New CB and security

[BobTheNob]

Im doing this one on a separate thread because its not really within the scope of what the character builder currently does, but it occurred to me to be a feature that I want.

Currently (pre-online version), our group maintains 3 installs of the CB. One for me, the DM, one at the house where we play and one other player keeps a copy.

Now, I have absolutely no problem with this, because at the end of the day, I, as DM, have the "master copies" of the characters, and I maintain that everyone is perfectly welcome to play around with copies of their characters as much as they like (which allows them to do dome "pre-planning"), but at the end of the day, the person that maintains the master copies is me. When they want something changed on the official version, I do it.

This allows me to control things like
1) Ill conceived Dragon Magazine feats and powers
2) Items I just plum dont want in my campaign (for balance or fluff reasons)
3) Things that may be at odds with our groups house rules
4) ... the list goes on

At the end of the day, as DM, I do this so I have ultimate Veto on what can go into the campaign I am running. I dont need it very often, but for those moments when I do need it, its great that every change goes through me.

Now with the online tools, if our group is sharing an account, players can get in, do whatever they like, and I have no control over this. I either have to change my password and NOT allow players in (which is not what I want to do), get a second account (NOT going to happen) or some new feature is required like

* A logging mechanism
* A change history with rollback facilities
* Individual character passwords

At minimum, I would have though the first item was a given, but I havent seen any evidence (anyone else?).

Just some food for thought.

 

[twilsemail]

While I know that it's a popular thing to do, you do understand that what you're doing is against the Terms you agree to when using the CB, correct? WotC is, presumably, not going to add features to cater to those violating those terms. I can see the use in a log of changes and wouldn't be opposed, but I don't think it will happen. Possibly for exactly the reason you want it.

 

[Sunseeker]

While it seems counter-intuitive, what with the whole 5 updates a month deal, you are only limited to personal use of the CB. Certainly you can install it on your own computers and allow others access to your computers, but you are not supposed to be giving it away to others, or giving out your account information.

So no, features to allow multiple people to use a single sub will not be added because their terms of service state that your account is YOURS only.

 

[Solvarn]

Im doing this one on a separate thread because its not really within the scope of what the character builder currently does, but it occurred to me to be a feature that I want.

Currently (pre-online version), our group maintains 3 installs of the CB. One for me, the DM, one at the house where we play and one other player keeps a copy.

Now, I have absolutely no problem with this, because at the end of the day, I, as DM, have the "master copies" of the characters, and I maintain that everyone is perfectly welcome to play around with copies of their characters as much as they like (which allows them to do dome "pre-planning"), but at the end of the day, the person that maintains the master copies is me. When they want something changed on the official version, I do it.

This allows me to control things like
1) Ill conceived Dragon Magazine feats and powers
2) Items I just plum dont want in my campaign (for balance or fluff reasons)
3) Things that may be at odds with our groups house rules
4) ... the list goes on

At the end of the day, as DM, I do this so I have ultimate Veto on what can go into the campaign I am running. I dont need it very often, but for those moments when I do need it, its great that every change goes through me.

Now with the online tools, if our group is sharing an account, players can get in, do whatever they like, and I have no control over this. I either have to change my password and NOT allow players in (which is not what I want to do), get a second account (NOT going to happen) or some new feature is required like

* A logging mechanism
* A change history with rollback facilities
* Individual character passwords

At minimum, I would have though the first item was a given, but I havent seen any evidence (anyone else?).

Just some food for thought.

I believe that the user agreement only allows for one person to be accessing the account.

 

[DEFCON 1]

I dunno if you were actually looking for suggestions on how to handle this or not, Bob... but if you were, here's what I would do if it were me.

First, I'd continue to use the offline builder. Yes, I'd miss out on some Essentials stuff and a little errata... but with 2+ years of material already in it, there's nothing new from the online builder that is crucial to keep playing the campaign as is. And I'd continue to use the offline builder until...

Second, as soon as the 'export' function becomes available... keep a copy of the 'correct' .dnd4e character sheets files on my hard drive. The players can continue to play around with their characters online all they want... but those ones that are on the cloud are not 'official'. Then once they've made their decisions for their level up... 'import' the correct files up to the cloud, level up the correct ones, then once they are set, 'export' them back to the hard drive.

Yeah, it's a few extra steps... but it's the best choice I have.

 

[Pseudonym]

ToS issues aside, your concern seems awfully adversarial. Do you have that little trust in your players that you need a master copy?

 

[BobTheNob]

While I know that it's a popular thing to do, you do understand that what you're doing is against the Terms you agree to when using the CB, correct? WotC is, presumably, not going to add features to cater to those violating those terms. I can see the use in a log of changes and wouldn't be opposed, but I don't think it will happen. Possibly for exactly the reason you want it.

Does anyone have a link for the user agreement. I cant find it.

The only thing I agreed to was the original software (there was no end user agreement screen when I fired up the online version), and that allowed 5 updates a month, which we used 3 of. Just happened that the computers were not physically in the same house. Did it literally state that the only person allowed to use it was the owner of the account? (how do you police that...and how hyper-unfriendly to a group based game!)

On a side note, if Wizards decided to clamp on people doing the license per group approach, that's the days I cancel my subscription...

 

[Pseudonym]

Does anyone have a link for the user agreement. I cant find it.

I couldn't find one for the new builder specifically, but the general account one is here.

I think the applicable portion would be Section 2.

 

[the Jester]

Re: The terms of service agreement- I could be wrong, but I seem to recall the Rouse stating that WotC understood that groups would be sharing a single account, and that was one reason why they allowed for the 5 updates/month.

As I said, I may be misremembering, and it's certainly against the "RAW", if you will, of the ToS, but it seems that at least for a while it was "RAI".

 

[Sunseeker]

Does anyone have a link for the user agreement. I cant find it.

Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page (Terms of Use)

Probably would fall under the Intellectual Property section(Section 8), where it talks about not giving the product out for public use(which is anyone who hasn't paid for it).