The Value of my DDI Subscription

[Scribble]

But there's still a good reason to be concerned with declining DDI value. Before, you were subscribing to keep your CB and MB updated; now you'll be subscribing to keep your CB and MB. That's a big change in how DDI works, greatly reducing the value IMO. In addition, apparently the compendium is changing from every element in the game to just most elements in game. Again, its a decline in the nature of these products that reduces the value.

As far as downloading vrs accessing a library I guess it's a personal taste thing in what you feel comfortable paying for. I pay for library access in other ways, Zune, Netflix... For me- the ability to access a huge library is worth it, for others it's not.

If you think the change in the way the CB works reduces the value, I'm curious, since the library is essentially updated each month with more and more stuff- could you ever see it being more valuable again?

 

[Stoat]

I DM an online game, and I hardly ever play face to face. I pay for the DDI to get access to the Compendium, and so far it's been worth it.

However, the more stuff gets left out of the Compendium, the less utility it has for me. I'm disappointed that the Dark Sun monsters haven't hit the Compendium, and I'll be disappointed if the Essentials monsters don't hit the Compendium.

 

[Bagpuss]

If you think the change in the way the CB works reduces the value, I'm curious, since the library is essentially updated each month with more and more stuff- could you ever see it being more valuable again?

To me it does slightly reduce the value (since you are effectively renting rather than paying a mortgage, you have nothing to show for it at the end), but as an issue it is hardly worth mentioning, since if I considered the D&DI worth it I'd be subscribing every month anyway.

It's all the other stuff that I've mentioned before that is the real issue. I have no problems at all with the rental model or Wizards need to protect their IP, so long as they don't do it in a way that makes the experience worse for the paying customers.

 

[Ryujin]

As far as downloading vrs accessing a library I guess it's a personal taste thing in what you feel comfortable paying for. I pay for library access in other ways, Zune, Netflix... For me- the ability to access a huge library is worth it, for others it's not.

If you think the change in the way the CB works reduces the value, I'm curious, since the library is essentially updated each month with more and more stuff- could you ever see it being more valuable again?

In my mind CB will never again rise to the level of utility that CBC had, based solely on the need to have an active internet connection in order to make it work. It might get to the point at which it is as usable, barring the connection issue, but it has taken a huge step back to a point that I had specifically avoided in CBC. At this point it isn't even worth my time to test it anymore than I already have. It simply doesn't do what I need; what CBC already did.

As far as Compendium is concerned, I find the newer layout annoying in the extreme. I dislike that it resets my search criteria when I have, say, specifically chosen that I want to look at items only, when it decides that I really wanted creatures. There was some degree of that in the old layout, but I had my work-arounds.

 

[Scribble]

To me it does slightly reduce the value (since you are effectively renting rather than paying a mortgage, you have nothing to show for it at the end), but as an issue it is hardly worth mentioning, since if I considered the D&DI worth it I'd be subscribing every month anyway.

I guess that's where my interest lies... Sure- right now it went from owning to "renting" but the rental house still gets bigger and bigger each month... So ostensibly the value of that rental goes up and up, but your rent doesn't.

I just find it interesting- not really saying anyone's sense of what's worth it is right or wrong.

It's all the other stuff that I've mentioned before that is the real issue. I have no problems at all with the rental model or Wizards need to protect their IP, so long as they don't do it in a way that makes the experience worse for the paying customers.

Yeah- I can understand if you feel the service level is no longer worth it. (I guess for me I haven't really had any service issues that upset me or hindered my experience really... New CB bugs aside since I'm willing to give them a little bit to fix them.)

In my mind CB will never again rise to the level of utility that CBC had, based solely on the need to have an active internet connection in order to make it work. It might get to the point at which it is as usable, barring the connection issue, but it has taken a huge step back to a point that I had specifically avoided in CBC. At this point it isn't even worth my time to test it anymore than I already have. It simply doesn't do what I need; what CBC already did.

You only make characters in an offline location I guess?

This for me is something that just doesn't happen. I would really have to try hard to find myself making a character in a location where I don't have internet access.

I am obviously willing to believe this isn't true for others- but I guess it's why this change doesn't bother me at all.

In fact- for me it was easier to find myself in a location without the CB installed or able to be installed then it was to find myself in a location without internet access.

If it's not an offline use thing, and it's just a you prefer offline programs thing- does the fact that the program is continuously updated with more and more info count for anything in your value equation?

