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Message: <blockquote data-quote="P1NBACK" data-source="post: 5878224" data-attributes="member: 83768">First, get rid of the Character Builder as it is. The hard-coded approach to everything, while great for doing the math, is horrible for custom content. And, D&D is all about custom contentThen, here's what I want to see: <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A DDI "Light" version for free. This is a sort of SRD-style DDI with all the core rules, monsters, etc. available for use with campaign management tools, character builder, rules database, etc. Work on getting the light version up and running first. This should be like Xbox Live Silver, where you have access to friends and the community (including the marketplace mentioned below).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">DDI "Pro" can be a subscription based model that adds in more robust features, non-SRD content and all the other stuff that comes out, like magazines and whatnot. Pro also includes access to the virtual tabletop, refined and available for use. Again, like Xbox Live Gold for multiplayer access.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Refine the character builder (as mentioned above) to be less hard-coded, and friendlier to custom content and changes. I'd rather have a robust, "fillable" sheet that can be tailored to our campaign, while still being able to import stuff from the SRD / Pro versions of the rules and... custom content.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Then, add in a marketplace. The marketplace is two-pronged. The first prong is for WotC published materials. You can buy PDFs of the books wholesale (cheaper than hardcovers as mentioned earlier, with print-on-demand possibly), adventures and all the typical crap that comes with DDI. However, you can also buy stuff piecemeal. For example, interested a new class from the Heroes of the Feywild, but don't need the whole book. Just buy that Forester class a-la-carte for $.99. This model is similar to "apps".</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The second prong of the marketplace is for user generated content. This is 5E adventures, classes, spells, etc. that can all be uploaded by users and downloaded by D&D players and DMs who can rate it, comment on it, etc. just like NWN modules or iTunes apps. A simple Google +1 or Facebook like system would be great.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The user generated content can have standard pricing or be free entirely. The specifics can be worked out. Whatever. WotC gets a share of each transaction (for server and E-commerce costs), but publishers of the content get to publish their stuff and possibly make money off of it. If it becomes popular, WotC can even do a full redux with art and layout or something. I don't know. But, the goal is to do a 3.x style OGL market for 5E D&D content. WotC can have pages for highlighting popular and "new" content. Think of it like Xbox Live Arcade indie games.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Create an easy to use tool for submitting custom content so that everything is ordered and formatted for easy import / export from the Character Builder. As I said earlier, the math isn't hard-coded, so no need for WotC coders to code every little spell or feat that comes out. No biggie. Frees up more time for the coders to refine the actual software.</li> </ul>Mostly, I want to create a community approach to design and homebrew stuff and allow that stuff to have a Hub or Nexus for it to be shared. DDI is a perfect opportunity for that. DDI Light gets people on board. Why not use it? It's free? DDI Pro takes it up a notch and the Marketplace gets people interacting, creating content and whatnot. Have a dungeon you want to share? Go for it. A character class? Upload it. A new collection of spells or magic items? Go for it.</blockquote>

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