Discussion on the feasability of WotC supporting all editions in DDI

[El Mahdi]

The major problem with this thread is that it's talking about the feasibility of supporting all editions in the DDI...

...SO, why on earth do we think that this work on old stuff will net them more than work on new stuff?...

I don't know about anyone else, but I wouldn't expect WotC to divert resources away from current DDI projects. In fact what I would want out of DDI for older edition stuff, hinges upon getting the current tools working properly for 4E first (working and fully integrated character/monster/encounter builder-compendium-virtual table, and ability to apply optional house-rules presented in Dragon and most common fan created variations - also a "manual" mode for entering values on the character sheet outside of the auto-calculations). But, once these tools are done (except for maintenance and updates), then yeah, move on to doing the same thing for the old stuff, working on them in order of number of players (based on polling).

Most likely, that would mean starting with 3E. Start by adapting the same tools used for 4E, for use with the SRD material (non-OGL material not required - at first). (Preferrably this would include being able to use the OGL Unearthed Arcana options...but possibly add this functionality at a later date.)

Then move on to AD&D core rules (1E & 2E versions), followed by OD&D core rules (which would probably be the easiest), and finally Basic D&D core rules (with Holmes and Moldvay versions if necessary). (Or again, work on them in order of the amount of players per edition.)

Once you're done with that, start adding in non-core/non-essential material as updates, just as 4E material is updated now.

In parallel, develop an online store attached to DDI (but not behind the paywall), where electronic versions of both out-of-print and current publications can be bought and both downloaded or printed-on-demand (not just rented on the site). It obviously won't be pdf's, but WotC needs to finally get around to providing books in some type of electronic format (as they have said they would...)

As to Why? Two reasons: the size of the group of untapped potential customers, and community fracturing due to new editions.

I believe that the combined number of previous edition players is most likely as large or larger than those who currently play 4E. I realize that just as all 4E players have not purchased a DDI sub (most likely not even a majority), the same will probably be the norm for players of older editions. But that could still likely double (or more) their current number of subscribers.

It also sets themselves up to better respond to fracturing of the customer base due to a new edition (when 5E is inevitably and eventually released). They can just maintain the 4E tools as is, and generate the same tools (or newer, shinier toys, for the new edition), almost eliminating the impact of community fracturing on their bottom line (WotC continues to make money off those who don't want to switch, and get the "big bump" from those that do - Win-Win).

As far as subscriptions go, I'd suggest providing the following subscription choices:

• Dragon Magazine only.
• Dungeon Magazine only.
• Dragon and Dungeon Magazines only.
• Virtual Table Top only (choice of edition "mode", but no access to magazines, compendiums, or builders)
• Magazines and VTT only (as above)
• 4E Package (magazines, VTT, and all 4E tools/support)
• 3E Package (magazines, VTT, and all 3E tools/support)
• AD&D Package (magazines, VTT, and all AD&D tools/support)
• Basic D&D Package (magazines, VTT, and all Basic D&D tools/support)
• Original D&D (magazines, VTT, and all OD&D tools/support)
• Add access to other rule-sets to an existing subscription (for a smaller fee than a full subscription)

Now I'm not turning a deaf ear to those that exclaim just how expensive this would be to set up. It would be expensive, but I don't think it would be prohibitively so. Also, I think the investment would be more than worth it in the long run. I believe that not only does this present the potential to finally maintain a stable customer base, but for the first time truly expand it, maybe even to the point of real mainstream attention. All under the auspices of one site with a perpetual income source.

 

[shadzar]

As for the CD ROM, that might be a good start, depending how it is done, and whether they have the source code data from that time in a from they could read now (as opposed to say, in an offsite tape archive backup for a drive system that no longer exists and that they've lost the encryption keys to - don't laugh, this happens pretty often).

As mentioned the CD came with Window Help file, RTF files, and HTML files of the books along with the software, so if there isn't a way they could copy things from it easily there is a problem.

The HTML version has each section often as its very own file, and the RTF had minimal formatting.

So if WotC wanted or needed those and made a call to users asking for the RTF files, odds are someone would be willing to help if WotC didn't just want to buy a copy of it off eBay or something.

I mean they own the copyright to the text, so they can copy and paste it and use it however they want.

