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4 years ago ::
Feb 12, 2009 - 5:39PM
#81
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Date Joined:
Aug 11, 2006
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SHow some progress and maybe they can convince skeptics like me that the rest of the so-called 'digital initiative' isn't just vaporware.
You don't think the Character Builder is progress? I do. People were clamoring for that as evidence of progress. They JUST released it... Now, it's not good enough?
Come on...
I want the other tools just as much as the next guy, but I see progress and effort and I am optimistic WotC will take D&D Insider in the right direction with what capabilities they have.
The new update to the Compendium looks awesome, and I for one would rather them focus on refining the current suite of tools and then focusing on the next major tool.
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4 years ago ::
Feb 12, 2009 - 5:46PM
#82
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Date Joined:
May 11, 2004
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You don't think the Character Builder is progress? I do. People were clamoring for that as evidence of progress. They JUST released it... Now, it's not good enough?
Come on...
I want the other tools just as much as the next guy, but I see progress and effort and I am optimistic WotC will take D&D Insider in the right direction with what capabilities they have.
The new update to the Compendium looks awesome, and I for one would rather them focus on refining the current suite of tools and then focusing on the next major tool.
I would have taken the Character builder as progress if they had not done so many things afterwards that made it look like they were releasing the character builder and calling it quits, such as evading the question of what, if anything, they are working on next, taking the rest of the things off the 'coming soon' link in Insider, that sort of thing. Even their poll seemed a lot more slaneted toward asking "How can we make the existing stuff better?" than "What do we need to work on next?"
Everything they have done and said since releasing the character builder says to me that they are pushing that out, hoping it makes enough people happy that they can call the Digital Initiative 'Not a COMPLETE failure' and calling it a day. I welcome them showing me I am wrong, but so far, bupkis.
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4 years ago ::
Feb 12, 2009 - 5:55PM
#83
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Date Joined:
Mar 27, 2004
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I would call it progress if it actually was usable without the DDi Ransom.
Terms you should know... Spoiler:
Show
Kit Build - A class build that is self sustaining and has mechanical differences than the normal scale. Started in Essentials. Most are call their own terms, though the Base Class should be said in front of their own terms (Like Assassin/Executioner)
Power Points - A mechanic that was wedged into the PHB3 classes (with the exception of the Monk) from the previous editions. This time, they are used to augment At Wills to be Encounters, thus eliminating the need to choose powers past 4th level.
Mage Builds - Kit builds that are schools of magic for the Wizard. A call back to the previous editions powering up of the wizard. (Wizard/Necromancer, for example) Unlike the previous kit builds, Wizards simply lose their Scribe Rituals feature and most likely still can choose powers from any build, unlike the Kit Builds.
Parcel System - A treasure distribution method that keeps adventurers poor while forcing/advising the DM to get wish lists from players. The version 2.0 rolls for treasure instead of making a list, and is incomplete because of the lack of clarity about magic item rarity.
ha ha
Show
They will Essentialize the Essentials classes, otherwise known as Essentials2.
The new sub-sub-classes will be:
* Magician. A subsubclass of Mage, the magician has two implements, wand and hat, one familiar (rabbit) and series of basic tricks.
* Crook. A subsubclass of Thief, the Crook can only use a shiv, which allows him to use his only power... Shank.
* Angry Vicar, a subsubclass of warpriest, the angry vicar has two attacks -- Shame and Lecture.
* Hitter. A subsubclass of Slayer, the Hitter hits things.
* Gatherer. A subsubclass of Hunter, it doesn't actually do anything, but pick up the stuff other players might leave behind.
Future Essentials2 classes include the Security Guard (Sentinel2), the Hexknife (Hexblade2), the Webelos (Scout2), the Gallant (Cavalier2) and the Goofus (Knight2).
These will all be detailed in the box set called Heroes of the Futile Marketing.
(Though what they should really release tomorrow is the Essentialized version of the Witchalok!)
