Why NOT DDi?
- Thread starter klofft
- Start date
Quickleaf
Legend
I signed up for DDi around the time it came out in 2008, and watched it decline throughout 2010, letting my subscription expire at the end of that year. It took a bit of adapting to return to a game without the convenience of DDi, but I enjoy gaming far more without it.
I just don't like the subscription model for software. Things like the character builder and monster "builder" should be released like HeroLab, downloaded onto your hard drive, with free updates (or perhaps annual updates for special rules).
An online magazine should be organized by issue or else have a solid searchable database. Why the stopped releasing PDFs of Dragon and Dungeon is beyond me.
The software automatically incorporates errata that you might not be aware of yet and, in rare cases, alters a PC's power significantly so that it is noticed during play. There is no going back with errata or picking and choosing - once it updates that's the way it is until next update.
Also, I notices when my players use the character builder they seem to lose their creativity and don't have as solid a grasp of their character's abilities than they did when making characters by hand. But maybe that's just my group.
There is no campaign management tool, which is what I would be tempted to actually use at the table. As it is, I can't justify using a laptop with for the compendium because (a) space at our gaming table is at a premium, (b) it's distracting from what's important - each other, and (c) there are times when I just don't have my laptop with me or otherwise would lack DDi access.
Finally, when I unsubscribed the Dragon an Dungeon contact sucked Catobelpas balls. Apparently it's improving, though that may not be saying much.
DDi feels like an unpolished beta version, which I'd be happy to playtest but not to pay for. I'll give it a second chance maybe around December, but I'm not holding my breath. Our game is going just swimmingly without it
I just don't like the subscription model for software. Things like the character builder and monster "builder" should be released like HeroLab, downloaded onto your hard drive, with free updates (or perhaps annual updates for special rules).
An online magazine should be organized by issue or else have a solid searchable database. Why the stopped releasing PDFs of Dragon and Dungeon is beyond me.
The software automatically incorporates errata that you might not be aware of yet and, in rare cases, alters a PC's power significantly so that it is noticed during play. There is no going back with errata or picking and choosing - once it updates that's the way it is until next update.
Also, I notices when my players use the character builder they seem to lose their creativity and don't have as solid a grasp of their character's abilities than they did when making characters by hand. But maybe that's just my group.
There is no campaign management tool, which is what I would be tempted to actually use at the table. As it is, I can't justify using a laptop with for the compendium because (a) space at our gaming table is at a premium, (b) it's distracting from what's important - each other, and (c) there are times when I just don't have my laptop with me or otherwise would lack DDi access.
Finally, when I unsubscribed the Dragon an Dungeon contact sucked Catobelpas balls. Apparently it's improving, though that may not be saying much.
DDi feels like an unpolished beta version, which I'd be happy to playtest but not to pay for. I'll give it a second chance maybe around December, but I'm not holding my breath. Our game is going just swimmingly without it
Err... it is, it has and they are.
I'd actually prefer if the D&D 'mags' were more like a blog format. I can print to PDF from the browser with little to no formatting issues. Although the mags are organised by issue and article and have a searchable database, it's still a PITA to find an article, even if you know exactly where it is, simply because it's about five button clicks and page loads to get there.
If it was organised like a blog, it would be Compendium searchable, which would just be AMAZING, and would significantly increase the value of DDI for me and I'm guessing many others.
Having a PDF copy is becoming redundant with cloud services being the model of the future. I doubt the OPTION to have your own copy will ever go away completely, but I do think it will become more and more an option rather than the primary solution.
Quickleaf
Legend
[MENTION=56189]Kzach[/MENTION]
Well we agree about the PDF model being a PITA to search through, but when I'm not online, say on the train or the cabin, it's nice to have a resource I can access. The PDFs were one answer, though I can think of several more elegant. As for online magazines, it makes a lot of sense to set up a searchable compendium of adventures/articles.
I disagree, however, that breaking up individual article into their own PDFs (rather than being in the same issue PDF) was a "good move." The benefit of the PDF format is that I *can* download it and peruse it at my leisure. When they collated articles into one issue all it took was a single click. Now if I wanted to have a complete issue of Dungeon that I can access without Internet, I need to save each individual article. Click click click click.
PDF is not the right format, but at least it was better (for me) than how it's done now.
Well we agree about the PDF model being a PITA to search through, but when I'm not online, say on the train or the cabin, it's nice to have a resource I can access. The PDFs were one answer, though I can think of several more elegant. As for online magazines, it makes a lot of sense to set up a searchable compendium of adventures/articles.
I disagree, however, that breaking up individual article into their own PDFs (rather than being in the same issue PDF) was a "good move." The benefit of the PDF format is that I *can* download it and peruse it at my leisure. When they collated articles into one issue all it took was a single click. Now if I wanted to have a complete issue of Dungeon that I can access without Internet, I need to save each individual article. Click click click click.
PDF is not the right format, but at least it was better (for me) than how it's done now.
Zaran
Adventurer
There are no tables in DDI. There is no backstory or setting info in DDI. Basically almost anything that is GM specific has not been added to DDI. They do this so there is a reason to buy the books.
I think DDI is the main reason why they are not putting out any more Powers books and why they are putting fluff back into the monster books. It's also probably why they cancelled so many books this year.
Other reasons in favor of DDI:
1) Most of my characters have at least one feat or power from Dragon. Generally, they are good.
2) The cost is about that of two books. In exchange, you get the crunch from all the books plus all the Dragon crunch.
3) You get the full backlog of Dragon content. The crunch is in the CB, though the older articles are a little hinky to find.
I would buy campaign settings, adventures, and other fluff heavy books. But never a Powers book again.
1) Most of my characters have at least one feat or power from Dragon. Generally, they are good.
2) The cost is about that of two books. In exchange, you get the crunch from all the books plus all the Dragon crunch.
3) You get the full backlog of Dragon content. The crunch is in the CB, though the older articles are a little hinky to find.
I would buy campaign settings, adventures, and other fluff heavy books. But never a Powers book again.
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