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4 months ago ::
Feb 01, 2013 - 10:55AM
#1
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Date Joined:
Dec 17, 2012
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OK, now that we have all had some time to play with the new rules and mechanics of Next, one aspect that I would personally like to see addressed is rollout strategy. How would you like to see class and race expanisons handled in D&D next? (In full disclosure I do not work for WoTC). The reason I ask is that it seems the theory behind the entire D&D Next package as per D&D Next goals part 2, seems to indicate a sort of 4E Essentials roll out from the outset, to engage the beginners. Additionally after going back and re-reading a lot of the core content from 4E, as well as the expansion books and numerous Dungeons magazine issues, it seems that the truly best mechanism for rollout is through the DDI tools, in a slow release fashion. Granted these are my opinions, but in light of this I ask: 1. Does it make sense to release hard cover books any more, or are we better suited through DDI? 2. At what point in the life-span of an edition does it make sense to initiate the relase of the expansion classes and races, above and beyond the core material. We now have a good taste of the options in D&D Next, but I am hoping we get a decent amount of the finalized content right off the bat, or at least have a mechanism to convert our favorite powers from 4E to Next. Also it may be cool in the initial transition phases to still have access to both 4E and next in the character builder and compendium. What do you think? Remember: We may have the potential to not only guide the development of the content, but the way it is presented / released, or at least I hope we do. Thanks for your feedback. -Tim
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4 months ago ::
Feb 01, 2013 - 11:27AM
#2
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Date Joined:
Nov 21, 2012
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I don't want to pay a monthly subscription to something to have access to the material, I'd much rather have a shelf of sourcebooks.
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4 months ago ::
Feb 01, 2013 - 12:48PM
#3
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Date Joined:
Jan 28, 2013
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I don't want to pay a monthly subscription to something to have access to the material, I'd much rather have a shelf of sourcebooks.
I completely agree with this.
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4 months ago ::
Feb 01, 2013 - 7:55PM
#4
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Date Joined:
Apr 14, 2004
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I don't want to pay a monthly subscription to something to have access to the material, I'd much rather have a shelf of sourcebooks.
Change "shelf of sourcebooks" with "file of PDF's" and I'd agree.
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4 months ago ::
Feb 02, 2013 - 12:22AM
#5
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Date Joined:
Nov 21, 2012
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I don't want to pay a monthly subscription to something to have access to the material, I'd much rather have a shelf of sourcebooks.
Change "shelf of sourcebooks" with "file of PDF's" and I'd agree.
A virtual shelf.
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4 months ago ::
Feb 05, 2013 - 11:16AM
#6
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Date Joined:
Dec 17, 2012
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Thanks everyone. It seems by removing powers from Next, and thus a ton of modication and optimization, we wont need a lot of follow-on material anyway.
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4 months ago ::
Feb 05, 2013 - 11:23AM
#7
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I really liked the character creator, but the more important tool was the DM monster designer. It seems like, at least at first, there will be fewer character options so it will be reasonable for players to create their characters without needing the generator, but the monster designer was a huge deal in getting your modificatiosn into the stat blocks so everything made sense together and could be recorded correctly.
As a consumer, I would probably buy the original offering, if there is a set similar to PHB, DMG, MM, or whatever. I think it might be nice if those books came with online codes that activated that content for your subscription - so, once I've bought PHB, my Caralon account has access to the PHB in whatever kind of character generation tool. Then, when books come out later I can choose to buy them or not - if you buy them, you access the content on the builder. They could even present all the options on the character builder to show what buying a new book would look like. This system would also work well with electronic format - people can buy the physical book and get an online code, or they can buy an electronic format book and get the online code. I think it's a mistake to gate any online tools behind a monthly fee, and that they should try and tie the money necessary to run the tools to sales of the product itself.
That said, I do think that some kind of online toolset is a necessary component of Next. It's 2013, and the world is on the internet. It's not a reasonable option to stay off-line.
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4 months ago ::
Feb 05, 2013 - 4:59PM
#8
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I would still like hard cover books, but they should totally also release PDFs. Being that WotC tried saying we can't play Next over Skype for about 10 minutes, I'm not optimistic about this one.
I think the focus for the first year should be on releasing adventures or campaign settings that support the Launch content. There should be a number of races and classes at launch in line with 3rd and 4th Edition. I think 4E got wacky with the number of releases and any subsequent books should be subjected to the same standard of playtesting we're seeing now. I've watched the Rogue grow and sprout I'm not about to suffer some damn halfassed assassin or avenger be invalidated 2 months after the $30 book comes out.
I think that part of what really burned about 4E. The Player's Handbook I have is basically useless given the amount of Errata. Get it right the first time or embrace the brokenness. This is kind of the worst thing and best thing to come out of technology and gaming. If something is poorly written or doesn't survive contact with the public, there's a means to fix it. But every thing that gets changed me regret my purchase more. Personally? I say embrace the brokenness because its not such a tactical balance oriented game as 4E. If something makes it past what needs to be the incredibly important playtest, too damn bad. Broken combat makes for better stories, at least that was my experience with 4E.
DMAIA: DMs Against Immediate Actions - Turning 6 seconds into 15 minutes since 2008.
Vampire Class/Specialty in 2013!
Wizard: I cast Burning Hands.
Rogue: I grab a torch and a can of hairspray.
I prefer Next because 4E players and CharOpers can't find their ass without a grid and a power called "Find Ass."
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4 months ago ::
Feb 05, 2013 - 9:57PM
#9
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Hardcover books alongside .pdf downloads, and a monthly subscription to use online tools like character / monster creator.
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4 months ago ::
Feb 09, 2013 - 3:35AM
#10
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Date Joined:
Dec 20, 2011
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A set of virtual books would be best for me.
There aren't many places to get DnD books etc from in the north of England; Travelling Man and Forbidden Planet have some, but it's hit and miss as to what they get in at any one time. Ordering online would work, but I don't feel confident doing that and it is often unreliable (I ordered a monster manual once from America and had to get my money back, as it didn't arrive).
Please, WOTC, release PDF books as well!
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