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Message: <blockquote data-quote="El Mahdi" data-source="post: 5437710" data-attributes="member: 59506">Why did I cancel? At the time I cancelled (11 months after the release of 4E), it was due to a combination of not producing the DDI applications they wooed us with, the disparaging manner in which they responded to customer feedback, and the straw that broke the camels back for me...pulling pdf's. What would bring me back? Nothing less than the return of sales for all D&D products (current and out-of-print) in a downloadable electronic format (downloadable - not just "rented" on their site).  I would get a subscription again even if everything else I want didn't come to be (though I'd continue to lobby for them), but I will not ever buy another WotC product (D&D, DDI, or other) until the "pdf" products they pulled are returned in some "ownable" format...and an apology. So...<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The return of all D&D products (current and out-of-print) in a downloadable, perpetually user-owned, electronic format.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A mea culpa for pulling them in the first place, and the other PR misteps that have been replete in WotC's dealings with customers over the last 2 1/2 years.</li> </ul>plus...<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Support for ALL editions of D&D in DDI (occasional articles in Dragon and Dungeon, online rules compendium for all editions, character/monster/encounter builders for all editions, support on the virtual table-top for all editions, etc.)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The ability to "houserule" DDI tools...so people can play their games, not just the game WotC says they should play.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">And eventually, the Virtual Table Top and Character Visualiser they originally promised.</li> </ul>I believe all of the above would require some very fundamental changes in WotC attitude towards their customers and potential customers.  Though some of the following attitudes are ones they do seem to possess, I believe that many of them aren't.  And though they may say that they do adhere to all of these, their actions show otherwise.   These attitudes need to be:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Accepting that Dungeons & Dragons is not just one edition, but a panorama of editions that supports multiple play-styles spread across a very large percentage of all RPG customers.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">That regardless of brand, the game Dungeons & Dragons does not belong to WotC.  Dungeons & Dragons truly only exists on our tables (whether physical or virtual).  If they want to remain relevant, they need to provide all gamers (not just 4E gamers) the tools and products they want for their games.  WotC ideas or expectations of what those games should be are irrelevent.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">That only the owner of the D&D brand truly has the ability to exploit the population of both current and potential customers, but only if they give those customers what they want.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">That there are alternatives to WotC's Dungeons & Dragons, and a very large percentage of those customers can, and have, gone other places for support of their games.  (But again, as owner of the D&D Brand, it is within WotC's ability, and within only WotC's ability, to woo those customers back.)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">That when current customers are added together with all potential customers, current customers are not the majority.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">That without those customers, WotC's Dungeons & Dragons will not indefinitely remain successful (if it's even currently successful).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">That the recent practices and philosophy of WotC, whether intentional or unintentional, has been to ignore a huge base of potential customers.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">That many of WotC actions since the release of 4E (but not necessarily the release of 4E itself), has caused a large amount of resentment and ill-will towards their company (for example, pulling pdf's).  Apologizing to customers for these misteps is the only way to begin dealing with this customer resentment.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">That most of these potential customers want to support WotC as the caretaker of our favorite game, but they simply will not compromise on what they want.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">That only asking current customers what they want (through polls only on the WotC website, some only open to DDI subscribers), is an extremely foolish way to seek such info.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">And finally: That DDI is the only avenue open to WotC for consistently sustainable revenue...but only a DDI that provides what gamers want will attract those customers to it.  The current DDI is not successfully accomplishing this.</li> </ul></blockquote>

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