Interview with Scott Rouse, Chris Perkins & Bill Slavicsek

[Kid Charlemagne]

Yeah, but aren't those questions you ask before making a decision?

Sure. The thing is, going to the online format means that "decision day" is much, much closer to "publish day." Paizo needed to have this out there NOW - because they're dealing with the print world where things need to be locked down months in advance. On the other hand, there are significant portions of the DI that could probably be changed 24 hours before they go live - because its just going to the net. No point in making your decisions 6 months ahead of time when you don't need to.

Although I'll grant that even a few specifics would have been nice.

 

[lrsach01]

Here is something that just occurred to me...and I don't think its been addressed yet. Of course I could be wrong given the metric crap load of posts in the wake the wake of the recent WotC actions.

One complaint about the magazines, books and adnventures is that only one person in a gaming group would by a particualr copy. This had the effect of lowering sales. What's to stop a gaminig group (for example, 6 in my group) from registering for the Digital Initiative and sharing access with the rest of the group?

 

[D.Shaffer]

Thanks Wye - that nails it for me.

In my mind, it's more...

"We're changing brands of ice cream in a few months."
"Are they still going to have flavor X?"
"We dont know yet, but probably. They did ask what flavors we'd like to see"

I think people are reading a bit to much into them asking for input. Remember, there were a host of people that have been saying that what they'd like to see in a magazine and what they'd like ONLINE are different matters. I'm sure they have a framework of what they're going to include, but it doesnt hurt to ask what else would 'sweeten the pot' for potential future customers.

 

[Khairn]

Here is something that just occurred to me...and I don't think its been addressed yet. Of course I could be wrong given the metric crap load of posts in the wake the wake of the recent WotC actions.

One complaint about the magazines, books and adnventures is that only one person in a gaming group would by a particualr copy. This had the effect of lowering sales. What's to stop a gaminig group (for example, 6 in my group) from registering for the Digital Initiative and sharing access with the rest of the group?

I believe that is why they still are not able to talk about the format of the information or the delivery system. They still haven't figured out a way to limit the content to only a single person. DRM was mentioned, although only as an example of options they are looking at.

Should be an interesting tug-of-war between WotC striving to limit access versus players wanting the ability to download and manipulate the info to suit their needs.

 

[DM_Jeff]

Thanks WotC for responding, and thanks Morrus for the work putting it together. I also appreciate that if WotC is now looking over these boards as was said, they will seriously take into consideration many of the wants and needs of the community.

I need very "little" from the DI, I suppose.

1) I want an NPC generator to help prepare for my games. I want one as easy and quick as the NPC Designer at rpgattitude.com. I want to be able to select 'minotaur', 'barbarian 3', 'warlock 7', and hit enter and have it generate everything else. I want to be able to assign it specific weapons from Complete Warrior, a feat from Book of Vile Darkness and a template from MM4. Books that are outside the SRD.

2) I want maps printed in 1-inch squares to use D&D miniatures on. I spend plenty of time alreaedy scanning, enlarging, erasing room numbers, and printing maps in 8x11 format and fit them together if necessary. WotC staffers at GenCon made it known they wish they had the time to do this for their games because of the obvious utility.

3) I want specific Forgotten Realms and Eberron adventures. Generic adventures to fit anywhere? If you must, but we're swamped. 3rd party publishers seem to be all over that just fine. I want specific stories and monsters tied to the campaign worlds others can't touch with a 10-meter cattleprod.

4) A real, true integrated index/glossary of D&D 3.5 gaming terms, items, and things. My wife, specifically, would like to be able to search for a term read in Eberron book #2, without having to literally hunt page by page for the item in books 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 etc. of Eberron for the actual definition and game terms of that item in question.

There, that's my grown-up Christmas wish.

-DM Jeff

 

[Driddle]

Tangent, which probably will be passed by fairly quickly on this thread:

In the front-page interview, the question was asked, "What is the likelihood of seeing new online material being compiled in hardcopy format - perhaps an annual magazine, book or compendium?"

Bill answered, "Sounds like a great idea! In fact, it’s been part of our plans all along."

I'd suggest taking it one step further: Offer the consumer the opportunity to pick X number of pages of preexisting online content to bind into a unique, made-to-spec paperback. With today's micro-publishing tech, it's totally doable.

I would LOOOOOVE to see something like that.

 

[freebfrost]

So we're mere months away from an online release that will change the face of D&D, and they haven't made any decisions about format, pricing, etc. That doesn't sit well with me, coming from an IT background, nor does the empty platitudes make me feel any better that they will be providing a quality replacement for the magazines.

I enjoyed going back to the year 2000 WotC survey and seeing the numbers as to how much money the older crowd spends on gaming versus the younger gamers... and I cannot help but to think how WotC is ignoring their own results in this decision and angering those who have supported Dragon/Dungeon for years.

NOTHING in this PR interview makes me want to spend any more money on WotC products - it's all vaporware at this point.

 

[JVisgaitis]

Imagine going to an ice-cream shop for your favorite cone:
"Can I have vanilla and chocolate please?"
"We just discontinued those flavors, but we have others, and new ones!"
"Hrrm... Ok, show me what you've got."
"What would YOU like on your ice-cream?"
"Are you kidding me?"

That's a bit black and white. They said a lot of the content will continue and you'll get more then ever before. So I wouldn't say they discontinued vanilla and chocolate. You'll just have to get it somewhere else.

 

[dpetroc]

Without a full court press from WotC and a sample of the new online content, I think WotC will have a hard time finding the numbers for their new DI. A good number of Dragon/Dungeon subscribers are already moving to Pathfinder. A good number of those who can't afford it are probably too ticked off because they were treated like lemmings to go with the DI. A whole bunch sound interested but are wary of the D&D websites inherent crappiness (and with fair reason). Sounds like they are starting off in a moderately deep hole with a very small shovel to dig themselves out with.

For the sake of the hobby, I hope it does work and usher a new age of gaming in with a younger audience to support it. Otherwise...can you say model trains and slot cars?

 

[Draumr]

Thanks for turning up and having something to say, if only a very little. You didn't in any way address the need to eliminate the printed magazines in order to make the online model work, but I understand that you are not allowed to give much if any ground in your official capacities. I'm still very unhappy with the cancellation of the magazines, and I don't see a limited access, DRM-encoded DI with limited permanence or portability to be any kind of replacement for magazines like the 400 or so I've got on my shelves for ready access. Fortunately, Paizo is willing to give me a partial replacement for what you've taken away, even if you aren't.

As for your DI, I want it to be great, and I want it to be something I would want to pay for. I don't care about online character generators or other shiny gadgets. What's important to me is to have pretty, printable articles and adventures with inspiring illustrations. Also, if I'm going to pay for it, I want to be able to keep what I've bought. Any DRM'ing beyond watermarking would be an absolute non-starter. I own five computers, and I'll own new computers in the future. I will not tolerate keys or licenses or any of that nonsense.

So good luck, I wish you the best in winning me as a customer for your new endeavor. Keep coming around to visit, and I'll be glad to hear what you have to say. Or, if you ever get your message board's search function working, I'll be happy to come over to your place to find what, if anything, you've posted.

Exactly my point of view.