Likewise they should have 3rd edition copies as well, so moving backwards with editions would probably be smartest.

So I could be done, if they know how to do it, and want to.

 

[Umbran]

So I could be done, if they know how to do it, and want to.

Knowhow can be bought. It is more a question of expected economic return - which despite assertions here, I suspect would be minimal.

 

[pawsplay]

You know what ticks me off? When I buy a vacuum cleaner at Sears, and two years later, I can't buy a vacuum cleaner bag from the same store I bought the machine.

Opportunity cost is a big deal, but the quarterly mindset has run a lot of businesses into the ground. Ultimately, WotC is in the art business. People don't spend $200 on an RPG because of the playable parts, they spend it so they can enjoy the game, by playing it, by experiencing it tangibly, and by reading and thinking about it. Someone was smart enough to put the Elmore cover on the red box; I was almost tempted a couple of times, until I reminded myself I could just buy the original Red Box and be much happier.

 

[El Mahdi]

You know what ticks me off? When I buy a vacuum cleaner at Sears, and two years later, I can't buy a vacuum cleaner bag from the same store I bought the machine...

I know, Man! And I agree. That seriously sucks!

 

[Alan Shutko]

The Rules cyclopedia was ocred but the recognition was pretty bad, as was the scan quality. It was adequate but not great. I am waiting on kits like the Book Liberator to become readily available so I can scan and OCR them for my personal use.

I am already doing the same thing (destructively) for my Dungeon and Dragon collections. Scanning technology has gotten much better in the last decade.

 

[M.L. Martin]

WotC stopped supporting AD&D (1e) back in 1989.

Not strictly accurate. The 1E-2E changeover was a far less drastic one than any of the WotC edition changeovers, not only in content, but in support. Many 1E products were kept available up until 1993 or later, judging from the backlist in TSR's own catalogs. DRAGON Magazine articles designed specifically for the older game could be found--albeit more and more sporadically--until #169, in May 1991.

On the main topic, I think that expecting DDI Compendium or VT integration is dreaming--it'd involve too much work for not enough reward. Getting the PDFs back, perhaps with some limited print-on-demand capability, is more probable.

One approach that might be smart is to put a good sampling of OOP products up on DDI for download each month, rotating them in and out. It would be a good deal from the consumer's point of view--at most, that's $10 a month for a lot of vintage material, and you could either take the plunge for a long term subscription, or only sign up on months that there were things you wanted. From WotC's point of view, it would attract more people to DDI, and possibly get them interested in the new edition by letting them see a bunch of 4E stuff. Meanwhile, adopting a rotating, limited-time release strategy avoids what is probably the major stumbling block for the 'put it up on DDI' idea--the possibility that people will just sign up for a month, download everything, and then never pay any attention to it again.

Is it ideal? Probably not. But I think it might be a compromise that all parties could be somewhat happy with.

 

[Crazy Jerome]

The only way I see older materials equivalents of DDI being worthwhile for WotC is:

License the right to do so to an semi-open source group, which manages itself. Have all the data entered/doctored by volunteers. (And even if some of it can be partially handled via conversion, it will be a massive effort. It is always much harder than anyone expects.) Set up the license so that the managing group charges to pay for servers/hosting, whatever the license fee is, and a bit extra for research and development. Basically, a non-profit with a bit of a cushion.

The whole thing might amount to nothing, but WotC would have given up no appreciable rights, and run no major risk. The biggest risk would be that the volunteer version would be better than their current edition, in-house version, making them look bad. But I'm sure a savvy management team could find a way to mine the volunteer version for talent. (This presumes, of course, a savvy management team.)

 

[gamerprinter]

I like killing trees and having books in my hand. I would never use an online subscription for my RPG materials. The extent of my RPG online activities is visiting forums online - that's it.

I wouldn't touch DDI for any reason whatsoever. So what WotC decides to eventually support online is totally meaningless to me.

GP

 

[Falstaff]

I like killing trees and having books in my hand. I would never use an online subscription for my RPG materials. The extent of my RPG online activities is visiting forums online - that's it.

I wouldn't touch DDI for any reason whatsoever. So what WotC decides to eventually support online is totally meaningless to me.

GP

What he said.