Would you subscribe to DDI if it supported older editions?

[sjmiller]

I voted no. The reason why is that I do not like the subscription model of the DDI. Buying a subscription to internet tools that do not work once I stop subscribing, or that I lose access to the articles is unacceptable to me. I want to access the material when and where I want without purchasing it over and over again. Besides, I am unemployed right now, and expenses like that are out of the question. Not only that, but how much would a good character builder cost? I would say it costs about as much as a month or two of subscription. So basically each year you are buying six to twelve copies of a character builder program. That is just nuts, if you ask me.

 

[Aeolius]

Ideally, I'd prefer that WotC put ALL 3e/3.5e materials into the OGL, then leave it alone.

I might be interested in a DDI for 3.5e, if the entire application was platform-neutral, had a DDI that supported movement in three dimensions, and had a character builder that could accommodate the occasional psionic awakened octopus or dire black pudding PC. It would also require a new campaign setting available only to DDI subscribers, an iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad app, and a killer soundtrack.

(in other words... Lemon Curry)

 

[Keefe the Thief]

I voted no. The reason why is that I do not like the subscription model of the DDI. Buying a subscription to internet tools that do not work once I stop subscribing, or that I lose access to the articles is unacceptable to me. I want to access the material when and where I want without purchasing it over and over again. Besides, I am unemployed right now, and expenses like that are out of the question. Not only that, but how much would a good character builder cost? I would say it costs about as much as a month or two of subscription. So basically each year you are buying six to twelve copies of a character builder program. That is just nuts, if you ask me.

You pay for the updated builder and all the content from Dungeon/Dragon/books you never bought. That data does not enter itself into a database, and it´s not "just a job for the intern."

Anyway, i voted Lemon Curry: i have a DDI sub, but would pay money for the availability of older edition content.

 

[sjmiller]

You pay for the updated builder and all the content from Dungeon/Dragon/books you never bought. That data does not enter itself into a database, and it´s not "just a job for the intern."

Anyway, i voted Lemon Curry: i have a DDI sub, but would pay money for the availability of older edition content.

First off, I never claimed it was just a job for the intern. I know how hard it is to accurately update coordinated databases, I used to do that for a living.

Second, if I have not bought a book, why on earth would I want that in the character builder? The character builder would (I imagine, I do not subscribe) not give you every bit of information in those books, so integrating it into your campaign is just asking for trouble. Plus, if I did not buy a book it is probably because I did not want that book. Why would I want things added that I do not want?

Finally, what happens when you stop subscribing? Can you still use the various builders? Can you access the articles from Dragon and Dungeon? If you cannot, what are you "buying"? Sounds more like you are leasing access to me.

 

[malraux]

First off, I never claimed it was just a job for the intern. I know how hard it is to accurately update coordinated databases, I used to do that for a living.

Second, if I have not bought a book, why on earth would I want that in the character builder? The character builder would (I imagine, I do not subscribe) not give you every bit of information in those books, so integrating it into your campaign is just asking for trouble.

FWIW, with a very few exceptions, the character builder/compendium does give you all the info from the crunch books. The only thing I can think of off hand is that the rules for arcane familiars are not listed, but those are relatively straight foreword.

Finally, what happens when you stop subscribing? Can you still use the various builders? Can you access the articles from Dragon and Dungeon? If you cannot, what are you "buying"? Sounds more like you are leasing access to me.

you get to keep the character builder, adventure tool/monster builder and all the dungeon and dragon issues you had downloaded. Obviously the CB and AT no longer update with new information, but there's no disabling of the apps.