Flag in The Sand!

[Scribble]

I used to post a lot on the message boards for the show LOST... One of the fun things we used to do was plant "Flags in the sand" where we would guess, or try to figure out the answers to some of the mysteries on the show...

It was all in fun, so getting it right just got you bragging rights.

So... Flag in the sand... What will the new "web tools" be?

My flag?

A suite of tools designed to work as a campaign tracker/organizer.

Almost like an Obsidian Portal, but with more integration to the already existing tools. (IE upload your character directly to your DM's campaign, load NPCs and monsters right into the system..)

One can hope at least!


(Please please please keep this good natured. If your only point of posting would be to complain about delays or say WoTC will screw something up, try to screw us over, etc... post somewhere else PLEASE? Obviously I can't force you to not post, but I'm humbly asking for your cooperation.)

 

[Jack99]

(Please please please keep this good natured. If your only point of posting would be to complain about delays or say WoTC will screw something up, try to screw us over, etc... post somewhere else PLEASE? Obviously I can't force you to not post, but I'm humbly asking for your cooperation.)

And hardly anyone posted.....








Jokes aside, I agree with you. Although in my heart I know it isn't realistic too expect a working campaign tool that integrates with the MB and the CB, but I am hoping so much that I am actually starting to believe it might happen.

I guess thats what they call wishful thinking.

 

[renau1g]

My thoughts? Well, I hope it's something like you mentioned, that'd be hella cool.

Since you took that one, I'll go with VTT... what? I can dream can't I?

 

[Riley]

Although in my heart I know it isn't realistic too expect a working campaign tool that integrates with the MB and the CB, but I am hoping so much that I am actually starting to believe it might happen.

I guess thats what they call wishful thinking.

I've given up on hoping for anything more than sporadic updates of the existing tools.

Still, I hope you guys are right. It really is something that they should do - or should've already done.

 

[OnlineDM]

Flag in the sand: The new web tools will probably include several different things, but most notable among them will be a web-based Character Builder that requires a DDI subscription to use for anything beyond very simple, low-level characters (Essentials versions, I'm guessing).

I'm basing this partly on a comment from a friend of mine who used to work at Wizards of the Coast and who still has friends there. We were talking about the Character Builder last weekend, and when I talked about the fact that Tuesday's update was not going to have Dark Sun or Heroes of the Fallen Lands, he said that he's not expecting them to ever be in there. He couldn't say anything certain, but it sure seemed like he was under the impression that the web tools would be replacing Character Builder.

If my flag is correct, I'm sad, but not surprised.

 

[Truename]

My flag: Tools aimed at the Essentials market.

1- For players: A simplified/streamlined Character Builder that only contains Essentials classes and races, with a streamlined interface and clear choices at every step of the character building process. Existing classes will be released later, when the Class Compendium books come out.

2- For DMs: An encounter builder that includes: a map builder featuring Essentials dungeon tiles; Monster Vault creatures (with pictures), but no monster builder; magic items, including uncommon and rare magic items; and a random treasure generator.

3- Relatively minimalistic Campaign Manager site, similar in concept to Obsidian Portal, that integrates with the player and DM tools.

4- Maybe, but unlikely: Virtual table top that integrates with the player and DM tools.

All of this online-only and requiring an active subscription to use, except for the Campaign Manager, which will be free.

 

[jbear]

-.- The internet swallowed my last post ... so short and sweet:

The announcement will be a kick in the nuts (for many) accompanied by cream and a cherry on top to assuage the rage.

The CB and Monster Builder are going to be 100% web based. (thwack! Ouch)

The new tool will be a Campaign/Encounter Manager that incorporates both the CB and the Monster Builder, insofar as importing Characters and Monsters.

It will be a tool similar if not identical to Masterplan, used to create plot lines, quests, skill challenges, traps, encounter maps, build combat encounters (drag and drop monsters to calculate encounter level/xp and connect to tokens on an encounter map which can be used as a combat tracker) etc. (which is basically what Masterplan does). If you're lucky, they may have included the random treasure parcel generator featured in Essentials ;P

I place my flag!

 

[Scribble]

-.- The internet swallowed my last post ... so short and sweet:

The announcement will be a kick in the nuts (for many) accompanied by cream and a cherry on top to assuage the rage.

The CB and Monster Builder are going to be 100% web based. (thwack! Ouch)

The new tool will be a Campaign/Encounter Manager that incorporates both the CB and the Monster Builder, insofar as importing Characters and Monsters.

It will be a tool similar if not identical to Masterplan, used to create plot lines, quests, skill challenges, traps, encounter maps, build combat encounters (drag and drop monsters to calculate encounter level/xp and connect to tokens on an encounter map which can be used as a combat tracker) etc. (which is basically what Masterplan does). If you're lucky, they may have included the random treasure parcel generator featured in Essentials ;P

I place my flag!

I wouldn't mind that actually.

I have a feeling they're working to get everything DDI related able to be used on multiple platforms, and specifically tablets and ereaders.

If you make the stuff web based, it would for the most part work across platforms, and I think this is a BIG part of why the book size has been changed. No need to resize pdfs or really zoom/scroll that much... Perfect size for the screens.

If that happens... I just hope some other companies besides apple get off their booties and make good tablet computers... I ain't buyin no ipad, but using a pad computer at a game would be awesome if this stuff does pan out like this.

 

[renau1g]

Can't wait to see the Playbook (but I'm Canadian and absolutely love RIM and my Blackberry)

 

[Truename]

The first of the new web-based tools is announced. How did you do?

My results:

My flag: Tools aimed at the Essentials market.

1- For players: A simplified/streamlined Character Builder that only contains Essentials classes and races, with a streamlined interface and clear choices at every step of the character building process. Existing classes will be released later, when the Class Compendium books come out.

I hit this one pretty well, with the glaring mistake that the new CB isn't Essentials-only. But from the screenshots, it does have the streamlined interface and clear choices at each step of the way, including an "Essentials campaign" button.

2- For DMs: An encounter builder that includes: a map builder featuring Essentials dungeon tiles; Monster Vault creatures (with pictures), but no monster builder; magic items, including uncommon and rare magic items; and a random treasure generator.

3- Relatively minimalistic Campaign Manager site, similar in concept to Obsidian Portal, that integrates with the player and DM tools.

4- Maybe, but unlikely: Virtual table top that integrates with the player and DM tools.

All of this online-only and requiring an active subscription to use, except for the Campaign Manager, which will be free.

Time will tell on the other tools, but gold star for the online-only prediction.

How did you do?