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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ghaladen" data-source="post: 5366876" data-attributes="member: 92198">My open letter to WotC I sent themDear Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, and all that are concerned:I am writing this letter in response to my recent cancellation of D&D Insider. First a little background on myself, I play several different version of D&D weekly. AD&D (2e), Pathfinder (never got into 3.5), and 4th edition. Unlike most players I don't stand on one side or the other, I enjoy 2nd edition because my DM in that game is a storyteller and light on mechanics, and I enjoy the narrative and the loose grip on the rules. I enjoy DM'ing 4th edition because the tactical combat is a blast. And I enjoy Pathfinder because in my opinion, and I mean no offense to the current party present, it is by far the best balance between old and new D&D so far. Once again this is my opinion only, and as I gave the disclaimer above, I enjoy all three versions regularly and play/purchase all three. But since this email is about 4th edition, Wizards of the Coast, and D&D Insider.So, while I am a software developer by trade, I tend to run my games very "Luke's Diner" if you will, eschewing as much technology as possible (although I use Skype, HD webcams, and a condenser mic to have friends from far away jump in and play with my local groups via video chat. Yes I'm a bit insane, but that setup is a whole other email). However, I find beauty in the analog. I have tons of WotC miniatures, at least 25 4e books, battlemaps tiles, etc. I'm pretty sure Dwarven Forge will be next. So that being said, I was initially reluctant with the thought of using software to roll characters, but as more and more of my players sung the praises of it, I decided to give it a shot. Turns out I really enjoyed the Character Builder, and especially building monsters with the Adventure Tools. So I got a subscription, and have ad one since February.Fast forward to yesterday, with the recent news of Character Builder going Web-based, and not just a standard HTML interface, Silverlight nonetheless. So I will outline the issues I have:Silverlight: So, it is great to know that Mac is officially supported, but a simple search on the web tells that the internet has begun to eschew plug-in based technologies like Flash, Silverlight and Java in favor of AJAX powered sites requiring no plugins (see the Google line of apps like Gmail, Docs, and Maps for an example of AJAX apps). And, even better, many of the newer smaller devices like the iPad don't support Flash or Silverlight. So Wizards has basically cut out a portion of their consumer base by resorting to Silverlight. Also one could argue that Silverlight is similar technology to the platform that the desktop Character Builder was based on, making the transition easier. But say, Wizards down the line decides to make mobile versions of their software. That requires a port of the software to the iPhone, to the Blackberry, to Windows Mobile. All different platforms, all different programming skill sets. Versus simply doing a single port to a native web app would support all of the above.Foul business practices to third party developers: So there is a lot of history involving WotC's stance on third party applications, but in context I'm referring to the constant cease and desists towards the Compendium Helper for iPhone, MasterPlan for Windows, and just about any other application which imports compendium data from DDI. Now, with lack of a download option for the dd4e files, the latest casualty seems to be iplay4e. While one could argue that yes, it is WotC's intellectual property, and yes these programs are using DDI content without the consent of WotC, this attitude towards developers that want to fulfill the needs of the 4e players that WotC can't (or won't) is downright shameful. Wizards should be heralding and supporting the ingenuity of these developers, especially since they required the user to have a DDI account, meaning WotC is profiting on these applications' mere existence!Foul business practices to consumers: In my eyes, with the constant coveting of their rules/content/software, Wizards is basically telling their consumer base "We don't trust you, the people that buy our goods and services. There are a few among you that pirate our blessed software and content, so we will punish everyone for their misdeeds". Don't have an internet connection where you're at (or often in my case, trouble connecting the laptop to a hotspot)? Too damn bad!.Hope you either printed out your character. Economy has been hard on you and you can't afford your DDI sub this month? Too damn bad. Hope you have a damn good memory, because your character is ours. Have children in your gaming group who do not have financial payment methods? Too damn bad! Either buy multiple subs or they luck out, since sharing is now against the Terms of Use. This is an atrocity coming from the same company who did the most amazing thing and open sourced the d20 rules 10 years ago. Now WotC has pulled a complete 180 and turned into the Microsoft of roleplaying. Sad times. Pulling PDF rulebooks: This was a great idea, and Wizards was one of the first to get into the PDF business, even offering a free PDF for every book purchased (which was an awesome idea). I was excited at this idea, especially because I have an iPad now and can carry all my Pathfinder books in PDF form to games instead of 20 pounds of books (and not worry about them getting worn). Not so with 4th edition, WotC pulled that plug early. Yes, I am aware that Dungeon and Dragon are in PDF form, but honestly I don't use either. The rulebooks are what I need in digital form. So by not offering digital version to those that need them, you give users no choice but to pirate them, exposing their machines to viruses and other malware, when most of them would happily part with cash for both digital and print versions. All in the name of stopping piracy. Once again, punishing all for the actions of a few. So with the above being said, I have lost a tremendous amount of respect for Wizards of the Coast, and their almost mob-style tactics. I have a sneaking suspicion that these are the actions from the execs from either WotC, or possibly even Hasbro. That being said, I have nothing but respect for Mike Mearls, Chris Perkins, Jeremy Crawford, and rest of the designers/developers of D&D, both past and present. It's almost like I buy CD's to support the bands I love, but I hate the recording industry.So in this case I will still by the books and physical products for as long as they are sold, in order to support the developers, but I cannot stand the actions of the company they are employed by. So with that, my subscription to D&D Insider is canceled, and I say good riddance. My group will continue to stick with the books and paper, and continue with 4th edition, but without the burden of DDI. This could all be my hare-brained imagination running wild, but I do feel that WotC deserves a reason why they will no longer see $120 from me per year, and this is it.</blockquote>

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