Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 mudbunny Feb 10, 2011 11:01:59	From the blog post by WotC_Josh (Note the link goes to a group that is restricted to VT testers only. I have been given permission to post this though.)     * Character Importing: Importing PCs from the online Character Builder will be added. Functionality for importing character locally will be removed. In the long-term, only DDI subscribers will be able to import PCs onto the table.  In the short-term, we will be temporarily be granting access to the online Character Builder to all beta participants.     * Monster Importing: Importing custom Monsters from the online Adventure Tools will be added.  Importing non-custom monsters will not be available yet. Functionality for importing monsters locally will be removed. In the long-term, only DDI subscribers will be able to import monsters onto the table.  In the short-term, we will be temporarily be granting access to the online Adventure Tools to all beta participants.
#2 tasiefer Feb 10, 2011 12:28:06	From the blog post by WotC_Josh (Note the link goes to a group that is restricted to VT testers only. I have been given permission to post this though.)     * Character Importing: Importing PCs from the online Character Builder will be added. Functionality for importing character locally will be removed. In the long-term, only DDI subscribers will be able to import PCs onto the table.  In the short-term, we will be temporarily be granting access to the online Character Builder to all beta participants.     * Monster Importing: Importing custom Monsters from the online Adventure Tools will be added.  Importing non-custom monsters will not be available yet. Functionality for importing monsters locally will be removed. In the long-term, only DDI subscribers will be able to import monsters onto the table.  In the short-term, we will be temporarily be granting access to the online Adventure Tools to all beta participants. Um ... why on earth would they remove the ability to import characters or monsters from the hard drive? Is the hope that the lack of import will cause people to sub to DDI just for import? 'Cause the answer to that, if it's the case, is "no."
#3 DMaple Feb 10, 2011 12:40:04	I think the answer is "Yes". Makes sense you make the table free to play, to get the largest possible audience, but then make the D&DI make the table so much easier to use that you really want to/have to subscribe. I can't get why you can't import non-custom monsters, I guess it's because their data is stored in a different area (rather than an individual users "cloud") and/or in a different format, so they haven't figured it out yet. I suppose a simple workaround is change nothing but the name, which will of course lead to 1000+ copies of the same kobold.
#4 mudbunny Feb 10, 2011 12:46:36	I can't get why you can't import non-custom monsters, I guess it's because their data is stored in a different area (rather than an individual users "cloud") and/or in a different format, so they haven't figured it out yet. I suppose a simple workaround is change nothing but the name, which will of course lead to 1000+ copies of the same kobold. Currently, the online AT is fairly limited to changing levels, and changing power names. However, there is a methiod to their madness. As it currently stands, there is a fairly limited number of fields that they have to import/modify to go from the AT to the MB. This makes it easier to set up and monitor the importing and bug-fixing. Once the bugs have all been removed from the basic import, then they will start expanding the options available in the AT. Then, when the import breaks somewhere, it will be much easier to find and fix.
#5 MaximumHavoc Feb 10, 2011 14:29:58	i have added this thread to the D&DI announcements for today.
#6 lokiare Feb 11, 2011 0:31:53	Wait so now I have access to all the tools, even though I'm not a subscriber?
#7 DMaple Feb 11, 2011 4:23:16	But actual subscribers don't. Isn't that just great, I'm just waiting until they send you compiled issues of Dungeon and Dragon.
#8 j.i.n.x. Feb 11, 2011 6:59:22	wow so iv got vt bata and also the borked online cb for free =) lol wow now I wish I used eather one, o well iv got a nice glow in side at least =)
#9 Alphastream Feb 11, 2011 10:57:32	It is kind of strange. The choice was to give all testers access (since this is a big part of what they want to see tested) or to not give them access (and probably then remove them from being beta testers). The first option is probably easier and creates the least ill-will. I suspect either choice would see lots of comments that they should have done it the either way.  The nice thing this way is that you grant the beta testers that aren't in DDi more of a view of what they will be missing when testing is cut off. Assuming the product is valuable, these members should want to then subscribe when beta ends. I think that is a superior scenario than to take the betas that aren't in DDi and expel them from testing early.
#10 Mock Feb 11, 2011 11:08:10	It is kind of strange. The choice was to give all testers access (since this is a big part of what they want to see tested) or to not give them access (and probably then remove them from being beta testers). The first option is probably easier and creates the least ill-will. I suspect either choice would see lots of comments that they should have done it the either way.  The nice thing this way is that you grant the beta testers that aren't in DDi more of a view of what they will be missing when testing is cut off. Assuming the product is valuable, these members should want to then subscribe when beta ends. I think that is a superior scenario than to take the betas that aren't in DDi and expel them from testing early. I think they made at least the locally optimal choice. I was okay with the other solution, though - I figured it was intentional when it first came up on the beta boards that it was linked to the absence of a DDI subscription, and I would not have had a problem with being told "you're out." (I'd asked to be removed from the beta since I have no opportunity to use the tools anyway, and someone who was interested could have my spot, but it didn't happen).
#11 j.i.n.x. Feb 12, 2011 12:41:07	ok this is sweet =) as a vt bata tester not only can I use the online cb but I can download every past compiled mag useing the direct link =) www.wizards.com/dnd/downloads/dungeon/18... www.wizards.com/dnd/downloads/dungeon/18... www.wizards.com/dnd/downloads/dungeon/18... and so on =) thankyou WotC for the free stuff =)
#12 hametsuj Feb 13, 2011 12:56:49	ok this is sweet =) as a vt bata tester not only can I use the online cb but I can download every past compiled mag useing the direct link =) www.wizards.com/dnd/downloads/dungeon/18... www.wizards.com/dnd/downloads/dungeon/18... www.wizards.com/dnd/downloads/dungeon/18... and so on =) thankyou WotC for the free stuff =) All they've really given you(so far), is a one month subscription for free.  Not a bad bonus for signing up for the beta, but not really all that damaging to WotC's bottom line.  Enjoy it while it lasts.
