D&D Insider - Pay tomorrow for what you get today for free?
- Thread starter Whizbang Dustyboots
- Start date
Vigwyn the Unruly
First Post
This would be a *major* disappointment.
One of the reasons I don't mind paying so much for the WotC books is that they provide great online content to support my gaming experience. (I even bought the Howling Horde adventure at the new, ridiculous price point of $15.)
However, I will NOT, no way, no how, never, ever *pay* for that online content.
And if I no longer have access to that content, I see myself being less and less likely to buy their books as time goes by.
I sincerely hope they don't do this.
One of the reasons I don't mind paying so much for the WotC books is that they provide great online content to support my gaming experience. (I even bought the Howling Horde adventure at the new, ridiculous price point of $15.)
However, I will NOT, no way, no how, never, ever *pay* for that online content.
And if I no longer have access to that content, I see myself being less and less likely to buy their books as time goes by.
I sincerely hope they don't do this.
Treebore
First Post
I'd only do it for the virtual table top. Limiting it to 3 times a month would have to go. Plus if they charge more than $5.00/month they better offer some butt kickin stuff, because we already have some pretty decent free stuff to do chat and live talking on-line RPGing with.
The rest I could care less about since my core game is Castles and Crusades. So are all the Chat and PbP games I am in. Except one, but Ivid runs that so "loose" none of us need anything like this.
The rest I could care less about since my core game is Castles and Crusades. So are all the Chat and PbP games I am in. Except one, but Ivid runs that so "loose" none of us need anything like this.
Land Outcast
Explorer
well, bye bye to typing wizards.com in my browser.
web enhancements: stuff that was supposed to go into the books you bought, but now we'll sell it to you via-net.
I'm trying to think which other sites ask for payment for their content...
web enhancements: stuff that was supposed to go into the books you bought, but now we'll sell it to you via-net.
I'm trying to think which other sites ask for payment for their content...
FCWesel
First Post
I guess I'll be the opposing lone voice in the "pitchfork crowd."
I'll think I'll wait to see what exactly they'll be giving at for what asking price, before I make a judgement on it. If it's affordable, I'll subscribe. Just like I do for Dragon/Dungeon--or a dozen other different things. If it is too much, I won't. (Doesn't mean I will never-ever-once-again type in www.wizards.com; 'Cause boy-golly, that would teach them!)
They got bills to pay like everyone else, a bottom line to fill out and a need to justify their existence to those they get their checks from. Remember, what you call a hobby, they pay their rent on.
If the material is worth the asking price, what's wrong with asking for it? My guess is that when you consider how many hours of enjoyment and entertainment from D&D (in particular), we're all still coming out WAY ahead of the cost of the books. (Even if WOTC asks for a 'decent' subscriptions fee for online content.)
I'll think I'll wait to see what exactly they'll be giving at for what asking price, before I make a judgement on it. If it's affordable, I'll subscribe. Just like I do for Dragon/Dungeon--or a dozen other different things. If it is too much, I won't. (Doesn't mean I will never-ever-once-again type in www.wizards.com; 'Cause boy-golly, that would teach them!)
They got bills to pay like everyone else, a bottom line to fill out and a need to justify their existence to those they get their checks from. Remember, what you call a hobby, they pay their rent on.
If the material is worth the asking price, what's wrong with asking for it? My guess is that when you consider how many hours of enjoyment and entertainment from D&D (in particular), we're all still coming out WAY ahead of the cost of the books. (Even if WOTC asks for a 'decent' subscriptions fee for online content.)
Zogmo
First Post
I wish it could stay free but...
If wizards.com didn't exist at all and a "New Official Website" was being introduced to support, enhance and expand our beloved D&D, with only the content that's free right now online, and if it was reasonable ($5 a month) for a subscription then I believe most people would be really excited about it.
I think a lot of people (myself included) have gotten spoiled by having so much stuff for the taking and it's a real pain to have to start paying for what's been free for so long.
They do put up an amazing amount of original content and it doesn't really come free.
