Interview with Scott Rouse, Chris Perkins & Bill Slavicsek

[Papa-DRB]

Regarding Confidentiality, I have worked for a large computer corporation (HAL+1, if you understand the reference) for 32 years, 7+months in Mainframe support, so I understand the NDA or as we call it simply "Confidential Material". Those who have not worked (lived!) in such a culture just can not fathom the limits, so please just accept that Linae & Scott really are bound to what they can and cannot discuss.

As far as DI, there are several things that will sway me to plunk down my money, or not.

1) DRM - Electronic watermarks are fine, but if I cannot move it from computer to computer, or have it on a thumb drive and use it anywhere, and have the option of printing it out, then I probably won't sign up.
2) Some kind of preview power. I have *all* the Dungeon magazines, however few Dragon magazines. A buddy of mine who has all the Dragon magazines will see an article that he thinks might interest me and lend me his magazine. If I like the article enough to use it (and that is few and far between), I will buy the issue. If DI won't let me do some kind of preview, then I won't buy it.

 

[Razz]

Well, since April is at an end, that leaves 5 whole months before September is over.

Think it's possible for you guys to do a Countdown Previews for each month? Or is it still too early to be doing that?

One other question is, how confident are you guys that DI will begin after the September issues of Dragon and Dungeon are over? Will it begin October or November? Or later?

Oh, and for those constantly asking for previews of DI content so you can pick and choose what you want, why not hang around ENWorld and wait for a real subscriber to post what he/she's got as a preview? Plenty of people here open up threads on Dragon and Dungeon previews when they get their magazines in the mail

 

[TheYeti1775]

Preview content I would like to see:

Table of Contents - something akin to the front cover
from there develop little overviews of each.

 

[JVisgaitis]

We take confidentiality pretty seriously at WotC. NDA paperwork is part of the new-hire packet every employee receives. Besides that, we are reminded of our NDA from time to time. For example, it's not unusual for someone to start off a meeting saying something like, "I just want to remind everyone present that this discussion is confidential."

Thanks for responding. All of the documents I receive say Confidential: For Internal Use Only, but I guess we're just more laid back with it.

 

[romp]

ohhh ok, i see now, WotC has been silent on the details of the DI, including its name because they are letting Paizo get some wind in Pathfinder's sails.

That is what the "meat shield" comment meant and is part of the reason for the silence. That and NDA's.

What they have ready (content-wise if not tech-wise) they are holding off on so as to give Paizo sometime before overshadowing them with the announcements and PR deluge.

Why? Lifting the licenses kills Paizo's revenue stream and even its raison d' etre. Paizo used to be part of WotC and there was/continues to be relationships there.

 

[MojoGM]

If WOTC wants me to even possibly consider their digital initiative at all, they will offer as much Greyhawk adventures as Dungeon did in the last couple of years, and they will stay away from Eberron stuff, which I have no use for. If WOTC killed off Dungeon, which was my last source of Greyhawk adventures, and does not suitably replace it with another reliable source of Greyhawk adventures, I'll continue to have very negative feelings towards WOTC, as I've had since the announcement of Dungeon's cancellation.

Why does it have to be one or the other? I personally WANT more Eberron content and have no use whatsoever for Greyhawk stuff, but there is no reason that they can't keep us both happy. With Digital there is no maximum pagecount...

 

[caudor]

I am sorry, but I cannot blindly TRUST anyone, be it a person or a legal entity, who doesn't prove to be trustworthy to me. The other aspects of the challenge (initiative? ) are certainly something that I can agree with and support.

But the front page is for news, not pep-talk.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion. It's just as valid as mine.

However, just because I'm looking forward to the DI, does not mean I'm putting 'blind faith' in WotC. I have many products from WotC designers that I really enjoy. I have a basis for my 'faith'.

On the other hand, I drive a narrow two-way road to get to work (at night). People zoom right past me. I don't know if they are drunk, night-blind, talking on the phone, or whatever. I don't know them at all. Why do I trust them enough to drive that road? Well, I don't trust them entirely, but I have to go to work anyway.

 

[Sammael]

However, just because I'm looking forward to the DI, does not mean I'm putting 'blind faith' in WotC.

I didn't say you were. I also used "trust" rather than "faith," because, IMO, "faith" is never rational, whereas "trust" is.

I have many products from WotC designers that I really enjoy.

So do I. The vast majority of those designers are no longer employed by WotC. At best, a few are freelancers.

On the other hand, I drive a narrow two-way road to get to work (at night). People zoom right past me. I don't know if they are drunk, night-blind, talking on the phone, or whatever. I don't know them at all. Why do I trust them enough to drive that road? Well, I don't trust them entirely, but I have to go to work anyway.

Eh, that's apples and oranges when compared to the situation we're discussing. You have no choice if you want to get to work. On the other hand, I have a choice when it comes to RPG materials - even if I don't buy them from WotC, I can get 3rd party products, create my own, or whatever... in other words, there are many roads I can take.

The key for WotC is to convince me to take their road. In my case, that's not exactly easy, as I am fairly immune to most marketing techniques.

 

[caudor]

Sammael,

Don't get me wrong, I do see your point. I suppose we simply differ in views regarding trust.

I don't wear glasses, but would you believe I have rose colored eyes? I do...really

May, June, and August. Hopefully Wotc will reveal more about the DI before August. I also hope they will have a beta test of the DI starting soon.

 

[nerfherder]

Maybe I just don't know the business enough, but even with all of the legal stuff I've been involved with with Network Solutions, the Verisign Registry, and the future of a lot of internet practices, I've never once signed an NDA.

Think yourself lucky - I had to sign the Official Secrets Act when I started work for BT. The threat of serious criminal charges is a good motivator not to discuss confidential work!