Some D&D Insider bits (Update 9/13: Lots of new info)

[MerricB]

I can see randomised virtual minis if those minis can then be used to play DDM online. However, I see no reason why the RPG player should need to get them randomly - a small fee for unlocking a new set for use on the tabletop-only, perhaps, but no more.

Cheers!

 

[Glyfair]

Didier has been busy in the last day or two. Man of these questions have been answered, but I'll post them again, since people seem to keep missing them (not unexpected with all the information flowing). All quotes are Didier's.

Q: Will the Character Visualizer be updated with new expansions?

Answer

The visualizer will be expanded over time, indeed. We may not have new weapons or armors for the character visualizer with every single new published product, but we will have regular updates during the year, and certainly some updates when significant core books are released.
New stuff added over time will increase the choices for all subscribers. We may, in the future, do a few special items as rewards for various things.

It is not likely that you can identify an item clearly just by seeing it. The visualizer just propose various shapes of weapons, and the users chose what they are supposed to represent... So a vorpal weapon can be represented in many different ways according to the players' taste, and we want to preserve that aspect which is part of the RPGer's imagination.
We may have some iconic material though that can be easily recognizable, but not necessarily associated to specific powers.

Q: Will we be able to make our own custom scripts for the Game Table?

Answer

The extent of the possible customization is not yet fully defined, so do not read too far into it... I was mainly meaning that in the future, there will always be room for making new developments to help facilitating playing D&D 4th Edition...

Q: Will there be a free trial period?

Answer

There are plans for having free trials, but all these details are still very far away and will be announced fully in due time through dndinsider.com.

Q: Which D&D Insider elements require Direct X?

Answer

The only two Direct X based applications are the D&D game table and the Character visualizer.

The other D&DI applications (dungeon builder, Character sheet, Encounter builder) will be windows based, but not using DirectX.

Q: What use are the Dungeon Builder, Character Sheet and Encounter Builder if you can't use the Game Table and Character Visualizer?

Answer

This is a good question. In fact the reason we are not doing all these applications in one integrated software is to allow various degrees of accessibility and usefulness.

The character sheet application for example will allow you to print your character sheet, and this does not require having a machine supporting DirectX9 to that effect, like the game table application will require.

We are still working on the details of the functionalities specific to each of those, stay tuned on dndinsider.com for more information in the upcoming months.

Q: Will we be able to use the game table without being online?

Answer

The game table will require being connected to use. This said, nothing will prevent you from using it on your home game with all the players around the table, if you want, provided you are connected while doing so.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, some of the functionalities may not be as practical than if all your players were online, but we do not have any plan to prevent Dungeon Masters to use the game table without having any players connected.

Q: If I subscribe to D&D Insider and own a particular book, will I be able to use those materials in creating my character?

Answer

You will be able to use the published material to create your character from the character sheet application regardless of your ownership of any particular E-Book.

If you are a D&DI subscriber, the ownership of an E-book allows you to consult the details of a feat (for example) from your computer screen. Without this E-Book, you will simply know the name of the feat and will have to use the physical book to see what this feat does. You can use this feat when creating your character from the character sheet application, even if you do not own the E-book where that feat was published.

Q: Will the Character Sheet run on my computer while I'm not online?

Answer

Most of the functionalities of the D&DI applications will require that you are logged in and a current D&DI subscriber.

Q: Will D&D Insider have regular downtimes due to maintainance like the forums?

Answer

I would assume that there will always be time where the servers have to be down for maintenance purpose. I have no idea today how often this will have to occur, but obviously we will do our best to keep the required maintenance time to a minimum.

Q: Will the RPG designers build their rules keeping the D&D Insider applications in mind?

Answer

With 4th Edition, there is a huge effort from R&D to work in a more structured and "data-friendly" way. This of course is not affecting the game design itself. The designers/developers do not have any mandate to create rules and systems that match a specific data structure. It is the data structure that needs to follow where they lead. This said, there are ongoing discussions both ways that helps shape the whole thing, but in case of a doubt, the D&D game always win over any data structure.

We are using versioning tools as well as Filemaker Pro databases to provide the best flexibility and adaptability to this ongoing process, as we also have to account to the natural evolutions that happen from one play test phase to another, until the game rules are fully consolidated.

Q: Will there be strong Quality Assurance testing of the D&D Insider applications?

Answer

Our Q/A department will be involved, and we have a process in place that is incorporating testing as part of the deliverable we expect. We are using the Agile (or Scrumm) methodology, and are going through developments in sprints of a few weeks. At the end of each sprint, as per the Scrumm methodolody, we take delivery of an application that is tested and could theorically be shipped as is. This is the nature of the Scrumm process, and a big change of methods that the new Digital Gaming department at Wizards of the Coast has been spear-heading. Radiant Machine is also very involved in that process as in fact, they are the ones that introduced us to this methodology.

We do plan to have alpha, closed beta and open beta tests for the D&DI applications suite when the time is right.

Last, know that I'd prefer to produce a quality product that is not full of bugs.

 

[Nikosandros]

I can see randomised virtual minis if those minis can then be used to play DDM online. However, I see no reason why the RPG player should need to get them randomly - a small fee for unlocking a new set for use on the tabletop-only, perhaps, but no more.

That would be quite reasonable.

 

[F5]

It's effectively advertising for WOTC. Sorry, I don't like the idea of paying for the privelege of selling your books.

I agree with you but with a slightly different twist. I think Hasbro should be using the PNP books to drive folks to their subscription based offering. Even, repeated revenue stream versus spikey, gamble the house on a book model would seem a more attractive business model versus the classic RPG gaming market mechanics.

