Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Arlough" data-source="post: 5444153" data-attributes="member: 79335">So, what I am hearing here is, basically, that it isn't worth the cost anymore.The Good (let's start on a high note)<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The character builder was a good start on a useful player application.  I think that most of us will agree that it was our most used application.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The monster builder was a good start too. It was the first sign that someone at WotC understood that what they had was a database.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The compendium was a good step too. Allowing us to look up a rule without having to know all the details, or even what book it was in.</li> </ul>The Bad<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Dragon started diminishing in quality rather quickly, and then in content. (or maybe it was the reverse)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Dungeon started diminishing in quality rather quickly, and then in content. (or maybe it was the reverse)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The promised character visualizer disappeared.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The 3d VTT disappeared.</li> </ul>The Ugly<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The monster builder had a disastrous update that broke it, and the response was too slow.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The character builder went to an online only format.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The online character builder was buggy as hell.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Both Dungeon and Dragon moved from online magazines to blogs.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Offline monster builder support vanished.</li> </ul>The Ugly being the straw(s) that broke the camel's back.So, let's assume that WotC hears our call (keep with me) and decides that it is okay to admit they made mistakes (keep with me!) and want to not only fix the mistakes (seriously, keep with me) but actually wants to make them better. (this is all hypothetical, so use your imagination)Addressing DDI only, not rules, let's go back up the lists and see what could be done, realistically, that could garner much future revenue from us by delivering us what we want.Now, asking WotC to support all editions of D&D is a little unreasonable. but Asking them to create working tools that help us play the game is reasonable.Asking for all the content ever published under the name D&D to be free and in any format we want would be unreasonable.  But, maybe we could ask that the compendium be upgraded to become a replacement for the current books, or that the current books be released in a established DRM robust e-book format, like kindle or nook format. How would you feel about that?  What about Dungeon and Dragon being published in that format as well, but as article subscriptions? That would sate WotC's IP paranoia, but still give us our digital content in a form other than on the WotC website.What about the tools?  Yes, we know that most want an offline character builder, but most likely that was just the last nail in the coffin.  You weren't paying $70 - $120 a year just for that.  So what other tools do you want to see come out?  An encounter manager?  An item builder?What about the magazines?  What would you consider to be worth reading?  Was it just the volume of the magazines that bothered you, or was it the content? What kind of articles woud interest you?Maybe, just maybe, we can compile a useful list of what we want and submit it to WotC. And maybe, just maybe, they will look at that list and get to work on it.I don't know how much clout us ENWorlders have, but I want to try something because I not only love playing this game, but I love what it does for people. Collaborative storytelling activates and exercises the brain, it encourages community, it forms bonds, and it makes us all really good as basic addition.</blockquote>

Verification