Character Builder in the future... - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Character Builder in the future...

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
DaBugbear
Jul 12, 2012 13:02:06 Basically, I am wondering about the continued viability of the character builder as D&D Next looms on the horizon. I doubt they will abandon it until Next officially drops, but their sudden abandonment of the VT (again) leaves me questioning the statement earlier that they planned to continue supporting 4e through the online tools.

My group and I enjoy 4e tremendously, many of us having played D&D from the real AD&D on up to the modern iteration. The problem with 4e is similar to the problem 3e ran into at the end, in that the feat/power bloat is difficult to shift through in dead tree format.

How likely is the continued use of the current CB after the switch?
#2
Alter_Boy
Jul 12, 2012 13:11:40 Honestly? I'm not sure it will last as long as you think it will. Then again, it may last as long as it's profitable. I'm not sure, because I'm not sure what angle WotC is playing here. If it's straight-up profits, they'll keep DDI 4ed compliant for a while (and try to use it as a transition vehicle to 5ed, advertising new things and giving free demos to the game material). If it's edition hegemony, they'll definately close it up by the time 5ed releases.

My best guess comes from WotC's hedging and hemming-and-hawing about the future of D&D. I imagine that they want everyone to use 5ed, but they're very afraid of the perception that they're pushing anyone into it. So 4ed DDI could suffer a slow death of a thousand cuts rather than an abrupt end.
#3
GelatinousOctahedron
Jul 12, 2012 13:42:09 I doubt they are going to do anything to fix the problems it currently has. Maybe minor tweaks like fixing typos and easily correctable errors, but that is about it.

I wouldn't bet money on it still being available one year from now.

Keeping current 4E players happy obviously isn't a top priority for Wotc. It is trying to get them exited about the next edition while desperately trying to bring back older edition fans and some new players.
#4
frothsof
Jul 12, 2012 13:47:30 i agree with gelatinous unfortunately

i dont think they will fix anything. i dont think they will support anything. i dont think they care at all about their current customers except to make them buy 5e (and they are in for a rude awakening in my case).

i think they will screw us over and cut the tools out first chance they get, which will be sooner rather than later. then they will blame us for this, claiming there wasnt enough support for them. similar to how they handled the vt and the compiled mags and the old downloadable tools (remember how they left the old mb broken for a year, and kept 'fixing' bugs nobody had ever even heard or seen? and lets not talk about when they took all the lfr monsters out just before they discontinued it and basically tricked you into dling it)

i dont trust them at all. whatever they say, ill believe it when i see it, no sooner. thats just what experience teaches you when you deal with them
#5
mattador666
Jul 12, 2012 18:15:40 I agree with them. As soon as its discontinued, in a year probably, ill drop my DDI subscription. Unless they do something even dumber (not unlikely).
The ****ed up part is, Wizards knows that, and doesn't care at all. What other business hears its customers say "do this, and I'm done" and shrugs it off? Other than giants corps that are evil anyhow.
#6
DoctorBadWolf
Jul 13, 2012 1:32:54
I doubt they are going to do anything to fix the problems it currently has. Maybe minor tweaks like fixing typos and easily correctable errors, but that is about it.

I wouldn't bet money on it still being available one year from now.

Keeping current 4E players happy obviously isn't a top priority for Wotc. It is trying to get them exited about the next edition while desperately trying to bring back older edition fans and some new players.

I'd be surprised if it went away before the actual launch of 5e, honestly. They have to know that it's one of the primary reasons they have DDI subscribers.
#7
frothsof
Jul 13, 2012 6:55:28 nothing surprises me with them anymore. you cant assume anything. yes what youre saying is rational but keep in mind, these are the nincompoops who couldnt figure out how to market the vt. they are morons, but more than that, they would sell their mother out for a thin dime. so they are unpredictable in a sense but predictable in another: they dont give a damn about 4e players and will ALWAYS screw them over in the end. ALWAYS.
#8
Pashalik_Mons
Jul 13, 2012 7:15:51
How likely is the continued use of the current CB after the switch?

