Getting randomized miniatures from online boosters- Get real

[Kunimatyu]

Unfortunately for me that would kill the deal. I don't like the randomness of booster packs. As a result I won't buy them. As a poster said above, the randomness is used to move inventory. That model is not required for online format. From a marketing strategy the people who want online miniature access/table top function are not the same as those who collect/play DnD miniatures. "Unlocks" should be linked to book products if anything. For example, buy the fiendish codex and you unlock the minis.

No no, I get that, I'm saying, have a setup where you buy one booster pack, and it contains the code to unlock the entire digital set. Yes, you get some randomized minis but hey, also the whole digital set, and $15 isn't unreasonable for that.

Alternatively, Wizards could charge a flat fee to unlock a particular set, and you could reduce or eliminate said fee by buying X number of booster packs.

 

[mmadsen]

As I understand it, creating 3D designs is a very time consuming process (those involved with 3D computer modeling, correct me if I'm wrong). I'm sure creating a D&D miniature set online will be a time consuming process that will cost WotC a lot of money.

I don't know if the miniature designers these days still sculpt the figures, or if they use CAD tools. In the latter case, the design is a free byproduct of designing the physical miniature.

Or they could use a 3D scanner on a finished, physical miniature to achieve the same effect.

Either way, the 3D design is a fixed, up-front cost, not a variable cost, so they would likely want to sell as many copies as possible rather than selling a few copies at a premium.

 

[Glyfair]

I don't know if the miniature designers these days still sculpt the figures, or if they use CAD tools. In the latter case, the design is a free byproduct of designing the physical miniature.

Or they could use a 3D scanner on a finished, physical miniature to achieve the same effect.

As I understand it, both happen (this is from my knowledge of how WizKids does it). However, the "miniatures" in the demo had motion, which you typically don't create for the miniature product (unless they have some exciting things in store for us there ).

Again, I'm not sure how difficult it is. I've lost regular contact with my friends in that industry, and don't discuss that sort of thing when we get together.

 

[Zaukrie]

I own thousands of the real minis, but if I ever needed to play on line, and had to buy random monsters to do so, I'd be really, really mad. If I'm paying and playing on line, everything in the WotC rulebooks should be available to me within that cost structure.

 

[Glyfair]

I own thousands of the real minis, but if I ever needed to play on line, and had to buy random monsters to do so, I'd be really, really mad. If I'm paying and playing on line, everything in the WotC rulebooks should be available to me within that cost structure.

As has been stated, the virtual tabletop will come with tokens (we don't know what that means exactly), a selection of miniatures and you can create PC type characters with the PC generator.

What we are discussing here are miniatures beyond that. You should have all you need to play from the start. If you want a wider selection of miniatures for the 3D representations, that is what we are speculating about (and it clearly isn't set in stone at WotC's end).

 

[reanjr]

If I was going to SUBSCRIBE to a service that enables me to game over the net, I would expect that service to have the tools I need to run that game.

I concur. If these minis are randomized it's a deal breaker for me. I wasn't even aware they would charge for them at all, so I'm already taken aback. The only possible model I would be willing to buy into (literally) is minis cost about $0.10 and you can select which you would like to buy.

If this doesn't happen, I will wholeheartedly jump on with some artists to create a competing service that blows this one away and at a lower price.

I was excited by the idea of a virtual game table at first, but it just seems to get worse and worse as the weeks wear on. By the time this is released I can't imagine myself actually paying money to use it unless they make some drastic changes in their business model.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Oh dear gods.

 

[Cadfan]

I'm against being nickel and dimed.

If its so darn expensive to make immobile 3d models of monsters, then increase the cost of the online service. I don't want to have to keep track of piles of information on what I do and do not own.

"No, Cadfan, you can't see the details of this feat. Your DM owns that book, not you. You can see the details on this other feat though, and on this alternate use of the Tumble skill. You can't see a miniature for that special new monster, because while you DO own that book, your DM doesn't, and he's the one hosting the game. But you CAN see the miniature for this other monster from a book you do not own, because your DM owns that one. Your monthly costs this month include $10 for the basic service, then a nominal fee for unlocking the book you just bought, plus an additional fee for some monsters models you purchased for the game you hosted last night."

 

[broghammerj]

While the random miniature concept is arguable, I don't think it's unreasonable for WotC to charge for each set for their virtual tabletop. Just unlocking them because you bought a set (or book) seems unrealistic.

The problem I have with the digital initiative is where does pricing and selling stop? What do I get from the digital initiative? Well, I have never subscribed to Dungeon/Dragon, but I have probably 50 issues picked up here and there. I look at the WOTC website about once every 3 months. Sounds like there is not much to appeal to me as a consumer. I assume I am not a loner since the subscriptions to Dungeon and Dragon were not representative of the whole gaming community.

Enter the digital tabletop. Sounds like I could reunite with the two groups I used to play with (Huge Plus). Sounds like I won't have to purchase random minis to get a realistic representation of the battlefield (Plus). Everyone may not have to be a subscriber to use the tabletop, but will at least pay some fee (Minus). Now to get a wide array of usable minis I have to continue to pay (Huge Minus).

My point is where is my 10 bucks a month going? You are trying to package content that arguably the majority of DND players go without anyways. Then you are selling me a crippled digital tabletop with limited minis selection. Don't forget our other "AWESOME" character generator we had from 3.0 and its terrific support. Why am I excited about this again?

 

[Drkfathr1]

As I understand it, creating 3D designs is a very time consuming process (those involved with 3D computer modeling, correct me if I'm wrong). I'm sure creating a D&D miniature set online will be a time consuming process that will cost WotC a lot of money.

Which is why we'll be paying $9.99 a month for the subscription. There's no need for us to have to pay more.