Death of Third Party Software

[DonTadow]

Is the death of 3rd party software around the corner?

I just don't see the tools I use surviving in a 4e environment. How will Wotc get you to get their tools if they are allowing their content on other software platforms. Will Wotc crack the whip more on sharing user made downloads of WOTC products.

 

[Xyxox]

Them's the breaks, I guess. Since the DDI push is on, I suspect WotC will crack down on anything that violates their IP. I suppose you could do a third party package based solely upon the OGL and the SRD, but creation and advancement are purposefully kept from that IP, so remaining legal froma copyright sense is going to be difficult.

 

[ZombieButch]

I suspect that the software makers who are still up and running a year from now will be the ones who emphasize the usefulness of their products offline, for those who run conventional tabletop games away from internet access, or ones who can offer software for online gaming that's highly customizable for off-the-wall house rules.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

The only 3rd party software I found I needed was a character builder. I found PCGen to fill that role excelently for free and I see no reason to stop using it. Sure you had to pay Code Monkey for pre-built data sets for WotC material beyond the SRD but the software alowed for manually entering your own data for feats and classes if you wanted and I often did enter stuff myself rather than pay for it. I see no reason for something like this to not be available for 4E and I will continue to have no need to pay DDI for this feature.

Online voice chat software is readily available and so are virtual tabletops and dice rolers that are not game specific. I don't see DDI killing these either.

 

[JVisgaitis]

I doubt they'll stop it with third party companies. It amazes me how many people think that anyone competes with WotC. They'll let other people buy niche products and make a killing with the DI. One place they are lacking is Mac support. I'm amazed that the DI isn't Mac compatible out of the box.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

As long as there is an Excel monkey out there to build things like HeroForge, I'll be fine.

 

[Glyfair]

The only 3rd party software I found I needed was a character builder. I found PCGen to fill that role excelently for free and I see no reason to stop using it. Sure you had to pay Code Monkey for pre-built data sets for WotC material beyond the SRD but the software alowed for manually entering your own data for feats and classes if you wanted and I often did enter stuff myself rather than pay for it. I see no reason for something like this to not be available for 4E and I will continue to have no need to pay DDI for this feature.

And the big advantage here is that the designers will be creating rules with the character generator (sorry, "character sheet") in mind. That will make having a solid core program that is easily to create custom data for much easier.

The big problem with 3E was that most new rules tried to break previous rules. The programmers would have to reprogram the core of the program to handle the new concept, and that took time, effort and often money. I doubt WotC wants to cause themselves the same headaches, so will ask the designers to rein in their "lets break all the rules" desires.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Mac and online software guys will be fine. WotC's model leaves huge areas open for others.

 

[Dire Bare]

Is the death of 3rd party software around the corner?

I just don't see the tools I use surviving in a 4e environment. How will Wotc get you to get their tools if they are allowing their content on other software platforms. Will Wotc crack the whip more on sharing user made downloads of WOTC products.

I'm not sure that WotC potentially cracking any whips is going to be a problem.

Why would I use a third party program that allows me to build characters with some official options when I can use D&D Insider and build characters with all official options?

Sure, a third party software package would be useful if:

1) You're sticking with 3rd Edition and not moving to 4th.

2) You're using lots of OGL/d20 stuff for 4e that isn't supported by D&D Insider.

3) You have an irrational hate-on for anything produced by WotC . . .

As it stands right now, in the eight years of 3rd Edition, I haven't found a software package yet that supports the entire SRD and is easy and intuitive to use. Certain programs give me some or even most of this functionality, but never all . . . . in eight years . . . .

D&D Insider will support all official D&D 4e options starting day one! Whether WotC will allow it to support third party supplements is yet unknown, but unlikely.

Will the niches left open by the D&D Insider provide enough "food" to keep third party software alive? Prognosis: Negative! Or at least unlikely IMO.

 

[ShinHakkaider]

I'm not sure that WotC potentially cracking any whips is going to be a problem.

Why would I use a third party program that allows me to build characters with some official options when I can use D&D Insider and build characters with all official options?

Sure, a third party software package would be useful if:

1) You're sticking with 3rd Edition and not moving to 4th.

2) You're using lots of OGL/d20 stuff for 4e that isn't supported by D&D Insider.

3) You have an irrational hate-on for anything produced by WotC . . .

...or if like a few others up thread have pointed out, you have a mac. or are running some form of linux.

If the DDI was going to still support 3.5 I was goingto use it to game with my old gaming group who have spread out all over the place. Now that's not going to happen. Why? because 3 of us have Macs.