A First Look
The D&D Insider team has been hard at work bringing the same level of functionality and fun to adventure preparation that they did for character creation. The result will be the D&D Monster Builder. Here's a quick pictorial tour through what you can expect to see.
Talk about this News Article here.
why not here
Because each time an article is posted on the main page, they generate it's own specific thread for discussion.
And when this comes to pass DDI will become worth the buy in and I will sign up again.
Do you think the monster builder will be like the character builder in other aspects? I.e., small version for non-subscribers, members get to update it for lots of beeftastic content?
We know from another thread that there will be no demo version available at launch.
D&D Monster Builder
A First Look
The D&D Insider team has been hard at work bringing the same level of functionality and fun to adventure preparation that they did for character creation. The result will be the D&D Monster Builder. Here's a quick pictorial tour through what you can expect to see.
Talk about this News Article here.
Ok, maybe I missed something, but I could do this up in paint shop pro in 15 minutes if I had any talent. Please post some actual screenshots of the program in action, or even a short video that shows someone using it.
Ok, maybe I missed something, but I could do this up in paint shop pro in 15 minutes if I had any talent. Please post some actual screenshots of the program in action, or even a short video that shows someone using it.
These aren't good enough for you:
Thanks, now I can see what it might look like. Now all we need is a short video showing what it does.
I don't have a subscription to DDI, so I couldn't see those pics in the article and they weren't posted in the thread.
Thanks, now I can see what it might look like. Now all we need is a short video showing what it does.
Then you shouldn't have access to them, because the preview was for paying customers. You can't expect to have the same privileges as paying customers.
And no, you could not have done that artwork in 15 minutes, talent or no talent.
Sheesh, you are so insulting to the people that make DDi, even though you are not a customer, since you don't pay for it.
I don't have a subscription to DDI, so I couldn't see those pics in the article and they weren't posted in the thread.
Thanks, now I can see what it might look like. Now all we need is a short video showing what it does.
Gee, that's funny because I don't have a subscription either, and those screen shots appeared in the free article I read........hmmm, interesting.
I don't have a subscription to DDI, so I couldn't see those pics in the article and they weren't posted in the thread.
Thanks, now I can see what it might look like. Now all we need is a short video showing what it does.
.....The article isn't D&Di exclusive.Gee, that's funny because I don't have a subscription either, and those screen shots appeared in the free article I read........hmmm, interesting.
Good point. However, lokiare has declared many times that he doesn't have the time to read (only to post) so why would it matter what they say or do. He is NOT going to read any link they provide, but he is certainly going to complain about everything.
Good point. However, lokiare has declared many times that he doesn't have the time to read (only to post) so why would it matter what they say or do. He is NOT going to read any link they provide, but he is certainly going to complain about everything.
Starting to notice that pattern.....
Then you shouldn't have access to them, because the preview was for paying customers. You can't expect to have the same privileges as paying customers.
And no, you could not have done that artwork in 15 minutes, talent or no talent.
Sheesh, you are so insulting to the people that make DDi, even though you are not a customer, since you don't pay for it.
Actually I could have done the artwork in fifteen minutes with some talent since you can't verify that I can't and I can't verify that I can we should let it drop. What I'm saying is that the videos that were put together of the VTT from the 4E release conventions were probably false, so why not this screenshot I mean it shows no functionality.
I pay for D&DI every time I look at my books I bought because I thought I'd be playing online. That's over $100.00 worth of just books, so that's the equivalent of over a years subscription.
I'm also not insulting anyone. I'm questioning WotC integrity which is on shaky ground at best.
Gee, that's funny because I don't have a subscription either, and those screen shots appeared in the free article I read........hmmm, interesting.
After looking back at the article the screenshots are back. When I looked before it said I had to be a member to read the article. Must have something to do with the way the website has been acting lately. The boards have been messed up many times this week.
Good point. However, lokiare has declared many times that he doesn't have the time to read (only to post) so why would it matter what they say or do. He is NOT going to read any link they provide, but he is certainly going to complain about everything.
