Status of D&D Game Table?

[The Ghost]

I'd guess in about a year, if ever.

Frankly, there is one thing I've never understood about some of the anger over this (actually more than 1 thing, but I'm trying to focus here): why do some people feel 4E can't be played, or is somehow missing something, if DDI isn't there? While I understand that it was promised, no other edition had that level of virtual support, and this one does not need it to be viable either.

Actually, for me, 4E cannot be played without the game table up and running. The main reason I had bought into 4E when announced was being able run games online with friends around the country. My local gaming group prefers 3.5E.

The longer it takes for this feature to come online the less likely I am of embracing the entire project. What is the point of investing in any more books or Dungeon/Dragon without the ability to fully use the products?

 

[malraux]

Actually, for me, 4E cannot be played without the game table up and running. The main reason I had bought into 4E when announced was being able run games online with friends around the country. My local gaming group prefers 3.5E.

The longer it takes for this feature to come online the less likely I am of embracing the entire project. What is the point of investing in any more books or Dungeon/Dragon without the ability to fully use the products?

And none of the third party applications are acceptable?

 

[The Ghost]

And none of the third party applications are acceptable?

Which ones are you referring to? I am not very familiar with anything outside of what WotC does.

 

[ki11erDM]

I'm actually more confident now than I was earlier, just I don't expect it before 2010.

/agree

I do think they will do it. Just to much at stake to not move some play online. 2010 sounds good... but it might be a matter of how much they actually got done before they hit the pause button.

 

[Lizard]

My guess is the question was asked: "Why are we loosing out to games like Warcraft?"

One of the answers was probably it's easier to simply log on and play in your free time, then to either find a group to game with, and find time to game.

Will it work? Dunno. I think it might be neat, to be able to log on when bored, and hop into an online 24/7 convention though. No need to wait for my Friday Night game.

See, you STILL need to find a group -- while a "pickup" game of D&D might be fun now and then, the real value to the game is continuing characters and campaigns. It's why roleplaying took off as a separate game from miniature wargaming; the idea of character advancement and story was the key innovation in original D&D. Playing a CHARACTER, not a FIGURE, was the revolution -- not magic and monsters. You still need to get a group together, have everyone show up, and the DM still has to adjudicate the rules, but he has to do so in a tedious fashion, because I can't believe any set of online tools is going to be as smooth or as easy as the DM saying, "OK, those squares are now on fire".

 

[Spatula]

I think it was a silly idea from the start, it reeked of someone from Hasbro saying "This Dungeons whatsis, it's like Warcraft, right? But without a computer? Why don't you put it on a computer, or something?" I looked at the entire concept and said "Huh?".

Except that it wasn't Hasbro's idea... there are game table apps out there, right now. Clearly someone went through the trouble of building them with no audience in mind, right?

Maybe, just maybe, there are gamers who want to play with people that no longer live close to each other.

Regarding the point of the virtual table being more of a hassle, well, yeah. That aspect still looks pretty crude, but will probably improve as the concept gets refined.

 

[Lizard]

Except that it wasn't Hasbro's idea... there are game table apps out there, right now. Clearly someone went through the trouble of building them with no audience in mind, right?

Maybe, just maybe, there are gamers who want to play with people that no longer live close to each other.

Regarding the point of the virtual table being more of a hassle, well, yeah. That aspect still looks pretty rough, but will probably improve as the concept gets refined.

Yes, but those programs tend to be generic, and ends-in-themselves... not supplements to an existing game. (You'd think WOTC could have just licensed one of said existing game table programs.... )

While I admit my experience with those programs is limited, what I've seen of them seems much less ambitious than Game Table Online, closer to "Chat room with map and dice roller" than "3d application".

GTO was pushed as the "solution" to "Can't find a group"; the existing other apps are more, as you note, "Keep the old group together". I think WOTC was aiming for a much larger market for these tools than actually exists; hence, the large feature list, budget, and development time.

Perhaps I'm wrong completely, and when it ships, it will Change Gaming As We Know It. I suppose we'll see in... 6 months? A year?

 

[Scribble]

See, you STILL need to find a group -- while a "pickup" game of D&D might be fun now and then, the real value to the game is continuing characters and campaigns. It's why roleplaying took off as a separate game from miniature wargaming; the idea of character advancement and story was the key innovation in original D&D. Playing a CHARACTER, not a FIGURE, was the revolution -- not magic and monsters. You still need to get a group together, have everyone show up, and the DM still has to adjudicate the rules, but he has to do so in a tedious fashion, because I can't believe any set of online tools is going to be as smooth or as easy as the DM saying, "OK, those squares are now on fire".

Won't argue any of that. I'd rather play a campaign then a string of pick up games... I'd also rather play a face to face game.

But if the choice to include some pickup games now and then was made easily available when I had extra free time? I'd be happy to include them.

If I couldn't find a game group anywhere near me and the choice was either ontime game table or no game? I'd be happy to put up with some aspects being more cumbersome as opposed to not gaming at all.

I used to go to conventions in my younger days when I had extra time/money and one was around. It's sometimes fun to hop into a game with people I don't normally game with. I don't often have the ability to do that anymore. A 24/7 online one would fill that gap.

I'm not arguing Game Table should/will replace regular tabletop gaming. I realy sincerely hope it never does. But I can definitely see an added bonus to having it.

 

[malraux]

Which ones are you referring to? I am not very familiar with anything outside of what WotC does.

Given the prevalence of viable cross-platform virtual tabletop applications, I wonder why WotC even bothers to compete in this arena. Instead, they should throw their support behind a handful of the more successful such as maptools.

For those recommending alternatives, please don't forget about the excellent Klooge.Werks!

Do what I did: buy Fantasy Grounds II.

Now I'm not familiar with these in detail, but they are all 3rd party alternatives to the WotC VTT.

 

[The Ghost]

Now I'm not familiar with these in detail, but they are all 3rd party alternatives to the WotC VTT.

Hah! I must be loosing my memory because I do not remember those posts in this thread. Thanks for reminding me.

I will check them out. Hopefully the quality is good enough!