The people at Wizards of the Coast had told us previously that various adventure tools would be free to use, even though some (such as the D&D Dungeon Creator) would be at diminished capacity. I was satisfied with this. I don't need to do 3-D model rendering with my friends hundreds of miles away. I don't need total access to every D&D monster that's been made. Just being able to have a resource that is specifically designed for D&D, and especially 4th Edition, would have been great.
Now, judging by the wording of the new article that introduces the Monster Builder, I'm.... well, obviously, by the wording of this thread, a little annoyed. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but within the article the impression that is given is that I will NOT have access to any of the little goodies that were promised to be free for all to download.
I know that, in essence, this isn't a major concern. There are a number of outside programs that work just fine for the purposes of making your own monsters, maps, etc., and there's always just sticking to (gasp) pencil and paper, but I couldn't help but be excited when the release of a Wizards of the Coast custom-made Map Builder was coming out. Why? Because it would have had all sorts of tools specifically designed for D&D, not just for RPG's in general. And, while I've played a couple of other RPG's in my day, I've always found D&D more enjoyable.
As I stated previously, I don't need these tools. I'm a perfectly capable DM without them. But what bugs me is that Wizards of the Coast said for months (or, I should say, had posted on their website) that various tools were going to be free, and it looks like they're backing out on that. It's like going to the toy store with your parents, who told you they were going to get you a new box of Legos, then finding out it was too expensive and driving home.
Really, I'm not actually asking Wizards of the Coast to change their policy. And, of course, as I said, I could be wrong and just rambling on about nothing. However, I would appreciate more consideration on the part of the player base in the future.
Manijin
The people at Wizards of the Coast had told us previously that various adventure tools would be free to use, even though some (such as the D&D Dungeon Creator) would be at diminished capacity.
Could you point to an article where they said that the various tools would be free? As far as I can recall, it has always been indicated that they would be included as part of a subscription to D&D Insider. They have said that there will be Demo versions of the various tools available for people to use, which will have, as is the nature of a demo tool, limited capability, but I don't recall them saying that they would be free.
Now, judging by the wording of the new article that introduces the Monster Builder, I'm.... well, obviously, by the wording of this thread, a little annoyed. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but within the article the impression that is given is that I will NOT have access to any of the little goodies that were promised to be free for all to download.
The Monster Builder will be part of DDI and will require a subscription to download and use, when it is released. I don't recall it being announced as being free to use.
As I stated previously, I don't need these tools. I'm a perfectly capable DM without them. But what bugs me is that Wizards of the Coast said for months (or, I should say, had posted on their website) that various tools were going to be free, and it looks like they're backing out on that.
Again, I don't recall WotC indicating anything of the sort.
http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/insider
This page used to have different sub-menus available for viewing, but the formatting has since been changed to remove things like the dungeon builder.
They never said that the tools were free. They said that there would be demo versions of the tools available for non-subscribers, and there are for the tools that are out right now.
3 free sample issues of Dragon & Dungeon, as well as demo versions of the software tools currently available.
We've been told that the Monster Builder won't have a free demo at launch, but there's some hope/expectation from WotC that we'll have one in the future.
Beyond that, I personally have no recollection of anything for free.
Sorry.
I don't know. I'm sceptical about this whole thing. It sounds like another D&Di launch promise. Will WotC deliver? That's what we have yet to see .... Also, will this "Adventure Builder" be a replacement for the Character Builder? Will they continue to update the character builder once this thing is released?
The adventure builder is separate from the CB.
I don't know. I'm sceptical about this whole thing. It sounds like another D&Di launch promise. Will WotC deliver? That's what we have yet to see .... Also, will this "Adventure Builder" be a replacement for the Character Builder? Will they continue to update the character builder once this thing is released?
I was a skeptic originally too. Then along came the Character Builder. It is elegent and extremely easy to use. Far better than the Code Monkey Char Gen we had for 3.5. As far as I am concerned WotC did a great job of delivering on the Character Builder (kudo's to the developers that wrote this monster) and I expect the same to be true of the Adventure Tools when its various components are released.
