competition for DDi - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

competition for DDi

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
samusco
Oct 08, 2010 15:48:33 Lets face it, we've had to put up with crappy updates, delays, failed promises, and horrible service because there were no competetors for the DDi product. Well now they may actually have to step up their game because now you don't have to pay for a crappy lump of software! My entire group is going to be using "Hero Lab" from now on for 4th ed.

www.wolflair.com/index.php?context=hero_...

So now that there's another option, go ahead and use it.
#2
DanTracker
Oct 08, 2010 18:57:07 does it offer accurate and timely upadtes?
#3
Seeten
Oct 08, 2010 18:59:33 No, it seems to require a D&DI Insider Subscription to download updates through Insider.
#4
arobicha
Oct 09, 2010 23:27:11 Didn't another program do something like that? Like Masterplan? Didn't they get a cease and desist?
#5
Nyarlathotep
Oct 09, 2010 23:33:26 Yeah, I looked into herolab and from the sounds of it to make it really useful I either need a DDI subscription or I would need to enter a lot of stuff manually. Either way defeats the purpose SFAIC.
#6
stonecleaver
Oct 10, 2010 12:15:24 I did a little research in the area (I had a good idea for a piece of software) but ran into a roadblock that software and digital media or any combination there of, are strickly prohibited by Wizards; no open lisense, and if you do get a license, the above is still prohibited. So, project scrapped.

Seems that other companies are running into the same license limitation.
#7
Orcboss
Oct 10, 2010 17:08:06
Yeah, I looked into herolab and from the sounds of it to make it really useful I either need a DDI subscription or I would need to enter a lot of stuff manually. Either way defeats the purpose SFAIC.

If I understand correctly, I think HeroLab will integrate custom stuff you add, unlike the DDi-CB. I don't have the 4e addon, so I can't verify that specifically.

Plus, it does have a combat tracker that is very nice.
#8
bone_naga
Oct 11, 2010 1:58:56
I did a little research in the area (I had a good idea for a piece of software) but ran into a roadblock that software and digital media or any combination there of, are strickly prohibited by Wizards; no open lisense, and if you do get a license, the above is still prohibited. So, project scrapped.

Seems that other companies are running into the same license limitation.

Digital media are not covered under the GSL but there are still many programs out there. Even without the GSL, fair use still applies. You just have to tread softly so you don't overstep your bounds, which is why Herolabs is only including system rules, not game content. Herolabs is looking promising, I may buy this program (and the necessary DDI subscription to make it work) if WotC doesn't C&D them for being able to download content like they did to Masterplan (which happened the month before I was going to get DDI to use with that program, not a good business move WotC).
#9
plotinus
Oct 11, 2010 8:46:36 $30.00? That's a pretty steep price when you're already paying for DDI. What does the pay version offer that's not in the demo?
#10
nadomir
Oct 11, 2010 8:57:44
$30.00? That's a pretty steep price when you're already paying for DDI. What does the pay version offer that's not in the demo?

As stated at their website, the 30 bucks include the ability to save and print your chars and the like. I'm still downloading the ddi-stuff which kind of takes forever so I cannot even test the demo yet.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 samusco Oct 08, 2010 15:48:33	Lets face it, we've had to put up with crappy updates, delays, failed promises, and horrible service because there were no competetors for the DDi product. Well now they may actually have to step up their game because now you don't have to pay for a crappy lump of software! My entire group is going to be using "Hero Lab" from now on for 4th ed. www.wolflair.com/index.php?context=hero_... So now that there's another option, go ahead and use it.
#2 DanTracker Oct 08, 2010 18:57:07	does it offer accurate and timely upadtes?
#3 Seeten Oct 08, 2010 18:59:33	No, it seems to require a D&DI Insider Subscription to download updates through Insider.
#4 arobicha Oct 09, 2010 23:27:11	Didn't another program do something like that? Like Masterplan? Didn't they get a cease and desist?
#5 Nyarlathotep Oct 09, 2010 23:33:26	Yeah, I looked into herolab and from the sounds of it to make it really useful I either need a DDI subscription or I would need to enter a lot of stuff manually. Either way defeats the purpose SFAIC.
#6 stonecleaver Oct 10, 2010 12:15:24	I did a little research in the area (I had a good idea for a piece of software) but ran into a roadblock that software and digital media or any combination there of, are strickly prohibited by Wizards; no open lisense, and if you do get a license, the above is still prohibited. So, project scrapped. Seems that other companies are running into the same license limitation.
#7 Orcboss Oct 10, 2010 17:08:06	Yeah, I looked into herolab and from the sounds of it to make it really useful I either need a DDI subscription or I would need to enter a lot of stuff manually. Either way defeats the purpose SFAIC. If I understand correctly, I think HeroLab will integrate custom stuff you add, unlike the DDi-CB. I don't have the 4e addon, so I can't verify that specifically. Plus, it does have a combat tracker that is very nice.
#8 bone_naga Oct 11, 2010 1:58:56	I did a little research in the area (I had a good idea for a piece of software) but ran into a roadblock that software and digital media or any combination there of, are strickly prohibited by Wizards; no open lisense, and if you do get a license, the above is still prohibited. So, project scrapped. Seems that other companies are running into the same license limitation. Digital media are not covered under the GSL but there are still many programs out there. Even without the GSL, fair use still applies. You just have to tread softly so you don't overstep your bounds, which is why Herolabs is only including system rules, not game content. Herolabs is looking promising, I may buy this program (and the necessary DDI subscription to make it work) if WotC doesn't C&D them for being able to download content like they did to Masterplan (which happened the month before I was going to get DDI to use with that program, not a good business move WotC).
#9 plotinus Oct 11, 2010 8:46:36	$30.00? That's a pretty steep price when you're already paying for DDI. What does the pay version offer that's not in the demo?
#10 nadomir Oct 11, 2010 8:57:44	$30.00? That's a pretty steep price when you're already paying for DDI. What does the pay version offer that's not in the demo? As stated at their website, the 30 bucks include the ability to save and print your chars and the like. I'm still downloading the ddi-stuff which kind of takes forever so I cannot even test the demo yet.