Are there any screen shots or other information about the D&D Insider VT for 4e?
Cheers
Dungeons & Dragons Virtual Table Beta FAQ
Q: What is the VT?
A: The VT, which stands for the D&D Virtual Table, is a tool designed to help you enjoy the Dungeons & Dragons tabletop roleplaying game with your friends from anywhere - even if you're miles apart
Q: How does it work?
A: The VT provides an interconnected set of online tools that you can use to help facilitate a session of D&D. The main tools include an editable map, movable tokens, a dice roller, character and monster information storage, condition tracking and both text and voice chat. It is currently loaded with a number of tokens from the Dungeon Master's Kit and tiles from the Dungeon Tiles Master Set: The Dungeon.Q: How do I get involved in the beta program?
A: We are currently inviting D&D Insider subscribers to test the VT beta. If you would like to participate, please ensure you have an active D&D Insider subscription. From there, visit the Virtual Table tools webpage. Subscribers who are not already invited to the beta will see instructions on how to get involved. Once your name is on the list, you will be added in a future invitation set.
Q: Is this VT the same virtual tabletop that we saw demos of when 4th edition was announced?
A: It's the same concept of interconnected tools to facilitate a D&D session, with a different look and feel.
Q: When does the beta start? When will the full version be released?
A: The initial, closed beta began on November 22, 2010. We do not have a set release date for the non-beta version at this time.
Q: What do I do if I receive a beta invitation?
A: The invitation will include instructions on how to access the VT beta and where to get more information. If you have further questions, feel free to contact customer service.
Q: What is the pricing going to be on the finished product?
A: We have not finalized any pricing decisions at this time.
Q: Is the VT a web-based program, or downloadable? Can I use it offline?
A: The VT is a web-based Java application with integrated voice chat. It requires a constant internet connection during use.
Q: Does the VT integrate with other web-based insider tools like the Character Builder or the beta version of the web-based Monster Builder?
A: Yes! The VT currently is able to import characters and monsters from our web based tools to be used in your campaign tables.
Q: What versions of D&D is the VT designed to be used with?
A: The character and monster information storage portion of the VT is set up to be used in 4th edition Dungeons and Dragons. The rest of the tools can be used with any edition.
Q: What are the system requirements?
A: Windows 2000, 32-bit XP, 2003 and 32-bit/64-bit Vista,32-bit/64-bit Windows 7
* Internet Explorer 7 or 8
* Firefox 3.x
* Chrome 5
* JavaScript and cookies enabled
* Java 6.22 or newer installed
* Intel or AMD processor (1GHz or faster)
* At least 1 GB RAM (at least 2 GB RAM for Vista)
Mac OS X 10.4, 10.5, 10.6
* Safari 4 or 5
* Firefox 3.x
* JavaScript and cookies enabled
* Requires Apple Java 6 or higher
* PowerPC G4/G5 or Intel processor
* At least 1 GB RAM
Dungeons & Dragons Virtual Table Beta FAQ
Q: What is the VT?
A: The VT, which stands for the D&D Virtual Table, is a tool designed to help you enjoy the Dungeons & Dragons tabletop roleplaying game with your friends from anywhere - even if you're miles apart
Q: How does it work?
A: The VT provides an interconnected set of online tools that you can use to help facilitate a session of D&D. The main tools include an editable map, movable tokens, a dice roller, character and monster information storage, condition tracking and both text and voice chat. It is currently loaded with a number of tokens from the Dungeon Master's Kit and tiles from the Dungeon Tiles Master Set: The Dungeon.Q: How do I get involved in the beta program?
A: We are currently inviting D&D Insider subscribers to test the VT beta. If you would like to participate, please ensure you have an active D&D Insider subscription. From there, visit the Virtual Table tools webpage. Subscribers who are not already invited to the beta will see instructions on how to get involved. Once your name is on the list, you will be added in a future invitation set.
Q: Is this VT the same virtual tabletop that we saw demos of when 4th edition was announced?