I don't have time to read every little article that they post on the website. I try to look at the stuff on the front page, and if it interests me I might even try to read it.
Your really blowing it out of proportion because you have a personal dislike of me. Which I personally don't care about. So carry on. I'm sure everyone that reads your messages has already written you off as a troll.
Starting to notice that pattern.....
Really? that's funny because I try to read anything that is relevant. I'm just not going to rummage around a messed up website to try to see if I can even access it because I'm not a paying member.
Actually I could have done the artwork in fifteen minutes with some talent since you can't verify that I can't and I can't verify that I can we should let it drop.
This is EXACTLY the kind of thing I do for a living, so I can tell you, there is no way you can do it in 15 minutes.
And you can verify that you can. Simple have your computer record it. There are several applications that do that. I know you are busy, but even you should have 15 minutes to spare.
Maybe if you stopped making statements like this, trying to make people think you are some expert, and that all your statements should be agreed with, you wouldn't feel like people hate you personally.
After looking back at the article the screenshots are back. When I looked before it said I had to be a member to read the article. Must have something to do with the way the website has been acting lately. The boards have been messed up many times this week.
It never changed at all. The website wasn't acting funny, just the forums.
This is EXACTLY the kind of thing I do for a living, so I can tell you, there is no way you can do it in 15 minutes.
And you can verify that you can. Simple have your computer record it. There are several applications that do that. I know you are busy, but even you should have 15 minutes to spare.
Maybe if you stopped making statements like this, trying to make people think you are some expert, and that all your statements should be agreed with, you wouldn't feel like people hate you personally.
While I don't think it would take 15 minutes, but an experienced person can create that screen in relatively little time. There is not much, if any artwork on that screen that has not been used in other Wizards products. Including the buttons and side designs. All the time was in the layout. If they already had an idea of what they wanted, it could have taken 1/2 a day with an experienced person to get it just the way they wanted it.
But your right, it takes longer than 15 minutes to get things in just the right spot.
I have to say that I am looking forward to checking out the tool at this point. A monster tool wasn't on my first to see list, I would have liked a campaign tracker, but this could be useful.
No person's point of view is the only right point of view. Each person has it coloured by their own experiences and opinions.
Really? that's funny because I try to read anything that is relevant. I'm just not going to rummage around a messed up website to try to see if I can even access it because I'm not a paying member.
If it's so messed up, why are you here at all? You think if you complain enough, you get it your way? Try BK for that.
I pay for D&DI every time I look at my books I bought because I thought I'd be playing online. That's over $100.00 worth of just books, so that's the equivalent of over a years subscription.
This statement proves you have no idea what you are talking about, that you know nothing about creation, production and distribution of a product and that you need to re-think your comments before posting.
You paid for a book, not an online service, they are two seperate products. Do you whine to the car dealer when you buy a car that you should be getting the gas for free? (I bought a car expecting to drive!) The money you paid (minus the profit percentage for both the distributor and WOTC) goes to the physical production of that book, the labor to physically make that book, the R&D team that thought it up and wrote it and the editor who went though and crossed the "t's" and dotted the "i's". That's it, nothing more. The DDI subscription goes to pay for the team who creates and maintains the website, cost of the physical hardware needed to store and process the information and the profit percentage for WOTC. They are not connected, should not be connected and I doubt they ever will be connected. So, to have it the way you are implying (DDI be included with the cost of the books) that means every month you MUST buy a book, at a higher cost I might add, to get a 1 month access to DDI. Expecting to buy one book and have access to two monthly online magazines, a full blown character creator, upcoming monster creator, exclusive web content and playable previews 9 months ahead of the product is really stupid, and you aren't stupid, are you?
This statement proves you have no idea what you are talking about, that you know nothing about creation, production and distribution of a product and that you need to re-think your comments before posting.
