Di
Here is what I'm looking for from the DI:
Information Lookup
I want to be able to search by subject (wiki-style) and get all relevant information for the subject.
For example, if I search for ghoul, I want to see the following on the page:
- stats for the ghoul
- single illustration
- notes on what has been errata'd from the print version
- official rulings and clarifications on the ghoul and his abilities
- expanded rules added after the print version (for example, what you can learn about the ghoul using Knowledge Religion from the Know Your Enemy articles)
Essentially, everything on the main page should be the basics of what I need in order to use a ghoul as DM. However, I also want links to the following:
- alternate illustrations of the ghoul
- expanded articles about the ghoul ("Ecology of the Ghoul")
- D&D Miniatures information such as which sets have ghoul figures and the downloadable cards for those figures
- related information to the ghoul (ghasts, undead in general, the turning rules...)
- a link that imports the ghoul straight into a monster/character generator so I can advance him, add levels or templates, alter his feats or skills, and then print out the resulting character sheet.
That's just a sample for a monster, but I'd want similar style things for classes, races, magic items, rules, etc...
Character/Monster ToolKit
I want a character generator that allows me to build my PCs/NPCs/Monsters. This should be able to:
- create and level-up characters (obviously)
- equip those characters with weapons and magic items and see their stats change appropriately
- take monsters and alter them (add class levels, advance them, add a template, change feats or skills)
- create houserules for my campaign (maybe gnomes get +2 CHR in my world)
- allow any of this to be stored on-line and downloadable by those with access (like google docs)
- easily import characters and monsters from on-line adventures
- incorporate the magic item creation rules
- create new content such as monsters, spells, magic items, etc...
- allow me to create new, but very basic, classes, races and prestige classes
- print the resulting character or monster in a variety of formats
- [Bonus Feature] incorporate the rules for Alter Self, Polymorph, Alternate Form, Reincarnate, etc... so you can easily alter your character for these events
Mapping Toolkit
I want to be able to create maps for adventures. Features:
- Create maps that are indoors/outdoors/underground
- add door, furniture, columns and other basic features
- add traps, secret doors or monsters that can be toggled on or off when showing the map to the PCs
- a "fog of war" that hides sections of the dungeon until you click on them
- easily import existing maps from on-line adventures
- build or break down the map with dungeon tiles (if possible)
- break out sections of the map so that they can be printed out at different scales, all the way up to a scale compatible with miniatures
- the ability to import the maps into an on-line game
Adventures
I want on-line adventures with these features:
- the ability to import maps, monsters and characters into the toolkits above
- the ability to automatically alter the adventure within 2-3 levels of the intended level
- the ability to automatically convert the adventure to different settings
- included links to the Information Lookup pages described above
- artwork for new monsters, unusual rooms, etc...
- well formatted for the whole adventure to be printed out if necessary
- generate lists of all D&D Miniatures used in adventure
- the ability to easily use the adventure in on-line play (see 2 sections down)
Combat Tracker
I want an on-line combat tracker I can use with on-line play or with a PnP game:
- enter all combat participants, either manually or from toolkits
- set initiative order, either by handling the die rolling itself or allowing the DM to set it manually
- reorder initiative when someone readies an action or delays
- track damage and current status of participants (dazed, sickened, sleep, bleeding, etc...)
- track spell and effect durations on participants
- a dice roller than can display a result of any set of dice being rolled
- if the characters/monsters have all stats entered, allow the program to optionally handle dice rolls internally. You could ask it to make a DC 20 Fort save for a monster, or see if a bleeding character stabilizes, or just have monster A attack character B and it would show the result and damage
On-Line Play
I'd like to be able to meet on the internet with other players and play live. We would need:
- a central room the would contain a map of the current encounter (uploaded from Mapping Toolkit), links to characters (Character Toolkit), and a chat window
- to chat privately with individual players
- move into the Combat Tracker for combats
- allow players to move characters on the maps in the combat
- option to auto-handle attacks of opportunity, concealment calculations, grapple rules, and other similar things.
- track changes to character sheets (XP, damage, loss of spells, used equipment)
- easily upload on-line adventures to be used in this arena
- be able to pause the adventure and store everything in its current state so that the game could be resumed later
D&D Miniatures
- quickly find miniatures by monster type for later purchase
- run skirmishes on-line
- have on-line tournaments
This is all the functionality I'd want out of DI (that I can think of right now), although I would certainly not expect all of this on day 1, or heck, even year 1. I would, however, like to see this be the roadmap for DI, so that I know these sort of things are coming down the pipe, and things that are planned for are easier to implement in the long run.
For the content, I want to be able to access all the monsters, spells, feats, etc... that are out there. I'd be disappointed if I were limited to only the core books. I'm guessing this will be handled through micro-purchases or varying subscription levels, there's simply no way for you to know I own a Monster Manual III and allow me to digitally browse all the monsters in it. Repaying for that content doesn't particularly excite me, but I have no alternative practical solution. For the future though, I'd like the purchase of printed content to also allow access to digital content.
Thanks for the chance to let me add my 2 cents.
-Scot
