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3 years ago ::
Oct 06, 2010 - 2:40PM
#1
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Date Joined:
Aug 24, 2005
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This thead is being used by me to collect your questions about the Web-Based Tools.
If you have a burning question, post it here, and we will be sure it gets asks. Can't guarantee an answer, of course.
Questions so far:
1. Will these tools Replace the existing Character Builder(CB) and Adventure Tools(AT), or will they be a supplement?
yes
2. What tools will be included? Virtual Table Top(VTT)?
Compendiun and Character Builder at first. More to follow.
3. Will they be built on flash, silverlight, or HTML 5?
silverlight
4. What is the current state of development of the web based tools? Are they basically working and they are just fixing minor bugs? Is there anything working at all? Can we see some screen shots?
screen shots have been published. the char builder is supposedly ready to roll out on the 16th.
5. Can we get regular updates on progress and problems?
thats a goal WotC is working towards.
6. When will they be available?
Nov 16th for the char builder.
7. Will they require an active connection to the internet to use?
yes
8. Will there be a beta-test?
9. Will there be a demo available for non-subscribers?
10. Will the web-based tools be updated more often? Will the updates come faster, with less lag between a book/magazine being published and getting updated to the software?
not more often, but the downtime will be almost non-existing while an update is happening.
11. Are you prepared for the load this will place on your servers? Can you ensure they can handle the load? What if your servers go down?
WotC hopes so.
12. When someone's account expires, what access will they retain? Any files they've created? Characters/Monsters they've built?
files are retained for 12 months(at least). resubscribing before then will restore access. no access without an active subscription.
13. If it does replace the CB, will it be able to track resources, such as Hit Points, Healing Surges, etc, similar to iPlay4e.com?
it will not track resources.
14. Will the web tools be included in the standard subscription price, or will there be an additional fee? Will there be an increase in the subscription price?
standard price
15. Will the tools be released as a bundle, or one at a time?
one at a time
16. How much access will WotC have to the user data collected by the tools? How will you address privacy concerns?
wotc will have full access, but there are no plans to use it other than tracking game play trends at this time.
17. How will data persistence be handled? Will the tools require any data installed on my system? savedata, logintools?
data will be stored on the wotc servers. the only thing installed locally is the silverlight client (~13 mb)
18. Will any of the tools allow for shared use? Such as a VTT allowing the entire party to participate with a single account?
not at this time, but it is planned for a future update to allow this.
19. Will it be possible to use the tools with more than one IP at a time? Such as a VTT on the PC and the compendium on the laptop?
currently, nothing prevents this.
20. Are there any plans to offer an API?
21. What Operating Systems and Browsers will be supported? Will the tools be accessible via smartphone browsers? What about tablets/iPads?
any OS and browser that supports silverlight will be supported. Currently that means windows and macs, but not iPads or smart phones. WinPhone7 may offer support.
22. What export options will there be for characters, monsters, and other items created with these tools? XML files? PDF Files?
no export will be available at launch. the ability to print the characters to paper or PDF files will be available at launch. The export ability will be one of the first features to come with the next round of updates.
23. Who is working on this project? Is it the same dev team that created the CB, or are new people being brought in?
24. If the CB is replaced by the web-tools, will a refund be offered for people who wish to cancel their subsciption?
Customer Service will have to answer this.
25. Will Dark Sun support be available with the web-tools?
yes
26. If the CB is replaced, will the last updated version still be available for subscribers?
yes, for a limited time.
27. How will we be notified about updates to the Web-Based tools? Will the new email system be used, or is there some other process?
28. Is this the cool thing that the VCLs hinted at before?
most of it
29. What benefits are you hoping we will enjoy most from the Web Tools?
cross platform support
30. Will characters created with the Offline Character Builder be usable by the web tools?
yes, as long as they aren't house-ruled.
31. If the CB is going web based, will it still have the same filtering abilities as the Desktop version?
not at launch, but this is planned for a future update.
32. Will we be able to alter magical items?
no house rule support will be available at launch.
33. Will we be able to add House Rule feats and powers, or other elements?
no house rule support will be available at launch.
34. Will we be able to save data(characters, monsters, etc) to your servers, so we can access them from anywhere?
yes.
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3 years ago ::
Oct 06, 2010 - 2:46PM
#2
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Date Joined:
Nov 10, 2008
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If it does replace the CB, will we be able to use it to track resources usage, such as changes in HP, surges, and powers? Something akin to iplay4e.
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3 years ago ::
Oct 06, 2010 - 3:16PM
#3
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Date Joined:
Nov 20, 2006
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Given the assumption that this will require an active sub to work...
Is there an estimate of the monthly cost for the new tools?
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3 years ago ::
Oct 06, 2010 - 3:19PM
#4
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Date Joined:
Nov 17, 2008
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Let me see, what else whould be good to know?
- Will we see each tool released at a time, or are they planing to release a bundle of tools?
- Will there be an increase in subscription prices, like we have seen one before?
- How much access will WotC have to the data we feed those tools with(privacy)?