A: It's the same concept of interconnected tools to facilitate a D&D session, with a different look and feel.
Q: When does the beta start? When will the full version be released?
A: The initial, closed beta began on November 22, 2010. We do not have a set release date for the non-beta version at this time.
Q: What do I do if I receive a beta invitation?
A: The invitation will include instructions on how to access the VT beta and where to get more information. If you have further questions, feel free to contact customer service.
Q: What is the pricing going to be on the finished product?
A: We have not finalized any pricing decisions at this time.
Q: Is the VT a web-based program, or downloadable? Can I use it offline?
A: The VT is a web-based Java application with integrated voice chat. It requires a constant internet connection during use.
Q: Does the VT integrate with other web-based insider tools like the Character Builder or the beta version of the web-based Monster Builder?
A: Yes! The VT currently is able to import characters and monsters from our web based tools to be used in your campaign tables.
Q: What versions of D&D is the VT designed to be used with?
A: The character and monster information storage portion of the VT is set up to be used in 4th edition Dungeons and Dragons. The rest of the tools can be used with any edition.
Q: What are the system requirements?
A: Windows 2000, 32-bit XP, 2003 and 32-bit/64-bit Vista,32-bit/64-bit Windows 7
* Internet Explorer 7 or 8
* Firefox 3.x
* Chrome 5
* JavaScript and cookies enabled
* Java 6.22 or newer installed
* Intel or AMD processor (1GHz or faster)
* At least 1 GB RAM (at least 2 GB RAM for Vista)
Mac OS X 10.4, 10.5, 10.6
* Safari 4 or 5
* Firefox 3.x
* JavaScript and cookies enabled
* Requires Apple Java 6 or higher
* PowerPC G4/G5 or Intel processor
* At least 1 GB RAM
It also makes me wonder what, if anything, we may see in the future as far as a "character visualizer" goes. Back in the last iteration of the VT, the plan was to allow you to create custom visualizations of toons and have them display on the board in 3D. Since we're probably never going to see a 3D graphics VT I wonder what good a character visualizer would be, other than to just draw awesome pictures of your character. I already use NWN with lots of custom art assets to do this and take screenshots. With the old CB I could then insert them into the character sheet. Now, not so much. Hopefully they'll at least allow custom portraits on the new CB sometime soon.
After all, the character portrait IS the most important part of the character sheet. Everyone knows that. ;)
when i saw that first demo video a few years ago it almost completely turned me off on the whole concept of ddi, dm's would be limited to the graphical resources of the program or at the very best the 3d modeling community and lets face it WOTC would never release something so open to community development.
the current VTT is a step in the right direction but i still prefer maptools' open development practices and customization
As of now, with the VTT you can't even customize the tokens.
There are about 60 choices total last I checked.
No importing of any maps or pictures or even other tokens.
The importation of the monsters and character sheets is a big improvement but still not enough to make it useful yet.
Maptool is the VTT of choice for my group. And has been for 3 years now.
a 3d version would look tacky and run like ****, top down tokens are the way to go.
That is quite an assumption. If it looked half as good as World of Warcraft, I thinkpeople would be fine - and this wouldn't face many of the problems that WoW has to face with their complex environments. Heck, if we to receive a working version of what we saw in 2008, it'd be an improvement to me over the current 2D version.
when i saw that first demo video a few years ago it almost completely turned me off on the whole concept of ddi, dm's would be limited to the graphical resources of the program or at the very best the 3d modeling community and lets face it WOTC would never release something so open to community development.
Another assumption.
the current VTT is a step in the right direction but i still prefer maptools' open development practices and customization
And that is the core problem: a free 2D VT (or more than one) is available - and arguably better - than the WotC version. Plus, those free versions have a lot of buy in by existing players interested in online play and are more versatile. WotC needs to make a product that does stuff that MapTools and other products can't do - and make sure those extra elements are things that people actually value - if it wants to be a success. Personally, I don't think they can do it in the middle of an edition. The only way to get it done is the way that they intended to do it in the first place: Release a product with a brand new edition and integrate it into the business plan for the entire edition. That will drive away a lot of pen and paper players, but it will give them a solid product that people can buy into over time.