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4 years ago ::
Feb 12, 2009 - 6:03PM
#84
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Date Joined:
Aug 11, 2006
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I would call it progress if it actually was usable without the DDi Ransom.
I hope you don't mean the measly $5 a month it costs to have access to two online magazines, a slew of bonus tools, the ridiculously useful Compendium, and the Character Builder?
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4 years ago ::
Feb 13, 2009 - 1:11AM
#85
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Date Joined:
Jul 24, 2008
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I think that if you love a game you should support your hobby. Buy the books or subscribe to the ddi. The only way anything ever gets done is with money. Think of it this way. If everyone subscribed to ddi that was on the forum, WotC would put more attention into releasing the tool you are longing for. You want to see one or two tools. I want to see them all come out. I don't care what order but I know that i support WotC and they will make things happen if we support them.
Support your hobby. Don't wait for things to happen help them come to pass.
And in kind to this comment - your hobby must also support you.
When you buy a model plane, you generally get instructions and glue with it.
In this instance, the back of the core instructions say 'many different types of glue are available online' and then you go online and can't find any information about when or even if the glue will be available. And now we have a survey that asks 'what kind of glue do you want, because we don't really know what type to work on next (with undertones of "because we want your money")'. It seems like the direction should have been obvious before the ad was put in the source books!
I will subscribe the moment I see reviews of a functional game table.
Not a second before.
I agree completely. I have played with the Character Builder demo, and the other free content I can access. But I do not pay for vaporware. I am still waiting for my glue to be able to play the game as I visualised it (with friends and strangers from around then world, using a game table application which brings them together and allows them to play together easily!).
I am the 'new blood' demographic that WoTC wants. The last D&D purchase I made before 4e was the three core rulebooks for 3e over 8 years ago. I have purchased every hardcover rulebook and every module for 4e. I have disposable income. I love how the game mechanics play.
But my friends across the world and I are still waiting to play together, as promised. Maybe I need to speak with my wallet and stop buying the books - because although the content is great - without the glue it's just a bunch of pieces that won't stay together.
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4 years ago ::
Feb 13, 2009 - 4:54AM
#86
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- Senior Volunteer Community Lead
- Dragon Slayer
- D&DI News Guide
Date Joined:
Aug 31, 2005
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I hope you don't mean the measly $5 a month it costs to have access to two online magazines, a slew of bonus tools, the ridiculously useful Compendium, and the Character Builder?
thaX has a tendency to toss around highly negative terms for anything he doesn't like.
A subscription fee is a ransom. Windows features he doesn't like are viruses, and so on.
Wolf Star76 Community Advocate (SVCL) for D&D Organized Play, Avalon Hill, and the DCI/WPN LFR Community Manager DDi Guide  Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter
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4 years ago ::
Feb 13, 2009 - 7:35AM
#87
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Date Joined:
Dec 31, 2004
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GAME TABLE, GAME TABLE, GAME TABLE!!!! that is what should be next and then the dungeon builder. If they just include a 20x20 grid with a few tiles and a some tokens to act as monsters/people, then it can serve as a dungeon map until everything else is fully fleshed out. The DM can be descriptive in his language and cover all the other stuff. The goal is to start playing online now with an official WotC product. The visualizer should be last since that is something I GUARANTEE is going to start out extremely weak, i mean like WOW weak, which to me has the wackest Character Gen I have ever seen. I swear I can't believe how popular that game is, I finally started playing for a month in January, and I have never in my life seen so much hype for something so simple and cheesey. No pkilling or looting of people corpses and no risk of losing anything when you die?!?!? LOLOL but I digress,
1) Game Table with limited board/grid design
2) Dungeon Builder with Monsters
3) Character Visualizer (please include black characters as an option)
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4 years ago ::
Feb 13, 2009 - 3:29PM
#88
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Date Joined:
Mar 27, 2004
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thaX has a tendency to toss around highly negative terms for anything he doesn't like.
