Story Objects go Digital [Archive] - Wizards Community

Story Objects go Digital [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Shadowed Intent
02-18-06, 09:03 PM While reviewing DMH-7 I discovered the included story objects had digital IDs and there are included instructions for using them. It mentions the cert box and how it allows you to enter 5 digit Alphanumeric characters.

[Of course the story object digital IDs are 6 digits, so that may or may not work out right.]

That being said, WOW, this is exciting. I really like the included story objects, I see alot of potential for some good (and possibly quite fun) storylines. Also the story obects becoming digital shows serious promise. This combined with the upcoming releases has made me glad that I stuck with MoH.

I'm off to by some Eberron stuff now, I do believe I have some serious planning to do.
DBlizzard
02-19-06, 12:28 AM While reviewing DMH-7 I discovered the included story objects had digital IDs and there are included instructions for using them. It mentions the cert box and how it allows you to enter 5 digit Alphanumeric characters.Yeah, the option to input these have been available for a while. There just weren't any IDs until this scenario. Good to see they finally got around to implementing this.
Mike Czaplinski
02-28-06, 11:03 AM Yeah, the option to input these have been available for a while. There just weren't any IDs until this scenario. Good to see they finally got around to implementing this.

Yeah, except:

To judge only from the one of three MoH scenarios I played at WF that have
been reported, the 'Digital Cert' only lists the name, not the game effect.

Simply knowing you have a particular 'story object' is not enough; the
value of the physical cert was that it also detailed the in-game effects
in a place that it was convenient and portable with the character.
Fortunately, I wrote down what the game effect of the cert, but I
should not have had to.

I understand that its still in its early implementation, but I don't see any
space on the listing that would allow the detailing of game effects. If
they don't include this text on the digitial cert listing, then its a
big step backward for character portability.

MikeC
Blackwood
02-28-06, 04:51 PM There is also another problem that we noticed at Winter Fantasy. Since these certs were only being given out electronically it meant that we didn't immediately have something to show for the next mod we played. In my case I played EMH-11, 12 and the exclusive at WF in that order. Despite getting a cert from the first of those 3 mods (EMH-11) I had no record of this for the next two I played in the same weekend. This is a definate problem for convention games. I like the idea of Digital Certs (so that you don't have to keep track of as many papers and so that negative certs have clear records), but I don't like the lack of a physical cert at a convention.
Madfox11
03-06-06, 05:19 AM There is a link somewhere in the basic character description that should lead to a more detailed description of the certs, doesn't it? I cannot check, because somehow none of the adventures I played at WF (and I played all) included electronic certs even though the DMs did mention there were such certs. Which points out one of the other problems of electronic registration: if the DM, or senior DM, makes a mistake the character does not get updated. In LG this only costs you reward points, which is only a minor inconvenience. In Mark of Heroes it costs you xp and gp which is rather irritating. O well, I mailed RPGA HQ about it. Lets hope my character does get the electronic certs.
Mike Czaplinski
03-06-06, 05:39 AM There is a link somewhere in the basic character description that should lead to a more detailed description of the certs, doesn't it? I cannot check, because somehow none of the adventures I played at WF (and I played all) included electronic certs even though the DMs did mention there were such certs. Which points out one of the other problems of electronic registration: if the DM, or senior DM, makes a mistake the character does not get updated. In LG this only costs you reward points, which is only a minor inconvenience. In Mark of Heroes it costs you xp and gp which is rather irritating. O well, I mailed RPGA HQ about it. Lets hope my character does get the electronic certs.

At this point, if you click on "Display Certification" when looking at the main
character tracker window, you get to a different table that lists your
certs individually. Alas, the only information this 2nd table gives that is not
given on the main character listing is the name of the Cert. No other info
(like the game effect of the cert, as I decried above) is shown, and there
is no place in the table to click on each line & get more info (which, to me,
would be an utter waste of time: if they took the programming time to
make a slightly-redundant subscreen to show the individual certs, how much
more difficult is it to add another column with descriptive text?)

