WotC's D&D Virtual Table Cancelled

[tenkar]

This VTT project has been cursed from the start.

First they got caught lifting the graphics for the 3D dice from Fantasy Grounds, then the lead programmer was killed in a domestic incident.

It was forgotten until it's recent resurrection as a VTT without any 3d elements and without the tools you would need to bring your own group, your own maps, your own tokens to the table.

It never stood a chance.

 

[Dark Mistress]

Shame for all the 4E DDI fans that was looking forward to it. I do agree WotC really should have given more warning for people to get information since they can't export it.

 

[fanboy2000]

wow, some of you act surprised, that's why I never signed up for anything online that wizards does. They never fully support anything that they do, feels like they all have ADD over there.

I wish they did have ADD over there. Then maybe they would have learned some coping strategies.

Frankly, they're more like the worst Kender players. Someone (or something) over there is constantly distracted by shiny objects. They are constantly eschewing anything that looks like people might want to use for shiny objects that are worthless to the rest of us.

If this was the only example, I'd be fine with it. But Mastertools? Their best software tool was E-tools from Codemonkey Publishing. Codemonkey!

You know I could live with a lot of things. I'm a fanboy. It's my screen name. .NET? O.k. Subscriptions? Sure. Silverlight? O.k.

But you know what? Pick one. Stick with it.

And for all that is good and holy, read The Mythical Man-Month.

 

[Frylock]

wow, some of you act surprised, that's why I never signed up for anything online that wizards does. They never fully support anything that they do, feels like they all have ADD over there.

WotC has done a lot with the character builder, and there is a ton of varied content presented in Dungeon and Dragon magazines, appealing to all sorts of interests among the 4e players. These are important pieces of the DDI, so making such a sweeping statement of neglect on the part of WotC is unfair.

 

[Zaukrie]

I don't know, Dungeon is a shell of its former self. Not deity articles. No demon lord articles. Less adventures. And Dragon is just ok. I can't recall the last article that I just couldn't stop reading.

All I really use anymore is the monster builder. If I played, I'd probably use the character builder. But I'm not sure those two alone are worth the money anymore.

 

[Thraug]

I'm hoping they are redirecdting their digital development to 5e and just aren't telling us that's what they are doing, to protect from not completing promises as they did with 4e's digital products.

 

[Frylock]

I don't know, Dungeon is a shell of its former self. Not deity articles. No demon lord articles. Less adventures. And Dragon is just ok. I can't recall the last article that I just couldn't stop reading.

Overall, I don't read most of the articles per issue, but I never expect to want to do that. They're not catering to me as an individual. They're dealing with a large, diverse market, some of which is being well-served by 3PPs (free and fee-based). Your point on demon lord articles really hits home for me, but again, it's not about me; it's about everyone, and if they're selling enough DDI subscriptions to justify their approach, and if requests for articles doesn't include the articles they aren't publishing, they're not going to change.

All I really use anymore is the monster builder. If I played, I'd probably use the character builder. But I'm not sure those two alone are worth the money anymore.

A fair point, but I hope you see that it's not the point I was addressing. They're trying. Whether they're succeeding is another question, and the subjective answer varies from person to person. With the number of subscriptions they're apparently selling, I'd say they're doing a good job of dealing with their market regardless of whether any one of us individually feels left out.

 

[DLIMedia]

Don't know if this has been posted yet - I admit I'm in a hurry - but Game Table Online, the subcontracted developers of WotC's VT, say they are going to take over the VT and host it on their site.

 

[Argyle King]

I make my perception roll and am not surprised for this round.

 

[Mark CMG]

It's a shame they can't enable exporting as a goodwill gesture.

 

[Stoat]

WotC has done a lot with the character builder, and there is a ton of varied content presented in Dungeon and Dragon magazines, appealing to all sorts of interests among the 4e players. These are important pieces of the DDI, so making such a sweeping statement of neglect on the part of WotC is unfair.

And the Compendium! The Compendium is the best thing since sliced bread and canned beer.

I think WotC was behind the curve from the start with the VTT. There are tons of good VTT's available at prices ranging from reasonable to free. I had tried three different VTT's and looked at one or two others back when 4E launched. I think the market for VTT's in general is pretty small, and I don't think the product WotC was offering could compete.

 

[darkwing]

I figured the thing would fail when they said it wouldn't have the ruleset built in. Wizards makes the game and they can't even figure out how to implement their own rules. If people wanted a generic table top they'd use one of the free ones (and somewhat ironically, several of those do have rule-set modules).

