Initially the VT was a big seller for me, and the fact that it's taken a back seat torqued me for some time. Only now am I getting into 4E, and yes, I have subscribed to DDI.
I haven't found Dungeon or Dragon to be particularlly useful as of yet, and there is a lot of back issues to go through... so the fact that I have found little of interest is disturbing.
That said, WOTC has made up big ground with the Character Builder and the Monster Creator. As a DM I found these tools to be indespensible. One of the main things is it takes the onus off of me to have every source book available just so I can say yay or nay to a character idea. Players buy rule supplements all the time and want to use the ideas presented there... and rightly so... they bought the book. But trying to keep track of every feat and power is an impossible task for someone with a life (dad, husband, work, etc). Now, I can make a reasonably informed decision on a rule without having to take out a second mortgage on my house. 3.5 was bloated with feats, skills, prestige classes, etc. and it was endless the things players would want to incorporate into their characters as a campaign progressed.
The rules reference is also handy for this reason as well.
As for the VT... I much prefer to game around the table anyway... I want real flesh and blood folks around me to make me laugh and interact with. If I can get them together I don't need the VT.
It's sad that WOTC hasn't man-upped and admited their error and spoke with some clarity on the issue, but they have done is work very hard to provide us some very useful and powerful tools for the game. As long as that continues they've got my monthly subscription (that is as long as it remains reasonably priced).
Initially the VT was a big seller for me, and the fact that it's taken a back seat torqued me for some time. Only now am I getting into 4E, and yes, I have subscribed to DDI.
I haven't found Dungeon or Dragon to be particularlly useful as of yet, and there is a lot of back issues to go through... so the fact that I have found little of interest is disturbing.
That said, WOTC has made up big ground with the Character Builder and the Monster Creator. As a DM I found these tools to be indespensible. One of the main things is it takes the onus off of me to have every source book available just so I can say yay or nay to a character idea. Players buy rule supplements all the time and want to use the ideas presented there... and rightly so... they bought the book. But trying to keep track of every feat and power is an impossible task for someone with a life (dad, husband, work, etc). Now, I can make a reasonably informed decision on a rule without having to take out a second mortgage on my house. 3.5 was bloated with feats, skills, prestige classes, etc. and it was endless the things players would want to incorporate into their characters as a campaign progressed.
The rules reference is also handy for this reason as well.
As for the VT... I much prefer to game around the table anyway... I want real flesh and blood folks around me to make me laugh and interact with. If I can get them together I don't need the VT.
It's sad that WOTC hasn't man-upped and admited their error and spoke with some clarity on the issue, but they have done is work very hard to provide us some very useful and powerful tools for the game. As long as that continues they've got my monthly subscription (that is as long as it remains reasonably priced).
I agree, I would much rather sit around a table with a bunch of smelly nerds and laugh at star trek jokes than play over the internet through voice chat and a virtual table, unfortunately like most who have a problem with the GT not being released, we don't have this option.
Initially the VT was a big seller for me, and the fact that it's taken a back seat torqued me for some time. Only now am I getting into 4E, and yes, I have subscribed to DDI.
I haven't found Dungeon or Dragon to be particularlly useful as of yet, and there is a lot of back issues to go through... so the fact that I have found little of interest is disturbing.
That said, WOTC has made up big ground with the Character Builder and the Monster Creator. As a DM I found these tools to be indespensible. One of the main things is it takes the onus off of me to have every source book available just so I can say yay or nay to a character idea. Players buy rule supplements all the time and want to use the ideas presented there... and rightly so... they bought the book. But trying to keep track of every feat and power is an impossible task for someone with a life (dad, husband, work, etc). Now, I can make a reasonably informed decision on a rule without having to take out a second mortgage on my house. 3.5 was bloated with feats, skills, prestige classes, etc. and it was endless the things players would want to incorporate into their characters as a campaign progressed.
The rules reference is also handy for this reason as well.
As for the VT... I much prefer to game around the table anyway... I want real flesh and blood folks around me to make me laugh and interact with. If I can get them together I don't need the VT.
It's sad that WOTC hasn't man-upped and admited their error and spoke with some clarity on the issue, but they have done is work very hard to provide us some very useful and powerful tools for the game. As long as that continues they've got my monthly subscription (that is as long as it remains reasonably priced).
First, they have come and admitted their error, and have apologized, several times. They bite of more then they could chew, had vendor issues, and were hit by the economy, forcing them to reduce staff. However, don't expect them to have to keep apologizing. Several times is enough.
When they assessed the situation, they made the choice to put the table and character visualizer on hold, with no firm date on when they will get back to it, and decided that they need to work on tools that will help make the game easier to play, namely tools for the DM.
The first was the Monster Builder, which is pretty awesome. As a DM, it's made making adventures for my group pretty quick.
