Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Arlough" data-source="post: 5439611" data-attributes="member: 79335">I didn't want to taint the pool before getting some responses, so I avoided posting my reasons until now. But, in the spirit of fairness, here are my reasons.I was an early adopter, and subscribed for two years at the 50-something per year price.  The first year was just a thorough test of the CB and Dungeon and Dragon magazine.  I expected more tools to become available (like the VTT, or at least a functional Character Visualizer), because they were "coming soon" with all sorts of things for DM's and Players, but was mostly disappointed. Then, when it came up for renewal, I was ready to let it expire, but they told me that I could keep my same rate and they would be releasing all sorts of new tools, so I paid another 50-something dollars. I had hopes of an item builder that would allow for custom items to be added to the character builder, and an encounter manager that plugged into both the CB and the MB (by this time I was just a DM and no longer a player, and I figured that these would precede a VTT, that being the capstone of the DM tools).  During that time, I found that Dragon had almost become worthless, given how unbalanced the power found within was (more power being a higher priority, it seemed, than different options) and Dungeon felt like I was reading a lot of blogs but not much content. And, by the time renewal came around again, and this time they wanted $71.40 from me and all the tools that I had paid $50+ for year prior still were not delivered.  And I really began to resent this model. So I decided that from that point on, I wouldn't even buy a book from them that I hadn't reviewed in total. Then, essentials came out, with all the errata that covered everything from redefining what an attack was, to giving a thief backstab and sneak attack, to the slayer (with Melee Training: Dex) making the fighter the best melee+archer ranger, again (just like in 3rd). And I realized (for myself, YMMV) that Wizards didn't know how to give me what I wanted.  They only knew the "buy this booster because the cards are more powerful" model that had driven me away from Magic.  (My favorite set of magic was "the Dark" because it was a setting, not a power-up.) Now, they have a VTT (with encounter manager built in, I hope) coming out soon that should work with the CB and MB, and I don't care.  They have lost me. So I guess in summary, I feel like I am not getting value out of DDI, I feel like many rulings have been based on selling new products, and I don't feel like they are making my life as a DM easier. (Plus if I was just a player, I would not pay that much per year for a CB.  But, as a DM, I would pay more per year to get a group licence for my game table.)To draw me back, I would want the ability to houserule (accept/reject errata, give out custom items, give things like the taxpertice feats for free, etc.), have a combat manager, even if it was just an option in the VTT (or, have a group licence for my gaming group so we could use the VTT without all of them having to subscribe) and even with that, either give me more/better content in the magazines, or lower the price.Also, I am currently a DM 100% of the time that we play, and I am almost always DM at least 50% of the time.</blockquote>

Verification