You paid for a book, not an online service, they are two seperate products. Do you whine to the car dealer when you buy a car that you should be getting the gas for free? (I bought a car expecting to drive!) The money you paid (minus the profit percentage for both the distributor and WOTC) goes to the physical production of that book, the labor to physically make that book, the R&D team that thought it up and wrote it and the editor who went though and crossed the "t's" and dotted the "i's". That's it, nothing more. The DDI subscription goes to pay for the team who creates and maintains the website, cost of the physical hardware needed to store and process the information and the profit percentage for WOTC. They are not connected, should not be connected and I doubt they ever will be connected. So, to have it the way you are implying (DDI be included with the cost of the books) that means every month you MUST buy a book, at a higher cost I might add, to get a 1 month access to DDI. Expecting to buy one book and have access to two monthly online magazines, a full blown character creator, upcoming monster creator, exclusive web content and playable previews 9 months ahead of the product is really stupid, and you aren't stupid, are you?
Well, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt because unlike some of these other people that are acting like trolls and attacking everything I say regardless of what it is, you may not know.
I saw the heavily advertised game table and other software that wizards PROMISED would be out when 4th edition was released. Realizing that I could then play online pick-up games or maybe even a dedicated campaign I decided to TRUST WotC and went ahead and pre-ordered the core books, several sets of dice, a battlemat, some wet erase markers, and several packs of minis. I was all excited waiting on 4th Edition when release day comes along and they announce it won't be ready, but it will be shortly after that. Then a year went by and still no game table or other software. I think they finally got the character builder out several months ago, but by then I'm looking at over $200.00 worth of books and paraphernalia that I'm sitting here holding looking like an idiot because I TRUSTED WotC to follow through on their PROMISE.
So when I say that whenever I look at my books I'm paying for the DDI I mean both psychologically and the $200.00 I put out for something that was PROMISED and I TRUSTED to happen. So you decide should I be annoyed and mad at WotC, or should I be like "WotC is so awesome".
Dare I say VTT?!I saw the heavily advertised game table and other software that wizards PROMISED would be out when 4th edition was released. Realizing that I could then play online pick-up games or maybe even a dedicated campaign I decided to TRUST WotC and went ahead and pre-ordered the core books, several sets of dice, a battlemat, some wet erase markers, and several packs of minis...
Why would you buy "several sets of dice, a battlemat, some wet erase markers, and several packs of minis" if you bought into 4E because of the VTT to play online...?
It's unfortunate you live somewhere where it is difficult to get a group together... If find it difficult to get a game of anything else I'm interested in (OS D&D, Traveller, C&C), except 4E... It's taken over! ;)
Well, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt because unlike some of these other people that are acting like trolls and attacking everything I say regardless of what it is, you may not know.
I saw the heavily advertised game table and other software that wizards PROMISED would be out when 4th edition was released. Realizing that I could then play online pick-up games or maybe even a dedicated campaign I decided to TRUST WotC and went ahead and pre-ordered the core books, several sets of dice, a battlemat, some wet erase markers, and several packs of minis. I was all excited waiting on 4th Edition when release day comes along and they announce it won't be ready, but it will be shortly after that. Then a year went by and still no game table or other software. I think they finally got the character builder out several months ago, but by then I'm looking at over $200.00 worth of books and paraphernalia that I'm sitting here holding looking like an idiot because I TRUSTED WotC to follow through on their PROMISE.
So when I say that whenever I look at my books I'm paying for the DDI I mean both psychologically and the $200.00 I put out for something that was PROMISED and I TRUSTED to happen. So you decide should I be annoyed and mad at WotC, or should I be like "WotC is so awesome".
One question: If you were only interested in playing the game on a virtual table, by way of a subscription that included all the information and virtual game pieces needed to play, why invest in the real thing when a subscription would give you the virtual items included in the price?
One question: If you were only interested in playing the game on a virtual table, by way of a subscription that included all the information and virtual game pieces needed to play, why invest in the real thing when a subscription would give you the virtual items included in the price?
Because from the information available at the time (i.e. the advertisements and GenCon videos) it was understood that you'd have to own the books to have access to them online.
Why would you buy "several sets of dice, a battlemat, some wet erase markers, and several packs of minis" if you bought into 4E because of the VTT to play online...?
