Here is a summary of the interview. Hopefully I caputured the essence of the comments.
[55:00] D&D Game Table will have integrated voice chat courtesy of Vivox (sp?) (company on the east coast), chat, interactive map, 3-D representation of your character. If you're looking for a game just hop into the lobby, find a game, join and play.
[58:10] D&D Game Table does not make decisions on what happens, the GM does.
[60:45] D&D always had roles, it was just assumed in 3rd edition that players would build their parties in certain ways. In 4th edition, they are calling attention to roles much like MMORPG's do. They're doing this because the new audience may not know what these roles are.
[62:45] Trying to eliminate misconceptions. Rules are simple; it's the exceptions to the rules that get complicated. Current generation is more visual than prior generation; the Character Visualizer is aimed at capturing the interest of these players.
[64:00] Character Visualizer is a digital character sheet. As you get cool items you just update your character sheet. It does basic math for you. Also includes an MMORPG style Character Visualizer. You can save multiple versions of your character so that as he scales up in level the look will change. Can make magic swords glow. Figures are poseable. Can hold weapons in one or two hands. Can move arms and legs around. Can manipulate facial features and body dimensions and still have armor & equipment fit.
[65:55] How far does the Character Visualizer go? What if you polymorph yourself? What if you cast invisibilty? Out of the gate it will be limited to baseline model figures that have been created for races. Example, Changeling, you can create a character based on the baseline races supported (dwarf, elf, tiefling, etc.). Changes must be done manually, not sure if you can do it in the middle of the session or not.
[67:50] Exploring many differnt options: Print on Demand, ordering minis direct from the company that makes them. Talking about possibility of someone modeling a figure in the Character Visualizer, then placing an order to get an actual miniature made and sent to them. No announceable plans to support this, they are looking into it.
[69:00] One of the things WOTC is asking themselves is how does a print on demand adventure impact the minis game. If you can make whatever character you want why do you want this pregen character in this box? What are the characteristics that differentiate one from another?
[70:00] There will be a tutorial for D&D insider, playing the D&D 4th edition game, and the D&D minis game.
[71:25] There will be codes in the print book so you can get a digital representation of the book. Code must be verified.
[72:00] When you purchase a book, you can also get a digital representation of book plus digital items related to the book. For example, the Monster Manual, if you redeem you get a set of digital tokens for every monster in the book. Not a fully miniature. They are also planning give a starter set of digital minatures to everyone who signs up to D&D Insider. D&D miniatures and digital miniatures may not have a 1:1 relationship.
[74:30] Subscribers get a "considerable size" set of starter tiles, both basic and "interesting". No firm plans on how future tiles will be handled, possibly purchasable. Like minatures, no direct analog to printed tile sets. They want to do more interesting things with some digital tiles.
[75:42] Users can create and publish their own dungeons, make them available to other D&D Insider subscribers. Creating a "D&D Repository" (name is preliminary, likely to change) where users can publish their D&D content. Content can be posted, rated, and can be sold if desired. Content can be both written or digital (digital tiles were mentioned).
[79:50] Encounter builder: One of the later applications to be built. Populated by all data in all rulebooks. User puts a title on the adventure then can create folders of encounters. To create an encounter you set an encounter level, type in your read-aloud text then pull in monsters. Screens out monsters that are too high a level for your encounter. You create a map using drawing software or tiles. Pick your treasure, traps, or terrain (menu driven). When you are done it organizes everything like an encounter in a printed book. You can print it out, leave it on the screen, or import it into the digital game table. Chris P. believes that monsters can be modified (armor, equpiment, etc.) - TBD.
[84:25] There will be a tutorial for D&D insider.
[86:30] MIGHT support contests where WOTC publishes the start of a dungeon and ask users to finish it.
[88:30] When a monster appears in Dungeon or Dragon, that monster will also be available for all other DDI applications (encounter builder, etc.). If a new monster is created by a DM it can be thrown up on the D&D Repository, shared, and used on the D&D Game Table. The only drawback is no art would be available. They MIGHT take the best rated fan created monsters and have art created for it.
[91:50] When joining a game a player can bring their own character from the Character Vault. Players can go the the Lobby, sort the list of active games by level. Players can chat with GMs in the lobby. When working with the GM on the appropriate character type, players can pull from their Character Vault, from a pre-generated set of characters (from D&D Repository?) or the GM can assign you a character.
[93:30] How do you handled unbalanced characters (example: characters who went through a dungeon with another DM and the DM gave our tons of gold and magic items) - digital character sheets have two setting: "tournament legal" and "tournament not legal". Flag can be set on items (items that aren't appropriate for level) or excess gold or feats (example: house ruled feat). If on the character a flag displays to the GM saying the items are not RPGA tournament legal. GM can decide what to do.
[95:50] Digital Game Table & RPGA: Not a lot of information, have to ask the RPGA coordinator. RPGA is involved in Game Table discussions to ensure it friendly to the RPGA.
[98:00] First round of playtest is almost complete, second round of playtest with the same players will start in a few weeks. D&D Insider testing will start soon, most likely with in house testing groups. At D&D Experience there will be D&D Insider demos as well as a 4th edition demo.
[106:20] There are multiple types of beholders in the monster manual since they have more room because stat blocks are smaller.
