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Message: <blockquote data-quote="GregoryOatmeal" data-source="post: 5843383" data-attributes="member: 6667661">So let's assume the ultimate goal of WOTC is to sell subscriptions to DDI. I'm guessing the service has much higher profit-margins than print books and more likelihood of returning customers. WOTC should make every reasonable and affordable attempt to use DDI to appeal to as many customers as possible. This could include:1) Republishing old books from past editions2) Providing a basic character builder for editions past (without support from all of the splatbooks). I just started programming and it really seems that, since a 4E builder already exists, one would simply remove a lot of the powers and change variables. It wouldn't be too hard to get something running.3) Providing edition-neutral tools such as VTT.4) Possibly, if this is successful, contracting writers from fan-sites to write articles and content about past editions.But their core competency used to be producing content for those old editions, and they still own that content. They still have a strategic advantage over the competition (maybe not Paizo since they make quality products) because they produced the content that inspired the clones. Their quality control then was greater than the current OSR content since it was professional and the OSR is driven by hobbyists. And people will want the original - not the clones. But if customers do use OSR products or PF I think they could still find a lot of value in older content on DDI. Retroclones are designed specifically to be compatible with older content. So someone could have a PF/OSR PHB and play exclusively with old monster manuals and adventures from DDI while feeding money to WOTC.So in a nutshell if WOTC allowed access to the entire catalog of 3E materials with DDI they could offer more value to Pathfinder customers via subscription than Paizo ever could.</blockquote>

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