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4 years ago ::
Apr 24, 2009 - 11:14AM
#11
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- Senior Volunteer Community Lead
- Dragon Slayer
- D&DI News Guide
Date Joined:
Aug 31, 2005
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While it is nice that you have said now that you are working on something, why don't you guys just go ahead and announce the cancelation of the other applications at this point?
Because a backburner does not a cancellation make.
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 ::
Apr 24, 2009 - 11:20AM
#12
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Date Joined:
Jul 26, 2003
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Because a backburner does not a cancellation make.
Talk like that will make you the first one against the wall when the revolution comes. :D
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4 years ago ::
Apr 24, 2009 - 11:23AM
#13
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Date Joined:
Mar 28, 2008
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Thanks Trevor for the update and clarification. I think the community (with certain exceptions) is generally happy with direct communication, even if it isn't all good news.
I'm excited to see what you and the team envision for the next tool. Keep the updates coming, even if it is just to say something mundane or technical. Given the polish on the CB and compendium, I'm looking forward to another top tier product.
As for those that are disappointed by the VTT delay, I can understand, but I don't recall ever being PROMISED anything? I saw some plans and some promotion of the plans, but plans change. Stuff happens. Its okay. I'm only paying for what I've got access to.
Anyway, thanks for info, and good luck.
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4 years ago ::
Apr 24, 2009 - 11:27AM
#14
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Date Joined:
Jan 20, 2006
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For crying out loud, guys. You wanted word from WotC on what they were working on. They told you, and you guys are still being brats to them? And you wonder why Wizards is so reluctant to share plans with its fanbase. Stop being awful.
To WotC: thank you. Assuming they are of comparable quality to the Character Builder, these tools will see a lot of use.
Tales from the Rusty Dragon (http://rustydragon.blogspot.com) - A 4th Edition Conversion Project Covering Paizo's Rise of the Runelords Adventure Path
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4 years ago ::
Apr 24, 2009 - 11:43AM
#15
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Date Joined:
Sep 28, 2006
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I can understand this decision.
When they first imagined the various digital tools, way back when, they came up with the 4 things that they figured that people would want:
[list=1]
Character builder;
Character visualizer;
Virtual Game Table;
Dungeon Builder.
There was probably some discussion on how it would be cool to be able to take the output from one and pull it into another, especially with the Dungeon Builder and the Game Table.
The following was imagined after 3 bottles of coke and a couple bags of skittles. And semblance to reality should be considered tenuous, at best.
*****
[INDENT]The Character builder was released, and quickly became favourite amongst many of the staff members. However there was still a significant number of holdouts who preferred the "right way" to make a character. Paper, pencil and flipping pages. "It's a fad" they said.
And then, lo, the shining voice of Chris Perkins emerged from the darkness:
[indent]There are lots of tools for players, but why not get more tools for DMs. Let them make the dungeon, populate it, build encounters and manage their whole campaign.[/indent]
There was a pause, followed by a hue and cry from the rest of the staff.
[indent]Our DMs will never stand for that! Encounters, campaigns, combat. You cannot reduce those things to electrons! They are living, breathing creations. Our DMs would not stand for that.[/indent]
Chris Perkins smiled at them with the amused smile of a father looking at his child who just told him that it would be a good idea to mix chocolate in with the spaghetti sauce.
[indent]Go ahead, ask them, those who would use our products. Ask them whether they would like this idea.[/indent]
And lo, the response came back overwhelmingly in favour of this idea, and a new path was chosen.[/INDENT]
******
In all seriousity, doing the campaign tools first has the opportunity to be a good thing for WotC. If they ensure that the output of the campaign manager is able to be fully intergrated into the Game table, the release of the game table will be greeted with not only the content that has been put out by WotC, but with Content that has been created by the customers.
WotC will know, with the GT, what is required due to what people are creating, as opposed to finding out afterwards what people are creating with the campaign manager. The Campaign Manager can thus become, in my mind, the central tool from which the other tools are launched for the DM. Dungeon Builder, Game Table, a tool to manage combat.
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4 years ago ::
Apr 24, 2009 - 11:46AM
#16
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Date Joined:
May 23, 2005
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So its official the original tools that many of us have looked forward to are dead (at least for now and imop probably for good).
