There is no longer an official estimate. Guesstimates range between 12-18 months...
Yes there is:
"After the Character Visualizer, which comes after the Character Builder."
Since the Character Builder estimate has been updated to "very early 2009", I'm willing to confidently estimate six to eight months for the Game Table.
Also, for those of you who may be quick to judge the quality of WotC's tools, please check out the Character Builder*! It's actually amazing. It's definitely among both the most powerful and easiest to use character generators I've ever used. (It's way better than PCGen ever was, for example.)
*The Character Builder is in beta testing now. If you're a DDI subscriber, the beta can be downloaded now, and if not, it will be available for download in December.
Yes there is:
"After the Character Visualizer, which comes after the Character Builder.
No.
There are no dates given, so no estimated time frame. In order to be a TIME estimate, TIME must be given.
He didn't ask if there was a product order of release.
Once the Game Table hits we will evaluate the cost/benefit and may switch over.
Also, for those of you who may be quick to judge the quality of WotC's tools, please check out the Character Builder*! It's actually amazing. It's definitely among both the most powerful and easiest to use character generators I've ever used. (It's way better than PCGen ever was, for example.)
*The Character Builder is in beta testing now. If you're a DDI subscriber, the beta can be downloaded now, and if not, it will be available for download in December.
I have to agree. I was surprised at how good it was the first time I used it. I have not even found a bug yet. Not bad for a beta.
I have to agree. I was surprised at how good it was the first time I used it. I have not even found a bug yet. Not bad for a beta.
Is it customizable for house rules?
Is it customizable for house rules?
There are houserule buttons on each tab where you can create "custom elements."
There are houserule buttons on each tab where you can create "custom elements."
Thanks, I'll have to try it. That description sounds suspect.
Thanks, I'll have to try it. That description sounds suspect.
In the beta, you are (where the House Rule button exists) able to enter the name of a custom element, and a URL. There is speculation that in the full release, the URL will allow you to feed XML data to the Character Builder and have it integrate your houserule into the character sheet. This is purely speculation, though they've said they want users to be able to introduce house rules as they see fit.
At this point, however, it simply adds a link in the "sidebar" of the Character Builder to the URL you provide (normally, the sidebar displays the full rules text for a power, class, feat, and so forth as you select them). There isn't a way to add any mechanical information for a house rule.
In the beta, you are (where the House Rule button exists) able to enter the name of a custom element, and a URL. There is speculation that in the full release, the URL will allow you to feed XML data to the Character Builder and have it integrate your houserule into the character sheet. This is purely speculation, though they've said they want users to be able to introduce house rules as they see fit.
At this point, however, it simply adds a link in the "sidebar" of the Character Builder to the URL you provide (normally, the sidebar displays the full rules text for a power, class, feat, and so forth as you select them). There isn't a way to add any mechanical information for a house rule.
Thanks. I guess we'll know when the release version is available. Though it's encouraging at this point.
Thanks for the info.
If the Dungeon Builder is even remotely as good a product as the Character Builder I am going to be very happy and I probably won't mind paying more for the Insider membership. So far I have definitely gotten my money's worth.
I tend to offer an exp bonus to the group cartographer, that way they don't have to do it but there is always that one player so desperate for their level that they will do almost anything. That go the ingame route and have an NPC offer them money for a map of the dungeon/temple/ruins/island and then tell them they can only collect it if they actually make the map.
No.
There are no dates given, so no estimated time frame. In order to be a TIME estimate, TIME must be given.
He didn't ask if there was a product order of release.
'Cept that when asked about estimated time frame, this was always the first thing WotC would say on the matter, and therefore, it's not irrelevant. Why d'you gotta be so hostile?
this was always the first thing WotC would say on the matter, and therefore, it's not irrelevant.
Really doesn't matter what WotC says if it doesn't include time/date in the info.
If I worked for you and asked when will X be done and I reply, "After Y is done."
And, you don't know how long Y or X takes, it really isn't answer to the question.
Really doesn't matter what WotC says if it doesn't include time/date in the info.
If I worked for you and asked when will X be done and I reply, "After Y is done."
And, you don't know how long Y or X takes, it really isn't answer to the question.
I can live with this assessment. It's not really an answer to the question asked; it just happens to be answer one usually gets.
You and I seem to think in opposite terms, Kursk: me, relative, and you, absolute. In addition, perhaps relevance is in the eye of the beholder. This is my explanation as to why you and I seem to always miscommunicate.
But I'm a D&D customer, and therefore must apparently be the most forgiving recipient imaginable, and say "Oh, whenever you have the product that you promised earlier ready, I'm totally willing to wait until you feel like it's the right time, I'll pay whenever you want, and never go to another developer, because I'm totally loyal to you."
You have millions of dollars for development. This is NOT HARD. WHAT IS THE FREAKING PROBLEM?
.....Yeah, if it isn't hard why don't you go an program your own game table application. Since it isn't hard, I'm sure you can get it done in a couple months. Programming is easy after all.
I'll start paying for the DDI when I can play with friends nationwide on the gametable. When is this going to be available? All spin aside. When? I want to play D&D over the internet with official tools. You have millions of dollars for development. This is NOT HARD. WHAT IS THE FREAKING PROBLEM? Other game companies manage true games, rather than simple pen and paper rule simulations, in short time frames. This is ridiculous. What is going on? If I were the project manager, I'd say "GIVE ME A FREAKING DATE, YOU INCOMPETENT BUFFOONS, OR YOU'RE FIRED!"
But I'm a D&D customer, and therefore must apparently be the most forgiving recipient imaginable, and say "Oh, whenever you have the product that you promised earlier ready, I'm totally willing to wait until you feel like it's the right time, I'll pay whenever you want, and never go to another developer, because I'm totally loyal to you."
Like Ranadiel pointed out, talk is cheap. If it's so easy, why don't you make your own version? When WotC releases theirs, we'll compare the two.
That said, I sympathize. The Game Table was the lynch-pin of the Digital Initiative announced for 4E, and until we see this tool in action, we haven't been delivered what was promised to us. It's frustrating, trying to judge DDI by its own standards when it hasn't yet delivered everything it promised.
Still, I think I'm patient about this than you are; I prefer not to be cynical, either. I've seen other "Game Table" tools that turned out to be either ineffective or prohibitively complex, so I really would like WotC to get this right, and I'm willing to wait for it.