The discussion in this thread makes me wonder about the business model of 4E and the DI (and if this is too far off-topic for this thread, I'll drop it, or start a new one)...are they intending to make their money selling books, with additional income coming in from DI subscriptions, or are they intending to make the bulk of their money off of DI fees and subscriptions, supplemented by the income from the books? And if it's the latter, how does that impact the game overall?

One of the goals of the OGL, initially, was to drive potential buyers to purchase PHBs. Is the goal going to change, so that each book that is purchased is intended to drive potential subscribers to the DI, like BluWolf suggested? Buying a PHB (or any supplemental book, for that matter) is a one-time source of income...getting someone involved in the DI and D&D Insider is a constant, monthly revenue stream, so it kind of makes sense.

So, hypothetically, with the book you just bought, you might also get the digital "rights" to access the rules, NPCs and virtual miniatures represented in the book. Possibly even some online-only "bonus features", like the web-enhancements they used to provide on the website. All this will be pointed out in the text of the book, to inspire the buyer to subscribe to DI to get full value form their new book. For the player who already has a subscription to DI, the desire is to buy new books, to unlock the elements they want for their online game. It's a kind of a feedback loop, and it makes a lot of sense for WotC, when you look at it this way.

 

[Mercule]

Filemaker Pro is still around? Wow. It's been a long time since I've had to deal with that puppy. All I remember is the running and the screaming and the tentacled horrors. I'm not filled with confidence. In the 1990s, at least, the only people I knew who would actually consider FMP a "database" are the same people who called Excel a "database".

I did see on the FMP website, though, that they've "partnered with MySQL". If that means, "We scrapped the entirety of our own back-end and now just produce a MySQL front-end tool," it's good news. Otherwise :shudder:.

It also sounds like they're taking the worst of web and desktop development. Just enough Windows components to alienate the Mac/Linux users, but required connectivity to make sure you can't actually do anything w/o the Internet. I use my laptop for both GM planning and PC creation/maint, a lot of which happens on long car trips (my wife likes to drive), at parks, or some other location that doesn't have connectivity. Plus I have some serious issues with non-Internet apps that think they need Internet access (including all these AJAX office apps Google is putting out).

When the orignal assumption was that the chargen would be web, I planned to pass on it. Then they said it would be Windows-based and I rejoiced. But, if it requires constant connection, forget it. If you want to validate my subscription, at least be as friendly as the RIAA (who are so known for their benevolence). They let me stay disconnected for two weeks.

 

[helium3]

Filemaker Pro is still around? Wow. It's been a long time since I've had to deal with that puppy. All I remember is the running and the screaming and the tentacled horrors. I'm not filled with confidence. In the 1990s, at least, the only people I knew who would actually consider FMP a "database" are the same people who called Excel a "database".

My hunch is that they wanted to put together a quick and dirty piece of in-house software to mange their revisions to the game system and what not and there happened to be someone on the R&D team that knew how to do it with that particular piece of software.

If that's not the reason, uhhh, scared?

 

[tenkar]

Here's my issue... I'm the DM. I used to subscribe to Dragon and Dungeon. I have a group of gamers that are split evenly between two states that are far apart. I have no problem paying $10-$15 a month to get my DnD reading fix and DM for my far ranging group.

No way in heck are my players going to fork over 10-15 a month EACH for the use of a virtual gaming table. $5 bucks a month tops for them... the e-magazine access is not their bag... none of them read the mags in print, they certainly don't want them now.

If WotC expects to get MMORPG fees from the average player that might want to game at a Virtual table they need to realize there are cheaper alternatives that they are in completion with. Cheaper because they are either free or one time purchases.

DM's are used to footing the gaming bill... most players are not. If the cost for the players is significant many (most?) will not pony up.

Bells and whistles doesn't trump imagination...

 

[Glyfair]

No way in heck are my players going to fork over 10-15 a month EACH for the use of a virtual gaming table. $5 bucks a month tops for them... the e-magazine access is not their bag... none of them read the mags in print, they certainly don't want them now.

Look at the first post in the thread. Didier addresses this concern.

 

[tenkar]

It doesn't answer my concern, as it appears there will be a pay per session option, which really isn't much of an option.

My guess... $2.50 a session would be the low end... $5 a session would be the high end... that's per player. Each time we game. These are just guesses, but the fee's have to be high enough to discourage a per session usage by a regular group. Subscription fee are the secret to success for the DI.

I'd like to see an option for just the gaming table... $5 a month, or even $6.99 a month. That I could sell to my players. More then that and it's back to competing products after dealing with their fairly steep learning curves. My hope is that WotC's gaming table has a curve that is much less steep.

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

I'd like to see an option for just the gaming table... $5 a month, or even $6.99 a month. That I could sell to my players. More then that and it's back to competing products after dealing with their fairly steep learning curves. My hope is that WotC's gaming table has a curve that is much less steep.

My thought is that the value of the Character Creator and Character Visualizer is worth about 5 dollars a month to me by itself. Being able to create new characters AND model what they look like and print out the picture is cool. Being able to use the mini I just created while playing online is even cooler.

Add to that the fact that I get cool new classes, magic items, PrC, feats, races, and others stuff each month, plus it is automatically added to the character creator. I think even as a player, I find it would be worth the money. Maybe not for some other people.

I anticipate the price to be around 2 dollars per session to use the Virtual Table. It's what our local gaming store(and at least 2 others I know of) charges us to use their space for a Living Greyhawk session. It's about the cost of a convention slot at most conventions I've attended. Sounds about right.

Then again, if you have your group meets in real life, there doesn't NEED to be a good reason for any of your players to sign up for D&DI. It's only if you want to play online on a regular basis. Even then, I anticipate that it might be better for some groups who are technically inclined to just use Open RPG and Skype. Still, I know it'll be easier to tell some of my friends "If you go to D&D I and click on join a game, you'll find our game" than it will to explain how to install and use the other programs.