Is D&D Insider worth it?

[Tazawa]

I don't think it's worth it right now.

I'm in a similar situation to you except that I am a current subscriber to DDI. I used to subscribe to the print versions of both Dragon and Dungeon. I now DM 4e but use the Pathfinder adventure paths.

I am disappointed with the .pdf versions of the magazines. The articles are not as in-depth or as flavorful as they were in the print days or even in the early days of the online versions. As well, I find I don't read the online articles as much - I usually just skim them for something interesting. On the other hand, I read my print copy of Pathfinder cover to cover each month. The quality of writing is much better and something about a physical copy makes it much easier to read.

The Character Builder is very useful for players, but it has less use for a DM. It has some campaign customization abilities (deities, languages, etc.) but these are very limited. It's also become a little bloated, with a bewildering array of feat and power options to chose from during character creation. It's hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. And the lack of Essentials or Dark Sun material is very frustrating.

The Monster Builder is even more frustrating. It has a lot of potential but just isn't living up to it. Because I'm converting adventures, almost all the monsters I use are custom or modified. The monster builder should be able to handle these things easily, but it's a bloated, bug-ridden mess. The use of the new MM3 monster format is great, but the change seemed to introduce bugs into speed, immunities, and triggered actions. Once you have a monster built, the output functions are limited - would it be so difficult to add two-column print option for an encounter's worth of monsters?

I used to be much happier with my subscription than I am now. You should try out the demo version of the Character Builder, look at the early free versions of Dungeon and Dragon (realizing the quality has declined), and see what you think.

I would recommend waiting until Wizards releases updates to both the Character Builder and the Monster Builder before signing up for a subscription.

 

[Scribble]

I think it is personally, despite the hiccups over the last couple of months.

Keep in mind I'm also:

Way to lazy to log on and do all the downloading of all the new stuff since my last download.

Way to impatient. I read the articles generally on the day they come out, or a couple days later at most if I'm busy. Waiting a few months and then reading the backdated issues would drive me nuts.

I also like the ability to log onto the compendium and randomly look stuff up when I need to.

I also like the fact that I don't have to download/store/catalog all the material myself. I like being able to just randomly log on, and pull up an article whenever.

 

[SoulsFury]

Well, thanks to you guys I went and downloaded the character creation demo. It is fantastic, but like said above, it only goes to level 3. Once i get home, I'm going to subscribe for 1 month and see how I like it. Thanks for the input everyone, I knew I'd get the info I needed on here.

Nik

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Just to add my tuppence worth, I have subscribed sine the beginning and the way I see it, I get Dragon and Dungeon for less than I used to have to pay for my Dragon subscription in the print era. Now, I initially subscribed fro Dragon I now find the character builder the most useful bit and despite hte late updates I am pretty happy.
In gereral I no longer by player handbooks. Only stuff that give adventure ideas and modules.

 

[tentfox]

Though I miss the lovely artwork that comes with buying hardbacks, even if the tools aren't perfect, they're still several hundred times cheaper.

If you're on a budget, do it. They're great resources.

All the art from the books is available for download in a zip for insiders. With the total lack of fluff in the core books and monster manuals pre-essentials the insider account has been great. You get all the exact content from the books, with full errata in the compendium.

I have purchased the core books (DMG 1 and 2, PHB 1, 2 and 3 and the first MM), campaign settings and the new essentials stuff. The rest you get through the insider account. The only pain is figuring out which picture is which monster because they do not label them.

The lack of updates for CB has been a major pain, but I will keep subscribing for the online compendium. Also occasionally you will find some gems in dungeon or dragon. The essentials articles have been of high quality. Dungeon has been a little disappointing.

 

[bagger245]

Yeah, getting a one-month subscription is good enough for now.

 

[Vaeron]

If you're thinking of only doing a one month trial to see how it goes, I strongly recommend against signing up right now. I'd wait until Augusts update (yes, the CB is currently 3 months unsupported) posts. If you want Dark Sun or Essentials content, wait to see when/if that update ever arrives. I believe the Monster Builder was last updated at the same time. (edit: to be fair, they did do a Psionic Power update only about 3 weeks ago).

Additionally, I think it is fair to point out that they're apparently planning on replacing the current assortment of DDI products with web tools to prevent piracy and prevent people without current, active subscriptions from accessing the CB. This probably indicates the CB as we know it (the one we can download and have on our own machine) is being discontinued.

 

[wedgeski]

I've been a subscriber since the word go. As a DM I still feel that the compendium, the Character Builder and the Monster Builder are easily worth the price *alone*. The magazines still have enough quality content to make them a worthwhile addition, but they are definitely sliding into second-class citizen territory.

Grabbing a single month and trying out the tools is definitely the way to go before making any kind of decision.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

snip

Additionally, I think it is fair to point out that they're apparently planning on replacing the current assortment of DDI products with web tools to prevent piracy and prevent people without current, active subscriptions from accessing the CB. This probably indicates the CB as we know it (the one we can download and have on our own machine) is being discontinued.

This is pure speculation, no-one not under an NDA has the slightest idea what they are realeasing as web tools.

 

[Jhaelen]

If you're thinking of only doing a one month trial to see how it goes, I strongly recommend against signing up right now. I'd wait until Augusts update (yes, the CB is currently 3 months unsupported) posts. If you want Dark Sun or Essentials content, wait to see when/if that update ever arrives. I believe the Monster Builder was last updated at the same time. (edit: to be fair, they did do a Psionic Power update only about 3 weeks ago).

Ho, hum. This is basically the advice you get every time you tell someone you think about buying a new computer:

"Well, if you wait one more month you'll get a much better model or the current state-of-the-art-model for a much better price!". In theory, it's always better to wait. But if you want the thing _now_, subscribing now is the thing to do.

Imho, the best moment to subscribe has already passed: The Essentialization of the game has already started. Things can only go downhill from there - unless you like the changes caused by the Essentialization process.

(Why am I suddenly reminded of the Borg?)