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

[Kae'Yoss]

Well, it's true those dozen or so Mac/Linux users will be out in the cold, but Wizards isn't alone in not worrying overmuch about a niche market.

No offense, of course!

Bah. No offense. You're picking on minorities. That's OSist! Why don't you go and insult the OS/2 users while you're at it. Yes, BOTH of them

 

[Nikosandros]

For those who want to go whole hog and have accurate 3D minis and representation, they can for a fee. For those who are content with somewhat less pretty presentations, we can use free stuff. Not a bad tradeoff.

I can understand the fee the get fancier 3d models. What I find really annoying is the idea that you pay to get random virtual stuff... as others have already said, none of the justifications for the random model of plastic miniatures apply to the virtual tabletop.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

It's also possible (although we haven't heard this yet) that virtual minis MIGHT be included with the "e-version" of a D&D book you purchase. Now that is what I'm hoping for, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

That would be my preferred method.

Second is buying real boosters and getting a virtual booster thrown in for free, i.e. the figures you just got will be made available to you online.

Most importantly, why should additional 3D virtual minis be available at NO cost? You do realize that each 3D virtual mini made available costs Wizards time and resources, whipping up new 3D monsters for your virtual gametable isn't free for Wizards, why should it be free for us?

Nothing wrong with that, but I don't think that we should be forced to pay for actual "virtual boosters", i.e. paying something for 8 random 3d-models (and only those 3d models). While a real booster makes sense - you buy 8 figures, you pay for them, if you get a duplicate you'll have two plastic figures - it doesn't work for virtual minis, IMO. They don't have to create that model twice for me to use it twice, so I should only have to pay for it once.

Maybe a whole set to be usable for a certain fee, or as part of the electronic version.

 

[Glyfair]

I can understand the fee the get fancier 3d models. What I find really annoying is the idea that you pay to get random virtual stuff... as others have already said, none of the justifications for the random model of plastic miniatures apply to the virtual tabletop.

Honestly, I don't see the rational for the tabletop RPG beyond making money (which is not a bad thing as long as it's not taken to extremes). However, if they plan on simulating the skirmish game, I can see it there.

Indeed, I can see them not only setting the virtual tabletop so it can handle the skirmish game, but running online tournaments with prizes.

They have already hinted at RPG sessions with "celebrity" DMs. Imagine being able to win a game with James Wyatt or Keith Baker. Who knows, they may even be able to swing other people to try the virtual tabletop (Gygax, Monte Cook, etc), or some of them may do their own sort of thing there.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

1. Got a pc, so does everyone else I know, don't know a single person who has Linux or Mac, so don't care.

Good for you, but I'm sure you can understand why those who use something other than Windows are less than ecstatic about it.

5. I only use WotC/D&D books. Feats and prestige classes got to retarded to keep track of, so I have no problem with this. Another company wants their stuff to be used, pay WotC, or make a better app.

Again, you fail to see other people's perspective here. Sure, if something doesn't concern you, it won't upset you.

But other people do like to use third-party stuff (mostly because lots of it puts Wizards' equivelent products to shame, like Wizards' adventures not being nearly as good as Paizo's or others', and so on).

 

[Glyfair]

Good for you, but I'm sure you can understand why those who use something other than Windows are less than ecstatic about it.

I can understand it. On the other hand, everyone I know who got into Macs (I really don't know anyone into Linux), got in knowing that their software choice would be limited. It went with the territory.

It's sort of like RPGs. Yes, there are a lot of reasons why some gamers prefer other roleplaying games than D&D. However, most supported their non-D&D RPG of choice knowing they would have a harder time recruiting players* and would have less support for their RPG of choice (with maybe one or two exceptions, like World of Darkness).

* Yes, insular groups that only game together are an exception. Once that group begins to break apart for whatever reason, then that reality applies to them.

 

[Nikosandros]

Honestly, I don't see the rational for the tabletop RPG beyond making money (which is not a bad thing as long as it's not taken to extremes).

Oh, I agree, but many people make a point of how necessary the random model is for plastic miniatures.

However, if they plan on simulating the skirmish game, I can see it there.

Indeed, I can see them not only setting the virtual tabletop so it can handle the skirmish game, but running online tournaments with prizes.

This is fine... for those that are interested in the skirmish game. People who just play D&D shouldn't have to deal with random stuff, though....

 

[Glyfair]

Didier has answered a few more questions.

In this thread he covers the character generator.

Q: Will we be able to use it Offline?

A: I can't answer this question in a generic way. There will be some possibilities to use part of the D&DI applications offline. The exact details of that use are not available yet.

Q: Will we be able to save characters on our own computers, or be limited by the character vault?

A: It will be possible to save characters on your own computers. There will be advantages, though, to save your characters on the vaults... Once again, I can't say more at that stage, but answers will come.

Q: Will all other character "creator" software for D&D be illegal now?

A: I am not sure by what you mean exactly by the term "illegal". The only licensed character creator for D&D was the E-Tools, and their license has not been renewed. As you now know, we have been planning to bring these developments in house, and could not talk about this before the Gencon announcement. The D&D character creator software will be a part of the D&DI offerings.
In any case, stay tuned on the dndinsider.com in the next months for more details in that area.

Q: Am I, as an owner of RPG Forge, be allowed to put in information for my own use from other Wizards book?

A: Any ownership is associated to legal agreements and/or copyrights laws. I am not the best placed to answer that question, as this is not my field. I would recommend that you refer to the legal text and copyrights information provided with the books or products you have bought.

Here he answer bits about the map maker.

One of the application in the D&DI offering will be a more advanced version of the basic dungeon tile web utility that is in our web tools archive. This new one will include some basic drawing capabilities.

It will also be possible to hand draw directly within the D&D game table (and snap to grid for those like myself that are not very good line drawers - the cabinet in the secret passage was drawn by me :embarrass )

Here he addresses comments about "buying miniatures."

I think that you will not find in D&DI anything different than the experience you describe at your game table.

You do not get the miniature out of the Monster Manual book, and if you have some miniatures, you can always use a similar one for a monster you do not have the miniature off.

The V-miniatures are just 3D representation on the D&D game table. They are not always linked to preloaded stats (even if they can have default stats much like the DDM miniature come with a default stat card)

So, when playing through the D&D game table online, you will be able to use your V-mini collection the way you want to. If you decide to not use V-Miniatures, there will be ways to represent the monsters you will be using that will be included in your subscription package.

Here he discusses the game table and the RPGA:

We are looking into providing support for RPGA scenarios and campaigns. This may not something that will be available immediately at launch, but is fairly high in our priority list.

If the RPGA scenarios are developped with the D&DI tools, there is no reason they can't be used and made available for the D&DI subscribers to use on the D&D game table, as well as being available as PDF like they are now.

 

[Nikosandros]

Well, there are evidently tokens available, but it really looks like V-minis will be random... I personally find it incredible that there is a market for that kind of things...

 

[Glyfair]

Well, there are evidently tokens available, but it really looks like V-minis will be random... I personally find it incredible that there is a market for that kind of things...

Scott did state earlier that there would be some available at creation, as well as those you create using the character generator (not to be confused with the "character sheet"). Then again, I'm sure that's subject to change. I'm almost certain the character generator will be there from the beginning, so PC races should always be available.

It does certainly seem that any expansions will be a separate fee. I'm not sure that they are committed to only the random model though. Time will tell.