MikeC
DBlizzard
03-06-06, 11:04 AM To judge only from the one of three MoH scenarios I played at WF that havebeen reported, the 'Digital Cert' only lists the name, not the game effect.The adventure Desolate Endeavor refers to looking at the "Mark of Heroes Story Object Lexicon." So, presumbably there is supposed to be a download with a list of these at some point.

Of course, we'll probably see it right after we see the fastplay characters & psionics primer posted.
Mike Czaplinski
03-06-06, 11:48 AM The adventure Desolate Endeavor refers to looking at the "Mark of Heroes Story Object Lexicon." So, presumbably there is supposed to be a download with a list of these at some point.

Of course, we'll probably see it right after we see the fastplay characters & psionics primer posted.

Not to mention the amount of wasted paper that will get generated
when people print out a multi page document to get the descriptions
of a handful of certs.

Better to include it as boilerplate in mods, but the best choice is still
to JUST GIVE US PHYSICAL CERTS!

Unless they want to give us all WOTC-branded USB sticks.......
DBlizzard
03-06-06, 12:27 PM Not to mention the amount of wasted paper that will get generated
when people print out a multi page document to get the descriptions
of a handful of certs.That's what cut and paste is for.

Besides, as long as you know what your cert does, the DM should be the one with this download printed out. Hopefully, if & when it gets released it will have certs far in advance. I'd hate to have to keep printing out new copies every time a new adventure is released.
Madfox11
03-07-06, 06:01 AM In this case physical certs are rather easy to forge. If they are going to add a document with all the cert texts then just providing the name in the on-line documentation will work. Though they do make live slightly more difficult for themselves since they have to keep a document up-to-date.
Blackwood
03-07-06, 10:47 AM Of course there is a problem with providing a single master document of certs: people who haven't played the mod yet can deliberately (or accidentally while looking another cert up) find out what certs exist before they play the mod. Given that certs are sometimes knowledge or contacts gained during the module, it would be a bad idea to have people be able to casually read them before they play it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Shadowed Intent 02-18-06, 09:03 PM	While reviewing DMH-7 I discovered the included story objects had digital IDs and there are included instructions for using them. It mentions the cert box and how it allows you to enter 5 digit Alphanumeric characters. [Of course the story object digital IDs are 6 digits, so that may or may not work out right.] That being said, WOW, this is exciting. I really like the included story objects, I see alot of potential for some good (and possibly quite fun) storylines. Also the story obects becoming digital shows serious promise. This combined with the upcoming releases has made me glad that I stuck with MoH. I'm off to by some Eberron stuff now, I do believe I have some serious planning to do.
DBlizzard 02-19-06, 12:28 AM	While reviewing DMH-7 I discovered the included story objects had digital IDs and there are included instructions for using them. It mentions the cert box and how it allows you to enter 5 digit Alphanumeric characters.Yeah, the option to input these have been available for a while. There just weren't any IDs until this scenario. Good to see they finally got around to implementing this.
Mike Czaplinski 02-28-06, 11:03 AM	Yeah, the option to input these have been available for a while. There just weren't any IDs until this scenario. Good to see they finally got around to implementing this. Yeah, except: To judge only from the one of three MoH scenarios I played at WF that have been reported, the 'Digital Cert' only lists the name, not the game effect. Simply knowing you have a particular 'story object' is not enough; the value of the physical cert was that it also detailed the in-game effects in a place that it was convenient and portable with the character. Fortunately, I wrote down what the game effect of the cert, but I should not have had to. I understand that its still in its early implementation, but I don't see any space on the listing that would allow the detailing of game effects. If they don't include this text on the digitial cert listing, then its a big step backward for character portability. MikeC