 

[darkwing]

I think WotC was behind the curve from the start with the VTT. There are tons of good VTT's available at prices ranging from reasonable to free. I had tried three different VTT's and looked at one or two others back when 4E launched. I think the market for VTT's in general is pretty small, and I don't think the product WotC was offering could compete.

If WotC had any business sense whatsoever they would have let those other table top (and other applications) companies/hobbyists use the D&D IP on condition that whoever used that IP with their application had a DDI subscription. That way they could get what they wanted (money stream) without re-inventing the VTT wheel.

 

[Mithreinmaethor]

I'm sorry, but I guess I'm confused. Wasn't VTT something promised to be a part of everyone's DDI accounts - something that WotC said would be available for all 4E DDI users? So all of us who have been paying for DDI all this time, waiting for VTT, were really just buying a Character Builder and a Monster generator? Nice burn WotC... nice burn.

First your use of the word promised is probably not the correct word in this instance.

As others above has stated the original developer was killed in a domestic dispute before 4e even went live so they pulled the concept from the table. And was talked about widely before 4e went live. It was just too late to pull it from the print run of the books. A sad and unfortunate series of events that they never could have foreseen.

You have never been paying for the VTT with your DDI subscription at any point and time. So your assertion there is incorrect as well.

 

[Fifth Element]

If WotC had any business sense whatsoever they would...

...read internet messageboards, the best source of free business advice available! Generally, you do get what you pay for, but what have they got to lose?

 

[Aberzanzorax]

WOW.


Just....wow.






I think I might be out on 5e at this point. I can trust the game, but not the company.


I sincerely hope that 4e is retrocloned and all 4e players get great new free character builders (already been done better than WotC), VTTS (maptool, better than WotC), print books, and everything they (we) need to get our game on.

Here's hoping for a "Paizo" of sorts (KenzerCo?) for 4e players.


Cuz, man, I just have ZERO faith in WotC going forward (or, hell, going backwards regarding stewardship of the game...not a system...the game itself).


WotC has shown a very strong and reliable pattern...one of consistent failure...but it's been strong and reliable to be sure.

 

[darkwing]

...read internet messageboards, the best source of free business advice available! Generally, you do get what you pay for, but what have they got to lose?

Well they do know how make money from MTG. But it's pretty clear they don't know what they're doing with D&D. The last financial statement I read from them only mentioned D&D for their income from licensing to 3rd parties.

 

[Fifth Element]

I think I might be out on 5e at this point. I can trust the game, but not the company.

Careful, there might be a baby in that bathwater. I don't understand the emotional attachment people place on the companies rather than the games. If 5E is the awesomest edition of D&D ever, why would WotC's failed 4E VTT affect a decision to play it?

Well they do know how make money from MTG. But it's pretty clear they don't know what they're doing with D&D. The last financial statement I read from them only mentioned D&D for their income from licensing to 3rd parties.

That would be a Hasbro statement, I assume? That just goes to show what small potatoes D&D is from the Hasbro standpoint, which in turn puts the lie to various claims of Hasbro meddling in the game (not relevant to this thread, but a common sight in many others).

If they know how to make money from Magic, then they have at least some business sense. Which makes your statement of "if they had any" specious.

 

[Aberzanzorax]

Oh, and they need to get movin on this page:
Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page - Tools

(The link to the VTT page mentions nothing about cancellation).



Also, funnily enough, you can "check out" dungeon and dragon "magazine"...

downloading a "sample" issue from
2008 http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/dragon/364/364_Dragon.pdf
2008 http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/dungeon/155/155_Dungeon.pdf

(When the magazines were of better quality, actually compiled, and longer).



Just pointing out the theme of "overpromise (and lead people to believe in more than they get) and underdeliver".

 

[Pour]

I sincerely hope that 4e is retrocloned and all 4e players get great new free character builders (already been done better than WotC), VTTS (maptool, better than WotC), print books, and everything they (we) need to get our game on.

Here's hoping for a "Paizo" of sorts (KenzerCo?) for 4e players.

It's not 100% ported, but I'm interested in Pelgrane's 13th Age. They do good stuff over there, and Heinsoo and Tweet are the leads. I won't give up on 4e, though. I've had too much fun with it to just toss it aside, parent company failures or not. Come join us at fourthparty and help support!