D&D INSIDER CLARIFICATION...e-books/extras

[JeffB]

So I go buy the PHB/DMG/MM. Apparently there is a "key" in the books to unlock some online extras/content/tools.

Do I have to be a D&D Insider subscriber for this information? Or will I be a able to get some (or all) of these "web enhacements" without being a subscriber?

E.G Lets say for the DMG, there is a PDF version of the book and a couple expansions of certain chapters, and then there are extras that are related to the actual electronic tools/programs you get by being a subscriber to D&DI.

will I still be able to access the PDF version of the books and the extra chapter material?

Or is all of that going to be tied into the D&D insider subscription "software suite"?

Am I making sense?

 

[Shroomy]

I believe that the key allows you to open some sort of e-book version within the DI, not separate from it.

 

[Li Shenron]

Is this "key" real or speculation? Is sounds weird... I thought that if you buy the DDI subscription you were going to get Dragon/Dungeon, rules update, web enhancements etcetera for all the books. Sometimes you still need the book to use its web enhancements, and otherwise the enhancement is going to be good for everyone. It seems needlessly complicated to setup a system to block enhancements of specific books.

 

[Scribble]

Is this "key" real or speculation? Is sounds weird... I thought that if you buy the DDI subscription you were going to get Dragon/Dungeon, rules update, web enhancements etcetera for all the books. Sometimes you still need the book to use its web enhancements, and otherwise the enhancement is going to be good for everyone. It seems needlessly complicated to setup a system to block enhancements of specific books.

From what I remember when they made the announcement, when you bought a physical book you could then unlock a digital copy for a "marginal" fee.

If I remember correctly it was also separate from the DI.

 

[JeffB]

Hmm....a bit disappointing, but I never got any web enhancements/e versions for the first 20 years of D&D material I bought, either..guess its not a big deal


That said, I most likely will end up subscribing anyway since I will have to for online play. depends on pricing and "bang for the buck" factor.

 

[Glyfair]

So I go buy the PHB/DMG/MM. Apparently there is a "key" in the books to unlock some online extras/content/tools.

Do I have to be a D&D Insider subscriber for this information? Or will I be a able to get some (or all) of these "web enhacements" without being a subscriber? [/

E.G Lets say for the DMG, there is a PDF version of the book and a couple expansions of certain chapters, and then there are extras that are related to the actual electronic tools/programs you get by being a subscriber to D&DI.

will I still be able to access the PDF version of the books and the extra chapter material?

Or is all of that going to be tied into the D&D insider subscription "software suite"?

Am I making sense?

This is how this works based on comments made before (which I reported here based on comments by Didier Monin).

When you buy a book there will be a code to unlock "online extras." The price is to be determined, but has been stated to be about the price of a "cup of coffee." What hasn't been decided yet is the type of coffee.

When you unlock it online you get an electronic copy of the book (presumbably PDF, but I'm not sure it's been confirmed). That book will be updated when errata is finalized and posted (which will be available for free elsewhere). You will not need to be a DDI subscriber for this function.

If you are a DDI subscriber, unlocking the data will also open full versions of "stuff" from the book in the DDI tools. All subscribers will have a feat listed in the Character Sheet function, but only those that have unlocked the book will have the full description of the feat available there.

Exactly what is unlocked in unclear and probably hasn't been decided. For example, it would be nice if you unlock an adventure if you get the map for the Virtual Tabletop and the virtual monster models for it, plus have the stats for all NPCs/monsters in the adventure available. I doubt it will go that far. Time will tell.

 

[Wolfspider]

I would love it to death if I could get pdf copies of the D&D 4e books, either from WotC or from Drivethrurpg.com or another online vendor.

 

[mach1.9pants]

I would love it to death if I could get pdf copies of the D&D 4e books, either from WotC or from Drivethrurpg.com or another online vendor.

Too right! Let the HouseRuling commence!

 

[Wolfspider]

Too right! Let the HouseRuling commence!

Hmmm?

 

[(contact)]

Hmmm?

I think he's implying that you could cut and chop a .pdf, with the right tools.

I don't think we're going to get .pdfs from WotC. But as we know the SRD will continue, and be complied in HTML and .pdf by some industrious gamers, we'll always have Paris in the Spring.