My best bet is that the VTT will be a relative failure in 4E because of the competition with free products that have strong followings by the most devoted members of the online RPGing side of things. It won't be until 5E, when the online aspects are rolled tightly into the game mechanics, that WotC will have a viable VTT that is widely used.
I've been playing D&D for decades, 4E since it came out. I've been a D&D Insider for less than a year, but I do have access to the VT Beta, played my first sessions last night.
I can tell you that it is the best software since the beginning of all official 4E tools from Wizards. I know that's not saying a whole lot with things like the OCB, but the VT is great. Totally captures the tabletop feel, and all of the bonuses of doing something online are there.
There are a limited selection of token graphics and whatnot, but that type of thing seems dead easy to expand.
I haven't tried it from the DM side yet, but the player side is great.
meanwhile while youre ranting about it, people are playing games on the vt every day, all day, having fun. few people care about free 'learning curve' software with no built in community of players
Communities are built. It may not have had a built in community when it started, but one has built over time.
As for whether the VTT will be a success - no arguments made today are going to convince anyone. Only time will tell. My 'concerns' expressed above are valid issues - and ones that I think present a serious challenge for WotC. Heading down this path mid-edition, competing with established (free) products, and providing a product that is significantly less sophisticated than something they previewed three years ago are three of their significant problems, but not the only ones.
Once it goes live, they'll put a page in one of the printed books and probably advertisements in gaming stores - both with the goal of taking the entire established D&D community and expanding their knowledge of the VT. Can maptools do that?
maptools is basically if you are a cpu genius but simultaneously too broke to pay 7 bucks a month for ddi. a small niche, but the type to put grandstanding ddi whining in their sig as if anybody gives a flip they dont have a sub anymore, get over yourself
maptools is basically if you are a cpu genius but simultaneously too broke to pay 7 bucks a month for ddi. a small niche, but the type to put grandstanding ddi whining in their sig as if anybody gives a flip they dont have a sub anymore, get over yourself
what? its not a hard program to learn, anyone who can learn the rules of 4e is more than smart enough to learn maptools in an hour.
and if someone doesnt have DDI that doesnt have to mean they cant afford it, it just means that they may not see the value in it.
if you figured that crap out in an hour youre a lot smarter than me
How long it takes you to learn MapTool all depends onjust how deep down the customization rabbit hole you want to go.
Straight out of the box (so to speak), it is pretty easy to use. However, once you start getting into frameworks, macros and all of the other stuff that it allows you to do, you can do a whole lot of customization and automation.
what? its not a hard program to learn, anyone who can learn the rules of 4e is more than smart enough to learn maptools in an hour.
and if someone doesnt have DDI that doesnt have to mean they cant afford it, it just means that they may not see the value in it.
My current online game uses Maptools, and I'm confident we'll stay with it even when the VTT goes live, even if the VTT was free - having learned the system, the ability to fully customize macros, maps, etc, would be too hard to give up.
But if a new group was starting an online game? I'd recommend the VTT in a heart-beat, by a landslide. The ease of use of each program is worlds different. We lost at least two gamers from the online game, in part due to the time it takes to learn and get used to Maptools, and this was with very smart people. Even if they could learn the system, it just wasn't worth the effort to do so.
Removing that barrier - and everything I've seen with the VTT indicates that it is doing so - will be huge.
That's what's going to happen with the vt, it's going to allow pick up groups for DnD. Ever play in a DnD pick up group? Go to GenCon and sign up for some events, and you will see, they are just like pick up groups for online games.
Yes, you sometimes get one that rocks, but about most of them will be meh, the other part will be full on suck.
You will have people who don't know the rules. In the few games I've played in the beta, that has happened. And when you have someone that doesn't know the rules, you will have someone that does. And will point out ever little deviation to them. I've already had that happen.
