Third Party Character Creation iOS App Removed

The d20 Fight Club for D&D 5th Edition iOS app has been removed from the Apple App Store by its creator at the request of WotC. The creator reports that he received a Cease & Desist demand (although it's worth noting that some supposed recent C&Ds appear to have turned out to be amicable requests). This follows on from the removal of the D&D Tools website and the more recent online character generator.

The creator reports that "I received a cease and desist order from Wizards of the Coast. All D&D apps will be removed from the App Store as they weren't compliant with WotC's copyrights and trademarks. Hopefully they'll be back in some form someday. Til then, thanks for all the support."

Nobody has actually shared one of these C&Ds yet, and others have indicated that what they actually received was simply a friendly email asking that they respect WotC's trademarks, so it's not entirely clear what is happening. Hopefully somebody will share one soon!

It does look like this particular app contained text and stat blocks copied directly from the D&D books. Below is the DM version of the app (the companion to the character creation app).

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[Mirtek]

Except that, according to Tradoor, the Ipad app was ready to go.

That means they at most got only 1/3 done (less considering the market shares between Android, Windows and iOS).

According to the testers calling the windows version a "beta" was stretching it and the Android app was even more behind

 

[Shasarak]

That means they at most got only 1/3 done (less considering the market shares between Android, Windows and iOS).

According to the testers calling the windows version a "beta" was stretching it and the Android app was even more behind

That just means that you do a staggered roll out.

Like for example how you may release the PHB first, then the MM and then after a short delay the DMG.

Besides I thought that consumers enjoy paying to be able to Beta test products now a days?

 

[painted_klown]

Except that, according to Tradoor, the Ipad app was ready to go.

Yes, but it wasn't approved by WoTC, so my reasoning still stands. Trapdoor were unable to develop a product to the standard that WoTC required, within the timeframe and bugdet alloted. They may have had something ready to go for the ipad, but that doesn't mean they met the obligations they were hired to meet.

In fact, WoTC seemed to agree with that statement, and cut ties with them. At the end of the day, it was Trapdoor who failed to deliver what they had promised WoTC. If they had delivered, this conversation (and many others) would not be taking place.

I am not sure why you want to encourage the idea that WoTC failed here. If the iOS software they had was REALLY good, I can see WoTC perhaps allowing them to release the sofware on the various platforms at a staggered pace. After all, that is certainly not unheard of.

I would rather WoTC release nothing, than release half baked software that we would be stuck with, and may never fuction as intended. I would rather they wait until it's perfect, then release it.

Sure, they get some grumpy players in the meantime, but I would venture to guess that there would be MANY more grumpy players if the official software wasn't working as intended.

IMO, waiting on quality software is much better than getting broken software earlier.

 

[Kramodlog]

Was Trapdoor filling an order for WotC or was it working from a license? I'm curious to know, cause it would meen WotC put in their license contract that they could pull the plug on a product/license agreement.

 

[Mirtek]

That just means that you do a staggered roll out.

That depends on what you were obliged to have completed by date X according to your contract.

The sad state of the web/android versions and the sudden cancellation of the contract by WotC give me strong suspision that Trapdoor failed to reach certain milestones in time and Wotc took an exist clause instead of risking to be once again burned by trusting a software developer who can't deliver what he agreed to (like the desaster with the 4e e-tools)

Was Trapdoor filling an order for WotC or was it working from a license? I'm curious to know, cause it would meen WotC put in their license contract that they could pull the plug on a product/license agreement.

Normally such plugs are keyed to certain conditions (e.g. unable to reach certain milestones in time) or they had a very weak contract which allowed Wotc to just end the relationship at any time with no fault of Trapdoor. That would mean they had a very bad legal deparment and also were very venturesome to put money and hours working on such thin ice

 

[Shasarak]

Yes, but it wasn't approved by WoTC, so my reasoning still stands. Trapdoor were unable to develop a product to the standard that WoTC required, within the timeframe and bugdet alloted. They may have had something ready to go for the ipad, but that doesn't mean they met the obligations they were hired to meet.

In fact, WoTC seemed to agree with that statement, and cut ties with them. At the end of the day, it was Trapdoor who failed to deliver what they had promised WoTC. If they had delivered, this conversation (and many others) would not be taking place.

I am not sure why you want to encourage the idea that WoTC failed here. If the iOS software they had was REALLY good, I can see WoTC perhaps allowing them to release the sofware on the various platforms at a staggered pace. After all, that is certainly not unheard of.

I would rather WoTC release nothing, than release half baked software that we would be stuck with, and may never fuction as intended. I would rather they wait until it's perfect, then release it.

Sure, they get some grumpy players in the meantime, but I would venture to guess that there would be MANY more grumpy players if the official software wasn't working as intended.

IMO, waiting on quality software is much better than getting broken software earlier.

There is no real evidence that the product did not meet WotC "standards" just like there is no real evidence that a Trapdoor exec told a WotC exec that their butt really did look big in that dress.

My guess would be that Trapdoor showed WotC the story sharing feature and WotC could not work out how to charge for people sharing their own information with each other.

 

[Evenglare]

Guys all I'm saying is that this stuff is making it's rounds outside the internet. No longer can a person say that this only matters to someone who goes on these boards. You may not have liked how I handled it, but that is tough for you, if you want to change it go to these places and set them straight. All I'm saying is that you can't use the argument that this is contained on the internet. People know, and people are not exactly happy. That's the last thing I will say about it.

 

[Shasarak]

The sad state of the web/android versions and the sudden cancellation of the contract by WotC give me strong suspision that Trapdoor failed to reach certain milestones in time and Wotc took an exist clause instead of risking to be once again burned by trusting a software developer who can't deliver what he agreed to (like the desaster with the 4e e-tools)

Except that the 4e tools were an epic disaster involving one individual that no reasonable person could blame on either WotC or that particular software provider.

I presume that you are aware of the real story?

 

[Gecko85]

Well, whatever they had for iOS, evidently the Pathfinder fans didn't think it was all that, either. Their Kickstarter to convert it to Pathfinder rules only met 17% of their funding goal.

 

[Dannager]

There is no real evidence that the product did not meet WotC "standards" just like there is no real evidence that a Trapdoor exec told a WotC exec that their butt really did look big in that dress.

Woah, since when has "evidence" been required before jumping to conclusions in this thread?

My guess would be that Trapdoor showed WotC the story sharing feature and WotC could not work out how to charge for people sharing their own information with each other.

Nevermind.