What Are You 12?

[Quartz]

I imagine for most individuals there seems little point in attempting to sue a big company, since it tends to be very costly and probably has slim chance of success.

Copyright law is pretty clear cut. And it's the small claims court usually. Someone I know had her stuff used without permission by a couple of papers just recently and while their initial reaction was dismissive, a bit of pressure soon brought them round.

 

[PaulofCthulhu]

My main issue with the D&D podcast, even prior to the current episodes (which are forgiven due to their environment) is that the audio production qualities are abysmal. If you're going to put out a podcast reflecting THE main RPG brand name, then you should have a quality podcast to go with it.

Really? I thought it was quite good considering the recording conditions. Since starting off this kind of thing over six years ago, I can atest it's not that easy for high quality audio that also doesn't interfere with game play. It's certainly possible, but the cost can be phenomenal (I looked into it).

[Edit] Sorry, I Just re-read what I just quoted. The quality your commenting on is the main D&D podcast shows rather than AP. Well, it's still not super easy if it's an occasional (not daily/weekly) thing. I guess they like the cheaper/cheerful approach - and it's still not that bad! Just listen to some of ours - oh the trials & tribulations - we've podcasted out of an old baked bean tin before ('tis true)! But I digress.
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We talk about WotC's PDF move in the newly released Yog Radio #35, over and above the Press Releases all is supposition/personal view of course. Summary: Unhappy of course - for many of the reasons already given.

As for ENWorld being "tainted" by WotC money, I simply wouldn't buy that for a second. You don't run RPG hobby sites for the money, you do it for the uncompromising love of the game.

 

[Dragonhelm]

Really? I thought it was quite good considering the recording conditions. Since starting off this kind of thing over six years ago, I can atest it's not that easy for high quality audio that also doesn't interfere with game play. It's certainly possible, but the cost can be phenomenal (I looked into it).

[Edit] Sorry, I Just re-read what I just quoted. The quality your commenting on is the main D&D podcast shows rather than AP. Well, it's still not super easy if it's an occasional (not daily/weekly) thing. I guess they like the cheaper/cheerful approach - and it's still not that bad! Just listen to some of ours - oh the trials & tribulations - we've podcasted out of an old baked bean tin before ('tis true)! But I digress.

I should probably mention that some of my issues with the main podcast is due to my broadcasting background. I probably am a little too critical at times.

The actual game play episodes have been fairly good, considering the conditions. You hear everyone fairly well. I actually enjoy listening to them. It's just cool hearing Wil Wheaton play.

When Noonan and Mearls were doing the podcast, it sounded like they put a mic on a table and shared it rather than giving everyone their own mic. So Noonan sounded okay, but Mearls sounded like he was in the distance. They could have exported the file as a WAV file and ran it through Levelator to get it equalized better. I was hoping for some good theme music, bumps, and such.

What I expect from the D&D brand name is something along the lines of Slice of SciFi. Something more professional.

The podcast has, admittedly, gotten a bit better. However, the potential is there to make it better still.

And please note, I'm trying to say this as constructive criticism. I'm a huge supporter of podcasting, and it would do well for more gaming companies to do podcasts. I want WotC to truly succeed with this and make a better podcast.

The podcast has gone over a lot of design and product mentions, which is good for the company. What's been cool about the recent episodes is seeing what has been designed put into play. That's the true testament of D&D, and it suits them well to showcase all sides of the D&D experience.

 

[Enforcer]

I have been noticing a trend with WotC that I find somewhat bothersome.

It's as if the company is being run by young teenagers.

Some examples:

1) A friend of mine created a submission to WotC and was denied. A few years later, WotC released a series of books with the major artifact from his submission with not only the same ability, but with the exact same name (and the name is the title of the book).

I won't believe this without at least a scintilla of evidence. Your word of mouth doesn't even come close to compelling. In my opinion this is borderline libel.

2) The podcasts on WotC web sites are full of foul mouth expletives that I as a business owner would never have associated with my company. And half of the players on the podcasts appear to not know the rules at all.

"This podcast features adults, using adult language. You have been warned." If you continue to listen after that opening and are offended by what you hear, you have only yourself to blame. And last I checked, you, in fact, do not own WotC, so while you may do things differently, what WotC does is not your call to make. You can always choose to vote with your wallet.

As for the rules, a lot of the guys are newbs. My players do little better sometimes. Personally, I think demonstrating new players learning the rules is actually a very good decision for WotC to have made, as other new players can identify with the podcast, and make them feel more comfortable. "Gee, if the Penny Arcade guys and Wil Wheaton screwed that up, it's okay if I do it..."

3) Any post that is anti-WotC and even slightly controversial on the WotC forums is locked down, often within a matter of hours. Free speech is practically denied if anything negative is said about WotC.

As noted by many others in this thread, this statement is blatantly false. I think the WotC forums often suffer from too much free speech, not the lack of it. Also, "free speech" at least as the U.S. Constitution's 1st Amendment is concerned, applies to government regulation thereof or protection of public safety (e.g. you can't yell "Fire!" in a crowded theatre), it does not apply to a private business' decision to moderate their own forums. Again, feel free to vote with your wallet.

4) WotC seems to be threatening a lot of web sites with lawsuits if anyone creates anything useful as a 4E tool. I have a few web sites in my favorites list that no longer exist or have their useful tools available.

Other than sites that used WotC's own IP, can you cite some examples? I don't think you can.

It just seems to me that a bunch of young punks are running the show at WotC. Maybe I'm just an old grognard, but I am seeing quite a few things that make me go: hmmmm.

I think you are confusing the term "young punks" with "people who have done things that I personally do not like." And I think you have little to no evidence to show that they've actually done said things.

That said, an image of Chris Perkins and Scott Rouse hanging out under the bleachers with piercings, tattoos and leather jackets, smoking cigarettes, at their current ages, is pretty damn funny.

 

[Kzach]

3) 4E was kinda inspired by Wow, they should be inspired a bit by Blizzard's boards also.

So they should be a vile cesspit of vitriolic nerd rage and Chuck Norris jokes?

I submit that the Barrens should stay out of WotC's forums.