The DM has to buy online tiles to run a DDI game?!?

[Emirikol]

With membership comes unlimited access to rules database, use of the full suite of character creation tools (with 50 save slots for character sheets and virtual miniatures). You will also receive all Dragon and Dungeon magazine content as released, and a compiled monthly .pdf. Members will also have unlimited access to the D&D virtual game table and other community features. As a limited time offer at sign up, members will get complete set of online minis and dungeon tiles. In a combination of the ‘subscription’ and ‘microtransaction’ models, individual minis and tiles will be available for separate purchase. However, you don’t need to purchase D&D minis to play. All members will have included access to the entire WotC collection of 2d tokens.

This confuses me. If you don't sign up right away..is a DM going to have to purchase tiles for online play or not? Are ther just the standard ones, but if you want the "good" ones you have to purchase them? So the DM, who's already doing all the work, has to purchase terrain to game on? WTF?

jh

 

[Glyfair]

This confuses me. If you don't sign up right away..is a DM going to have to purchase tiles for online play or not?

Based on the pictures online, I believe that the tiles are shortcuts. You should be able to build your dungeons with the tools they provide, but the tiles will make it faster (and probably have some art that you wouldn't have, like the giant skeleton).

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

Based on the pictures online, I believe that the tiles are shortcuts. You should be able to build your dungeons with the tools they provide, but the tiles will make it faster (and probably have some art that you wouldn't have, like the giant skeleton).

You know, that's one thing that I just don't get about dungeon tiles.

DM: Okay, you guys clear the forest and look down over a slope. And below you in the fading twilight you make out...
Player 1: Let me guess. A giant skeleton.
DM: How did you know?
Player 2: Because you've used that damn skeleton in every adventure we've had for the last six weeks. Where were the goblins hiding? Under a giant skeleton. What was the necromancer trying to do? Animate the giant skeleton.
Player 3: When the wizard cast Enlarge on me, you hit me with a Finger of Death just so you could slap down the skeleton!
DM: Well, I only have so many tiles...

It reminds me of that old Dork Tower strip where the DM attacks the party with all the minis he got in his starter set, just like the last encounter.

 

[pogre]

The preview stuff is neat in part because it affirms two things for me:

1. I am definitely running 4e; and

2. I am definitely not subscribing to the online thing.

 

[Jhaelen]

However, you don’t need to purchase D&D minis to play. All members will have included access to the entire WotC collection of 2d tokens.

This confuses me. If you don't sign up right away..is a DM going to have to purchase tiles for online play or not? Are ther just the standard ones, but if you want the "good" ones you have to purchase them?

I guess it'll be exactly as with the minis:
You'll get a fugly basic set of uniform grey tiles and if you want the pretty multicoloured ones, you'll have to pay for them.

 

[Emirikol]

I still use hobby store shrubbery/trees, a few sticks, and handfuls of small rocks I pick up a the dinosaur quarry nearby. They get used in every adventure and can be put in any combo.

The problem with tiles is that YOU'RE LIMITED TO TILES. Especially the dungeon ones..gaak. It's the only time I actually use dominoes for walls and blah-vis a vis markers. You know your product is lame when it's beat out by visavis markers I've been really disappointed in the tiles that were put out. I've bought them..but they're just not that special. It's a bunch of blank corridors and acouple unique tiles (tiles you can really only use once before your players look at you like "the giant skeleton again"? (as the other poster noted).

The tiles that I get the most use out of are ones that you can use EVERY game. Campsite. Armory. gravestones. braziers/lanterns/continuallight. I personally think tables, chairs, Barrels, boxes and crates should ONLY be 3D.

Anyways..it looks like the DDI stuff has the potential to evolve once hte bugs are ironed out..but I'll be a "Late adopter" in that regards

Jay