My favorite was that after one session, one of the players had to say how they thought we sucked working together, and that it wasn't a good session. Well thanks. Maybe if you didn't spend part of your time telling strangers what they should have done after they made thier choice, things might have gone better. I mean it certainly is great watching someone else tell others what to do.
But in the same session there was someone that made it really fun, because we were totally being goofy with each other, and our characters kept tossing insults at each other (While totally helping each other in combat).
And at the same time we were having fun, I'm sure that someone is going to not like it when people do that.
The thing is, it doesn't have a built in community, it has a built in player base. That doesn't mean it's going to mean great gaming sessions every time you play. In fact, for most people they will spend a lot of time trying to find people they get along with.
But since the vt doesn't offer any way to really play solo, like a MMO does, if a person doesn't find some satisfaction quickly with the vt, they are going to most likely stop using it.
The community will form like these always do. Groups of people that get along and have fun with each other. In other words, cliques. Just like we see happening now.
There's the clique of people that love the VT regardless of what it offers, because at least it lets them play DnD.
There's the clique of people that are fine, but really think it could be more.
There's those that think the vt isn't all that and a bag of chips.
These cliques all get along or don't get along to various degrees. And within them, individuals take it even farther.
But again, where a MMO often offers the ability to have fun on your own, this VT doesn't. You are always going to be dependant on others. And it still takes the same amount of time to do anything in the VT, so if you aren't having a good time, it's not like you can just leave and go have fun on your own.
if you figured that crap out in an hour youre a lot smarter than me
I often wonder if people who fear MapTool ever asked anyone (like, say, the MapTool community), for help.
In any case, the time from zero to "same mapping capability as the VT" for MapTool is not very long. It's longer than the VT, for the primary reason that you don't get built in tiles, and you have to learn the difference between "client" and "server," but after that, you're there.
Now, the VT's import thing is the big differentiator. No other VT can offer that, except for the ones that can.
Edit: ****ing forum ate my edit. Anyway, I think the VT's great, and there's a lot to be said for its ease of use. If it ever does anything substantial with automation, it'd be worth looking at. Well, that, and if it didn't have this whole "pickup game" vibe to it. Shudder.
I often wonder if people who fear MapTool ever asked anyone (like, say, the MapTool community), for help.
In any case, the time from zero to "same mapping capability as the VT" for MapTool is not very long. It's longer than the VT, for the primary reason that you don't get built in tiles, and you have to learn the difference between "client" and "server," but after that, you're there.
Now, the VT's import thing is the big differentiator. No other VT can offer that, except for the ones that can.
Edit: ****ing forum ate my edit. Anyway, I think the VT's great, and there's a lot to be said for its ease of use. If it ever does anything substantial with automation, it'd be worth looking at. Well, that, and if it didn't have this whole "pickup game" vibe to it. Shudder.
At the risk of sounding pompous...
The DM has the lion's share of the learning curve in any VT software. I use Fantasy Grounds and it freaking rocks. The player client is not complicated at all. If a player didn't have the intelligence to figure out a rather simple client software program (that is also awfully intuitive), then I am not sure that I would want them in the campaign anyhow. It would be the equivalent of someone in your pen and paper game always getting lost trying to find your house.
The more I grow acclimated to the software, the less I care about import functionality, particularly since I have the entirety of the 4E library converted to digital and imported into the software. Putting in a character takes 5 minutes. The biggest time sink is making the maps, and that is only because I am pretty anal about making maps (CC3 is awesome, btw).
Anyhow, bottom line, to each their own. I'm less and less attracted to the DDI VT each day because FG does so much right and it does so much better. The combat tracker alone is a jewel.
Anyhow, bottom line, to each their own. I'm less and less attracted to the DDI VT each day because FG does so much right and it does so much better. The combat tracker alone is a jewel.
