Considering no VTT, one reasonable request.... - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Considering no VTT, one reasonable request....

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
dazmiuth
May 30, 2009 13:15:43 Many of us have begun using alternative online table-tops such as MapTool or Fantasy Grounds. One thing that would be of great help to me would be to make the full poster maps that come with adventures downloadable so that we could use them with these programs. I don't mind if you only make them available only for DDI subscribers, we just really need to be able to use these maps with our online table-top programs. I have purchased all of the adventures released to date, and hate to run them with a VTT due to not being able to use all of the wonderful maps. I do not have the technical resources or skill to scan these maps in. Also removing the dm-only markers from the other maps in the map gallery would be wonderful as well.

Please do this for us who want to play online, it will definitely take some of the sting away from the VTT getting canned.
#2
Orcboss
May 31, 2009 12:47:41
Also removing the dm-only markers from the other maps in the map gallery would be wonderful as well.

This.

It would take virtually no extra work or expense and make the Dungeon product much more valuable for online DMs.
#3
dazmiuth
May 31, 2009 13:16:29 Yeah, and they have to have these poster maps as electronic files somewhere. I don't see the harm in allowing subscribers to have access to the them as well as the other maps without dm-markers. Throw us VTT gamers a bone here WotC!
#4
mudbunny
May 31, 2009 13:19:33 I will poke WotC about this again.
#5
cosmic_entity
May 31, 2009 22:04:31
Yeah, and they have to have these poster maps as electronic files somewhere. I don't see the harm in allowing subscribers to have access to the them as well as the other maps without dm-markers. Throw us VTT gamers a bone here WotC!

Originally, all D&D4 physical products were supposed to come with a code that would enable you to download a digital copy of them.

But, then... originally... a lot of things were supposed to happen.
#6
mudbunny
May 31, 2009 22:41:09 I think that you are combining two things...

Originally, the goal of DDI was to, when you purchase the book, to be able to have your own personal digital database (for your character builder, etc) that would only allow you access to the books that you had purchased physically. This was removed as it was determined that preventing the coupons (for lack of a better term) for addition to your personal digital database from getting in the hands of people who hadn't actually purchased the books would have been far too difficult.
In combination with the above, there was the desire that people be able to "for the price of a cup of coffee" (as stated by Scott Rouse) to, upon purchase of the dead-tree version of the book, the ability to purchase a pdf version. As with the coupon idea above, it was determined that this would have been a much larger hassle than originally thought to do it well and prevent people from using codes for which they did not legally obtain access.

The end result is that now the Compendium and character builder give subscribers access to almost everything from *every* book that has been put out so far. In other words, a *much* better deal for subscribers.

edit - Added "almost everything from"
#7
Orcboss
May 31, 2009 22:47:35
The end result is that now the Compendium and character builder give subscribers access to *every* book that has been put out so far. In other words, a *much* better deal for subscribers.

Not looking to pick a fight, but I think "*almost every*" might be a better way to go about it. There are still things that are rules material that just don't appear in either. For example, I don't believe the monster templates, like those in the DMG appear anywhere in the compendium. A pdf would surely contain them.
#8
mudbunny
May 31, 2009 22:49:31
Not looking to pick a fight, but I think "*almost every*" might be a better way to go about it. There are still things that are rules material that just don't appear in either. For example, I don't believe the monster templates, like those in the DMG appear anywhere in the compendium. A pdf would surely contain them.

:P

I edited my post to make it clearer.
#9
cosmic_entity
May 31, 2009 23:33:49
I think that you are combining two things...

Originally, the goal of DDI was to, when you purchase the book, to be able to have your own personal digital database (for your character builder, etc) that would only allow you access to the books that you had purchased physically. This was removed as it was determined that preventing the coupons (for lack of a better term) for addition to your personal digital database from getting in the hands of people who hadn't actually purchased the books would have been far too difficult.
In combination with the above, there was the desire that people be able to "for the price of a cup of coffee" (as stated by Scott Rouse) to, upon purchase of the dead-tree version of the book, the ability to purchase a pdf version. As with the coupon idea above, it was determined that this would have been a much larger hassle than originally thought to do it well and prevent people from using codes for which they did not legally obtain access.

The end result is that now the Compendium and character builder give subscribers access to almost everything from *every* book that has been put out so far. In other words, a *much* better deal for subscribers.

edit - Added "almost everything from"

Yep. That's exactly what I'm doing. "Combining two things" is one way of putting it. Another way to put it would be to say: "Believing what WotC told me."
#10
dazmiuth
Jun 01, 2009 8:20:39 I appreciate the debate above, but I would like to keep this on topic. We want electronic access to the poster maps as well as versions of adventure maps without the dm-only markers.
#11
ranger76
Jun 01, 2009 8:28:15
I appreciate the debate above, but I would like to keep this on topic. We want electronic access to the poster maps as well as versions of adventure maps without the dm-only markers.

*Thumbs Up*
Since the VTT is canceled (don't say its on hold, it sure seems dead to me) this seems like a reasonable compromise to give online DM's some features that they want.
#12
Dane_McArdy
Jun 01, 2009 8:55:40
Originally, all D&D4 physical products were supposed to come with a code that would enable you to download a digital copy of them.

But, then... originally... a lot of things were supposed to happen.

