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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silam" data-source="post: 9856119" data-attributes="member: 7055898">I want to throw another angle into this drama-infused thread.I feel like WotC so far have demonstrated that they’re not that good at software… am I alone in this impression?Maybe acquiring D&DB is the inflection point and everything will be hunky dory, but personally, I have doubts.That is where open source comes in. In a sense, the SRD is the equivalent of open source code for TTRPGs, and I think it’s a good thing (especially since the CC license). But… IMHO, it’s not enough.I see a fork in the road where digital-first could be either terrific or terrible.You see, I may be a supporter of open source, but that doesn’t mean I endorse Stallman’s pledge to stop bathing until the world is free. I also believe in capitalism and competition. I think it’s important to have options for which software we choose to play D&D with.To some extent, we already have that, except we don’t. They allow 3rd party VTTs, but you have to buy digital content on each separately. I hate that. It creates friction, inertia against switching to another VTT. That reduces competition and degrades innovation.I have experience playing with Fantasy Grounds. I like that it opened up the possibility of remote playing in cases where getting together is impossible or impractical. But I still prefer playing in person. We tried FG in person but it’s not really a good enough value add.But here’s the thing… although I have mixed feelings about FG, I will probably never try any other VTT, because we have sunk so much into this darn one. It’s daunting to think of re-buying content for another one.So… all that to say… I think the most successful strategy, both commercially but also to do right by players, would be the following:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Every physical book comes with a unique code to make it "digital-ready".</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A portion of the book sale price is set aside, accounting-wise, to represent the "digital value". If the book is never used digitally, then that portion stays in WotC’s coffers forever.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">If a book’s code is scannd for use in a digital tool, the tool can "phone home" to a WotC API. The API records usage of the book by that tool.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Whenever a new tool is used for a given book, half the remaining "digital value" is paid to the tools developer as a kickback.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A book can also be purchased digitally only, in which case WotC should also give a kickback to the tools developer that referred the player for that sale.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Ideally, it should be possible to purchase physical books while deducting the digital price that’s already been paid. This is certaibly possible if ordering directly from WotC, though more complicated if buying at a local book store.</li> </ul>Anyway, the point is that if we let capitalism do its thing in a truly free market, we could benefit from a plethora of amazing tools. But for the market to be truly free, there must be no switching costs, no lock-in. This greed is seemingly great for shareholders in the short-term, but it derails the free market and ultimately results in a smaller pie / a shittier experience.<img class="smilie smilie--emoji" alt="😮‍💨" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f62e-1f4a8.png" title="Face exhaling    :face_exhaling:" data-shortname=":face_exhaling:" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" /> sorry for the long rant. Hope that made sense <img class="smilie smilie--emoji" alt="🤣" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f923.png" title="Rolling on the floor laughing    :rofl:" data-shortname=":rofl:" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" /></blockquote>

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