But I do feel that what they have achieved for free online is a fantastic support vehicle to get new gamers started and keep old gamers in the game (so to speak) so I would hate to see it change from how it is now.
From what I read, the free content is going away and will be supplanted by the subscription.
I believe they are just testing the waters with this survey they took and it's where they are going to go.
If they expect me to subscribe to Dragon and Dungeon and the website it had better be real cheap. I don't want to subscribe to three things from the same company and be buying books they release every month now.
If wizards.com didn't exist at all and a "New Official Website" was being introduced to support, enhance and expand our beloved D&D, with only the content that's free right now online, and if it was reasonable ($5 a month) for a subscription then I believe most people would be really excited about it.
I think a lot of people (myself included) have gotten spoiled by having so much stuff for the taking and it's a real pain to have to start paying for what's been free for so long.
They do put up an amazing amount of original content and it doesn't really come free.
But I do feel that what they have achieved for free online is a fantastic support vehicle to get new gamers started and keep old gamers in the game (so to speak) so I would hate to see it change from how it is now.
From what I read, the free content is going away and will be supplanted by the subscription.
I believe they are just testing the waters with this survey they took and it's where they are going to go.
If they expect me to subscribe to Dragon and Dungeon and the website it had better be real cheap. I don't want to subscribe to three things from the same company and be buying books they release every month now.
Yeah, most people seem to be in the 'wait and see' camp. That's where I am.
Will I pay for online content? If it's good, yeah. I just want to get an idea of what I'm paying for first. Buying a product without checking it out first is something that most gamers are loathe to do. I still can't make myself pay retail for gaming stuff, even the stuff I really like.
I may be willing to chip in a few bucks towards my DM getting it. That way, me and my entire group could check it out and decide if we want to get it for ourselves.
Will I pay for online content? If it's good, yeah. I just want to get an idea of what I'm paying for first. Buying a product without checking it out first is something that most gamers are loathe to do. I still can't make myself pay retail for gaming stuff, even the stuff I really like.
I may be willing to chip in a few bucks towards my DM getting it. That way, me and my entire group could check it out and decide if we want to get it for ourselves.
What about DRAGON ?
The article part of the package is about useless for me. They should instead put more effort into DRAGON, and drop that silly website. Aside from the advertising, I don't remember ever using it.
However, a character generation utility... Now, we're speaking. Provided it works, though.
The article part of the package is about useless for me. They should instead put more effort into DRAGON, and drop that silly website. Aside from the advertising, I don't remember ever using it.
However, a character generation utility... Now, we're speaking. Provided it works, though.
It does seem like an odd move to me. I don't think it'll work.
1) Free websites which move to a pay model, historically, tend to fail. This isn't an absolute (ther eare some success stories), but if it works, it'll be bucking a trend.
2) The user base of Wizards.com is much, much younger than here. And I'm assuming that a credit card will be needed to access this material.
3) Outside of their own site, their customer base will be the same as RPGNow/DTRPG (now OBS). The pay-for-D&D-stuff-online market is saturated. Their advantage is that their stuff is official, but outside of thier own existing traffic, I'm not convinced that's a strong enough draw (those who eagery gobble up everything official are already there).
I might be proved wrong. We'll see. But if they'd asked me (which they wouldn't, of course, but if they had), I'd have advised against it.
1) Free websites which move to a pay model, historically, tend to fail. This isn't an absolute (ther eare some success stories), but if it works, it'll be bucking a trend.
2) The user base of Wizards.com is much, much younger than here. And I'm assuming that a credit card will be needed to access this material.
3) Outside of their own site, their customer base will be the same as RPGNow/DTRPG (now OBS). The pay-for-D&D-stuff-online market is saturated. Their advantage is that their stuff is official, but outside of thier own existing traffic, I'm not convinced that's a strong enough draw (those who eagery gobble up everything official are already there).
I might be proved wrong. We'll see. But if they'd asked me (which they wouldn't, of course, but if they had), I'd have advised against it.
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