I'm not a subscriber, myself, so I don't have a lot to add. I will say that it depends what you are looking for:
1. The magazines-they're on par with the old Dungeon and Dragon but their amount of content fluctuates month to month and is more or less usable for different games (some complaints of too many previews and playtests have been recent).
2. The rest of the stuff, the e-tools. Most of it seems to be in production (or stasis depending on your level of optimism) at the moment. They have some rudimentary stuff out now, but it's about comparable to fan site stuff, and is not yet well integrated.
Again, I'm not a subscriber, but this is what I've gleaned from what I've been following here as I wait for them to get their act in gear and I consider becoming a subscriber.
You might want to clarify what your needs and desires are to get more helpful feedback. Your question is pretty general. Good luck!
If you are a DM and you want to run 4E, than the answer is yes.
The rules compendum makes your job so much easier. You will never have to copy anything out of book again. For example, If there are monsters you are using in encounter, you can look them up on the compendum, copy and paste all their tat blocks to a word document, then print it out for your game.
The dungeon and dragon magazine articles have been of very good quality both in terms of fluff and crunch, and are general posted in a timely manner.
The charecter generator is the best one I have seen for any game. The other aplications that are in devolpment, are just gravey to me.
So for 5 bucks a month, yes you should get it.
I'm trying to decide whether or not to subscribe to ddi. I am a new dm and I'm not sure what is in it for me. Any clues from subscribers? What could help me?
The answer is that you don't need it, but it might enhance your DMing and interest in the hobby. You have to decide for yourself, young padawan. Or take a look at the old free stuff and decide if you'd ever use it.
How much does it cost for a year ?
About $60 for the entire year.
There is an auto-renewal feature but it is not optional. You must agree to it; there is NO option to avoid it. Getting auto-renew turned off requires you to email customer service, where somebody will email you back in a couple of days to confirm. Sounds simple, doesn't it? It's not. Be sure to keep record of what your security questions are (and their answers); they may come up in the process of canceling auto-renew. My security questions snagged my cancellation, but only during the last month, not the first. So, inconsistent service is another issue to be aware of with Insider.
To sum up: You have the option of subscribing for a full year, 3-months, or a month. At the end of that time however, you will be billed again for the next period unless you have auto-renewal canceled, via customer service (it is not instantaneous and requires human interaction).
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There's also the issue that some of us have had with being able to actually download and view Insider content. This is briefly acknowledged in Digital Insider #12, as a problem that WotC is aware of and being looked into. WotC no longer employs the fellow who wrote this however, so that particular issue may have fallen by the wayside; I don't know. In any case, fixing the problem does not appear to be a priority, it's on the backburner for now.
The work-around I use is pretty straight-forward once you know about it: Right-click on "See It Now!", right-click on "Save Target As". This brings up an option to save a html page, so I close the menu. Then, I right-click on "See it Now" (yes, again ;)), right-click on "Save Target As" (again). This time, an option comes up to save an actual PDF file. Good to go. In brief: Open, click, then close, then open (again), and save. This gets me past the "asp" page (whatever that is).
If I don't use the work-around, all I see is a page of gibberish. Insider PDFs are the only ones I've ever had trouble with. It's not just me, several others have posted similar problems. As already mentioned, it is acknowledged as a genuine problem in Digital Insider #12.
So, for those who don't know about this work-around then, it's possible for them to subscribe to Insider. Then, they find out that they're one of the unlucky ones, who can't actually see the stuff they've paid for.
Speaking for myself: I'd like to subscribe but the hassle of having to cancel auto-renew each and every month has proven to be too much hassle. Reading recent threads, it seems things are getting worse, not better. I'm gonna wait until the process is automated, at the very least.
At this point, I don't even advise that others subscribe. That's unfortunate, because I've enjoyed Dragon for many years. I would love for others to enjoy it as well.
I'm sure once the game-table gets off the ground that more people will subscribe to DDI than currently. For many, they just don't think they're getting their money's worth. Quite frankly, $60 a year is an excellent price for what is being offered. As 4E progresses, we will see more and more DDI-only material being released (it's already happening, e.g. playtests).
