine "if" they can stop it, they'll certainly try.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

I'm not sure they can shut down that extension, as it doesn't actually use the OGL or contain any copyrighted text. It just tells one window on your browser what is happening on another window, and adds an overlay on your screen allowing you to roll. It's independent of any license and as hard for WotC to stop as an "ad blocker" extension.

I would have to check again but I think that Beyond20 and similar tools violate the D&DBeyond TOS.

 

[FormerLurker]

I would have to check again but I think that Beyond20 and similar tools violate the D&DBeyond TOS.

But the extension doesn't have to sign the ToS.
In that instance, dndbeyond wouldn't target the extension but the users, locking accounts.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

On the broader point I do not see myself changing my VTT of choice for the OneVTT unless the value proposition is crazy good. I am sure it will look pretty but I am extremely sceptical that a 3D VTT will be at all easy to manage and while D&DBeyond is pretty good it lacks any DM campaign management tools that I would want.
I am perfectly prepared to hand roll encounters, monsters and maps and cut and paste or even type out the material I need to run the game. I did it before and will do it again.
Nothing so far indicates that the OneVTT has the DM quality of life stuff that I currently enjoy and value on FantasyGrounds.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

But the extension doesn't have to sign the ToS.
In that instance, dndbeyond wouldn't target the extension but the users, locking accounts.

As I understand it they have the right, whether they will is another thing. I do not believe they will but you never know.

 

[FormerLurker]

As I understand it they have the right, whether they will is another thing. I do not believe they will but you never know.

It's one thing to shut down an extension or app. It's another to ban thousands of users and take away the books they paid for.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

It's one thing to shut down an extension or app. It's another to ban thousands of users and take away the books they paid for.

true, which is why they will not choose that route but there are a lot of thing I did not think WoTC would not do 2 weeks ago and I was wrong.