November 16th release for Web-based Character Builder

[ExploderWizard]

I am neither suprised, or particularly annoyed by this turn of events. I do not require access to "the cloud" to enjoy tabletop roleplaying games.

I'm sure many players will come to discover this soon enough for themselves.

 

[fanboy2000]

Where is the chorus of apologies from the fanboys that said I was being 'paranoid' and 'jumping to conclusions'? Hmm? Nah...I didn't think so.

I sorry. I don't remember ever saying your were paranoid, or jumping to conclusions, but hey, if an apology makes you feel better, then I'm sorry.

Maybe I was drunk posting....

 

[CAFRedblade]

Definitely mixed feelings on this. Having a web version of the character builder is a nice option for those on other systems (Mac's, and Linux with Moonlight) This will definitely cut down on people signing up to download updates on a yearly schedule. And reduce, and/or make piracy difficult. All good things. I just don't think this is the right way to go about it.

Unfortunately, I prefer an actual program so I can create characters anywhere on either my home PC or my laptop. I also can't believe in the current lack of exporting characters. I wouldn't mind the cloud synching, as long as there were copies on the pc you were using. Of course this comes back to me wanting a fully installed program..

As a DM I want a copy of my PC's characters for review, and it's been easy up until now to request a copy of the character file from them for that purpose.
Yes they could give me a PDF copy(with a PDF printer), that I could replicate their character, but I feel that is a needless duplication effort.

All I can think of, is that there will be a more than likely chance that the Monster builder will be headed in this direction. Maybe even for the Magazines as well.

I've been a annual subscriber since nearly the beginning ( when the tools first came out.) And now feel like I'm being punished for being a loyal customer. Simply because they are no longer providing a product I feel comfortable using. My sub is coming up, and I'm trying to remove the Auto-Renew, but the system is currently overloaded. So I'm not the only one.

DRM is best applied when no one notices. The current version of Steam comes to mind. But it offers a fully functional offline mode(when games are not online only) This doesn't cut it for me..

I'll keep my eyes open, and re-evaluate as things progress. I'll speak with my dollars, and if enough people of like minds do the same, perhaps it will be enough to convince Wizards that this isn't quite the direction they should be headed.

I think that's enough...

 

[darjr]

13. If it does replace the CB, will it be able to track resources, such as Hit Points, Healing Surges, etc, similar to iPlay4e.com?

The new Character Builder replaces the old one (or, as we call it here, Character Builder Classic) in functionality. The old one didn't track anything at play time, so the new one doesn't either.

I've checked that the current CB does indeed track things during game play. I think this statement is just incorrect.

 

[Jack99]

As I understand it from some of the comments made in this thread, the new CB wont work on an iPad. Can anyone who knows something about these things clarify if it is impossible or will require WotC to make an app or maybe just anyone to make an app?

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Ok, I have never worked with Silverlight (WinApps all the time) but as far as I know Silverlinght allows the use of isolated storage to run applications in an offline mode (hoping some Silverlight expert could comment on this).
So my question is this, if the Silverlight CB allowed one to store copies of created characters locally and to view and print these characters offline would more people be happier about the tools.
I think I would, though I would also like to export to an XML format also. Hmm, thinking about it, if they exported the compete data into an XML format I could create my own offline viewer.

 

[RigaMortus2]

This has finally been the straw that broke this camel’s back. WoTC, you have just lost an extremely loyal and valuable customer.

GQLLFM... Oh wait, that doesn't quite make sense here. Then again, people did compare 4e to WoW when it came out, so maybe it does make sense... Hmmm...

 

[MerricB]

Uh, you go with HTML5? Unless iPad doesn't launch an actual internet explorer at all and uses a purely Apple based web?

The problem is this: HTML5 isn't ready yet. IE9 will support a lot of it, but that's still in beta. You can't program for today based on something that might be available tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the two major internet-application formats, Flash and Silverlight (although I might be reaching with calling Silverlight major) exist... and both don't work on iPad due to a decision by Apple.

Cheers!

 

[RigaMortus2]

Thats what a printer is for.

Or, you know, actual books. The kind you can find in a Barns and Noble or on Amazon...

 

[Katana_Geldar]

My sub is coming up, and I'm trying to remove the Auto-Renew, but the system is currently overloaded. So I'm not the only one.

I wonder how many customers WotC will lose.