Speaking for myself: I'd like to subscribe but the hassle of having to cancel auto-renew each and every month has proven to be too much hassle. Reading recent threads, it seems things are getting worse, not better. I'm gonna wait until the process is automated, at the very least.
WotC really should have auto-renew default to OFF for single month subscription, seeing as it seems that most of the people using that subscription plan are non-committals and only interested in getting individual issues.
Having said that I can't fathom your particular mentality. If you've purchased multiple single month subscription this early in the e-zines' run maybe you should have just gotten a longer subscription plan in the first place. True it is more money up front but I find the savings over time are worth it.
To the OP: like others I would suggest doing your "homework" and learning as much about DDi as you can before buying into it. If you haven't done so already you should especial consider downloading some of the older e-zine issues (I believe the first 4 are free), you should also check out the compendium (information relating to level 1-3 gameplay is free), and you should down load the now open beta of the character builder (which is free as I recall).
If you like what you see, but are still uncertain, I would suggest popping down the $20 for a 3 month subscription. You could choose the $8 single month subscription, but I feel that one should real give the service more than a single month as trial before making a final decision and I'd rather spend $20 at once than $24 spread out. Either way you should immediately go through the procedures to cancel auto-renew if you have any doubts.
If after giving a full subscription a try you decide it is worth your money, you should start a 3 month or full year subscription plan (if you can afford the upfront cost) with auto-renew turned on and then sit back and enjoy the wonder that is DDi.
[INDENT]Edit: Now is also a very good time to get full year subscription, since WotC plans to raise the subscription price as they add new features, starting as early as February. However, those new rates will not apply to current subscription until they renew. So if lock in a full year subscription now you can effectively get all the extra features that will be released over the course of 2009 as free bonus.[/INDENT]
WotC really should have auto-renew default to OFF for single month subscription, seeing as it seems that most of the people using that subscription plan are non-committals and only interested in getting individual issues.
Having said that I can't fathom your particular mentality. If you've purchased multiple single month subscription this early in the e-zines' run maybe you should have just gotten a longer subscription plan in the first place. True it is more money up front but I find the savings over time are worth it.
It's not about saving a bit of money. Even with the print mags, I bought off the newstand, month after month, never missed a single issue. In over 14 years, I had only 1 annual subscription (a combo deal with Dungeon, I believe). I think it's the thrill of the hunt-- there's a chance I might miss an issue :P. The collector in me has to have 'em all.
It's proven to be too much of a hassle to pursue a month-to-month subscriptions with Insider. I give up. I may eventually buy a year-long subscription, get it out of the way, once and for all. I can't explain why exactly but that "option" just doesn't appeal to me, at all.
[INDENT]Edit: Now is also a very good time to get full year subscription, since WotC plans to raise the subscription price as they add new features, starting as early as February. However, those new rates will not apply to current subscription until they renew. So if lock in a full year subscription now you can effectively get all the extra features that will be released over the course of 2009 as free bonus.[/INDENT]
This is exactly why I renewed for a full year. I don't want a rate hike after two or three individual month-long subscriptions.
Even with the print mags, I bought off the newstand, month after month, never missed a single issue.
Sorry to have stereotyped you as being uncommitted. I've gotten a little to used to a few to many vocal objectors that keep saying the e-zines have yet to prove worthy, or who constantly pat them selves on the back for not subscribing as they feel the flavor of the month is a steaming pile of draconic dung.
My point still stands that defaulting auto-renew to ON for single month subscriptions is wrong, even more so in your case. Purchasing a single month subscription should be just like buying a single issue.
If you are a Dungeon Master, and have any sort of interest in using digital tools, or you are a player who always likes to try new things, like new classes, new powers, new equipment, its absolutely 100% worth it. Sign up for the full year.
If you are 'old school', and are more comfortable with a pencil and paper than a laptop, or if you are a player, who is pretty happy with the basics, you might want to just sign up for a single month, and see if you like it before you commit to a full year.