- Will these tools require any data installed on my system (savedata, logintools)?
- Will an DDI Account include shared login for those tools only usefull while all partymembers are online simultaniously (VTT for example is rather useless if not everyone in the party has access to it, or is rather expensive if they all need a subscription 12 month a year)?
- Will it be possible to use those tools with more than one IP at the same time? (Lets say using a VTT on my PC and the Compendium on my Laptop)
So much so far, might be more comming.
D&D Outsider since Nov 18th 2010, if you wonder about the little red dragon, this one is dedicated to the great VT community.
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3 years ago ::
Oct 06, 2010 - 5:53PM
#5
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Date Joined:
Aug 20, 2007
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Are there any plans to offer an API? There is the beginnings of one for the Compendium but lacks a few things such as easy authentication. Will the new tools allow third party API access?
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3 years ago ::
Oct 06, 2010 - 7:29PM
#6
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Date Joined:
Jun 13, 2008
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This thead is being used by me to collect your questions about the Web-Based Tools.
If you have a burning question, post it here, and we will be sure it gets asks. Can't guarantee an answer, of course.
Questions so far:
1. Will these tools Replace the existing Character Builder and Adventure Tools, or will they be a supplement?
2. What tools will be included? Virtual Table Top?
3. Will they be built on flash, silverlight, or HTML 5?
4. Can we see some screen shots?
5. Can we get regular updates on progress and problems?
6. When will they be available?
7. Will they require an active connection to the internet to use?
8. Will there be a beta-test?
9. Will there be a demo available for non-subscribers?
10. Will the web-based tools be updated more often? Will the updates come faster, with less lag between a book/magazine being published and getting updated to the software?
11. Are you prepared for the load this will place on your servers? Can you ensure they can handle the load? What if your servers go down?
12. When someone's account expires, what access will they retain? Any files they've created? Characters/Monsters they've built?
13. If it does replace the Character Builder, will it be able to track resources, such as Hit Points, Healing Surges, etc, similar to iPlay4e.com?
14. Will the web tools be included in the standard subscription price, or will there be an additional fee? Will there be an increase in the subscription price?
My guesses on how they will answer these:
1) Replace, obviously.
2) VTT? maybe for 6th edition
3) It will be built on something else, something proprietary and buggy.
4) You sure can, as soon as we release it you can take all you want. As long as you pay the monthly fee.
5) Oh Yeah, we will be sure to let you guys know about everything. After all, that is the way we do things around here.
6) We are shooting for December. 2011.
7) Yes. The program will require a minimum of 8Mbps connection to function properly.
8) Absolutely. It will be a closed beta, it will start in November 2011 and continue for about 6 months after release.
9) But of course. Unfortunately, it will only cover Essentials characters.
10) Web-based tools will be updated more often. More often than compared to Aug-Oct 2010.
11) Oh come on, of course we bought new servers. You guys act like we don't think things through around here.
12) Expired accounts will have all data retained on our servers for when you decide to give us more money. Monsters you create using the web-tools will most likely be used in our published adventures and books.
13) Functionality of the web-based tools will be on par with our previous efforts at web-based tools. We hope to eventually increase this so that it runs as smoothly as our customer service.
14) If we can find a way to make it an additional fee, we will.
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3 years ago ::
Oct 06, 2010 - 7:40PM
#7
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Date Joined:
Jul 22, 2008
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To put it simply...
Just tell us what is really in the works, straight up. All of it, tell us what you are working on.
These delays followed by vague announcements aren't encouraging me to stay with DDi. They're encouraging me to walk away so I don't have to deal with the frustrations anymore.
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3 years ago ::
Oct 06, 2010 - 8:22PM
#8
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Will webtools be updated the same as the CB, will it be the same as the Compendium, or will it use its own schedule, and possibly have content faster than CB? Also, CB had an update per month per account limit - will a technique similar to this be applied to the webtools to limit account sharing, and if so how will it allow for players who might have 3-5 web-enabled tech devices that they would want to use concurrently (e.g. laptop, smartphone(s), desktop(s), plus netbook/ipad)? ^^ I know several DM's who would run multiple tools on multiple different computers at the same time for reference or use during games.
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3 years ago ::
Oct 06, 2010 - 8:22PM
#9
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Date Joined:
Aug 27, 2009
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I've got a question to add to the list, please.
Will you be able to access the web based tools via smartphones?
Thanks!
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3 years ago ::
Oct 06, 2010 - 8:26PM
#10
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Date Joined:
May 13, 2008
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Thank you Asmodeous. #1 is obviously the most important question to me. I do not DO NOT want to lose access to my CB offline.
Note: I am not a subscription shuffler, I subscribed for the year, and will continue to do so - But online only character builder will be a BIG deal breaker for me.
I_Roll_20s @twitter. Not always SFW.
I may prefer 4e, but I will play and enjoy almost any edition, and indeed almost any table top RPG, with my friends. Down with Edition Wars. Shut up and roll your dice. :P
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