And from all WoTC has been telling us, they have no intention in adding anything like this. No matter what we ask for, they say, No. Even though we are told the beta is for them to find out what we want in a VT.
It's like Ford and his model T. You can have any color you want, so long as it's black.
That's always been the plan, though, from the days of the 3D virtual table: no automation. So, yeah: that request is on the "out of scope" list or whatever.
The plan was not to enforce the rules, but as they said back then, that doesn't rule out automation and other features to help make playing go faster.
None of the requests I've seen are about rule enforcing, but more about, we need better drawing tools. NO. We would like to be able to fill area's with textures. No.
How about more tiles? No, that takes to long to put in one tile. Then why did you put in multiples of the same tile for each size group? No answer.
Also, don't tell us part of the beta is to find out what we want in a VT, only to tell everyone, that's not what we want to do with the VT. It's like saying the first phase was friends and family.
But in truth, it was people that will hype the VT. Blog sites, game review sites. I mean, I am not a friend or a family, and it's pretty clear they invited me hoping I would change my tune about the VT.
Unfortunitly, my honestly got me threats from WoTC and a one month ban for speaking my mind.
And from all WoTC has been telling us, they have no intention in adding anything like this. No matter what we ask for, they say, No. Even though we are told the beta is for them to find out what we want in a VT.
It's like Ford and his model T. You can have any color you want, so long as it's black.
I don't need it in the VT. I'm not going to use it. FG is far superior. Integration with the compendium is a couple mouse clicks and some processing time away. I'm even writing campaign management software that works with the 4EParser to make the entire job much easier.
If WotC wants to produce inferior software, that's entirely their prerogative. Once people get a taste of the VT, they will start seeing what it's lacking. People will want more from their virtual game table. They will find more in other software, such as FG and MapTools.
And from all WoTC has been telling us, they have no intention in adding anything like this. No matter what we ask for, they say, No. Even though we are told the beta is for them to find out what we want in a VT.
It's like Ford and his model T. You can have any color you want, so long as it's black.
I don't need it in the VT. I'm not going to use it. FG is far superior. Integration with the compendium is a couple mouse clicks and some processing time away. I'm even writing campaign management software that works with the 4EParser to make the entire job much easier.
If WotC wants to produce inferior software, that's entirely their prerogative. Once people get a taste of the VT, they will start seeing what it's lacking. People will want more from their virtual game table. They will find more in other software, such as FG and MapTools.
That's already happened. I've gotten a taste of the VT, and I'm meh, this doens't do anything for me, and there is no reason for me to use it, because I've got more then enough people around me that can come over and play.
WoTC's response? The VT isn't intended for people like you. So, they tune out anyone that offer suggestions that would want to make them use the VT. On top of that, all the tools that were developed for someone like me, have been taken away and retooled to work more for people that like the VT. The tools that I have been finacially supporting since they started charging.
Which is why I stopped auto renewal. DDi is a bunch of useless to me. I can use the offline tools and they are still better. All the books I have are in those tools. The offline monster builder, even with it's minor bugs, still allows me to make any monster I want.
I can house rule the characters, and edit the character sheets, inside the builder and outside when I make a PDF. I can't do that with the online. I can actually play DnD like how it's meant to be played. Customized for my needs.
The people that seem to like the VT the most are ones that don't have anyone to actually play with. They are just happy to be able to play. They think once it goes live, they are going to have games day and night. It's not really going to happen.
There isn't any point in beta testing this other then to find as many mistakes possible before they push it out. And the importing has such a long way to go. Every character I imported had serious mistakes and missing information.
When I imported monsters, the very first one, screwed up, missing information (I reported all these in detail). I mean with as many monsters that are out, the chance that the first random monster I import, is messed up to the point of unsuable as is, says more then likely importing is more faulty then correct (Now come in a VT lover to claim the opposite, every character and monster imported perfectly and even better).
I don't need it in the VT. I'm not going to use it. FG is far superior. Integration with the compendium is a couple mouse clicks and some processing time away.
