WotC is going online. What do you want the digital initiative to be?

[rhm001]

Assuming that the usefulness of the content will be similar to what has been in recent Dungeon and Dragon magazines, I'd be interested in a Print on Demand option:

The content is all going to be online, but if a certain amount of it is released on a weekly or montly basis, then the volume should be sufficient that it could be organized into a periodical publication.

I realize that actually publishing the material might make the coverversion to the web seem pointless to some people, and a basic online subscription would most likely let you print the pdfs or word docs of whatever content you wanted to use, but it seems like there would be a market of people (like me!) who would be willing to pay a little more (both magazines are about $8 on the newsstands now; spending the same price they'll charge for an online subscription for a print of the content seems reasonable, though if they're going to be looking for $15-$20 a month, that would be outside my range for the electronic or print version...) for a decent print copy they could take to the gaming table (or any of the other places mentioned in the other threads!). They could avoid the cost of a large volume print run that might or might not sell by doing prints on demand like other gaming companies do with their books.

 

[Hussar]

I'd like:

- a virtual tabletop
- voice chat support
- virtual minis
- maps, maps and more maps
- online access to more than the SRD - including IP specific information regarding Greyhawk, The Realms, Eberron, d20 Modern (including Dark Matter)
- character creation software that once again has access to IP specific information - that I can print out if I'm playing a face-to-face game
- campaign adventures
- online access to RPGA events for virtual cons
- asking for Star Wars might be too much but since we're on the subject
- tile creation software for mini-games
- enhanced message boards for game finders

I'll think of more I'm sure

Pretty much what he said.

I'd even be willing to pay premiums for the adventures. OTOH, I can see a community sprouting up very quickly similar to the NWN community that will put modules online for others to play.

One other thing I would like to see is a sort of Myspace setup where I can put my campaign online as well as a forum for my players. This could actually be taken further with the idea that players can rank DM's.

 

[Razz]

This is similar to the magazine idea. We've seen the WotC designers post about the hard choice between crunch and fluff. They agonize over how much of each to include in a book (which, unlike online content, has a limited number of pages). Well, by breaking those components out online, they can let the users decide. Maybe even give away the fluff (to support/extend the brand) and charge only for crunch*.

Kind of like giving away free peanuts at the bar, because doing so drives beer sales.

Under this model, the physical book is much like a premium collector's edition that combines both crunch and fluff in one product. Sort of like how you can get OotS online for free, or pay a premium for the pleasure of a collected printed edition. Under this model you could either pay x to get the crunch online, or pay 2x to get the crunch + fluff in printed form.

Since margins are higher online (no costs for printing / warehousing / damaged / returns / destruction of excess inventory / shipping / distributing) the net profit would still be higher for the online delivery; they'd want to incentivize online purchases. A (another way of looking at it) 1/2 x price for online delivery of crunch is pretty motivating to consumers--while still servicing those who want to hold a physical product.

This is good stuff!

-z

* and premium fluff, like a short story by a high profile author that, while cool, would be impractical to produce in printed form.

This makes total sense and I agree. Because I have read a few times from the WotC staff that the reason they moved from posting "crunch" material on their website to posting more "fluff" is because they "didn't want to put anything on their website that they could sell in a book."

Which tells us this: "crunch" material sells.

Little by little you saw them disappear: Monster Mayhem, The Mind's Eye, Epic Insights, Fey Feature, Spellbook.....

.....and you started to see more "fluff" content appear on their website: Save My Game, Character Class, Rules of the Game, Steal This Hook, Design and Development.

But then you have the ones that want the "fluff" with it. Hence, the new monster, magic item, and prestige class formats. But it's still difficult to balance the two out with limited page count.

After reading their "Reflections on the D&D Magazines" and seeing that the team is actually excited about what's to come in the future, I am hoping this e-zine offers those sorely missed "crunch" articles plus more. Hopefully we'll start seeing support for non-core material just like we did with Dragon Magazine.

 

[Nightfall]

I just want a cookie and warm milk.

 

[Hussar]

A cookie is always a good thing.

Unless it's a tracking cookie. My computer says those are bad things.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

I'm quite surprised that a good number of posters have said they would pay 50% more for online-only material than what an annual subscription to Dungeon most recently cost.

 

[Hussar]

Some of us subscribe from overseas. A 10 dollar a month sub is actually CHEAPER than a Dragon sub. Plus, remember, people are adding in a virtual gaming table and online encyclopedia as well.

 

[Nightfall]

CB,

Some people are spending fools.

Hussar,

Nah I prefer a good Oreo or a Cholocate Chip kind than those "other" cookies.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

Even so, I'm still pretty surprised. Especially considering that a couple of the posters in here who said they'd pay more for online access than for print are posting from the U.S..

 

[Hussar]

mmmmm cookies.