It's unfortunate you live somewhere where it is difficult to get a group together... If find it difficult to get a game of anything else I'm interested in (OS D&D, Traveller, C&C), except 4E... It's taken over! ;)
Your right, I bought some of that at the end of my 3.5E days. So I shouldn't count it. I use it now to DM my nephews, but its just not the same as playing with my peers. The pre-order of books did cost me around $100.00 though.
Because from the information available at the time (i.e. the advertisements and GenCon videos) it was understood that you'd have to own the books to have access to them online.
I remember seeing those ads and videos too, and I don't remember them saying the books were mandatory for the virtual game table.
A little story: Last year I heard that there was to be a Ghostbusters video game coming out and I was completely stoked (big fan since I saw it in the theater), until I heard it was xbox 360 and PS3 only. Did I run out and buy one of those two systems before the game? No, that would be foolish and irresponsible, instead I waited, and waited, and waited some more. Then, the game hits the stores and low and behold, it was for PS2 as well, thus saving me some serious cash.
I'm sorry, I can't muster any sympathy over a rash, voluntary choice to spend $100 (silly too, my pre-order cost me $75 delivered from ebay) when you didn't have to, especially when there were numerous resources available to confirm or deny it was going to happen. You can't be angry at anyone other than yourself on this one.
I remember seeing those ads and videos too, and I don't remember them saying the books were mandatory for the virtual game table.
A little story: Last year I heard that there was to be a Ghostbusters video game coming out and I was completely stoked (big fan since I saw it in the theater), until I heard it was xbox 360 and PS3 only. Did I run out and buy one of those two systems before the game? No, that would be foolish and irresponsible, instead I waited, and waited, and waited some more. Then, the game hits the stores and low and behold, it was for PS2 as well, thus saving me some serious cash.
I'm sorry, I can't muster any sympathy over a rash, voluntary choice to spend $100 (silly too, my pre-order cost me $75 delivered from ebay) when you didn't have to, especially when there were numerous resources available to confirm or deny it was going to happen. You can't be angry at anyone other than yourself on this one.
Your right. At the first sign of a delay I should have canceled my book pre-order and dispute the charges with my bank to stop the charge.
Oh and you should go back and watch the videos, they mention the buy the book have a copy online stuff I was talking about.
Your right. At the first sign of a delay I should have canceled my book pre-order and dispute the charges with my bank to stop the charge.
Oh and you should go back and watch the videos, they mention the buy the book have a copy online stuff I was talking about.
And LOOOOOOONG before the books came out, they announced that was not going to happen.
LOOOOOOONG time before. Even before you stopped looking at the forums for a few months. But then again, considering the rash of missing information you've shown lately, I can understand why you might have missed that.
If you cancel a pre-order, you don't have to dispute the charges with your bank. If you ordered via Amazon, they don't charge till they ship, just like oh most places. So you could have canceled the order free.
Nice try thought.
And LOOOOOOONG before the books came out, they announced that was not going to happen.
LOOOOOOONG time before. Even before you stopped looking at the forums for a few months. But then again, considering the rash of missing information you've shown lately, I can understand why you might have missed that.
If you cancel a pre-order, you don't have to dispute the charges with your bank. If you ordered via Amazon, they don't charge till they ship, just like oh most places. So you could have canceled the order free.
Nice try thought.
Nice "slippery slope" there. First off they did not say any such thing, they said it would be delayed and that it would not be ready for launch. The only time they said it wouldn't be available was several months back when they killed it or if you like "put it aside".
The amazon thing might be true, I've never had to do it so I don't know. I do know some sites charge ahead of time.
"Nice try though" yourself.
Nice "slippery slope" there. First off they did not say any such thing, they said it would be delayed and that it would not be ready for launch. The only time they said it wouldn't be available was several months back when they killed it or if you like "put it aside".
The amazon thing might be true, I've never had to do it so I don't know. I do know some sites charge ahead of time.
"Nice try though" yourself.
I have no idea what you are talking about. You make less and less sense sometimes.