Thats it for me for 4E, I'm going back to 3.5 until Wotc can provide me with what was originally promised. I want the visualizer, dungeon builder and virtual table top we were promised, not a bait and switch!
First they pull pdfs now this, well I'm pulling my money and I hope many others do also; it seems to be all Wotc / Hasbro understands.
I think the old saying is "Don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya"
Bye bye
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4 years ago ::
Apr 24, 2009 - 11:51AM
#17
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Date Joined:
Mar 19, 2008
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Ok...clarification.
Yes...I'd like to see the game table first. That's me being greedy.
But my schedule means I can only play online now. So a tool that directly enables that is at the top of *my* list.
Campaign tools are all well and good. To me they only really come into use if linked to other tools. Direct import from a character builder...export to a game table...things like that.
So...I'm disappointed that the next tool isn't what *I* would most like.
I'm very pleased to hear solid news.
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4 years ago ::
Apr 24, 2009 - 12:33PM
#18
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Date Joined:
Jun 14, 2006
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I think those of that did the initial buy-in under the anticipated production of the Visual Table Top would at least like to know that there is a back burner. It seems by their own admission that they were working solely on the CB previously. They now announce these campaign tools, and ignore the VTT. If their attention was hard pressed with CB (to the exclusion of all other projects if I read correctly), now that they are doing campaign tool and still updating CB will there actually be ANY work done on the VTT at all? Many of us have waited patiently for the VTT to reach fruition. We were saddened to see the VTT and character visualizer pulled from the webpage of DDI but understood that they took some heat on the delays over CB launch so those loyal fans practiced "don't ask/wait for them to tell." But if the VTT is totally getting sidelined (more like the injured reserve as it seems it will be ignored in development as it has been in this communication), this requires some customer relations on the part of Wizards. I talked about this on my previous rants. I was directed here hoping to see some glimmer of hope and recommitment on Wizard's part toward developing the VTT as one of the key components of the 4th edition/DDI package they used to drive initial interest in their new product line. I have yet to see that have the slightest concern over this additional delay of VTT. If they are so cavalier about a subject that was their pursuading argument (and the hook I bit upon) then I seem to have significant differences with the folks running this company. I am not saying that we have not gotten value for what we paid thus far (some folks keep thinking that is my point). I am saying that we were lead to believe that our support of 4th edition and DDI would lead to these products. And now those products are in limbo, not being discussed, and if Ricky Ricardo was in my gaming group he would certainly tell Wizards, "You got some 'splainin' to do." As a customer I know I am waiting for the explanation and won't be returning to the store until I am satisfied.
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4 years ago ::
Apr 24, 2009 - 12:42PM
#19
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Date Joined:
Jun 26, 2008
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Previously, we focused all of our energies and effort into making the Character Builder the best tool it could be. We're going to continue that focused effort as we move forward - we're just shifting our attention to the Campaign Tools. Once we have the Campaign Tools out and we're as happy with them as we are with the Character Builder, we'll have a better idea of what our next step is.
While I really love the Character Builder, I have to take issue with Trevor's statement. I and many others are still unable to update the CB on certain computers. This problem has existed since launch and shows no signs of being fixed. If that's WoTC's idea of making the CB "the best tool it could be", then I suggest we should all be more than a little concerned about the quality of the Campaign Manager or any other DDI program presented in the future.
I'm also concerned, based on Trevor's statement, that WoTC's limited resources are being shifted so completely to the CM that the problems with the CB will be given short shrift if they are given any attention at all. A little reassurance would go a long way here. What say you WoTC?
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4 years ago ::
Apr 24, 2009 - 12:57PM
#20
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Date Joined:
Sep 19, 2004
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If I was the manager of this team, I would pull a google on them, and allow one day a week that they can work on any (d&d related) project they want - including the back-burnered tools, extra bonus tools for the website, heck updating the old web based Dungeon Tile builder with all the sets.
These guys might come up with an idea that no-one knew they needed, and the other projects would slowly move towards completion.
I'm assuming a number (1 or 2) of people on the team are staying on working on the character builder (and probably the compendium at the same time) as it does have a lot of monthly needed work, so other people could pop over and pitch in if thats what they feel like working on.
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