They are still committed to a digital aspect of Dungeons and Dragons, and at GenCon, they said they are still planning on bringing it out. Other then that, no other details were given. NONE. So if you ask, when, the answer is, don't know. If you ask will it come in blue, the answer is don't know.
Initially the VT was a big seller for me, and the fact that it's taken a back seat torqued me for some time. Only now am I getting into 4E, and yes, I have subscribed to DDI.
I haven't found Dungeon or Dragon to be particularlly useful as of yet, and there is a lot of back issues to go through... so the fact that I have found little of interest is disturbing.
That said, WOTC has made up big ground with the Character Builder and the Monster Creator. As a DM I found these tools to be indespensible. One of the main things is it takes the onus off of me to have every source book available just so I can say yay or nay to a character idea. Players buy rule supplements all the time and want to use the ideas presented there... and rightly so... they bought the book. But trying to keep track of every feat and power is an impossible task for someone with a life (dad, husband, work, etc). Now, I can make a reasonably informed decision on a rule without having to take out a second mortgage on my house. 3.5 was bloated with feats, skills, prestige classes, etc. and it was endless the things players would want to incorporate into their characters as a campaign progressed.
The rules reference is also handy for this reason as well.
As for the VT... I much prefer to game around the table anyway... I want real flesh and blood folks around me to make me laugh and interact with. If I can get them together I don't need the VT.
It's sad that WOTC hasn't man-upped and admited their error and spoke with some clarity on the issue, but they have done is work very hard to provide us some very useful and powerful tools for the game. As long as that continues they've got my monthly subscription (that is as long as it remains reasonably priced).
First, they have come and admitted their error, and have apologized, several times. They bite of more then they could chew, had vendor issues, and were hit by the economy, forcing them to reduce staff. However, don't expect them to have to keep apologizing. Several times is enough.
When they assessed the situation, they made the choice to put the table and character visualizer on hold, with no firm date on when they will get back to it, and decided that they need to work on tools that will help make the game easier to play, namely tools for the DM.
The first was the Monster Builder, which is pretty awesome. As a DM, it's made making adventures for my group pretty quick.
They are still committed to a digital aspect of Dungeons and Dragons, and at GenCon, they said they are still planning on bringing it out. Other then that, no other details were given. NONE. So if you ask, when, the answer is, don't know. If you ask will it come in blue, the answer is don't know.
Yes, and thank you once again for minimizing our concerns. We know all this. We also know that WotC is just hoping the GT fanbase will just let it disapear into the ether without a passing thought. Most of us are simply not willing to let this happen.
Also WotC doesn't seem to be capable of learning from their mistakes as we see from every single peice of software they touch. These boards are a prime example. The monster building not being crossplatform is the other. They simply continue on oblivious to everything around them. About the only thing we can do is decide not to fund such a beast.
Personally, having used both of the new tools extensively at this point, think what WOTC has done is awesome. For YEARS we've been saying, "Make the DM's job easier and the game will grow."
Well, darn it, they are doing it... and you're not "going to fund such a beast" ??
Well, I fully intend to, and am looking forward to what they do next. Great job WOTC... I've supported D&D for 30 years now, and while I was out of it for a while (actually playing 1e ), I'm now in full support of 4E. There are still the 2E hold out that I gave up on a long time ago, and some 3.5E folks that just don't get what 4E has done... and I didn't either until the tools hit.
The game is very balanced, playable, smooth, and its a lot of fun to play! For the first time in 30 years I would say the game system fully realizes the true potential of fantasy adventure simulation in a very cinematic way... what we've always wanted it to do... at least myself. I've always RAN cinematic... which meant a lot of homebrew rules to compensate for system short falls.
Personally, having used both of the new tools extensively at this point, think what WOTC has done is awesome. For YEARS we've been saying, "Make the DM's job easier and the game will grow."
Well, darn it, they are doing it... and you're not "going to fund such a beast" ??
Well, I fully intend to, and am looking forward to what they do next. Great job WOTC... I've supported D&D for 30 years now, and while I was out of it for a while (actually playing 1e ), I'm now in full support of 4E. There are still the 2E hold out that I gave up on a long time ago, and some 3.5E folks that just don't get what 4E has done... and I didn't either until the tools hit.
The game is very balanced, playable, smooth, and its a lot of fun to play! For the first time in 30 years I would say the game system fully realizes the true potential of fantasy adventure simulation in a very cinematic way... what we've always wanted it to do... at least myself. I've always RAN cinematic... which meant a lot of homebrew rules to compensate for system short falls.
Isn't this why you support a game??
I agree. Even the Character builder makes my job easier.
