VTT timeframe

[Dedekind]

It has been a little while since the virtual tabletop (VTT) beta was announced for DDI. Does anyone know what the timeframe for VTT is? Months, a year, or years?

I assume it will be out within a year, but the various reports indicate a lot of the functionality still isn't enabled.

 

[Dungeoneer]

It has been a little while since the virtual tabletop (VTT) beta was announced for DDI. Does anyone know what the timeframe for VTT is? Months, a year, or years?

I assume it will be out within a year, but the various reports indicate a lot of the functionality still isn't enabled.

No dates announced, but typically if a product is in beta it's heading towards release within the next few months.

Typically.

 

[Zaran]

It has been a little while since the virtual tabletop (VTT) beta was announced for DDI. Does anyone know what the timeframe for VTT is? Months, a year, or years?

I assume it will be out within a year, but the various reports indicate a lot of the functionality still isn't enabled.

The fact that are in beta gives me hope that it would be within the year. I really wish they would figure out how they will roll it out and reveal that to us though. If it is not connected to the compendium then it wouldn't be worth being a DDI member only tool because there are free tools out there that are just fine for that. I fear that they will try to make everyone that uses the tool to be a subscriber and that will never fly.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

The fact that are in beta gives me hope that it would be within the year. I really wish they would figure out how they will roll it out and reveal that to us though. If it is not connected to the compendium then it wouldn't be worth being a DDI member only tool because there are free tools out there that are just fine for that. I fear that they will try to make everyone that uses the tool to be a subscriber and that will never fly.

I get the impression that it will go into an open beta before the final details are locked down. I think, based on some of the direction that discussion is being focused on the beta forum that Wizards are still exploring how the VTT might be used in terms of marketing D&D

 

[OnlineDM]

My guess is that it will be in beta for quite a while, maybe six months. I don't think they should release it out of beta until character and monster import are ready, and without the online monster builder even existing for us to play with yet, I'm guessing that's still some time off.

Just my opinion.

 

[Ahrimon]

I would also like them to build the campaign manager and link that in before they launch it. That way, if someone has their campaign set up to be specific sources, any character with options outside that source will get flagged.

 

[Keefe the Thief]

I'm in the beta, and the VTT is basically functional. They could've released it already, but i think they were a little loath to do that with the flaming over DDI we got in the last couple of months.
Basically, though, it still lacks what would make it great and elevate it over Maptool:
- Direct-importing from the other tools.
- Importing your own maps and tokens.
Once the database-integration thingie is there, it will be hard to say no to the VTT. And believe me, we Betatesters are hammering Wotc with demands for that a lot.
I doubt that we will see a full release before the CB and MB are out and stable, but i could be wrong.

 

[Dedekind]

Thanks for the synthesis and speculation. Sounds like a year would be the rough timeframe for full functionality.

 

[wildardoc]

Coming from a person who like playing D&D but doesn't have a lot of time to get a regular game going, I'd say as soon as it is usable release it. I loved the idea of DDI and subscribed for a couple of years. Since the non-release of the tools I've stopped playing at all and stopped subscribing. They need to get this out and get a reasonable pricing where folks who subscribe and don't can still use it.