|
1 year ago ::
Apr 10, 2012 - 5:44PM
#1
|
Date Joined:
Jun 25, 2006
|
I would like to see D&D Next get the virtual table top that was presented in the early days of 4e! www.youtube.com/watch?v=m20AJvdzAdo
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Apr 10, 2012 - 5:51PM
#2
|
Date Joined:
May 23, 2005
|
That would be rather difficult considering the company programming it went out of business prior to 4e's release.
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Apr 10, 2012 - 9:41PM
#3
|
Date Joined:
Jun 25, 2006
|
So no one else could ever make the product again lol... Really the one hour game is more realistic for a VTT format than any other form itself. Though encounters is succesful, getting to a store is not always possible for a good majority of want to be players. Having a good VTT could be an outstanding way to push interest in the product. I believe to main reason MTG and WoW is that the game is easily accessible. MTG only takes two people to play so finding time for it and scheduling time for it is relatively easy. A WoW player can log in anytime of the day and play by themselves or others at thier whims. I believe that a good VTT is key to maintaining interest. Even if WOTC do not make thier own supporting an already established program with exclusive content could be key.
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Apr 10, 2012 - 10:57PM
#4
|
Date Joined:
Jun 29, 2010
|
The problem is $$$.
This nation is spiraling down the toilet as we speak. 55% of the population make less than $30k/yr. 85% make less than $50k/yr. Less than 1/3 of Americans have any form of digital reading device like a tablet. Huge numbers still don't have internet access, or at least not faster than dialup. Food and gas prices are driving us deeper into debt, with no real relief on the horizon. I don't mean to be a downer, but frankly we're lucky to still have electric light to read our pen and paper gaming by.
There are some good applications coming out that partially emulate a full VTT (Tabletop Forge through G+ hangout for instance), but they still require computers and internet that simply aren't available to a lot of players. It's a good idea to have it as an option for those that want it, but until basic life necessities are ubiquitous it's unlikely advanced digital toys are going to be. I'd personally be fine seeing the availability of these options, but desperately want to see a return to home groups, basements, corner gaming store groups, pen/paper/dice/imagination only games, etc. For the vast majority of people those cheap, old school alternatives are likely to be all we can afford in the coming years.
DISCLAIMER - Everything said by anyone is absolute subjective opinion. There are no objective claims being made by me, or anyone else, unless they overtly state 'The following is an objective claim'. At this point if you choose to be offended by anything I (or anyone else) say the problem is ENTIRELY your own.
WotC won't let us give them money because they won't produce a game we want to play.
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Apr 11, 2012 - 5:39AM
#5
|
|
|
I don't know any table top gamers that don't have a computer and the internet; we are geeks after all. And products like fantasy grounds makes money and only costs a one time outlay of 35$ or something... less than a standand video game.
WOTC should just buy fantasy grounds or something similar. The program is polished, the icing would be a way to import data directly from the compendium rather than having to parse compendium, but it works seamlessly with 4e, and I'm sure would be easy to port to DDN.
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Apr 11, 2012 - 5:43AM
#6
|
Date Joined:
Oct 24, 2007
|
I don't know any table top gamers that don't have a computer and the internet; we are geeks after all. ....
I know one who doesn't have a computer or video game console. They do exist. (I'm not saying a virtual tabletop isn't a good idea, I'm just saying there are D&D players who don't own a computer and many more players who own a desktop but not a laptop or tablet.)
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Apr 11, 2012 - 5:55AM
#7
|
|
|
I don't know any table top gamers that don't have a computer and the internet; we are geeks after all. ....
I know one who doesn't have a computer or video game console. They do exist. (I'm not saying a virtual tabletop isn't a good idea, I'm just saying there are D&D players who don't own a computer and many more players who own a desktop but not a laptop or tablet.)
Ok - you know one - I don't know any... my point is that it's rare. To suggest a VTT isn't viable because of the cost of internet or a computer doesn't make much sense to me. And a laptop or tablet isn't necessary to use a VTT.
