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Why is WOTC so awful at providing digital content?
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<blockquote data-quote="Mercule" data-source="post: 6579910" data-attributes="member: 5100"><p>Do not underestimate the impact of this point. I've started to build a character creation/management tool a couple of times, after being dissatisfied with other offerings. Regardless of edition, I eventually reach the point where I need to either a) accept that many, many rules will get hard-coded in and I'll have to revisit the source code for expansions, even new weapons or b) create a scripting language or XSD that essentially exposes the internals, anyway, so that I can share my creation with others. Both chafe my "professional developer" sensibilities, so I generally end up going with the latter and trying to build a UI to simplify things. That amounts to writing an app that lets people use another app, and is a glorious frustration.</p><p></p><p>I have no doubt that I could put something together, if I worked full time. I suck at design work, though, so I'd want a graphic artist on staff. Working alone tends to create bugs, so I want another developer. Also, someone to fill the PM/BA/take notes and heat from management role. Give me, say, 3 months for the first public beta, somewhere between 6-12 months for a v1.0 ship, depending on "surprises". That's for either a web or Windows version, your choice. If you want iPad, that'll cost you another guy at about the same billable rate as me, which is higher than any of the others.</p><p></p><p>Also, do you want your data to sync, so you can build all the PCs/NPCs at your desktop, but pull them up on an iPad, at the table? Increases the cost. What about letting the DM look at his players' characters or establish house rules (including a cool, named sword)? Now, we have to set up not just individual logins, but group memberships. Since some DMs run multiple games and some players are in multiple games and some DM are players, we have to add multiple-to-multiple relationships between groups, players, and DMs. Do you allow a player in one campaign to steal a custom weapon (we'll forget about custom classes/races, for now) for when he DMs? How about a way to share creations publicly -- that could really give the lawyers fits? What even qualifies as a minimum viable feature set for the v1.0?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Mercule, post: 6579910, member: 5100"] Do not underestimate the impact of this point. I've started to build a character creation/management tool a couple of times, after being dissatisfied with other offerings. Regardless of edition, I eventually reach the point where I need to either a) accept that many, many rules will get hard-coded in and I'll have to revisit the source code for expansions, even new weapons or b) create a scripting language or XSD that essentially exposes the internals, anyway, so that I can share my creation with others. Both chafe my "professional developer" sensibilities, so I generally end up going with the latter and trying to build a UI to simplify things. That amounts to writing an app that lets people use another app, and is a glorious frustration. I have no doubt that I could put something together, if I worked full time. I suck at design work, though, so I'd want a graphic artist on staff. Working alone tends to create bugs, so I want another developer. Also, someone to fill the PM/BA/take notes and heat from management role. Give me, say, 3 months for the first public beta, somewhere between 6-12 months for a v1.0 ship, depending on "surprises". That's for either a web or Windows version, your choice. If you want iPad, that'll cost you another guy at about the same billable rate as me, which is higher than any of the others. Also, do you want your data to sync, so you can build all the PCs/NPCs at your desktop, but pull them up on an iPad, at the table? Increases the cost. What about letting the DM look at his players' characters or establish house rules (including a cool, named sword)? Now, we have to set up not just individual logins, but group memberships. Since some DMs run multiple games and some players are in multiple games and some DM are players, we have to add multiple-to-multiple relationships between groups, players, and DMs. Do you allow a player in one campaign to steal a custom weapon (we'll forget about custom classes/races, for now) for when he DMs? How about a way to share creations publicly -- that could really give the lawyers fits? What even qualifies as a minimum viable feature set for the v1.0? [/QUOTE]
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