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So, just today, Privateer Press just announced a new digital app for their WARMACHINE/HORDES game, called WAR ROOM. I think it's worth the time of every person with an interest in DnDNext to watch the video:

privateerpress.com/warroom

So ... yeah, you see that app? DnDNext needs an app like that if it wants to be successful. Holy heck, we can't even get WotC to PDF their manuals, and here's an example of a company going well beyond that in a way that is functional, usable, and actually enchances game play.

I've written down some thoughts about what I think such an app for D&D might look like over at my blog. I'd love to hear what you all think. Does D&D need a WAR ROOM?

Feb 3, 2012 -- 2:00PM, BlackKnight1239 wrote:

Feb 3, 2012 -- 1:40PM, JayM wrote:

Very nice. It would require WotC rework their entire model though. A wargame company can do this because they make their money on selling minatures, the rule book is break even so they don't care about losing sales. To do this, WotC would have to move to a DDI and supplment based model, where they make their money selling DDI and entirely optional expansions like adventures and minatures.

I don't see it happening. I do expect we will get some smart phone application for simple stuff at some point though, hopefully free to everybody with DDI.

Actually, they aren't selling any of the rules books at all. In Warmachine, each unit comes with a card, which has their stats and damage track on there. All the app is doing is providing those (which are solid separate as well as with the model already) in a ready-to-go format.

I'm not sure what WotC COULD do that would be similar. Probably a mobile app linked with D&DI, or maybe a PDF purchase, which acts as a character builder and has quick character summaries. Maybe a mobile Rules Compedium.

An app that is linked to DDI and can read ".ddn" files (which are sold together with the .pdf). You access everything in the rule books you bought, can download and implement erratas easily, have the possibility to have a character sheet on your mobile and a quick battle interface. The DM has a mobile with initiative, monster stats pop up when it's their turn, there's a dice roller and you can click on an attack to roll the attack roll and damage. Then you can click on a player's name to confront the result to their defense automatically and a big green HIT or red MISS appears and vanishes after a second. The characters' damage is recorded and bloodied / death / conditions have an icon or quick animation so that you notice them. Different smartphones can connect to share the same battle stats so that everyone is on the same page. The app can record conditional modifiers, bonuses, durations for you easily. You can pass and the next in the initiative pops up. You can also allow the app to read the names aloud if you want. The app is linked to monster builder and building an encounter on the fly is crazy easy. It can store encounters easily in a codified and compressed format, and you can load them, store them in the cloud, transfer them, anything. You can link an encounter to a music playlist that is played during the fight. If the tactical combat is implemented, you can prepare maps in advance and use the app to track movements easily, with a pen-and-paper like interface. Your players can follow on their own phones if they want to. The app contains all information about DCs and out-of-combat skills. A quick search can find the description of a spell or ability on the spot in the .ddn manuals you have stored.

Yeah, that would be pretty crazy, but I can imagine it working and it would be cool to have as a DM. The player connection and map parts are... meh, but I think somebody will like those.

I would love to have a phone app that allows me to build encounters easily, store players' sheets, auto roll dice and just state "HIT", "MISS", "13 DAMAGES", I would love the app to calculate how much health is left for the PCs so that I don't have to double check on that one player's math, I would love the app to rotate initiative easily, even to roll initiative at the start of the combat... Yeah, it would be the coolest thing ever. No micromanagement when I'm mastering. Awesomesauce.

The simple, bare bones model I'd like is just a character sheet that I could touch and have it roll dice and add modifiers and such. There's apps that do character sheets and apps that roll dice, but I've yet to see one that does both.

In a perfect world, I'd love to see an app that works something like Neverwinter Nights (DM tools, single player, multi player, module/campaign builder) meets Final Fantasy Tactics (turn based RPG ftw). Also I'd like a 'instant action' option where I can quickly put together a party and fight a level appropriate encounter. You know, something do do while waiting at the DMV.