For consumable items, I can print out the items card, and I hand it to the player. The rule is, hold on to it, and when you use it, hand it back. No need to add it to your character sheet. Same for any magic item. If the players get an item in the middle of an adventure and want to use it, they don't have to look it up, and can add it later.
Personally, having used both of the new tools extensively at this point, think what WOTC has done is awesome. For YEARS we've been saying, "Make the DM's job easier and the game will grow."
Well, darn it, they are doing it... and you're not "going to fund such a beast" ??
Well, I fully intend to, and am looking forward to what they do next. Great job WOTC... I've supported D&D for 30 years now, and while I was out of it for a while (actually playing 1e ), I'm now in full support of 4E. There are still the 2E hold out that I gave up on a long time ago, and some 3.5E folks that just don't get what 4E has done... and I didn't either until the tools hit.
The game is very balanced, playable, smooth, and its a lot of fun to play! For the first time in 30 years I would say the game system fully realizes the true potential of fantasy adventure simulation in a very cinematic way... what we've always wanted it to do... at least myself. I've always RAN cinematic... which meant a lot of homebrew rules to compensate for system short falls.
Isn't this why you support a game??
I agree that 4E is better designed than the other version. I also agree that both the Character Builder and Monster Builder are both excellent programs and provide great functionality. They simple do it on the Window$ PC only. That leaves out all of the Mac, Linux, BSD, and all the other operating systems out there. Heck if they had learned their lesson we would have people creating monsters on their iPhones by now, but they didn't learn their lesson.
No matter how optimistic you'll have to agree that there were problems with the "forums", or this faceWiz, myWiz or whatever you want to call their community site. From actual legal questionability to things like black on white and tiny text, getting rid of BBCode, and mony more things that would take 3-4 pages to list.
Personally, having used both of the new tools extensively at this point, think what WOTC has done is awesome. For YEARS we've been saying, "Make the DM's job easier and the game will grow."
Well, darn it, they are doing it... and you're not "going to fund such a beast" ??
Well, I fully intend to, and am looking forward to what they do next. Great job WOTC... I've supported D&D for 30 years now, and while I was out of it for a while (actually playing 1e ), I'm now in full support of 4E. There are still the 2E hold out that I gave up on a long time ago, and some 3.5E folks that just don't get what 4E has done... and I didn't either until the tools hit.
The game is very balanced, playable, smooth, and its a lot of fun to play! For the first time in 30 years I would say the game system fully realizes the true potential of fantasy adventure simulation in a very cinematic way... what we've always wanted it to do... at least myself. I've always RAN cinematic... which meant a lot of homebrew rules to compensate for system short falls.
Isn't this why you support a game??
I agree. Even the Character builder makes my job easier.
For consumable items, I can print out the items card, and I hand it to the player. The rule is, hold on to it, and when you use it, hand it back. No need to add it to your character sheet. Same for any magic item. If the players get an item in the middle of an adventure and want to use it, they don't have to look it up, and can add it later.
That's a neat idea, I'll have to implement that when I can afford to buy more ink for my printer. How do you get them to come up without creating a character?
I too have a group that lives all over the country and using the GT to play together once a week online was a key selling point for 4E and DDI. Fortunately for me I didn't subscribe to DDI until the Character builder was fully released though.
Now I'm an old gamer coming off the back of 25 years or so play. My group uses the core books and generally feels the additional books are just money spinner regurgitating the same crap with a slight imbalance but in a shiny new guise (for those that remember... Unearthed Arcana).
Anyhow, I digress. My point is that once my subscription to DDI runs out I've already got everything I need until the arrival of a GT so I wont be renewing. Which makes me wonder how many other people will feel the same?
Exactly what I'm doing.
And me.
lol. me too. Seems the most logical course of action.
the online tabletop has been scrapped. it takes too much time in manpower for too little return in revenue. rather than giving us something revolutionary that will pull us away from our youtube feeds and casual gaming on facebook, wotc thinks a smarter strategy is to give us little scraps of goodness in a constant-flowing stream through D&DI. not sure i'm going to continue my subscription when it's time to renew because it's like drinking from the firehose -- sounds awfully fun before you put your lips to the water, and miserably difficult to handle after over a year of constantly flowing content. when i was a kid, we had 3-5 books that lasted us 10 years. nowadays, it's a new book a month and frankly, I'm not willing to tithe $50/month in my income to wotc for books and D&DI, no matter what their bean counters think. if it weren't for my OCD i'd be in a happier mood and my bookshelves wouldn't be groaning under the weight of a dozen too-thin hardbound 150 page splatbooks.
btw, i love the character builder. it's worth $45 a year. but $120? nope, i don't think so.
), I'm now in full support of 4E. There are still the 2E hold out that I gave up on a long time ago, and some 3.5E folks that just don't get what 4E has done... and I didn't either until the tools hit.
