Can Wizards turn around their D&D support?

[MerricB]

I would like to think that in 6 months, the DDi will be functioning well. The Character Builder is getting there, if far slower than it should have. Surely 6 months is enough to restore (and expand) the Monster Builder to where it should be?

 

[mudbunny]

Sadly, I wouldn't have a clue.

The chance that Trevor posted something without having run it through the various departments it touches for approval approaches 0.

 

[ggroy]

I would like to think that in 6 months, the DDi will be functioning well. The Character Builder is getting there, if far slower than it should have. Surely 6 months is enough to restore (and expand) the Monster Builder to where it should be?

This rests upon the assumption their programmers (or outsourced contractors) actually care in the first place.

I've worked long enough in computer programming over the years, to know that many programmers really do not give a damn about what they're writing computer code for. Many such programmers only really care about the paycheck they're getting, to do a minimally functional job.

 

[Incenjucar]

The thing with Wizards is, if they're hiring programmers locally, they have to compete with companies that pour money onto programmers and make them wear money pants and also are in extra-fancy cities like Seattle and Bellevue just a short drive or a long bus ride away. There are a lot of tech jobs hiring right now, and they want the best and are willing to pay for it. So unless someone out there loves D&D more than oodles of money, WotC may not be able to secure the most celebrated of programmers. Someone MIGHT love D&D more than money though.

 

[Imperialus]

This thread makes me sad. Not angry, not upset but a real punch in the gut feeling of sadness.

I haven't played 4th ed in over a year, which is why most of this is news to me. Just wasn't the system for me. I'm in a B/X campaign now (with hexcrawling and everything) and having a blast, but to hear MerricB this upset with what is going on in D&D... wow. I really hoped that 4th ed would appeal to a new generation of gamers, create another golden age for the hobby and all that stuff while I slowly morphed into a Diaglo caricature.

I wish Wizards all the best, I really do... I hope they pull through this and give a new generation of 14 year old misfits something awesome to do in their parents basement.

 

[P1NBACK]

A possible underlying motivation is when a 5E comes along, they can remove the web only 4E DDI character builder immediately and replace it with a new web only 5E version. Anybody who still wants to play 4E, will have to resort to using either the unsupported "ancient" offline 4E DDI character builder or go back to doing character creation by "hand" from the 4E rulebooks.

They could do this, or they could keep updating DDI for 5E simultaneously keeping the 4E data online so that whether you stick with 4E or move on to 5E, you're still handing them $$$ every month.

Imagine if 3.5 had a DDI program? WotC could have their $$$ every month even if they didn't convert to 4E.

In fact, if WotC were smart, they'd add 1E, 2E and 3E to their online tools (sort of like how the VT allows you to choose which edition you play - although functionally it's irrelevant).

Imagine if you could pay a monthly fee to play any edition of D&D released, ever.

I'd do that in heartbeat.

 

[Falstaff]

They could do this, or they could keep updating DDI for 5E simultaneously keeping the 4E data online so that whether you stick with 4E or move on to 5E, you're still handing them $$$ every month.

Imagine if 3.5 had a DDI program? WotC could have their $$$ every month even if they didn't convert to 4E.

In fact, if WotC were smart, they'd add 1E, 2E and 3E to their online tools (sort of like how the VT allows you to choose which edition you play - although functionally it's irrelevant).

Imagine if you could pay a monthly fee to play any edition of D&D released, ever.

I'd do that in heartbeat.

I want to chime in here and say that I would also purchase a D&Di account if they started supporting AD&D 1st edition through their digital offerings. I would want new adventures, new rules supplements, etc. But I would buy in, for sure.

 

[P1NBACK]

I would want new adventures, new rules supplements, etc. But I would buy in, for sure.

Yeah, to clarify, I didn't mean new content (outside of the current edition). Just coding the old content into a digital reservoir with monthly pay access.

 

[Falstaff]

Yeah, to clarify, I didn't mean new content (outside of the current edition). Just coding the old content into a digital reservoir with monthly pay access.

Oh, I see. Well, that's useless to me. I already have all the first edition releases. Why would I wanna pay for something I already have?

But new modules and rules supplements would get me involved quickly. In my dream a company owns the rights to D&D and publishes all the editions in shiny new hardbacks (complete with better editing and layout) and supports each edition with an online subscription that offers adventures/modules and rules supplements.

 

[P1NBACK]

Oh, I see. Well, that's useless to me. I already have all the first edition releases. Why would I wanna pay for something I already have.

The same reason that people who own the 4E books buy DDI: convenience and accessibility.

Imagine all the old 1E content in one easy-to-access place. Imagine if building your character meant scanning all the 1E classes released and clicking to allow options or not. Imagine if the DM had all the 1E monsters in one program, capable of making modifications and new monsters.

Now, imagine that this content could be shared across the D&D Insider community.

Now, imagine that it applied across all D&D editions and imagine the community behind that.

You can imagine, right?