10 Day Free Trial - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

10 Day Free Trial

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
The_Jester
Jan 05, 2009 20:13:36 So I check my PHB and it says I get a 10 free trial of D&D Inside. And, apparently, the starter set says the same thing.

How can I sign-up for a free 10 days?
#2
WolfStar76
Jan 05, 2009 20:32:40 At this time the 10-day free trial is in limbo.

Instead of a 10-day trial, they instead gave everyone a 3 (or was it 4?) month free trial to Dragon, Dungeon, and the Comependium. The issues of Dragon and Dungeon are still available as a form of trial to the type of content they offer.

Additionally, the Character Builder is currently in Open Beta, and even after release we're told there will remain a trial version featuring the first three levels worth of options.

With that in mind, "signing up" for a 10-day trial seems to have fallen by the wayside in favor of these limited, but always available trials.

I wouldn't be surprised if, when the Game Table is completed, a 10-day trial is revisited, as a multi-day "pass" to that particular component seems to be the most logical way to let the public sample it.
#3
The_Jester
Jan 05, 2009 20:44:50 I get that for the advertising in the PHB back when getting everything ready for launch seemed possible. But what about the starter set that was released about the same time the paid subscription started (and references Gleemax). Wouldn't that constitute false advertising?
#4
WolfStar76
Jan 05, 2009 21:08:51
I get that for the advertising in the PHB back when getting everything ready for launch seemed possible. But what about the starter set that was released about the same time the paid subscription started (and references Gleemax). Wouldn't that constitute false advertising?

~shrug~ You'd have to consult a lawyer about that.

However, I personally think you'd have an uphill battle since, instead of a limited 10-day trial, you're instead being given an non-time-limited trial that doesn't even require you to sign up.

There's also considerations to be given about the timing of when those ads had to be printed in order to be packaged with the starter sets, vs when the decision to axe gleemax and the 10-day trial was made. (I don't know which starter set of minis you're referring to, nor do I know if these timing considerations would be in your favor or WotC's - I merely mean to illustrate it isn't as cut and dry as you might think).
#5
The_Jester
Jan 05, 2009 22:03:40
(I don't know which starter set of minis you're referring to, nor do I know if these timing considerations would be in your favor or WotC's - I merely mean to illustrate it isn't as cut and dry as you might think).

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/217120000

Released October '08. Five months after 4e launch and an identical ad to the badly and obviously photoshopped ad at the back of the PHB.
And released two and a half months after the Gleemax announcement (end of July).

So the timing of the printing might only be a factor if they print three months in advance and Gleemax was a last-minute axing.

Otherwise they reprinted an already dated and misleading ad. That's just sloppy.
#6
WolfStar76
Jan 06, 2009 7:25:43 Others will likely find the official posts, but I believe Gleemax was axed around October - and printing does often take a couple months lead time, so it's not entirely unlikely. ~shrug~

No less frustrating for the fact, of course.
#7
thellaren
Jan 06, 2009 7:36:35 Yes, you could probably sue for your 10 day free trial.

If you won, at $7 a month, that means you'd get about $2.50.

Good luck with that.
#8
jwalker
Jan 06, 2009 10:42:38 Sure, it's false advertising but good luck trying to do anything about in the States. The U.S. isn't very strict on advertising regulation, haven't you seen the "male enhancement" commercials on TV? lol

I think the laws are stricter in Europe, not sure.

You should call WoTC and ask for your 10 day free trial; tell us what they say.
#9
The_Jester
Jan 06, 2009 15:29:07
Yes, you could probably sue for your 10 day free trial.

If you won, at $7 a month, that means you'd get about $2.50.

Good luck with that.

Ask for my $2.50 and legal bills.
And Class action, there's 10,000 other people who also should get $2.50; I bet WotC would add a 10 Day Trial button pretty quick. ;)
#10
mudbunny
Jan 06, 2009 15:36:23 You do realize that by threatening legal action, you can pretty much guarantee that no WotC employee will come within an inch of this thread.
#11
The_Jester
Jan 06, 2009 20:24:17 Please, I'm posting on a forum.
The only WotC employees that really post are community volunteers (aka technically not even employees) or those in a liaison/moderation position (very low on the totem pole).
There's probably at least three layers of bureaucracy between me and anyone who could authorize a 10 day trial or effect any kind of change in the misleading ads at the back of the products.
#12
WolfStar76
Jan 07, 2009 7:02:18
Sure, it's false advertising but good luck trying to do anything about in the States. The U.S. isn't very strict on advertising regulation, haven't you seen the "male enhancement" commercials on TV? lol

[Mostly Offtopic]
You mean the company who's been fined 2.5 million?

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/03/smiling_bob.html[/mostly offtopic]

(MB - you be the judge, if this is far enough off-topic, you've my permission to move it off-thread to Digital Siberia).
#13
mudbunny
Jan 07, 2009 8:50:12 Nahh, looks fine from here. That being said, there *is* a significant lag time between them sending out books to the printers, and the books actually showing up on shelves.

In addition, there is a free trial aviailable. All of the Dungeon/Dragon issues that were published *prior* to them going pay are available. There is a 3-level beta (that will turn into a 3-level demo once it goes live) of the character builder, and WotC has indicated that there will be demo versions available for the other programs as well.

From my point of view, that is a great deal more extensive than the 10-day trial mentioned in the books.