#13 kimli Feb 14, 2011 16:45:44	I'll chime in again and say that the beta should be for insiders only. I am part of the beta, and when I read that they were temporarily granting access to the ocb to all participants, due to the import stuff, I thought, wow that's another bad idea.  I think it's a hard pill to swallow for the people paying for the stuff.
#14 kenjoon Feb 15, 2011 11:13:17	I'll chime in again and say that the beta should be for insiders only. I am part of the beta, and when I read that they were temporarily granting access to the ocb to all participants, due to the import stuff, I thought, wow that's another bad idea.  I think it's a hard pill to swallow for the people paying for the stuff. Based on the new quote from Trevor I want to re-emphasize that it is not a beta of the MB, but a beta of the VTT.  In it's current state it is next to useless for DM's, but very useful for those in the VTT based on the import functionality to create tokens.
#15 dracomax1981 Feb 15, 2011 11:45:59	I'll chime in again and say that the beta should be for insiders only. I am part of the beta, and when I read that they were temporarily granting access to the ocb to all participants, due to the import stuff, I thought, wow that's another bad idea.  I think it's a hard pill to swallow for the people paying for the stuff. I can't really agree that it should be for insiders only. Part of what they want and need to do is to convince people who are not currently subscribed, Either because they are new, or because they have quit, that DDI is worth the money. part of this is by taking their advice and thoughts while designing it. I understand the frustration with paying for something others are getting for free. still, I don't see many other options.
#16 kimli Feb 15, 2011 16:00:50	I'll chime in again and say that the beta should be for insiders only. I am part of the beta, and when I read that they were temporarily granting access to the ocb to all participants, due to the import stuff, I thought, wow that's another bad idea.  I think it's a hard pill to swallow for the people paying for the stuff. Based on the new quote from Trevor I want to re-emphasize that it is not a beta of the MB, but a beta of the VTT.  In it's current state it is next to useless for DM's, but very useful for those in the VTT based on the import functionality to create tokens. I never said anywhere that it was the mb.
#17 kimli Feb 15, 2011 16:10:25	I'll chime in again and say that the beta should be for insiders only. I am part of the beta, and when I read that they were temporarily granting access to the ocb to all participants, due to the import stuff, I thought, wow that's another bad idea.  I think it's a hard pill to swallow for the people paying for the stuff. I can't really agree that it should be for insiders only. Part of what they want and need to do is to convince people who are not currently subscribed, Either because they are new, or because they have quit, that DDI is worth the money. part of this is by taking their advice and thoughts while designing it. I understand the frustration with paying for something others are getting for free. still, I don't see many other options. I understand the logic. Where I disagree with you is when you say that they need to let people who left or whatever have access to get them back. I say keep the people who are insiders happy, and entice the others to join by advertising that they are working on it and making it better. If it's good, the testers will say so. There are enough people who are paying to do so. There are plenty of paying customers to test it, give advice and make the product better. That will get the others to join.
#18 kartesh Feb 16, 2011 4:13:12	I'll chime in again and say that the beta should be for insiders only. I am part of the beta, and when I read that they were temporarily granting access to the ocb to all participants, due to the import stuff, I thought, wow that's another bad idea.  I think it's a hard pill to swallow for the people paying for the stuff. I can't really agree that it should be for insiders only. Part of what they want and need to do is to convince people who are not currently subscribed, Either because they are new, or because they have quit, that DDI is worth the money. part of this is by taking their advice and thoughts while designing it. I understand the frustration with paying for something others are getting for free. still, I don't see many other options. I understand the logic. Where I disagree with you is when you say that they need to let people who left or whatever have access to get them back. I say keep the people who are insiders happy, and entice the others to join by advertising that they are working on it and making it better. If it's good, the testers will say so. There are enough people who are paying to do so. There are plenty of paying customers to test it, give advice and make the product better. That will get the others to join. I personally don't see the big issue here. Sure, they could have picked their beta testers only from the DDI subscriber-list, and I whould not have disliked that either, but they decided not to do so and that is also fine with me. For example I am a beta tester without a running subscribtion, and even if I had the chance to download some of the DDI content, because of some mistake, I whouldn't do it. They gave me access to the OCB and the Adventurer tools beta (which is only the OMB right now), and I am using those tool exclusivly to test their interaction with the VT. There is little other in there for me than that and with my old CB and MB still running I actually have no need for those tools other than the testing itself. Keep in mind that we as testers invest time into improoving this tool. If they had to pay us testers for the time we invest into testing and feedback, I doubt it whould be less than what this half DDI access might actually be worth. Everyone interested in testing this tool can sign up and hope to be picked and since it is still in closed beta testing in personally see little reason to consider it part of the DDI subscribtion, but what I can say for sure is that there are quite some people involved in testing this tool, that are nonsubscribers but doing a great job and investing quite some time and effort in order to make it better, no reason to doubt their intentions and even considering about having them might be a bad thing.
#19 kimli Feb 16, 2011 4:55:18	@ Kartesh, I personally don't hold a grudge, nor am I mad at them for making that decision. I just have the personal opinion that they should have used the ddi people. I see why they did it. I just don't agree. I think, again, that it might have been more of a good faith thing for those who have been feeling like they are getting the raw end of the deal, when it comes to this whole package, and the changes of late. Also, a bit off topic but, I can see that they seem to be commited to a quality product, and are maybe taking a bit more time, and putting more effort into the game. Hopefully that means less rules clarifications, and better content over the short term. Good on them if they succeed.