"tablets" in the beginner box

[Zaukrie]

Ok, this is my newest, goofy idea.

Put 5 "tablets" for players and one for the DM in the beginner box. The tablets would be the size of a cell phone. They would have about half a low resolution screen, with fixed buttons.

Buttons would be for class, race, powers, skills and ????

The math would be there for 1-3rd level, simplified rules. You scroll through the classes (cool pictures coming up), races....and pick what you want. This should be about a 15 minute process max.

Then, in game, you use the "tablet" to run your character, tracking hitpoints and what not.

If you include an SD card slot, you could sell more characters for the simple version of the game.

The DM gets monsters and stuff pre-loaded.

This is all updatable with downloads and stuff off the internet.

This idea just came to me, but would be affordable w/o touch screen, imo.

 

[am181d]

Umm... Wouldn't it make more sense to just make an Android/iPhone app?

Wizards of the Coast certainly shouldn't be in the hardware business...

 

[Zaukrie]

No, you want a box someone can open and play.

Each "tablet" is for one class...making the math even easier.

Originally, I was trying to think of some kind of erasable board or something you could use to keep your character up to date, but a calculator like thing makes a lot more sense.

I'm really trying to think of a new way to do the beginner box.

 

[Mark CMG]

It's a cool idea.


It certainly would be a good idea to make sure that handheld technology and be well leverage by the new iteration.

 

[the Jester]

Please, God, no.

No required techie bits.

If you mean in addition to the books that ought to be in a basic box, as opposed to in place of them- then still no; I don't want to pay for something like that. Not one bit.

Electronic bells and whistles are a fine addition to the game, but they really shouldn't be required.

 

[Stormonu]

No, the tablets should come as 5 blue pills and 5 red pills.

Take the blue pill, and you get to play the new edition and forget all about the old one. Take the red pill, and you put the game aside and go back to your old edition.

<Edit>

Seriously, I think there should just be a flyer that points you to a free app for use with the boxed set AND a code that gives one person access to the "DM tool".

The player app should be a character tracker app (upgradable for a small fee to tie in to DDI so you don't have to hand-enter the info). Mayhaps with a link to a "So this is your first character" walkthrough that helps you build a starting character while also teaching the basic rules interactively (and fills the character tracker in for you).

The DM's app would be an interactive DM's screen - track initiative, monster & PC hp, calculate XP and table references. As with the player piece, it might contain a section that interactively walks you through an adventure, teaching you how to use the app and the rules at the same time. Like the player version, it could have a hook-in to DDI so you can download "instant encounters", monsters, maps and other goodies if you have a DDI subscription.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I would love to setup a game where we all used tablets and linked for damage, and treasure. I however do not see it being in a box set.

 

[Zaukrie]

It's not out of the box if you need a device that doesn't come in the box.

Not required to play at all, this would only be for the beginner game. It could, obviously, be turned into a full fledged app, and be for more advanced games.

In no way would I make this required.

It's an electronic character sheet that comes in the beginner box.

I've thought about it more.

The devices are one for each class, dedicated to that class. You have like 2-3 choices to make at first level for powers or abilities or whatever you want to call them. The scores are adjusted up or down for race and ability scores. That's it.

Appearing on the screen are simple things like...an attack options screen.

First level fighter attack screen sees:

Sword Attack
Shield Smash
Extra oomps sword attack

Scroll to the one you want, it tells you your + to attack and damage.

It is a very out of the box idea, but if kept simple it would cost what a calculator costs to make, like nothing.

 

[Dannager]

It's not out of the box if you need a device that doesn't come in the box.

Not required to play at all, this would only be for the beginner game.

I'm not sure you want to stick a $300 price tag on a beginner's product.

 

[delericho]

It's a really cool idea... but far too expensive to be practical.

As others have said, a better approach would probably be to do an iPhone/Android app that ties to the Starter Set and does the same stuff. But even that may well be too expensive to do without also requiring a DDI sub (which you don't want for your Starter).