[55:00] D&D Game Table will have integrated voice chat courtesy of Vivox (sp?) (company on the east coast), chat, interactive map, 3-D representation of your character. If you're looking for a game just hop into the lobby, find a game, join and play.
[58:10] D&D Game Table does not make decisions on what happens, the GM does.
[60:45] D&D always had roles, it was just assumed in 3rd edition that players would build their parties in certain ways. In 4th edition, they are calling attention to roles much like MMORPG's do. They're doing this because the new audience may not know what these roles are.
[62:45] Trying to eliminate misconceptions. Rules are simple; it's the exceptions to the rules that get complicated. Current generation is more visual than prior generation; the Character Visualizer is aimed at capturing the interest of these players.
[64:00] Character Visualizer is a digital character sheet. As you get cool items you just update your character sheet. It does basic math for you. Also includes an MMORPG style Character Visualizer. You can save multiple versions of your character so that as he scales up in level the look will change. Can make magic swords glow. Figures are poseable. Can hold weapons in one or two hands. Can move arms and legs around. Can manipulate facial features and body dimensions and still have armor & equipment fit.
[65:55] How far does the Character Visualizer go? What if you polymorph yourself? What if you cast invisibilty? Out of the gate it will be limited to baseline model figures that have been created for races. Example, Changeling, you can create a character based on the baseline races supported (dwarf, elf, tiefling, etc.). Changes must be done manually, not sure if you can do it in the middle of the session or not.
[67:50] Exploring many differnt options: Print on Demand, ordering minis direct from the company that makes them. Talking about possibility of someone modeling a figure in the Character Visualizer, then placing an order to get an actual miniature made and sent to them. No announceable plans to support this, they are looking into it.
[69:00] One of the things WOTC is asking themselves is how does a print on demand adventure impact the minis game. If you can make whatever character you want why do you want this pregen character in this box? What are the characteristics that differentiate one from another?
[70:00] There will be a tutorial for D&D insider, playing the D&D 4th edition game, and the D&D minis game.
[71:25] There will be codes in the print book so you can get a digital representation of the book. Code must be verified.
[72:00] When you purchase a book, you can also get a digital representation of book plus digital items related to the book. For example, the Monster Manual, if you redeem you get a set of digital tokens for every monster in the book. Not a fully miniature. They are also planning give a starter set of digital minatures to everyone who signs up to D&D Insider. D&D miniatures and digital miniatures may not have a 1:1 relationship.
[74:30] Subscribers get a "considerable size" set of starter tiles, both basic and "interesting". No firm plans on how future tiles will be handled, possibly purchasable. Like minatures, no direct analog to printed tile sets. They want to do more interesting things with some digital tiles.
[75:42] Users can create and publish their own dungeons, make them available to other D&D Insider subscribers. Creating a "D&D Repository" (name is preliminary, likely to change) where users can publish their D&D content. Content can be posted, rated, and can be sold if desired. Content can be both written or digital (digital tiles were mentioned).
[79:50] Encounter builder: One of the later applications to be built. Populated by all data in all rulebooks. User puts a title on the adventure then can create folders of encounters. To create an encounter you set an encounter level, type in your read-aloud text then pull in monsters. Screens out monsters that are too high a level for your encounter. You create a map using drawing software or tiles. Pick your treasure, traps, or terrain (menu driven). When you are done it organizes everything like an encounter in a printed book. You can print it out, leave it on the screen, or import it into the digital game table. Chris P. believes that monsters can be modified (armor, equpiment, etc.) - TBD.
[84:25] There will be a tutorial for D&D insider.
[86:30] MIGHT support contests where WOTC publishes the start of a dungeon and ask users to finish it.
[88:30] When a monster appears in Dungeon or Dragon, that monster will also be available for all other DDI applications (encounter builder, etc.). If a new monster is created by a DM it can be thrown up on the D&D Repository, shared, and used on the D&D Game Table. The only drawback is no art would be available. They MIGHT take the best rated fan created monsters and have art created for it.
[91:50] When joining a game a player can bring their own character from the Character Vault. Players can go the the Lobby, sort the list of active games by level. Players can chat with GMs in the lobby. When working with the GM on the appropriate character type, players can pull from their Character Vault, from a pre-generated set of characters (from D&D Repository?) or the GM can assign you a character.
[93:30] How do you handled unbalanced characters (example: characters who went through a dungeon with another DM and the DM gave our tons of gold and magic items) - digital character sheets have two setting: "tournament legal" and "tournament not legal". Flag can be set on items (items that aren't appropriate for level) or excess gold or feats (example: house ruled feat). If on the character a flag displays to the GM saying the items are not RPGA tournament legal. GM can decide what to do.
[95:50] Digital Game Table & RPGA: Not a lot of information, have to ask the RPGA coordinator. RPGA is involved in Game Table discussions to ensure it friendly to the RPGA.
[98:00] First round of playtest is almost complete, second round of playtest with the same players will start in a few weeks. D&D Insider testing will start soon, most likely with in house testing groups. At D&D Experience there will be D&D Insider demos as well as a 4th edition demo.
[106:20] There are multiple types of beholders in the monster manual since they have more room because stat blocks are smaller.