In addition, I think the 10-day trial will really come back once they get the Game Table up and running, and people will actually want to use it to play.
#14
whitebaron
Jan 07, 2009 13:42:38
In addition, I think the 10-day trial will really come back once they get the Game Table up and running, and people will actually want to use it to play.

we'll hopefully be able to talk about that in 2010.

about the ad: i believe they just put it in because that's the DDI ad, and marketing people generally know pretty close to nothing about sales or what's really happening, so call it just another in a series of mistakes.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 The_Jester Jan 05, 2009 20:13:36	So I check my PHB and it says I get a 10 free trial of D&D Inside. And, apparently, the starter set says the same thing. How can I sign-up for a free 10 days?
#2 WolfStar76 Jan 05, 2009 20:32:40	At this time the 10-day free trial is in limbo. Instead of a 10-day trial, they instead gave everyone a 3 (or was it 4?) month free trial to Dragon, Dungeon, and the Comependium. The issues of Dragon and Dungeon are still available as a form of trial to the type of content they offer. Additionally, the Character Builder is currently in Open Beta, and even after release we're told there will remain a trial version featuring the first three levels worth of options. With that in mind, "signing up" for a 10-day trial seems to have fallen by the wayside in favor of these limited, but always available trials. I wouldn't be surprised if, when the Game Table is completed, a 10-day trial is revisited, as a multi-day "pass" to that particular component seems to be the most logical way to let the public sample it.
#3 The_Jester Jan 05, 2009 20:44:50	I get that for the advertising in the PHB back when getting everything ready for launch seemed possible. But what about the starter set that was released about the same time the paid subscription started (and references Gleemax). Wouldn't that constitute false advertising?
#4 WolfStar76 Jan 05, 2009 21:08:51	I get that for the advertising in the PHB back when getting everything ready for launch seemed possible. But what about the starter set that was released about the same time the paid subscription started (and references Gleemax). Wouldn't that constitute false advertising? ~shrug~ You'd have to consult a lawyer about that. However, I personally think you'd have an uphill battle since, instead of a limited 10-day trial, you're instead being given an non-time-limited trial that doesn't even require you to sign up. There's also considerations to be given about the timing of when those ads had to be printed in order to be packaged with the starter sets, vs when the decision to axe gleemax and the 10-day trial was made. (I don't know which starter set of minis you're referring to, nor do I know if these timing considerations would be in your favor or WotC's - I merely mean to illustrate it isn't as cut and dry as you might think).
#5 The_Jester Jan 05, 2009 22:03:40	(I don't know which starter set of minis you're referring to, nor do I know if these timing considerations would be in your favor or WotC's - I merely mean to illustrate it isn't as cut and dry as you might think). http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/217120000 Released October '08. Five months after 4e launch and an identical ad to the badly and obviously photoshopped ad at the back of the PHB. And released two and a half months after the Gleemax announcement (end of July). So the timing of the printing might only be a factor if they print three months in advance and Gleemax was a last-minute axing. Otherwise they reprinted an already dated and misleading ad. That's just sloppy.
#6 WolfStar76 Jan 06, 2009 7:25:43	Others will likely find the official posts, but I believe Gleemax was axed around October - and printing does often take a couple months lead time, so it's not entirely unlikely. ~shrug~ No less frustrating for the fact, of course.
#7 thellaren Jan 06, 2009 7:36:35	Yes, you could probably sue for your 10 day free trial. If you won, at $7 a month, that means you'd get about $2.50. Good luck with that.
#8 jwalker Jan 06, 2009 10:42:38	Sure, it's false advertising but good luck trying to do anything about in the States. The U.S. isn't very strict on advertising regulation, haven't you seen the "male enhancement" commercials on TV? lol I think the laws are stricter in Europe, not sure. You should call WoTC and ask for your 10 day free trial; tell us what they say.
#9 The_Jester Jan 06, 2009 15:29:07	Yes, you could probably sue for your 10 day free trial. If you won, at $7 a month, that means you'd get about $2.50. Good luck with that. Ask for my $2.50 and legal bills. And Class action, there's 10,000 other people who also should get $2.50; I bet WotC would add a 10 Day Trial button pretty quick. ;)
#10 mudbunny Jan 06, 2009 15:36:23	You do realize that by threatening legal action, you can pretty much guarantee that no WotC employee will come within an inch of this thread.
#11 The_Jester Jan 06, 2009 20:24:17	Please, I'm posting on a forum. The only WotC employees that really post are community volunteers (aka technically not even employees) or those in a liaison/moderation position (very low on the totem pole). There's probably at least three layers of bureaucracy between me and anyone who could authorize a 10 day trial or effect any kind of change in the misleading ads at the back of the products.
#12 WolfStar76 Jan 07, 2009 7:02:18	Sure, it's false advertising but good luck trying to do anything about in the States. The U.S. isn't very strict on advertising regulation, haven't you seen the "male enhancement" commercials on TV? lol [Mostly Offtopic] You mean the company who's been fined 2.5 million? http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/03/smiling_bob.html[/mostly offtopic] (MB - you be the judge, if this is far enough off-topic, you've my permission to move it off-thread to Digital Siberia).
#13 mudbunny Jan 07, 2009 8:50:12	Nahh, looks fine from here. That being said, there is a significant lag time between them sending out books to the printers, and the books actually showing up on shelves. In addition, there is a free trial aviailable. All of the Dungeon/Dragon issues that were published prior to them going pay are available. There is a 3-level beta (that will turn into a 3-level demo once it goes live) of the character builder, and WotC has indicated that there will be demo versions available for the other programs as well. From my point of view, that is a great deal more extensive than the 10-day trial mentioned in the books. In addition, I think the 10-day trial will really come back once they get the Game Table up and running, and people will actually want to use it to play.
#14 whitebaron Jan 07, 2009 13:42:38	In addition, I think the 10-day trial will really come back once they get the Game Table up and running, and people will actually want to use it to play. we'll hopefully be able to talk about that in 2010. about the ad: i believe they just put it in because that's the DDI ad, and marketing people generally know pretty close to nothing about sales or what's really happening, so call it just another in a series of mistakes.