Why I will go to DDI

[Ipissimus]

If this is true, I'm getting DDI. The only reasons I'll buy the core books is that I like reading in bed at night and I like having the books at the table in addition to my laptop.

Laptop is useful, but not a complete replacement IMO.

But Dungeon, Dragon, rules AND the character generator? SIGN ME UP!

 

[Fallen Seraph]

Just thinking one thing I would really like to see would be printable tokens.

They don't need any stats or anything just simply be "name: Token".

So essentially as Monster Manuals/monsters in Dragon/Dungeon are released, each monster would be added online to DDI as a token. These tokens then can be accessed through a online program and can be dragged and dropped into a grid format that can be printed on regular 8'10" card-stock at the proper size.

So if you want say 20 orcs drop down 20 orcs. If you want all different drop down all the different monsters you want.

This would be incredibly nice.

 

[neceros]

I thought the said the PDF idea wasn't working properly so they made the Rules Database instead, and just use the assumption that those who have subscribed own all the books and thus have permission to view all the crunch in the Rules Database?

As for myself, that is also one of the big things making me want to buy a subscription that and if the character creator makes actual character sheets that can be printed out (so not just for online play) and same with the character visualizer (I would love it, if you could put the character visualizer image on the character sheet).

Don't you worry; I'll be making 4e sheets.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

Yeah, but would they be interactive like the WoTC ones? That is my main incentive for that particular thing, is all the rules, classes, etc. be there but also they be interactive so I can print out a nice complete character sheet.

If yours are like that, I hope you will make a site for them

 

[neceros]

Yeah, but would they be interactive like the WoTC ones? That is my main incentive for that particular thing, is all the rules, classes, etc. be there but also they be interactive so I can print out a nice complete character sheet.

If yours are like that, I hope you will make a site for them

No, you're looking for a Character Manager then, not necessarily a sheet. Check out PCGen.

By the way I have a site, it's in my sig.
www.neceros.com

 

[Fallen Seraph]

Ehh, never liked Character Manager which is why I hoping the WoTC character creator will work well. I just hope it is not just for the VTT but can be printed out as a ordinary character sheet.

 

[mach1.9pants]

I'm with my fellow inhabitant of the Land of the Long White Cloud. $120/year for both magazines (admittedly in pdf format) plus a whole host of other online tools is a pretty good deal compared to what we would have had to pay to get just the print versions of both Dungeon and Dragon mailed out here every year.

I'm not so keen on the virtual gaming table simply because I've got a real life gaming group that suits my needs but I can appreciate the concept. I am very keen on the rules database (even if it's online-only, unlike the character visualizer, which you will be able to use offline), the encounter builder, and those sorts of tools. I'm also keen on having access to the "extras" they'll be posting online and stuff like that (being a completist just like every other gamer).

Same: all the rules no need to buy any books, very expensive here thats if I can find them
VTT, not bothered, especially if I have to buy tiles and monsters.

Oh, I would imagine, unless US accounting is dif from UK and NZ a lot, that DDI would not be a tax write off but an expense- but so would the purchase of all the books so you have access to the rules to freelance.

 

[pukunui]

Same: all the rules no need to buy any books, very expensive here thats if I can find them
VTT, not bothered, especially if I have to buy tiles and monsters.

Oh, I would imagine, unless US accounting is dif from UK and NZ a lot, that DDI would not be a tax write off but an expense- but so would the purchase of all the books so you have access to the rules to freelance.

I've found it's a lot cheaper to order my books from amazon.com and have them shipped here than it is to go buy them from the FLGS (of which there are only two in Auckland anyway). A friend of mine knows of a place in the UK that will ship books to NZ for free (you buy the book but you don't pay any shipping cost). I haven't tried it myself yet though.

I like having a physical book in front of me, so I'll keep buying them, but the idea that you can legitimately access the rules from books you don't own is one that I really really like.

 

[Najo]

I think this could backlash more than WOTC or gamers think. Players not buying rule books is bad for game stores and its bad for the gather around the living room/ game table experience. Personally I think the buy the book and unlock the online version is overall better and a smarter business model for the hobby as a whole. I would like to know how wotc is going to not loose book sales with this model.

 

[mach1.9pants]

I dunno what the sales/play figures are around the world but, (as I live south of the Bombay Hills in real NZ, eh Pukunui) I just cannot get hold of books from a shop. I have to pay HUGE shipping costs from the UK or USA.
However I love having the real book, as a lot of people do (the majority?). There is just 'something' about having physical copy- doesn't matter in music or video- but in books it does. Reading off a screen is not great. If the book is good, and now I can get a real preview from DDI, I will be more likely to buy it. Unlike some I just don't have the opportunity to browse in a shop.
What I am trying to get out is that it might help stimulate sales (although whether from a FLGS or online, I dunno)