If you are going to subscribe, now is definitely the time to do it. You will get the discount price for a full year.
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Has their been announcements or rumors regarding 2009 release dates, if any? I'm just wondering when new software and features are coming, along with the price increase.
Has their been announcements or rumors regarding 2009 release dates, if any? I'm just wondering when new software and features are coming, along with the price increase.
There are no set released dates, though they hope to have Character Builder out of Beta by about the end of the month.
There has been no date announced for when a price increase will occur.
They have not been saying much at all about plans.
It currently appears likely that there will not be a price increase when the CB is ready. This is not certain. I suspect that all current Insiders will not be denied access to the CB even if the price does go up, that if there is a price increase it would only apply to renewals or first time subscription.
There is no certainty as the other aplications are released that they will be provided to current Insiders without being asked to pay more, I know some hope and expect this, however WotC has not released that pledge. In fact the only pledge WotC has made was if a user paid for the "web content" package their price would not go up during their current term.
I'm trying to decide whether or not to subscribe to ddi. I am a new dm and I'm not sure what is in it for me. Any clues from subscribers? What could help me?
If your subscribing for the adventures, which I do admit are of good quality $6/mo for 3 of them is a great value; however, you can find many other sources if you don't plan to need 3 per month. Goodman Games is a good location. That's really your call.
I read both my cousin's pdf copies monthly and I enjoy them as reading material, but we won't run that many to warant more than one from our group of 6 having access, and much of the Dragon material is not stuff we use often. He signed up for a year, and as the money is already spent, we make the most of it.
If your subscribing for the "bonus" tools, these are the free bonus tools, they don't warrant a $60/yr fee. They do their job, but 5 min of Google will find the same things, or similar or better quality, online for free.
In a year, or more, if the whole thing is done, it may have more appeal and more value.
Here is why I subscribe:
1) the compendium is awesome!!! It has tons of content. Not to mention every monster from every book/online article/RPGA adventure etc. in a searchable data base.
2) the articles: Keeps me informed on what's going on with D&D and there are lots of tips for DM's from the Games designers.
3) the adventures: If you don't have a campaign/adventure for your players just use one that they've made & tweak it. Right now they have thier scales of war campaign up to level 10 out of 30. I got lazy and used the Menace of the Icy spire module in my Forgotten realms campaign last week.
I don't see this being successful. I don't want the mags, and don't want to pay for them just to get the tools that Wizards won't allow anyone else to produce.
It isn't for me, but don't let that stop you. As long as you can forgive the delays, price hikes, shoddy service and such, then have at it.
So the plan is to raise the price instead of having two different services? (Mags vs Tools)
I don't see this being successful. I don't want the mags, and don't want to pay for them just to get the tools that Wizards won't allow anyone else to produce.
It isn't for me, but don't let that stop you. As long as you can forgive the delays, price hikes, shoddy service and such, then have at it.
I think that all discussions about the future of DDI pricing and packaging are largely speculative.
What we know is what they're charging now, and what they've said the full package will cost when complete.
This still leaves room for other options such as tiered packages (X amount for A, B, and C, Y Amount for that + D, and E, or Z amount for all except A and B), to say nothing of what may or may not happen with the release of things like the Character Builder (will people who bought a multi-month subscription get the full CB for free as a thank you, or will we need to upgrade?).
Even knowing what was originally planned for the "full package" doesn't mean plans can't change. See the virtual minis fiasco fr proof that plans can change.
So the plan is to raise the price instead of having two different services? (Mags vs Tools)
What he said.
However in somewhat more detail.
WotC reserves the right to increase subscription price as more aplications are ready (or for that matter for the current offer to new subscribers).
WotC is/was considering a two tier offering.
WotC has not announced any plans about future pricing offers/increases.
WotC has promised you will get what you paid for without a price increase for your current term.
"Wizards is not a thief." *double peace signs held up over head*
Yeah, not for me.