Forked Thread: V-minis and DDi (was Gamespy interview)

[Dire Bare]

Has there been any hinting about getting free v-minis when you buy real minis (ie special code in every booster)?

AR

They have talked about this. Last word is that, no, buying physical minis will not get you any virtual minis. Just the same as buying a physical D&D book won't get you a free PDF file of same book. Technology makes it possible, but it's more of a pain in the ass then it's worth to WotC. They have stated that you will most likely get a free "starter" of virtual minis when signing up for D&D Insider (once fully available). Tokens for all monsters will, however, be available completely free.

 

[Dire Bare]

Also, keep in mind folks, that NOTHING is set in stone yet regarding D&D Insider, the virtual gametable, and virtual minis. WotC has changed plans already once or twice, and may change direction again before the entire package becomes available for subscription.

What is most likely regarding virtual minis and tokens:

1) Tokens for EVERY monster will be available for free. So, despite all the whining from some naysayers, the gametable will not be useless unless you pay extra for virtual minis.

2) You'll get a bunch of virtual minis free when you sign up for a subscription. This may be a limited time offer.

3) Fully 3D virtual minis will be available at cost. But at what cost is yet to be determined. It could be very, very small. Or not.

I don't know yet if I'll be paying extra for any virtual minis, but I will definitely be using the gametable! I can't help but see all the negativity as simply that, people who love to be negative about everything.

 

[ProfessorCirno]

I can't help but see all the negativity as simply that, people who love to be negative about everything.

That's because 99% of your post there was "Well, we don't know, but I'm SURE Wizards is going to just give us most of the stuff for free!"

 

[Heselbine]

1) Tokens for EVERY monster will be available for free. So, despite all the whining from some naysayers, the gametable will not be useless unless you pay extra for virtual minis.

I guess I'm going to wait and see just what they mean by 'tokens'. If they're not good enough, this will be the difference between me using or not using the virtual game table. I'm certainly not going to pay for virtual minis. It's the most ridiculous idea I've ever heard.

 

[drakshasak]

Well, if the v-minis aren't value-added products to you, then you won't miss them. Why would you care if they were free or cost mad money? If you are truly upset that v-minis are gonna cost more so you can't/won't use them, then they are value-added products to you.

Just to bring the foul MMO in to the picture again. This is the same as saying mmo's should charge money for patches with bugfixes. You still have the original product so your good. As far as im concerned the monthly fee should cover the production of V-minis. i honestly dont think they are that difficult to make for an experienced 3D modeller. Its not like its fully animated and crysis graphics. Its small static figurines that should be covered in the monthly fee that everyone pays anyway

 

[Tervin]

That's because 99% of your post there was "Well, we don't know, but I'm SURE Wizards is going to just give us most of the stuff for free!"

Really? I thought he was doing a summary of what they have said that their present plans for the DDI and Virtual minis are. They have said that tokens for all the monsters will be available. They have said that it will be possible to use any mini or token you want to represent a certain monster on the virtual game table, just like you can on your own table at home.

Since this has not happened yet, we don't KNOW that this will actually happen exactly that way. But considering how many times this has been said, and that these are not things that will mean a lot of extra work and code for them, it seems very likely that we will have these functions.

I think virtual minis and tiles available for an extra charge is a silly concept. But if others want to pay for them, then fine by me. And I am glad that I won't have to help paying for that silliness with my DDI subscription.

 

[Tervin]

Just to bring the foul MMO in to the picture again. This is the same as saying mmo's should charge money for patches with bugfixes. You still have the original product so your good. As far as im concerned the monthly fee should cover the production of V-minis. i honestly dont think they are that difficult to make for an experienced 3D modeller. Its not like its fully animated and crysis graphics. Its small static figurines that should be covered in the monthly fee that everyone pays anyway

Sorry, but the analogy doesn't work at all.

1. V-minis are not in any way needed for the game to work, like bugfixes and patches are.
2. In a MMO it is important that every player has the program running the same way, so patches need to be free for everyone - not the case here.
3. Many of us don't care about the extra V-minis and V-tiles, and are happy not to have to pay for their development - this is not the case in patching a game.

I want the part of the monthly fee that goes for working on the gametable to go into things that actually matter to everybody. Like development of DM tools for building virtual adventures. Like bugfixes and patches that make everything run better. Like development of systems for game matching, booking and scheduling for the game table. (So that you can put up ads for games a week in advance with the details on times, game systems, characters, language etc - and players can sign up for them.)

I think people's fixation on virtual minis is just because the product isn't there, and they haven't really understood what it is meant to be like. I think Wizards made a mistake when they started talking about the Virtual mini concept beforehand. It is not one of the important parts of the DDI, and clearly something that would have been a lot more clever to introduce once everything has been up and running smoothly for a while.

 

[Xyxox]

I don't think that's the problem. The problem is that people don't think the v-minis are value-added products. And I agree with them.

That's about the truest statement I've seen in a while.

In fact, I'd go so far as to say the V-minis were the ONLY reason I was even considering DDI. If they charge for them, I see no value in DDI.

That said, how much do you want to bet the v-minis come in random bundles with commons, uncommons, and rares?

 

[Charwoman Gene]

That said, how much do you want to bet the v-minis come in random bundles with commons, uncommons, and rares?

4000 dollars. I'll lower the amount if you can't match it.

 

[Xyxox]

4000 dollars. I'll lower the amount if you can't match it.

NEver heard of the term "sarcasm", eh?