Why doesn't WotC have Master Indices?

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Why doesn't WotC have master indices for their products on their website? For example, a master list of all WotC monsters and what product they are found in. Same for prestige classes, spells, feats, etc. It might be a chore at first, but then it's just adding them product by product. I think that would be a great marketing tool to get people to buy products that contain exactly what it is they're looking for. Right now I don't browse through or buy any Forgotten Realms products. So today when I picked up a FR product for the first time I found a particular monster that I didn't know existed. If there was a master index of monsters, I would have known where to seek out and possibly might have bought that particular product.

Just a suggestion to keep track of the ever expanding amount of D&D material put out by WotC...

 

[Bront]

They had one in 2nd Ed called the Magic Encyclopedia (ANd it was poorly labled, I bought it thinking it was a magic item supliment).

Interesting concept, though not likely to happen (magazine article references are irritating for example).

 

[I'm A Banana]

I'm sure they already have something like this internally, but we aren't likely to see it.

I guess because there's no reason for them to show it? It would be useful, but why should they, kinda thing....

 

[Crothian]

It isn't just Wizards that needs this, does any company actually do this??

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

I'm not talking about publishing it in hard copy; that would be a waste of money. I'm talking about posting indices on their website. You say "why?", and I say "why not?". It would definitely be a useful resource; I dunno how many times I remember reading something but can't recall where it's from. Or I wanna find out if there's 3E stats for a 2E monster and if so where it's been published.

Really, how hard would it be to list all the monsters? Or the feats? Or whatever. I'm not talking about listing anything further than the name. It seems like a no-brainer to me. I just don't get why WotC is so behind when it comes to electronic aids...

 

[IronWolf]

A master index would be great! Would certainly help make up for the lack of an index in many of their books.

 

[Crothian]

This would actually make a great fan project.

 

[Greylock]

I'd be happy enough with indexes in the WotC books I've recently bought.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

Check this out:

http://www.juicymango.co.uk/dndindex/Default.aspx

That guy should be asking for PayPal donations. I'd pitch in.

 

[Gez]

They had... At least for prestige classes, feats, and monsters.

But they stopped maintaining it, and finally removed it once it was very very outdated.