This is the one thing I miss from DDI. I have no interest in anything they're producing, except the Compendium, because that is actually useful (plus, it gives the importers I wrote for MapTool purpose).
If I could get just that, I might be dragged back in.
I don't need it in the VT. I'm not going to use it. FG is far superior. Integration with the compendium is a couple mouse clicks and some processing time away.
This is the one thing I miss from DDI. I have no interest in anything they're producing, except the Compendium, because that is actually useful (plus, it gives the importers I wrote for MapTool purpose).
If I could get just that, I might be dragged back in.
Yeah, but once you have what you need, what do you need continued access for?
My campaign management utility is initiallly going to be compatible with 4EParser files (why reinvent the wheel). The goal is to provide a fully functional campaign manager, with the added bonus of Fantasy Grounds export functionality. Everything is coming along slowly but surely. I started by attacking one specific section (weapons). Once its running flawlessly (it's almost there), it's a simple matter of rolling out the same "template" across all sections. Everything is being imported into SQL (Express, not Compact) so I can make good use of LINQ (awesome, btw), and so everything is readily accessible to the user. You'll be able to add anything you like manually, as well.Essentially, when it's complete, you'll be able to check boxes to include in your export, whether it's to HTML, PDF, or FG. I.e. you want a complete handbook for Fighters? Just click the box and everything related to Fighters is exported. Encounter and skill challenge utilities will also be present, as well as an Adventure organizer.
Whatever the case, I find their direction uninspiring. If it was me, and I was the head of DDI, the digital face of D&D, my undying goal would be to provide the best VT solution available, not some niche product with a couple unique features built solely on the reputation of the Dungeons and Dragons name. And frankly, that is exactly where they are expecting its success to derive from.
That's already happened. I've gotten a taste of the VT, and I'm meh, this doens't do anything for me, and there is no reason for me to use it, because I've got more then enough people around me that can come over and play.
WoTC's response? The VT isn't intended for people like you. So, they tune out anyone that offer suggestions that would want to make them use the VT. On top of that, all the tools that were developed for someone like me, have been taken away and retooled to work more for people that like the VT. The tools that I have been finacially supporting since they started charging.
Which is why I stopped auto renewal. DDi is a bunch of useless to me. I can use the offline tools and they are still better. All the books I have are in those tools. The offline monster builder, even with it's minor bugs, still allows me to make any monster I want.
I can house rule the characters, and edit the character sheets, inside the builder and outside when I make a PDF. I can't do that with the online. I can actually play DnD like how it's meant to be played. Customized for my needs.
The people that seem to like the VT the most are ones that don't have anyone to actually play with. They are just happy to be able to play. They think once it goes live, they are going to have games day and night. It's not really going to happen.
There isn't any point in beta testing this other then to find as many mistakes possible before they push it out. And the importing has such a long way to go. Every character I imported had serious mistakes and missing information.
When I imported monsters, the very first one, screwed up, missing information (I reported all these in detail). I mean with as many monsters that are out, the chance that the first random monster I import, is messed up to the point of unsuable as is, says more then likely importing is more faulty then correct (Now come in a VT lover to claim the opposite, every character and monster imported perfectly and even better).
Which is why I am taking matters into my own hands. There's absolutely no use to continue harping on DDI/WotC. They are what they are. All of that negative energy is better spent on finding solutions, not making waves.
All of that negative energy is better spent on finding solutions, not making waves.
QFT
That's already happened. I've gotten a taste of the VT, and I'm meh, this doens't do anything for me, and there is no reason for me to use it, because I've got more then enough people around me that can come over and play.
WoTC's response? The VT isn't intended for people like you. So, they tune out anyone that offer suggestions that would want to make them use the VT. On top of that, all the tools that were developed for someone like me, have been taken away and retooled to work more for people that like the VT. The tools that I have been finacially supporting since they started charging.
Which is why I stopped auto renewal. DDi is a bunch of useless to me. I can use the offline tools and they are still better. All the books I have are in those tools. The offline monster builder, even with it's minor bugs, still allows me to make any monster I want.