Blackwood 02-28-06, 04:51 PM	There is also another problem that we noticed at Winter Fantasy. Since these certs were only being given out electronically it meant that we didn't immediately have something to show for the next mod we played. In my case I played EMH-11, 12 and the exclusive at WF in that order. Despite getting a cert from the first of those 3 mods (EMH-11) I had no record of this for the next two I played in the same weekend. This is a definate problem for convention games. I like the idea of Digital Certs (so that you don't have to keep track of as many papers and so that negative certs have clear records), but I don't like the lack of a physical cert at a convention.
Madfox11 03-06-06, 05:19 AM	There is a link somewhere in the basic character description that should lead to a more detailed description of the certs, doesn't it? I cannot check, because somehow none of the adventures I played at WF (and I played all) included electronic certs even though the DMs did mention there were such certs. Which points out one of the other problems of electronic registration: if the DM, or senior DM, makes a mistake the character does not get updated. In LG this only costs you reward points, which is only a minor inconvenience. In Mark of Heroes it costs you xp and gp which is rather irritating. O well, I mailed RPGA HQ about it. Lets hope my character does get the electronic certs.
Mike Czaplinski 03-06-06, 05:39 AM	There is a link somewhere in the basic character description that should lead to a more detailed description of the certs, doesn't it? I cannot check, because somehow none of the adventures I played at WF (and I played all) included electronic certs even though the DMs did mention there were such certs. Which points out one of the other problems of electronic registration: if the DM, or senior DM, makes a mistake the character does not get updated. In LG this only costs you reward points, which is only a minor inconvenience. In Mark of Heroes it costs you xp and gp which is rather irritating. O well, I mailed RPGA HQ about it. Lets hope my character does get the electronic certs. At this point, if you click on "Display Certification" when looking at the main character tracker window, you get to a different table that lists your certs individually. Alas, the only information this 2nd table gives that is not given on the main character listing is the name of the Cert. No other info (like the game effect of the cert, as I decried above) is shown, and there is no place in the table to click on each line & get more info (which, to me, would be an utter waste of time: if they took the programming time to make a slightly-redundant subscreen to show the individual certs, how much more difficult is it to add another column with descriptive text?) MikeC
DBlizzard 03-06-06, 11:04 AM	To judge only from the one of three MoH scenarios I played at WF that havebeen reported, the 'Digital Cert' only lists the name, not the game effect.The adventure Desolate Endeavor refers to looking at the "Mark of Heroes Story Object Lexicon." So, presumbably there is supposed to be a download with a list of these at some point. Of course, we'll probably see it right after we see the fastplay characters & psionics primer posted.
Mike Czaplinski 03-06-06, 11:48 AM	The adventure Desolate Endeavor refers to looking at the "Mark of Heroes Story Object Lexicon." So, presumbably there is supposed to be a download with a list of these at some point. Of course, we'll probably see it right after we see the fastplay characters & psionics primer posted. Not to mention the amount of wasted paper that will get generated when people print out a multi page document to get the descriptions of a handful of certs. Better to include it as boilerplate in mods, but the best choice is still to JUST GIVE US PHYSICAL CERTS! Unless they want to give us all WOTC-branded USB sticks.......
DBlizzard 03-06-06, 12:27 PM	Not to mention the amount of wasted paper that will get generated when people print out a multi page document to get the descriptions of a handful of certs.That's what cut and paste is for. Besides, as long as you know what your cert does, the DM should be the one with this download printed out. Hopefully, if & when it gets released it will have certs far in advance. I'd hate to have to keep printing out new copies every time a new adventure is released.
Madfox11 03-07-06, 06:01 AM	In this case physical certs are rather easy to forge. If they are going to add a document with all the cert texts then just providing the name in the on-line documentation will work. Though they do make live slightly more difficult for themselves since they have to keep a document up-to-date.
Blackwood 03-07-06, 10:47 AM	Of course there is a problem with providing a single master document of certs: people who haven't played the mod yet can deliberately (or accidentally while looking another cert up) find out what certs exist before they play the mod. Given that certs are sometimes knowledge or contacts gained during the module, it would be a bad idea to have people be able to casually read them before they play it.