In answer to your question (I am totally astonished someone even went here, though I suppose I shouldnt be). No the Adventure Tool is not going to be a replacement for the Character Builder, and yes the Character Builder is going to continue to be updated.
*ahem*
That said, I'm willing to bet very limited demos of 'Adventure Tools' will be released in the future.
i wish there was something like a key number attached to each book (core books)
this key numbers would provide extra content avaible to the customer.
this will surely increase the activity of the forums, of the website and the number of subscriptions (mostly because there's more people in contact with such information)
i wish there was something like a key number attached to each book (core books)
this key numbers would provide extra content avaible to the customer.
this will surely increase the activity of the forums, of the website and the number of subscriptions (mostly because there's more people in contact with such information)
and what do you do...is each code per book or per customer? If I go open the book at B&N and copy the code do I get to get it for free?
i wish there was something like a key number attached to each book (core books)
this key numbers would provide extra content avaible to the customer.
this will surely increase the activity of the forums, of the website and the number of subscriptions (mostly because there's more people in contact with such information)
and what do you do...is each code per book or per customer? If I go open the book at B&N and copy the code do I get to get it for free?
each code for each book yes. A sealed code, not hard doing it, Really.
example:
Players Handbook code (the code provides the customer extra info about other races, feats, and a simple html character builder)
Dungeon Master Guide code (the code provides the customer extra info about dealing with encounters, short adventures, new traps, maybe a simple html dungeon builder/encounter builder)
Monsters Manual code (the code will provide printable monster tokens, new monsters and tips about how each character class responds to certain monsters)
Easy enough, fun, something that will surely increase sells because most players in a gaming group will buy a player's handbook to get the nice stuff
each code for each book yes. A sealed code, not hard doing it, Really.example:
Players Handbook code (the code provides the customer extra info about other races, feats, and a simple html character builder)
Dungeon Master Guide code (the code provides the customer extra info about dealing with encounters, short adventures, new traps, maybe a simple html dungeon builder/encounter builder)
Monsters Manual code (the code will provide printable monster tokens, new monsters and tips about how each character class responds to certain monsters)
Easy enough, fun, something that will surely increase sells because most players in a gaming group will buy a player's handbook to get the nice stuff
um ok, so all phb 1 codes are 123456789
and all phb 2 codes are ABCDEFGHI
what stops me from buying the books, then giveing hte code to everyone I know???
um ok, so all phb 1 codes are 123456789
and all phb 2 codes are ABCDEFGHI
what stops me from buying the books, then giveing hte code to everyone I know???
I know this idea of mine is kinda flawed, but it is just an initial idea, if i had all figured it out i wouldn't be posting on a forum.
Do you have any ideas that may provide good input on this idea of mine? Or you just disagree with it so much that it didn't even crossed your mind that it may actually work
Well, if you are a subscriber you WILL give your account and password to everyone you know? some people do, some people share subscriptions so they can pay it (people from where i live, btw), some people don't pay because the books are all they need, but if those people are motivated to go online they MIGHT become subscribers.
Save yourself some bitterness over the whole thing and subscribe for ONE month, download the programs, then do not renew the subscription. Repeat anytime they release something you want.
You can't tell me the character and monster builder aren't worth $10. If you aren't willing to even pay that much then you don't want them enough to be spending the time complaining here.
No offense, but cmon, it took them a lot of work to create those programs.
Save yourself some bitterness over the whole thing and subscribe for ONE month, download the programs, then do not renew the subscription. Repeat anytime they release something you want.
You can't tell me the character and monster builder aren't worth . If you aren't willing to even pay that much then you don't want them enough to be spending the time complaining here.
No offense, but cmon, it took them a lot of work to create those programs.
I'm not bitter at all...
I love the subscription system, but a lot of people i play with don't even know what subscription is, such players don't even know what they are missing.
And i think they SHOULD be rewarded for their efforts of such programs.
My idea is just something it came up one day inside my brain during bed time and i really liked it and decided to share, unfortunately it made me sound like a jerk, but what i'm proposing is something that may bring MORE subscribers, rewarding those fantastic designers that developed the system i love the most, with conjunction of monthly feedbakcs directly from them!