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Apr 11, 2012 - 4:14PM
#8
|
Date Joined:
Jun 25, 2006
|
In truth, I think the economy is harder on the Game Shop than the Gamer. Any gaming store owner will tell you that it is MTG that keeps the money rolling in. They may even have other revenue streams such as airsoft, snacks, video game lounges, war hammer…etc. RPGs are not in themselves enough to provide a revenue stream to keep them open. Even playing at the game store allows the hobby to be noticed, but does not directly translate to sales. There are many gamers who may spend more on gas to get to “D&D Encounters” than they ever spend on books or materials. First off, by no means do I think the VTT should be needed to play D&D Next. I absolutely love to play around the old wooden table every chance I get. What I am looking at is the efficiency computers can bring to the gaming table in comparison to support the one hour game. How a VTT can support the one hour game and increase playability of a flexible rules system we all hope to have. One way the VTT speeds up game is by shrinking DM’s work. “Math is hard,” quoted Barbie the Doll! No matter what an atomic damage calculated system is easier for most DM. Not in the sense that addition and subtraction is a difficult task, but constantly switching between a creative narrator and a judge is a far more complex task than the single turn player. Having electronic aids is the simplest way of proving quick tracking of the numbers. One of the most successful things about early editions of D&D and AD&D was the focus on story rather than rules. Doing anything that can keep the DMs mind focused on reacting to the players in context to the story is always going to improve the game. Most of the DM’s time should be spent immersing the players in the world. Whether it is clarifying the battlefield for combat oriented players or explaining the amazing site of a dwarven underground temple to the explorer type role-player. Does D&D Next need to reinvent the wheel to provide this system? Not really, as others have pointed out other VTT systems are available. One way to save money and time is to allow exportable packages to another VTT. I would happily pay for official WOTC virtual token sets and dungeon tiles. I would love to see some of the maps from dungeon and the published adventures released as downloadable packages. It would be nice that the rules set and character creator be released to a VTT company that can manage the updating of the system. All in All I do believe that things like dungeon tiles and rules books still have a physical existence on my real wooden table. The right way to play D&D is always around the physical table, but the game should not suffer popularity and playability in a world were electronic aids can shrink the distances and provide more time for gaming.
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Apr 11, 2012 - 4:46PM
#9
|
Date Joined:
Oct 24, 2007
|
I don't know any table top gamers that don't have a computer and the internet; we are geeks after all. ....
I know one who doesn't have a computer or video game console. They do exist. (I'm not saying a virtual tabletop isn't a good idea, I'm just saying there are D&D players who don't own a computer and many more players who own a desktop but not a laptop or tablet.)
Ok - you know one - I don't know any... my point is that it's rare. To suggest a VTT isn't viable because of the cost of internet or a computer doesn't make much sense to me. And a laptop or tablet isn't necessary to use a VTT.
I never suggested a virtual tabletop isn't viable. In fact in the very paragraph you quoted I said "I'm not saying a virtual tabletop isn't a good idea."
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Apr 13, 2012 - 7:48AM
#10
|
Date Joined:
Apr 23, 2009
|
I tried playing online and didn't love it. I would try it again though maybe as a player. I do think that some people can't find a local group due to geography so those people won't buy the game at all if they can't use the VTT. So the VTT would easily pay for itself. Another thing. They could just make a deal with Fantasy Grounds to provide all the content up front and include it as part of DDI. I'm sure Fantasy grounds would give WOTC a massive discount if every single DDI subscriber bought it as part of their subscription.
The current VTT table though is perhaps good. I haven't tried it yet since I'm not signed up for DDI. I'll probably reup when they have the playtest. (Hint hint WOTC. hurry on that playtest).
I think another revenue stream for WOTC would be print on demand of adventure paths that they do in DDI. That way some people could just pay for the adventure path in book form. Hey some DDI subscribers might do it just to have the book. If it is print on demand they don't have much up front cost.
|
|
|
