DDI September/October Update info

[Almacov]

I wonder if "new web-based tools system" means Game Table... Can't wait for news updates.

The fact that tokens are a recognized and supported alternative to minis in a physical game makes the game table a less daunting goal for them to achieve. Being able to just slap a jpeg in a circle is a lot simpler than building 3D art assets, even now that all the physical minis are modelled digitally.
The graphical simplicity there means that a game table could be web based.

That said, I'll be surprised if we get it any time soon.

Also, if the Character Builder winds up being online-only now, I will not be renewing my subscription.
Just putting that out there.

 

[evilbob]

Here is my wishlist for what the "web-based system" will be:

- an online character builder that completely replaces the downloaded program
- stores character data in the cloud
- creates links to your completed sheet which can be accessed by others

 

[renau1g]

Well, one thing we've seen from WotC as of late, they don't make official announcements like that without having something concrete anymore.

Remember monster tool? That was previewed on ddi and boom, less than two months later it was a usable product.

Well, MB is still in the Beta stage and hasn't seen in update in forever, which was pushed off again to focus on new shiny product. There's tons and tons of errors and bugs with it, so it's more like mostly usable. It's better than nothing, but it would be nice if they finished one product before jumping to the other.

 

[Lord Ernie]

Also, if the Character Builder winds up being online-only now, I will not be renewing my subscription.
Just putting that out there.

See, while I understand your reaction should it actually come to pass, I simply cannot see how you (or anybody else with this reaction) can get from "new web-based tools system" to "Oh noes, they're gonna replace the CB with online-only tools!!!!".

There is literally nothing in the announcement that indicates this, unless you count the absence of DS and Essentials as proof. And while that is an arguable concern, there are other explanations provided for the reasons thereof that have been mentioned before.

Isn't it much more reasonable to assume that they are making new tools available for us, instead of trying to copy functionality they already have to an online application, for the dubious purpose of fighting piracy or forcing us poor players to stop paying for updates only once every four months for the CB?

While the latter would provide some revenue, it would piss off way too many of their customers, which they are well aware of; the former would give them a reasonable explanation for upping the per-month price a bit. This will of course still people off - it is change, after all, and worse, it's change that costs MONEY - but if the tools are high quality and useful, something we've seen they can pull off with the CB and the MB, they will be in a minority.

 

[MrMyth]

Get your own?

He did. He purchased a subscription to DDI, under the expectation that - based on past performance and the language used repeatedly on the website - it would have the content he required within a month of release. That did not prove to be the case, and while it is true that WotC has no guarantee of that being the case, I think being frustrated at the situation is a perfectly reasonable response to have.

Anyway, to chime in with the other voices of reason:
-We don't know enough about this 'web app' to make any conclusions yet, so no one should get too crazy about that yet.
-It is definitely disheartening that, even when the update hits, it will still be missing Dark Sun and Essentials. But I'll hold out hope we'll see them sooner, rather than later - I think they are just going ahead with what they have now to ensure they have a release in the first half of October.

 

[Lord Xtheth]

I hope the web-based thingie is just a website where Mac and other OS users can go and make dudes along side the character builder program thats downloaded.
Where I play my D&D, there is no internet access, and I don't want to pay the internet more money so I can have the ability to pay WoTC more money to do the things I can do now offline for what I'm already paying the internet and WoTC

 

[mudbunny]

First off - mudbunny, thanks for update - you've been a great sport about this whole situation, especially considering rather hostile responses every now and then

The ENWorld forums are a nice change of pace from the Official forums. My thanks go out to the users and the mods.

So, yeah - as far as two most critical questions raised by this:
1. will this mean online-only use?
2. will this allow Linux and Mac users to use the CB?

None of the answers to these are known yet. I have started poking WotC to see if I can find out what programming language (if that is even the right term) that is being used. Will it be Java, html, something else?? I don't know at all, and I know even less to hazard a guess on what they would use. I *would* be surprised if any online tools were restricted to a Win OS. At the very least, I suspect that it would be a platform that would extend to Windows and Macintosh-based operating systems.

↓→(only of 1st was a "yes"):
3. So far, people who didn't renew DDI subscription could've still used the CB - alas didn't get the updates. Would this mean that you get access to CB only as long as you're presently a subscriber?

If it is purely web-based, yes. But, I have no knowledge of what tools they are talking about.

4. Will there be a demo CB?

I hope so. I will add that to the list of questions, which can currently be found here. We will fire them up the line, and do what we can to get answers. (As always, no guarantee that we will be getting answers.)

 

[Alaxk Knight of Galt]

The Character Builder Jailbreak

The current Character Builder has a major flaw in it: pay once and get everything. WotC tied a permanent application to a subscription based service.

If you buy a single month subscription to DDi, you've just purchased, via the character builder, every single class, race, feat, paragon path, epic destiny, power, and magic item that has been created since 4E was released. WotC is insane to keep this model, but they may be forced into doing just that buy their customers.

Dungeon and Dragon magazines have the same flaw. While they were print based, buying a subscription to the magazine would mean you got the next X number of magazines. Buying a one month subscription to DDi means you get the entire backlog of Dungeon and Dragon magazines along with the current issue.

Now look at the compendium. Buying a single month of DDi gets you a single month of service. If you want ongoing access to it, you have to pay the monthly fee. This is a much better deal for WotC. Ongoing usage of the compendium is restricted to full subscribers.

The solution is to make the Character Builder subscription based (like WoW, you'd need to log in before you had access to it), or web-based like the compendium.

 

[Kurtomatic]

Here is my wishlist for what the "web-based system" will be:

- an online character builder that completely replaces the downloaded program
- stores character data in the cloud
- creates links to your completed sheet which can be accessed by others

FYI, you can currently get 2 out of 3 at iplay4e. Plus mobile browser support to boot.

 

[the Jester]

More importantly though, from the tone of the post, it sounds as if they've decided to scrap the CB/MB completely.

Huh. I don't get this at all. The CB and MB are extremely popular tools. They are adding something new to the digital offerings of DDI; I don't see how that sounds like they are scrapping the CB and MB completely. Is there something in a different thread or on the WotC boards that I missed?