I get that people are upset - I get that people want to make sure people know why they're upset, and for some of them, prevent others from going down a similar path of disapoinment. All I want is for discussions of that nature to stay in threads that are about the disappoinment of DDI.
I'm not asking that we can keep every conversation positive - it's good to hear what negatives people are experiencing, but if your sole purpose is to talk about what you don't like about DDI or about how you feel it's a low value, there are plenty of threads for those and you should head to them to join in on those discussions.
Now, if people have questions or comments about the article, this is the place to talk about it. Have fun!
Nice "slippery slope" there. First off they did not say any such thing, they said it would be delayed and that it would not be ready for launch. The only time they said it wouldn't be available was several months back when they killed it or if you like "put it aside".
The amazon thing might be true, I've never had to do it so I don't know. I do know some sites charge ahead of time.
"Nice try though" yourself.
He is right though, they did say it wasn't coming along as they anticipated and there was plenty of time to cancel any pre-orders. And the only place I have ever heard of making you pay to cancel an order is ebay, because those are individual contracts. No website should be charging for an item prior to shipping it out, it's unethical. As for the "killing" of the virtual table, do yourself a favor and quit using assumptive opinions as fact. They have clearly stated that to tackle the whole thing at once is overwhelming, which is why they have split it up to individual projects that, when put together, will make the table work the way they want it to. If you chose to scream doom and gloom and negativity, stand outside on a street corner with a sign that reads "The end is near", stop trashing WOTC on their own website, it's immature and rude.
I'm very excited for the Monster Builder. The only thing I need to know now is when, which will come in time.
I'm very excited for the Monster Builder. The only thing I need to know now is when, which will come in time.
Me too, once I know when, I will be getting the full year subscription, until then, saving up.
He is right though, they did say it wasn't coming along as they anticipated and there was plenty of time to cancel any pre-orders. And the only place I have ever heard of making you pay to cancel an order is ebay, because those are individual contracts. No website should be charging for an item prior to shipping it out, it's unethical. As for the "killing" of the virtual table, do yourself a favor and quit using assumptive opinions as fact. They have clearly stated that to tackle the whole thing at once is overwhelming, which is why they have split it up to individual projects that, when put together, will make the table work the way they want it to. If you chose to scream doom and gloom and negativity, stand outside on a street corner with a sign that reads "The end is near", stop trashing WOTC on their own website, it's immature and rude.
Yes, they did say it wasn't coming along, but there is a big difference between saying it will not be out at 4E launch, but some time shortly later and it is put aside until after we make these 5 other programs (which is equivalent to saying it'll take more than 5 years).
I don't use assumptive opinions as fact. I quote other peoples news releases and official posts, and point out details in videos that were released by WotC. If you don't like the facts prove me wrong. Its as simple as that.
I'm not screaming "gloom and doom" as you put it. I'm expressing my opinion based on the facts at hand. I also said I didn't want to say anything more about it. Since the WotC defenders pop up every time even a phrase is said that may be construed as negative to WotC it is actually them perpetuating these thread derailments and interruptions.
and as per the video, saying you can get an electronic version with each purchase of a book, they scrapped that idea well before 4E came out.
I'm very excited for the Monster Builder. The only thing I need to know now is when, which will come in time.
I already explained I didn't know you could cancel www.amazon.com pre-orders.
Alright guys. I've been out for a bit with the knee issue, but seriously - most of this this thread has been hijacked talking about the fact if these screen shots are real or not or defending or attacking DDI as a product. We don't need to turn every new news artricle thread or new DDI discussion into this.
I get that people are upset - I get that people want to make sure people know why they're upset, and for some of them, prevent others from going down a similar path of disapoinment. All I want is for discussions of that nature to stay in threads that are about the disappoinment of DDI.
I'm not asking that we can keep every conversation positive - it's good to hear what negatives people are experiencing, but if your sole purpose is to talk about what you don't like about DDI or about how you feel it's a low value, there are plenty of threads for those and you should head to them to join in on those discussions.
Now, if people have questions or comments about the article, this is the place to talk about it. Have fun!