Would you subscribe to DDI if it supported older editions?

[carmachu]

Yeah, I don't ever expect any kind of support for older editions...but if they did, as far as Dungeon/Dragon is concerned, the occasional odd article is probably all that could be expected. Other than that, a basic Character Builder/Monster Builder/Encounter Builder would probably be all we could expect for support. Most likely just core books only though. The kind of investment needed to include all 3E splatbooks/accessories in a Compendium type application would probably be so extensive as to be prohibitive.

But this is all just a purely speculative toy for entertainment purposes. I wouldn't expect anyone at WotC to really care about any of this. I think the chance of older edition support is probably worse than the chances for that proverbial snowball surviving in the afterlife.

Right, its all hypothical.

But if hypothically asking me to spend real money, It would have to be real support. Just thrown a bone and an article wouldnt do it. I'm not spending between 10-15 dollars for the occassional article.

 

[Nikosandros]

I haven't voted on the poll, because I'm currently a subscriber, but I would love older edition support. Alas, it's never going to happen.

I would also be keen on a character builder and monster builder for Pathfinder. Those two could happen, as it could be a project independent from WotC.

 

[rgard]

I voted 3e and Pathfinder. Either or both would get my subscription.

 

[Moon_Goddess]

I voted Lemon Curry becuase I already subscribe to DDI


Nothing through the comments I find that appearently I don't same idea of what DDI support means to others.

You ask me if I want DDI support for 3.5 that means compendium to me.... I don't care if they never printed an article of adventure, had a game table or any of that nonsense.... I'd pay for a 3.5 Compendium.

 

[ExploderWizard]

Older (pre-WOTC) edition articles and adventures would be nice but the game systems themselves are simple enough to not need tools really. Its one of the strengths of simpler rules.

Statblocks and character sheets are easy enough that any sort of builder would be more than overkill.

 

[rogueattorney]

OD&D/1e:

Here's the thing... Would it be any better than what's already out there for free?

There are reasonably accurate re-presentations of the rules out there for free.

There's a fairly regular fanzine put out for free.

There's a few relatively well-populated and active discussion groups for free.

Dragonsfoot.org puts out some pretty nice free adventures and other resources.

There are free character and dungeon builders out there, and if you look, you can find the two 1e DM's Assistants that SSI put out in the late 80's.

There are ton of 1e/OD&D themed blogs, many of which are very well written.

Now, take the free stuff I've already got, and ask whether what DDI would give me for a year's subscription would give me more than I would be able to purchase from other places. For example, I'm pretty sure that for the price of a year's subscription to the DDI, I could get the entire year's run of Knockspell, Fight On!, and OD&Dities. Or I could get every adventure produced by XRP during that year. Or I could get nice hard copies of OSRIC, S&W, Labyrinth Lord, and Mutant Future.

So, I would never say never. I just have a hard time seeing how they could make it worth my while short of going on a 90's-era-TSR IP infringement search-and-destroy mission bloodbath of the type that would more likely cause me to leave the rpg hobby altogether and never again consider purchasing any Hasbro product for rest of my life.

 

[Mournblade94]

If it was as worthwhile for the older editions as it is for 4e, I would enthusiastically subscribe. I would even amend that to if it was CLOSE to its usefulness to 4e.

If it included older editions as a token effort I would not.

 

[Dark Mistress]

I said yes but it would need to also be very easy to include 3rd party stuff and tweak things for house rules and the like. It would need to be very user friendly to allow that. Do that and support for older editions and I would be interested in it.

 

[Dire Bare]

I'm currently a subscriber. I play and DM 4e when I get a chance, and I play Pathfinder/3.x with friends. I'd be happy to play other editions if any of my friends wanted to, but nobody is interested (which is okay, too).

If the monthly content on DDI started seriously supporting older editions . . . I'd probably drop my subscription. It would be a terrible mistake of WotC to do this (not that I'm worried they will), as it would confuse the subscriber base and keep things too fragmented.

Now, if they decided to release a one-time "expansion" to the Character Builder (and other tools) to support each earlier edition, with no new content, I'd support that.

Let's say, you pay $30 or something, and you're Character Builder is updated with the 3.5 ruleset and all the crunchy bits from all the 3.x books. Maybe another $30 would get you the 2nd Ed ruleset in all its complex glory. And so on.

But new monthly content? No thanks.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

And I don't even like Lemon Curry, but that's what I voted for.

I can't ever see them doing a character builder for previous editions, as that'd be just too much effort for what's (to them) an unsupported product.

Now, I do think they should make available PDFs of old supplements, adventures, etc. Like they used to.

Brad