An idea that was scraped long before 4E launched. Be fair.
#13
dazmiuth
Jun 01, 2009 19:41:44 Bump because I would like to see an official response to this and because making these maps available electronically (poster-maps and maps without dm-only markers) would make me a happy DDI customer.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 dazmiuth May 30, 2009 13:15:43	Many of us have begun using alternative online table-tops such as MapTool or Fantasy Grounds. One thing that would be of great help to me would be to make the full poster maps that come with adventures downloadable so that we could use them with these programs. I don't mind if you only make them available only for DDI subscribers, we just really need to be able to use these maps with our online table-top programs. I have purchased all of the adventures released to date, and hate to run them with a VTT due to not being able to use all of the wonderful maps. I do not have the technical resources or skill to scan these maps in. Also removing the dm-only markers from the other maps in the map gallery would be wonderful as well. Please do this for us who want to play online, it will definitely take some of the sting away from the VTT getting canned.
#2 Orcboss May 31, 2009 12:47:41	Also removing the dm-only markers from the other maps in the map gallery would be wonderful as well. This. It would take virtually no extra work or expense and make the Dungeon product much more valuable for online DMs.
#3 dazmiuth May 31, 2009 13:16:29	Yeah, and they have to have these poster maps as electronic files somewhere. I don't see the harm in allowing subscribers to have access to the them as well as the other maps without dm-markers. Throw us VTT gamers a bone here WotC!
#4 mudbunny May 31, 2009 13:19:33	I will poke WotC about this again.
#5 cosmic_entity May 31, 2009 22:04:31	Yeah, and they have to have these poster maps as electronic files somewhere. I don't see the harm in allowing subscribers to have access to the them as well as the other maps without dm-markers. Throw us VTT gamers a bone here WotC! Originally, all D&D4 physical products were supposed to come with a code that would enable you to download a digital copy of them. But, then... originally... a lot of things were supposed to happen.
#6 mudbunny May 31, 2009 22:41:09	I think that you are combining two things... Originally, the goal of DDI was to, when you purchase the book, to be able to have your own personal digital database (for your character builder, etc) that would only allow you access to the books that you had purchased physically. This was removed as it was determined that preventing the coupons (for lack of a better term) for addition to your personal digital database from getting in the hands of people who hadn't actually purchased the books would have been far too difficult. In combination with the above, there was the desire that people be able to "for the price of a cup of coffee" (as stated by Scott Rouse) to, upon purchase of the dead-tree version of the book, the ability to purchase a pdf version. As with the coupon idea above, it was determined that this would have been a much larger hassle than originally thought to do it well and prevent people from using codes for which they did not legally obtain access. The end result is that now the Compendium and character builder give subscribers access to almost everything from every book that has been put out so far. In other words, a much better deal for subscribers. edit - Added "almost everything from"
#7 Orcboss May 31, 2009 22:47:35	The end result is that now the Compendium and character builder give subscribers access to every book that has been put out so far. In other words, a much better deal for subscribers. Not looking to pick a fight, but I think "almost every" might be a better way to go about it. There are still things that are rules material that just don't appear in either. For example, I don't believe the monster templates, like those in the DMG appear anywhere in the compendium. A pdf would surely contain them.
#8 mudbunny May 31, 2009 22:49:31	Not looking to pick a fight, but I think "almost every" might be a better way to go about it. There are still things that are rules material that just don't appear in either. For example, I don't believe the monster templates, like those in the DMG appear anywhere in the compendium. A pdf would surely contain them. :P I edited my post to make it clearer.
#9 cosmic_entity May 31, 2009 23:33:49	I think that you are combining two things... Originally, the goal of DDI was to, when you purchase the book, to be able to have your own personal digital database (for your character builder, etc) that would only allow you access to the books that you had purchased physically. This was removed as it was determined that preventing the coupons (for lack of a better term) for addition to your personal digital database from getting in the hands of people who hadn't actually purchased the books would have been far too difficult. In combination with the above, there was the desire that people be able to "for the price of a cup of coffee" (as stated by Scott Rouse) to, upon purchase of the dead-tree version of the book, the ability to purchase a pdf version. As with the coupon idea above, it was determined that this would have been a much larger hassle than originally thought to do it well and prevent people from using codes for which they did not legally obtain access. The end result is that now the Compendium and character builder give subscribers access to almost everything from every book that has been put out so far. In other words, a much better deal for subscribers. edit - Added "almost everything from" Yep. That's exactly what I'm doing. "Combining two things" is one way of putting it. Another way to put it would be to say: "Believing what WotC told me."
#10 dazmiuth Jun 01, 2009 8:20:39	I appreciate the debate above, but I would like to keep this on topic. We want electronic access to the poster maps as well as versions of adventure maps without the dm-only markers.
#11 ranger76 Jun 01, 2009 8:28:15	I appreciate the debate above, but I would like to keep this on topic. We want electronic access to the poster maps as well as versions of adventure maps without the dm-only markers. Thumbs Up Since the VTT is canceled (don't say its on hold, it sure seems dead to me) this seems like a reasonable compromise to give online DM's some features that they want.
#12 Dane_McArdy Jun 01, 2009 8:55:40	Originally, all D&D4 physical products were supposed to come with a code that would enable you to download a digital copy of them. But, then... originally... a lot of things were supposed to happen. An idea that was scraped long before 4E launched. Be fair.
#13 dazmiuth Jun 01, 2009 19:41:44	Bump because I would like to see an official response to this and because making these maps available electronically (poster-maps and maps without dm-only markers) would make me a happy DDI customer.