Digital Insider #13

[Shroomy]

Today's Digital Insider column covers the forthcoming Beta release of the character generator, new updates to the DDI Compendium, and news on how the magazines will work going forward.

Digital Insider #13: Character Builder

 

[Fallen Seraph]

OOO, 1 or 2 weeks till we can test out the Character Builder, neat.

 

[justanobody]

So all the DDI tools including Character Builder require both the latest version of DirextX and .net 3.5 (required to even install DDI software).

I am thinking thise software will suffer the same .net problems that that DCI program suffered and then some with database problems and other general errors and faults.

I am disappointed in the choice to use only .net, as well the Dragona nd Dungeon will only be online for one month for the compiled issues, afterwards even yearly subscribers will have to purchase back issues if they lose the original.

 

[Imban]

yearly subscribers will have to purchase back issues if they lose the original.

This isn't really a meaningful problem. I mean, not only because of piracy - though there will be pirate copies floating around and as a non-physical product there's not going to be a difference, but they also said Customer Service could help you with that, so I'm pretty sure you could get your back issues back without needing to either pay again OR seek the aid of questionable sorts.

 

[justanobody]

This isn't really a meaningful problem. I mean, not only because of piracy - though there will be pirate copies floating around and as a non-physical product there's not going to be a difference, but they also said Customer Service could help you with that, so I'm pretty sure you could get your back issues back without needing to either pay again OR seek the aid of questionable sorts.

There is no need to have to jump through hoops like the auto-renew cancel procedure. This is not taking advantage of the digital media. They are adding more and more human interference steps into the process, that make me prefer NOT to be using digital at all.

There is no reason a yearly subscriber should have to call, email, form fill someone at customer service to have to wait any length of time to try and track down an old issue.

A database can easily handle it in the same manner that forums handle telling what dates and times posts are made.

If they are unable to make the software work for dating and timestamping things, then I am even more weary about subscribing for a single month to test the tools when they are all done. (I should be able to afford a computer to run them by then)

These things are the simple things that are expected from a digital service that are being handled as if this were the 1990's and we are talking about AO-Hell.

Now if they can somehow get the original NWN back in this manner, then I might be more willing to accept the decades of technology wasted in this model, but I am pretty sure that is dead and no one would want to delve into the sewers in 2D sprites these days.

 

[Phaezen]

Still no news on PayPal

Phaezen

 

[Vanuslux]

Still no news on PayPal

Phaezen

-Begin Rage-

Arrrrrrrrgh! Curse you, Wizards! Don't you want my money?

I will not give a company as sloppy as you guys my credit card numbers...so if you want my washingtons you're going to have to figure this PayPal thing out.

-End Rage-

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

On a happier note, the character generator looks fantastic.

Will also be a big boon to pbp games, as most of them tend to start at 1st (or at least low) levels. And with it being perpetually updated with new material, it'll allow lots of experimentation.

 

[Eridanis]

The last point in step 10 caught my eye:

Then get your character sheet printed… It will come with the power cards for your character, with the math for your currently equipped items...

That's a very smart idea. Customized power cards for your character will save time and brain cells.

 

[ThirdWizard]

The character builder is far above my expectations. I'm floored! Can't wait!