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<blockquote data-quote="Umbran" data-source="post: 5314807" data-attributes="member: 177">Well, first off, I think some folks are going to try to rip you a new orifice - I'll quietly suggest right now that they should rethink that idea.Second, I think your assessment is... not in tune with reality.Computer games do not count as &quot;electronic support&quot; - they don't assist tabletop play in the least.&nbsp; They are a separate product, a marketing and merchandising opportunity, but not support.&nbsp; So, as far as I am concerned, you can strike all the CRPGs right off the list for this consideration.&nbsp; And TSR electronic support basically began and ended with Core Rules.The old Core Rules and current DDI cover approximately the same functionality - listing of rules and character builder.&nbsp; Core Rules also had a map-creation tool, but I never heard anyone consider that a major selling point.&nbsp; In terms of actual usefulness to the players, I think current DDi offering far outstrips the old Core Rules.&nbsp; Did WotC fall down on a lot of other possible functionality?&nbsp; Sure.&nbsp; But it isn't like TSR offered that functionality either, so by that measure they're doing about the same.In the end, WotC is not a software shop, and neither was TSR.&nbsp; Building software isn't something they do well.&nbsp; Until and unless they hire on (or contract to) a real pack of solid developers, QA, PMs, and so on who know software, their offerings will always be second rate.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Umbran, post: 5314807, member: 177"] Well, first off, I think some folks are going to try to rip you a new orifice - I'll quietly suggest right now that they should rethink that idea. Second, I think your assessment is... not in tune with reality. Computer games do not count as "electronic support" - they don't assist tabletop play in the least. They are a separate product, a marketing and merchandising opportunity, but not support. So, as far as I am concerned, you can strike all the CRPGs right off the list for this consideration. And TSR electronic support basically began and ended with Core Rules. The old Core Rules and current DDI cover approximately the same functionality - listing of rules and character builder. Core Rules also had a map-creation tool, but I never heard anyone consider that a major selling point. In terms of actual usefulness to the players, I think current DDi offering far outstrips the old Core Rules. Did WotC fall down on a lot of other possible functionality? Sure. But it isn't like TSR offered that functionality either, so by that measure they're doing about the same. In the end, WotC is not a software shop, and neither was TSR. Building software isn't something they do well. Until and unless they hire on (or contract to) a real pack of solid developers, QA, PMs, and so on who know software, their offerings will always be second rate. [/QUOTE]

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