Less likely than a bus full of supermodels stopping at your door to argue over your affections, I'd think. I'd much rather that didn't look to be the case, but it does.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 DaBugbear Jul 12, 2012 13:02:06	Basically, I am wondering about the continued viability of the character builder as D&D Next looms on the horizon. I doubt they will abandon it until Next officially drops, but their sudden abandonment of the VT (again) leaves me questioning the statement earlier that they planned to continue supporting 4e through the online tools. My group and I enjoy 4e tremendously, many of us having played D&D from the real AD&D on up to the modern iteration. The problem with 4e is similar to the problem 3e ran into at the end, in that the feat/power bloat is difficult to shift through in dead tree format. How likely is the continued use of the current CB after the switch?
#2 Alter_Boy Jul 12, 2012 13:11:40	Honestly? I'm not sure it will last as long as you think it will. Then again, it may last as long as it's profitable. I'm not sure, because I'm not sure what angle WotC is playing here. If it's straight-up profits, they'll keep DDI 4ed compliant for a while (and try to use it as a transition vehicle to 5ed, advertising new things and giving free demos to the game material). If it's edition hegemony, they'll definately close it up by the time 5ed releases. My best guess comes from WotC's hedging and hemming-and-hawing about the future of D&D. I imagine that they want everyone to use 5ed, but they're very afraid of the perception that they're pushing anyone into it. So 4ed DDI could suffer a slow death of a thousand cuts rather than an abrupt end.
#3 GelatinousOctahedron Jul 12, 2012 13:42:09	I doubt they are going to do anything to fix the problems it currently has. Maybe minor tweaks like fixing typos and easily correctable errors, but that is about it. I wouldn't bet money on it still being available one year from now. Keeping current 4E players happy obviously isn't a top priority for Wotc. It is trying to get them exited about the next edition while desperately trying to bring back older edition fans and some new players.
#4 frothsof Jul 12, 2012 13:47:30	i agree with gelatinous unfortunately i dont think they will fix anything. i dont think they will support anything. i dont think they care at all about their current customers except to make them buy 5e (and they are in for a rude awakening in my case). i think they will screw us over and cut the tools out first chance they get, which will be sooner rather than later. then they will blame us for this, claiming there wasnt enough support for them. similar to how they handled the vt and the compiled mags and the old downloadable tools (remember how they left the old mb broken for a year, and kept 'fixing' bugs nobody had ever even heard or seen? and lets not talk about when they took all the lfr monsters out just before they discontinued it and basically tricked you into dling it) i dont trust them at all. whatever they say, ill believe it when i see it, no sooner. thats just what experience teaches you when you deal with them
#5 mattador666 Jul 12, 2012 18:15:40	I agree with them. As soon as its discontinued, in a year probably, ill drop my DDI subscription. Unless they do something even dumber (not unlikely). The ****ed up part is, Wizards knows that, and doesn't care at all. What other business hears its customers say "do this, and I'm done" and shrugs it off? Other than giants corps that are evil anyhow.
#6 DoctorBadWolf Jul 13, 2012 1:32:54	I doubt they are going to do anything to fix the problems it currently has. Maybe minor tweaks like fixing typos and easily correctable errors, but that is about it. I wouldn't bet money on it still being available one year from now. Keeping current 4E players happy obviously isn't a top priority for Wotc. It is trying to get them exited about the next edition while desperately trying to bring back older edition fans and some new players. I'd be surprised if it went away before the actual launch of 5e, honestly. They have to know that it's one of the primary reasons they have DDI subscribers.
#7 frothsof Jul 13, 2012 6:55:28	nothing surprises me with them anymore. you cant assume anything. yes what youre saying is rational but keep in mind, these are the nincompoops who couldnt figure out how to market the vt. they are morons, but more than that, they would sell their mother out for a thin dime. so they are unpredictable in a sense but predictable in another: they dont give a damn about 4e players and will ALWAYS screw them over in the end. ALWAYS.
#8 Pashalik_Mons Jul 13, 2012 7:15:51	How likely is the continued use of the current CB after the switch? Less likely than a bus full of supermodels stopping at your door to argue over your affections, I'd think. I'd much rather that didn't look to be the case, but it does.