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6 months ago ::
Dec 26, 2012 - 10:35PM
#31
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BTW...please no random table generator thing...we pay for quality professional products, not high school programming side-projects.
Amen.
My two copper.
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6 months ago ::
Jan 02, 2013 - 7:45AM
#32
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Date Joined:
Nov 19, 2007
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Something like the 2e tools (and expansion). I still use that. Any digital offering should make it very easy for DMs to make maps, encounters, treasure, custom items, NPCs, etc.; and for players to make PCs. Not by subscription -- most players won't pay for a subscription just to update their characters -- and not online only. This should be a package people can buy and install, and pay for upgrades (like when new books come out) for a modest price.
In memory of wrecan and his Unearthed Wrecana.5e should strongly stay away from "I don't like it, so you can't have it either."
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6 months ago ::
Jan 02, 2013 - 7:56AM
#33
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Not by subscription -- most players won't pay for a subscription just to update their characters -- and not online only. This should be a package people can buy and install, and pay for upgrades (like when new books come out) for a modest price.
Never going to happen. The online/subscription model is way to popular and profitable to be scrapped.
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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6 months ago ::
Jan 02, 2013 - 7:59AM
#34
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Date Joined:
Nov 19, 2007
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At least it's now been spoken for, so WotC can't claim "everyone" wants the subscription model. 
In memory of wrecan and his Unearthed Wrecana.5e should strongly stay away from "I don't like it, so you can't have it either."
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6 months ago ::
Jan 02, 2013 - 8:09AM
#35
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Not by subscription -- most players won't pay for a subscription just to update their characters -- and not online only. This should be a package people can buy and install, and pay for upgrades (like when new books come out) for a modest price.
Never going to happen. The online/subscription model is way to popular and profitable to be scrapped.
Actually if you follow the market trends, the subscription model is dying. It's still widely used, but f2p and freemium type services are gutting it slowly, but surely. I wouldn't be suprised to see Hasbro take a freemium style aproach with DDN.
What I'm REALLY suprised I haven't seen is some kind of rewards system with WotCs games. I suppose it's because they are not the end seller of their product, but it seems like everyone is doing some sort of points/reward system nowadays.
Edit: That's not to say the subscription model will go away completely. It's just not the king of the hill any more,
My two copper.
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6 months ago ::
Jan 02, 2013 - 8:15AM
#36
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Actually if you follow the market trends, the subscription model is dying. It's still widely used, but f2p and freemium type services are gutting it slowly, but surely. I wouldn't be suprised to see Hasbro take a freemium style aproach with DDN.
What I'm REALLY suprised I haven't seen is some kind of rewards system with WotCs games. I suppose it's because they are not the end seller of their product, but it seems like everyone is doing some sort of points/reward system nowadays.
I know. I am a Guild Wars player since it released in 2005. They created the F2P model for MMOs. The motivation of MMOs to switch to this model is the popularity of that one game, and declining revenues in general in the MMO subscription model. DDI has no competition that uses a non-subscription business model, and their revenues from the service are not declining (at least not due to lack of interest in the service). DDI basically from all accounts saved D&D. They won't be messing with success any time soon I suspect.
Kalex the Omen Dungeonmaster ExtraordinaireConcerning 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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6 months ago ::
Jan 02, 2013 - 8:17AM
#37
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Actually if you follow the market trends, the subscription model is dying. It's still widely used, but f2p and freemium type services are gutting it slowly, but surely. I wouldn't be suprised to see Hasbro take a freemium style aproach with DDN.
What I'm REALLY suprised I haven't seen is some kind of rewards system with WotCs games. I suppose it's because they are not the end seller of their product, but it seems like everyone is doing some sort of points/reward system nowadays.
I know. I am a Guild Wars player since it released in 2005. They created the F2P model for MMOs. The motivation of MMOs to switch to this model is the popularity of that one game, and declining revenues in general in the MMO subscription model. DDI has no competition that uses a non-subscription business model, and their revenues from the service are not declining (at least not due to lack of interest in the service). DDI basically from all accounts saved D&D. They won't be messing with success any time soon I suspect.
I suppose that makes sense. I honestly never crunched the numbers on DDI, so I don't really know how much money it brought in.
My two copper.
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6 months ago ::
Jan 02, 2013 - 9:11AM
#38
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Date Joined:
Feb 23, 2010
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Going back on subject:
Wizards will probably make the following:
- Monster Compendium/Builder
- Encounter Builder
- Character Builder
So write those off your list, someone is going to get paid to make the official one.
That said:
1. Masterplan
Take a look at this, because this needs to exist for DM's in creating content, worlds and their own campaigns.
Adding to that - if I were to find the spare time to program, I would make the following application.
Features:
1. Desktop & Mobile application
2. DM mode & player mode
3. Online/Multiplayer style connectivity between DM and players.
4. Support for chat and secret messaging. Imagine spotting something, and the DM sends you the message to your phone that you had there anyway. You reply back your action, and play continues quickly. DM probably has the information ready and available.
5. DM Mode has your encounters, and maps can be shared. I'm not saying you pop tactical combat to a virtual board. Something about having the real dice, minitures and battle mat out that gives it the D&D feel. But you can have city maps, and other handouts sent out in such formats.
- I can go into a huge list of features revolving around maps and hand outs. Passing out letters to specific players, pinging a map location so everyone knows the overall area something happens.
6. Initiative and combat tracker, with a DM and player view which is sync'd via the online.
7. Cloud data hub for the campaign, so things you add in like LORE or otherwise is there. Players can pull it up quickly if they wanted to.
8. Player mode - collection of notes, journal entries, NPC's they know, gear, etc. Player sheet being a big item on there.
9. Treasure/Loot awards - when you're playing digital like this, when the players find that sword of slaying, it would be awesome to send it to his character, and his sheet be updated immediately with the new effects. Also, awarding money/XP becomes so much easier when it's digitally tracked. No more "Who's keeping track of the 240sp, 86gp and the 1048cp that we just got and the 5 gems??". When your players find that chest of gold, just hit a few buttons and after a coin sack noise, everyone's characters are a bit more rich.
Obviously, this is a tool for the more technology minded. Focus would be on the UI so it's easy and intuitive to send the messages, award loot and bring up the combat tracker. The example Masterplan is pretty good for what it does, but it's a bit obtuse to use.
Best part of this software, is it can be modular. Start out as a shared combat tracker + chat and then grow up from there. Phones are a part of the table now-a-days, may as make them useful towards the game.
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6 months ago ::
Jan 02, 2013 - 9:19AM
#39
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The above post did remind me of my number 1 request. A nice, easy to use, but powerful initiative tracker. One that lets you easily add effects, combatants, etc. That's the dream 
My two copper.
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6 months ago ::
Jan 02, 2013 - 9:28AM
#40
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Date Joined:
May 24, 2012
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I would like to see Off line character builder/ encounter builder / monster vault.
Of course WotC will want to make money so they can make online model as well.
Now to make money off line, they should make "book keys" like in any other software.
You will be able do DL demo PHB for free(feats, characters up to level 4, spell to level 2 etc.)
With every book you would get a book key and be able to upgrade your software on WotC official site.
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