I can house rule the characters, and edit the character sheets, inside the builder and outside when I make a PDF. I can't do that with the online. I can actually play DnD like how it's meant to be played. Customized for my needs.
The people that seem to like the VT the most are ones that don't have anyone to actually play with. They are just happy to be able to play. They think once it goes live, they are going to have games day and night. It's not really going to happen.
There isn't any point in beta testing this other then to find as many mistakes possible before they push it out. And the importing has such a long way to go. Every character I imported had serious mistakes and missing information.
When I imported monsters, the very first one, screwed up, missing information (I reported all these in detail). I mean with as many monsters that are out, the chance that the first random monster I import, is messed up to the point of unsuable as is, says more then likely importing is more faulty then correct (Now come in a VT lover to claim the opposite, every character and monster imported perfectly and even better).
Which is why I am taking matters into my own hands. There's absolutely no use to continue harping on DDI/WotC. They are what they are. All of that negative energy is better spent on finding solutions, not making waves.
You read ever single post I make. I have put in lots and lots of time and energy putting out solutions and good feedback.
So, thanks for um...I'm not sure what.
You read ever single post I make. I have put in lots and lots of time and energy putting out solutions and good feedback.
So, thanks for um...I'm not sure what.
I wasn't talking about you. I was talking about me. The first sentence of me taking matters into my own hands should have been evidence of that. My 1 month of vitriol was enough to get my point across.
And no, I don't read "every single post you make." Only the ones that are in DDI and only because I have interest in DDI.
You read ever single post I make. I have put in lots and lots of time and energy putting out solutions and good feedback.
So, thanks for um...I'm not sure what.
I wasn't talking about you. I was talking about me. The first sentence of me taking matters into my own hands should have been evidence of that. My 1 month of vitriol was enough to get my point across.
And no, I don't read "every single post you make." Only the ones that are in DDI and only because I have interest in DDI.
Although we had our differences during that 1 month, I have to say I have a lot or respect for the direction you have taken your disappointment. Were I a better programmer, I might be tempted to do the same thing. Given my relative lack of programming expertise I am stuck with DDi even though I am not totally happy with it. And as I have stated numerous times in the past, like you I have made my point to WotC and I am done being negative. Continuously posting my displeasure on these forums only makes it a negative place for people who may come here for a little bit of information, advice, or entertainment, and that is something I don't really want to contribute to.
Although we had our differences during that 1 month, I have to say I have a lot or respect for the direction you have taken your disappointment. Were I a better programmer, I might be tempted to do the same thing. Given my relative lack of programming expertise I am stuck with DDi even though I am not totally happy with it. And as I have stated numerous times in the past, like you I have made my point to WotC and I am done being negative. Continuously posting my displeasure on these forums only makes it a negative place for people who may come here for a little bit of information, advice, or entertainment, and that is something I don't really want to contribute to.
I am definitely not one to hold a grudge. We got along just fine prior to that little altercation. But hey, there are some strong personalities that hang around here as well as some weak personalities with strong opinions. I tend to think you are the former rather than the latter.
As for programming... LOL. I am pretty green myself. But I've learned a ton in the last month or so, and my skillset has grown to a point where I know that I can produce something that I find useful. I just hope that my digital needs coincide with other people so that they can gain some use out of it. At that point, I would gladly take suggestions to cater it to more people. But I'm a ways off, so don't expect it any time soon.
Yeah, but once you have what you need, what do you need continued access for?
Oh, I'd want it for the "get everything they publish ever, without the fluff" part. I'd just be scraping it for use in MapTool, probably, or my own character builder (actually, I found myself really wishing I had it handy recently because I was doing a strip-down/reskin Shadowrun/D&D/Gamma World mashup, and it would have been nice to search for powers to reskin).
The issue is that if I buy for the compendium, it is tacit approval of the rest of DDI, and I can't offer that. So...no compendium.