I'm sorry but one month subscription is just not enough because new and awesome things come up every week. And asking for fellow players of mine to pay 10 dollars (which in my country is not that cheap) to something they don't even know/interest about is pretty futile
My idea is just something it came up one day inside my brain during bed time and i really liked it and decided to share, unfortunately it made me sound like a jerk, but what i'm proposing is something that may bring MORE subscribers, rewarding those fantastic designers that developed the system i love the most, with conjunction of monthly feedbakcs directly from them!
I'm sorry but one month subscription is just not enough because new and awesome things come up every week. And asking for fellow players of mine to pay 10 dollars (which in my country is not that cheap) to something they don't even know/interest about is pretty futile
Really your idea just wouldn't work. If it was a single code for al copies of the book, then the code would be out on the internet probably a week before the street date for the book and there would be nothing that could be done about it by WotC. So it would require WotC to do extra effort for these codes with no real extra payout except added server stres. At least with insider accounts they can suspend the account if they notice something fishy going on(like 20 sign ins from completely different states in a single day). If you were to change it to be an individual code for each copy of the book, then you end up with a nasty situation which results in a lose lose situation for WotC, retailers, and consumers(which is why they chose not to do this exact thing).
My idea is just something it came up one day inside my brain during bed time and i really liked it and decided to share, unfortunately it made me sound like a jerk, but what i'm proposing is something that may bring MORE subscribers, rewarding those fantastic designers that developed the system i love the most, with conjunction of monthly feedbakcs directly from them!
I'm sorry but one month subscription is just not enough because new and awesome things come up every week. And asking for fellow players of mine to pay 10 dollars (which in my country is not that cheap) to something they don't even know/interest about is pretty futile
Really your idea just wouldn't work. If it was a single code for al copies of the book, then the code would be out on the internet probably a week before the street date for the book and there would be nothing that could be done about it by WotC. So it would require WotC to do extra effort for these codes with no real extra payout except added server stres. At least with insider accounts they can suspend the account if they notice something fishy going on(like 20 sign ins from completely different states in a single day). If you were to change it to be an individual code for each copy of the book, then you end up with a nasty situation which results in a lose lose situation for WotC, retailers, and consumers(which is why they chose not to do this exact thing).
Then WHY do we have CD-KEYs for our multiplayer online games?
If they can create a CD-KEY to each dvd containing the game then why can't you create a BOOK-KEY for each printed book?
And what happens to those CD-KEYS you often find in the internet? they don't work, right?
You just think it wouldn't work, but seems to me that you haven't really compared to similar forms of coded merchandise. I don't know if its gonna work too, but i know that something similar was applied to Computer Games a while ago and is still kicking.
The reason that CD-Keys work is because that only one key works for that CD. You have to have a certain code for a certain CD. With this, there is no way to guarantee that they used the proper key. People could just guess what the key was, and there would be no way to tell if it was the right key for the right book. It just doesn't work, I'm sorry.
The discs come in a sealed package. Would you prefer that D&D books be sold wrapped in plastic, so people can't take a look at the contents before they buy?
Then WHY do we have CD-KEYs for our multiplayer online games?
If they can create a CD-KEY to each dvd containing the game then why can't you create a BOOK-KEY for each printed book?
And what happens to those CD-KEYS you often find in the internet? they don't work, right?
You just think it wouldn't work, but seems to me that you haven't really compared to similar forms of coded merchandise. I don't know if its gonna work too, but i know that something similar was applied to Computer Games a while ago and is still kicking.
I don't have to do the comparison or any analysis, WotC already did it before 4th edition came out. They are the ones who determined it to be a lose lose situation for eveyone involved(I really wish I remembered where that post was). I barely remember all the details from the analysis I read, but I do recall that it would basically mess with retailers due to complications that arise from books being sealed to protect the codes.
And which one of the two options that I mentioned are you even arguing against? Single code for a book or a single code for each individual copy of a book? If it is the former than your arguments don't make sense. If it is the latter than WotC has already looked at it as an idea and determined that it wasn't in there best interest(and I'm pretty sure they had people than either of us looking at the matter).