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2 years ago ::
Aug 03, 2011 - 10:09AM
#61
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I'll have to respectfully disagree with that, Jharii. Like Nightwalker and LlamasNotsheep, I see lots of arrogance and unpleasantness on these forums as well. I don't think they were taking potshots, though, but would actually like to see the tone improve. If we don't point out the unpleasantness, it won't change and things won't improve. The other options are to ignore it and continue to put up with it, or walk away and allow it to degenerate further, as when pleasant people leave, only the trolls will remain.
I agree, but that's not what this thread is about. It was tacked on to a DDI-specific report card when no one else has addressed community throughout the thread and the community extends well beyond DDI.
Now let's just get back to the topic??  This thread has been rather useful and clean. Thanks.
Reflavoring: the change of flavor without changing any mechanical part of the game, no matter how small, in order to fit the mechanics to an otherwise unsupported concept.
Retexturing: the change of flavor (with at most minor mechanical adaptations) in order to effortlessly create support for a concept without inventing anything new.
Houseruling: the change, either minor or major, of the mechanics in order to better reflect a certain aspect of the game, including adapting the rules to fit an otherwise unsupported concept.
Homebrewing: the complete invention of something new that fits within the system in order to reflect an unsupported concept.
Default module =/= Core mechanic.
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2 years ago ::
Aug 03, 2011 - 10:30AM
#62
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Date Joined:
Jun 24, 2008
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I do agree that it's off-topic and beyond the scope of what the DDI team can address. My apologies for the diversion.
[20:53] [SadisticFish] yeah  Llamas convinced me
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2 years ago ::
Aug 03, 2011 - 8:46PM
#63
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Date Joined:
Aug 17, 2005
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To the OP, a really great idea for a thread which might actually attract some attention.
Magazines: C- I'm one who really, really dislikes using the term "magazine" any longer, and also one who reads all content on my iPad. Odd, poor decision on compilation. Still, some of the bits of I've read over the last year or so have been cool.
Character Builder: C To many it's unfair, but I don't see how you can rate the current without considering the former. The new builder should be at least on par with the original by now, but at least they've made it a usable tool.
Adventure Tools: F Useless at this point, in my opinion.
Compendium: A The one shining star for me, and works at the game table when I DM on my iPad, which I love as it allows me electronics without getting in the way.
Virtual Table: I Giving it an incomplete partly because it was a purchased product and I'm surprised it's still in beta, and also because I only messed with it briefly before any of the integration. The potential is certainly there, but they do seem behind the curve.
Customer Service: C- Knocking them down slightly here due to lack of meaningful communication over the years - and I've been with this since the beginning. From the exhuberant overpromising, to the overly tight lipped "now we aren't going to say anything", to the occasional condescension of late, it's very disappointing.
Thanks again OP for the chance to grade the product. To sum up my overall feelings about the product - this averages an C, whereas I would have given them a B average two years ago. Come on guys, you can do better. Please stop worrying so much about DRM/piracy risks, and instead give your customer base the tools they are asking and paying for.
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2 years ago ::
Aug 04, 2011 - 5:27AM
#64
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Magazines: B+ I think they are doing a great job with the magazines. Probably still too much crunch for my taste and thus a slightly lower grade as a result. IMHO the only crunch at this late stage in the edition should be updates to Essentials style for existing classes and "filling the gaps" of some of the less developed classes (Runepriest, et al.).
Character Builder: B I am one of those people who was glad for the move to online tools. The CB as the flagship for this direction change is a solid program. I would give a higher grade when more customization is available. Tops on my list of improvements is custom editors for items, feats and powers as well as a way for DMs to "keep an eye" on their player's characters across DDi accounts.
Adventure Tools: C- This grade will greatly improve I am sure when additonal features are "turned on." This grade would be much lower if the classic MB were not still available.
Compendium: A- Probably the most solid part of DDi, but not something I personally use much. Occasionally used at the table from time to time to clear up monster entry changes from printed material in the HPE adventure path of published modules and the current versions of those monsters.
Virtual Table: B+ Mainly for effort. This is not something I will probably ever use, unless it can be used for making and exporting maps for table top play. Still I am glad that WotC has decided to deliver on one of the promised applications from 4e launch.
Customer Service: A Communication has greatly improved. While they can improve it more for a perfact score, I understand their desire to keep some things close to their vest.
Total GPA: 3.1 Solid B. Not bad and certainly better than what other companies are offering for their game systems (are they even offering anything?), but there is certainly room for improvement to make DDi into something that will wow existing customers and drawn new ones.
Kalex the Omen Dungeonmaster Extraordinaire Concerning Player Rules Bias
Show
Gaining victory through rules bias is a hollow victory and they know it.
The argument goes, that some idiot at the table might claim that because there is a "default" that is the only true way to play D&D. An idiotic misconception that should be quite easy to disprove just by reading the rules, coming to these forums, or sending a quick note off to Customer Support and sharing the inevitable response with the group. BTW, I'm not just talking about Next when I say this. Of course, D&D has always been this way since at least the late 70's when I began playing.
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2 years ago ::
Aug 04, 2011 - 9:14PM
#65
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Date Joined:
Nov 23, 2003
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I know I'm kinda late, but ...
Magazines: B for Dungeon, D for Dragon. Dragon has a good two month run until last month's return to dismal form.
Character Builder: C-. 20 character limit, still? Same old "superior Ki Focus doesn't work" bugs? Now my warlord isn't proficient in shields? Seriously?
Adventure Tools: F. Please.
Virtual Table: D. Shows promise, but last I checked I still only had one tile set.
Compendium: A. It's a web page in front of a database, but at least it knows that's what it is, and has no stupid restrictions on top of it.
Customer Service: C. Still no feeling anyone there sees the problems.
Overall: D. Good thing for them the value proposition means that each customer only has to really like one or two elements.
"Nice assumptions. Completely wrong assumptions, but by jove if being incorrect stopped people from making idiotic statements, we wouldn't have modern internet subculture." Kerrus
Practical gameplay runs by neither RAW or RAI, but rather "A Compromise Between The Gist Of The Rule As I Recall Getting The Impression Of It That One Time I Read It And What Jerry Says He Remembers, Whatever, We'll Look It Up Later If Any Of Us Still Give A Damn." Erachima
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