Virtual Game Table and Published Adventures...

[Grossout]

If I buy "Keep on the Shadowfell", can I just punch in the code that comes with it and get a virtual map of the entire adventure online? Seems like that would be pretty sweet and would make online play really easy.

Sorry if this has been answered before or if the answer itself should be obvious.

 

[Glyfair]

It's known that Dungeon adventures will work that way. It was suggested that the RPGA adventures should work that way, and they suggested it was high on the list to work on after the release (it's the RPGA, so I have low hopes for any timely progress).

They haven't mentioned published adventures, but I do think it's likely. Maybe not immediately, but probably high on the list. We'll certainly see them long before we see RPGA adventures.

 

[Deverash]

With any luck, there will be a way for 3rd party published adventures to be able to give a bundled version of it as well for the virtual tabletop. As I look at putting the Pathfinder books into OpenRPG, I'm hoping more and more.

 

[Glyfair]

With any luck, there will be a way for 3rd party published adventures to be able to give a bundled version of it as well for the virtual tabletop. As I look at putting the Pathfinder books into OpenRPG, I'm hoping more and more.

They have pretty much implied that the D&D Insider products aren't going to be very accessible to 3rd party material.

 

[Nikosandros]

They have pretty much implied that the D&D Insider products aren't going to be very accessible to 3rd party material.

I think it's too bad... allowing other companies (perhaps for a license fee) to produce material for the DI would have really increased its value.

I must say that I'm also a bit disappointed about the fact that the table will be "rules neutral". If I'm going to use a computer, why not take full advantage of it?

 

[Glyfair]

I must say that I'm also a bit disappointed about the fact that the table will be "rules neutral". If I'm going to use a computer, why not take full advantage of it?

I actually like this. If nothing else, it eliminates a major hurdle to getting it running. It also means I can use the table for other games. In fact, many people's D&D games are house ruled enough that they are effectively "new games."

If you want to consider the hurdle this entails, consider how hard it has been to add some of the new roleplaying supplements in things like eTools and PCGen. Things like the Book of Nine Swords required rewrites of the code to work right. Imagine trying to support every house rule that groups are using now (even excluding those that don't apply to the computer moderation).

I think there will be some possibilities. They've said the D&D Insider will have some ability to use house rules. So, you should be able to add 3rd party things to the game. You just aren't going to see things like Necromancer games distributing the map to Tegel Manor for the VTT.

 

[Nikosandros]

Well, the fact that the tables can adjudicate rules doesn't mean that it has too... so it would still be possible to play other games.

On the other hand, I realize that the rules are quite complicated to implement, but I believe it would be feasible... maybe further down the line we will be seeing something like that.

On your last point, I think it would have been nice if the maps from Tegel Manor or what have you had been available. Hopefully, WotC will change its mind about this and enact some kind of license agreement with some of the publishers.

 

[zoroaster100]

In trying to decide whether to sign on to the virtual game table use, it will be a major impact on my decision as to how easy it is to use it for third party products and adventures (since I like Paizo adventures much better than WOTC adventures). This doesn't just include maps, but also virtual "miniatures" for monsters and characters in the third party product.

 

[Deverash]

They have been talking about having a collection of modules on Gleemax for use on the virtual tabletop. So, the 3rd party publishers should be able to put up maps for the game(and, perhaps, minis for their monsters) if they're willing to do the work for it. Or, if not, I'd expect them to show up from the community in pretty short order.