As far as Compendium is concerned, I find the newer layout annoying in the extreme. I dislike that it resets my search criteria when I have, say, specifically chosen that I want to look at items only, when it decides that I really wanted creatures. There was some degree of that in the old layout, but I had my work-arounds.

Here again- so the tool itself is more important then the info within it?


Please keep in mind I'm not trying to discount anyone's personal opinions on value of anything.

I'm honestly just interested in the fact that people seem to focus on the tools- and kind of ignore the continuous update of new information they can access when talking about value of the ddi...

 

[Ryujin]

You only make characters in an offline location I guess?

This for me is something that just doesn't happen. I would really have to try hard to find myself making a character in a location where I don't have internet access.

I am obviously willing to believe this isn't true for others- but I guess it's why this change doesn't bother me at all.

In fact- for me it was easier to find myself in a location without the CB installed or able to be installed then it was to find myself in a location without internet access.

If it's not an offline use thing, and it's just a you prefer offline programs thing- does the fact that the program is continuously updated with more and more info count for anything in your value equation?

You said that you wanted to know why, not debate it, but OK

I create my characters in both an online, and off-line environment. I play in both an online, and off-line environment, and frequently end up levelling-up during play. I use the CBC as a live character sheet. Our campaign has a few simple house rules, which despite their simplicity aren't supported by the online CB. CBC WAS updated consistently, until they decided that it wouldn't be. Talking about how the new CB is going to be consistently updated is a non sequitur in this debate. It counts for nothing when it was something that I already had, that was taken away from me.

The online CB does not fulfil my needs, nor the functions for which I acquired my subscription. Shall we now talk about the functionality that has been lost?

 

[Bagpuss]

I guess that's where my interest lies... Sure- right now it went from owning to "renting" but the rental house still gets bigger and bigger each month... So ostensibly the value of that rental goes up and up, but your rent doesn't.

To keep with the same analogy, thing is after the 3rd spare bedroom you aren't actually going to be getting the same value. Sure your house is bigger, but you really only use the lounge, kitchen, bedroom and in our case games room, most of the time, and the rest of the house rarely gets used. The fact the house is bigger just makes it a pain to keep clean.

It's the same with the content you get with the D&DI most people play one or two characters at a time at most, and so aren't going to be using all those options, in fact it has got to the point where shear number of option is confusing. Add the fact that to actually learn anything about any of the feats (for example) you have to click on them individually, it's already reaching a point where there is too much content.

DM's certainly get more value out of increased content or at least they would if the Monster Builder worked and was updated, but still there is a saturation point.

I'm not saying the extra content doesn't have value, just it isn't that big a value. Twice the added content is not twice the added value, I doubt it's even half the added value. If the graph of content to value was drawn for me it has already levelled off.

Added content (in the shape of just new rules) doesn't add any more value to me, adding functionality and working tools that make my job as a DM easier, is the only way they can add value now. Unfortunately they have removed functionality and crippled the tools they had.

 

[Holy Bovine]

Copy/pasted as is, and thank you (and all of ENWorld) for the well-written posts. Makes my life much easier when I can simply copy/paste entire posts as opposed to having to paraphrase so that the point is not lost in the vitriol.

You've been a welcome source of information and a bridge between the 'masses' and WotC. If they aren't paying you - they should. Seriously.

I'd +rep you for your post/work but I did it too recently. At least multiple people already have.


As for the Jester's comments all I can add is "Ditto". His experiences and frustrations mirror mine almost exactly. I'm still using the old CB and am quite content with it. Luckily I have no Dark Sun game in my immediate future.

 

[the Jester]

For the record, I just deactivated my sub's autorenewal.

 

[Markn]

FWIW, I pretty much agree with the OP.

I have bought a yearly subscription from day 1 and have renewed time and again and (unfortunately) renewed about a month before the new CB came out which leaves me with about a 10 months left on my subscription. WotC has those 10 months to drastically improve things - I'm not interested in shiny, new objects until the current issues are resolved.

I have turned off my auto renew, which hopefully serves as a warning to WotC.

The lack of a good Monster Builder and the lack of features in the CB are killers for me and those in the very least need to be fixed. As others have said, if Dragon/Dungeon were print magazines I wouldn't be buying them. The compendium sees some use but could still be improved.

I am an optimist, and thus, I have never asked for a refund, or complained much. I do think their current strategy COULD be great if they can work out the issues in a timely fashion.

Time will tell, but time, as it stands, is 10 months for me...

Edit: I would be remiss if I did not personally thank mudbunny for all his help and contributions. I can't help but feel that WotC could learn a lot of good things from you in regards to communication!