Figured Out One of my Main Problems with D&DI

[dmccoy1693]

I'm wondering if they're going to make some sort of "adventures and adventure aids only" clause, or leave it as open as it is now for almost anything.

I doubt if it would be "adventuring/adventuring aids only." Orcus has been quite vocal on how the guys at WotC like the OGL and want to keep it as open as possible, and he has laid out very logical and reasonable reasons why he'd go 3.75 over 4.0. He's vouching for the WotC boys; that's good enough for me, despite any rumors to the contrary.

EDIT: To be frank, when I posed the question if it was the plan or not, it was half question, half suggestion of something I would like to see (and one less roadblock to convince me, and I'm sure others, how great an idea the online gaming table is).

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

A third party company could contract that work out to another 3rd party company. Similar to how some companies contract out the publication of different translations of their products to other companies, it could be done like this.

This is true. The problem is that doing that would cost money, and its up for grabs whether it would bring back more money than it cost. If WoTC were to allow things along these lines, I coud imagine D&DI-specific groups creating things for the Virtual Game Table. I suspect we'll see more free, fan-created content than 3rd party content.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

We don't know very much about the online tools yet, but I doubt we will see a lot in the way of 3rd party content being made for the online tools. If the online tools are implemented in a way that allows for 3rd party or fan-created maps and adventures to be shared, the 3rd party publishers may not participate unless they have a way to control how the data is shared. If you can download an adventure for use, you might be able to share that download with others, whether they purchased the adventure or not.

WotC adventures will probably be stored on their own servers and so will be controlled by your account permissions - sorry you didn't buy H1 and enter the online code, no adventure for you! 3rd party publishers will not be able to control their adventures this way.

 

[Kesh]

I thought the virtual game table didn't automate rules at all, it just functioned literally as a game table- a surface to move around virtual miniatures and roll virtual dice.

If this is true, the question of 3rd party support is moot.

There was talk at the announcement that books would have a code that could be redeemed online that would not only let you have a downloadable copy of the book, but would unlock "rules" for use with the DI.

So, hypotheically if a new "Oriental Adventures" book got published, you could log into DI, plug in your code and suddenly your online game has all the new races, feats, equipment, etc. that's available in the book. It might not automate the playing with those rules, but they could easily be plugged into the virtual character sheet and take care of the bookkeeping ("Nimble gives you a +3 bonus to your Reflex save" would add the bonus automatically to your sheet when selected, as an example).

It would be cool if they could open that up to 3rd party companies, but I have a feeling only the big names (Necromancer, Green Ronin, Monte Cook) would be able to afford it and still make a profit.

 

[Morrus]

Really? That is news to me, must have missed it. They didn't happen to give their thoughts on the future of d20 STL then, did they? I'm wondering if they're going to make some sort of "adventures and adventure aids only" clause, or leave it as open as it is now for almost anything.

Everything we currently know is here:

http://www.enworld.org/index.php?page=4e#ogl

If there's been anything more recent, nobody told me about it!

 

[HatWearingFool]

Can someone explains me why many peoples doesn't want to suscribe to it while it's FREE ?

It doesn't even ask for adress/billing info !

Well I tried logging on again today after a 9 day hiatus from the interent and found that I was unable to get in. I believe this is the 3rd (for sure at least the 2nd) time this has happend to me. I've decided to say screw it. I can get all the content or at least the highlights here, so why bother with the headache and frustration?

EDIT: Between the pain of my account disappearing and the full on eye destruction that was the gleemax site colors WOTC will have to do a lot for me to consider to pay for this level of pain and annoyance.

 

[Scribble]

There was talk at the announcement that books would have a code that could be redeemed online that would not only let you have a downloadable copy of the book, but would unlock "rules" for use with the DI.

So, hypotheically if a new "Oriental Adventures" book got published, you could log into DI, plug in your code and suddenly your online game has all the new races, feats, equipment, etc. that's available in the book. It might not automate the playing with those rules, but they could easily be plugged into the virtual character sheet and take care of the bookkeeping ("Nimble gives you a +3 bonus to your Reflex save" would add the bonus automatically to your sheet when selected, as an example).

It would be cool if they could open that up to 3rd party companies, but I have a feeling only the big names (Necromancer, Green Ronin, Monte Cook) would be able to afford it and still make a profit.

I'd guess that it will be similar to how other character generator stuff works... It allows for the user to customize by entering new rules in themselves. Like the feats section might have a button that is "Add New Feat." Click it, and a form comes up where you enter the feat info.

Not the easiest and most convenient way to do things, but at least it would allow for it.

 

[carmachu]

Well I tried logging on again today after a 9 day hiatus from the interent and found that I was unable to get in. I believe this is the 3rd (for sure at least the 2nd) time this has happend to me. I've decided to say screw it. I can get all the content or at least the highlights here, so why bother with the headache and frustration?

EDIT: Between the pain of my account disappearing and the full on eye destruction that was the gleemax site colors WOTC will have to do a lot for me to consider to pay for this level of pain and annoyance.

This is my biggest fear with the digital initative. Big promises....and not really delivered. The virtual table top and unlocking books and moving minis around is great......if they deliver.

But looking at Gleemax and Dragon, seeing something underwhelming and difficult to naviagte and folks having trouble logging in....and other assorted issues.....the $10 a month they look to charge may be too much if it doesnt deliver.

We'll see.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

Well I tried logging on again today after a 9 day hiatus from the interent and found that I was unable to get in.

Did you notice that when Gleemax Alpha went up, they changed the login userID from username to email address? That tripped me up initially. Since then, I haven't had any issues.

 

[HatWearingFool]

Did you notice that when Gleemax Alpha went up, they changed the login userID from username to email address? That tripped me up initially. Since then, I haven't had any issues.

Trying to get into D&D Insider not gleemax.