A subscription fee is a ransom. Windows features he doesn't like are viruses, and so on.
Windows has features?
Sorry, but DRM structures that slow or debilitate OS's are not a feature.
And yes, I consider the monthly fee of 7.95 (or 5 if you get hit with a 60 buck year buy in) a ransom, specially since a better type of yearly renewal is available for a stand alone program, with an updater like a virus program does. I think a 40 buck buy at a store and a 10 buck annual update renewal would have been a better route, and maybe could even have had CMP or another third party (with far supperior programing skills) could have done it for them.
It is my hope that something will be offered sometime in the future that isn't attached to DDi, with the ghosts of the former mags, and the nice tools that use to be free for the previous edition.
Oh, and I still think that the Visualizer will be next to be released, even if something else is worked on.
Terms you should know... Spoiler:
Show
Kit Build - A class build that is self sustaining and has mechanical differences than the normal scale. Started in Essentials. Most are call their own terms, though the Base Class should be said in front of their own terms (Like Assassin/Executioner)
Power Points - A mechanic that was wedged into the PHB3 classes (with the exception of the Monk) from the previous editions. This time, they are used to augment At Wills to be Encounters, thus eliminating the need to choose powers past 4th level.
Mage Builds - Kit builds that are schools of magic for the Wizard. A call back to the previous editions powering up of the wizard. (Wizard/Necromancer, for example) Unlike the previous kit builds, Wizards simply lose their Scribe Rituals feature and most likely still can choose powers from any build, unlike the Kit Builds.
Parcel System - A treasure distribution method that keeps adventurers poor while forcing/advising the DM to get wish lists from players. The version 2.0 rolls for treasure instead of making a list, and is incomplete because of the lack of clarity about magic item rarity.
ha ha
Show
They will Essentialize the Essentials classes, otherwise known as Essentials2.
The new sub-sub-classes will be:
* Magician. A subsubclass of Mage, the magician has two implements, wand and hat, one familiar (rabbit) and series of basic tricks.
* Crook. A subsubclass of Thief, the Crook can only use a shiv, which allows him to use his only power... Shank.
* Angry Vicar, a subsubclass of warpriest, the angry vicar has two attacks -- Shame and Lecture.
* Hitter. A subsubclass of Slayer, the Hitter hits things.
* Gatherer. A subsubclass of Hunter, it doesn't actually do anything, but pick up the stuff other players might leave behind.
Future Essentials2 classes include the Security Guard (Sentinel2), the Hexknife (Hexblade2), the Webelos (Scout2), the Gallant (Cavalier2) and the Goofus (Knight2).
These will all be detailed in the box set called Heroes of the Futile Marketing.
(Though what they should really release tomorrow is the Essentialized version of the Witchalok!)
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4 years ago ::
Feb 13, 2009 - 7:47PM
#89
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- Senior Volunteer Community Lead
- Dragon Slayer
- D&DI News Guide
Date Joined:
Aug 31, 2005
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Oh, and I still think that the Visualizer will be next to be released, even if something else is worked on.
You also said that before the Character Builder was released, and we see how well that worked out.
You're certainly entitled to your opinions, I'm just trying to help someone new to these forums see how skewed you present them. Again - there's little wrong with that, you feel how you feel - but if others express incredulity at your bias, well. . . that's their opinion as well.
Wolf Star76 Community Advocate (SVCL) for D&D Organized Play, Avalon Hill, and the DCI/WPN LFR Community Manager DDi Guide Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter
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4 years ago ::
Feb 13, 2009 - 7:54PM
#90
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Date Joined:
Aug 14, 2006
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Based on what has been stated by WoTC recently and the fact that they took down the information about the Visualizer, Dungeon Builder, and Game Table, I truly believe that they have abandoned those projects and they will never release them. What you see for D&Di is what the only thing that they will do.
I hope I am wrong, but sadly, I don't think I am.
So, this thread is worthless as they won't be working on any of them.
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