DDI: Tomorrow's Content Today, Today's Content Tomorrow! - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

DDI: Tomorrow's Content Today, Today's Content Tomorrow!

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
MrCelsius
Nov 12, 2009 1:25:57      Just checking to see if anyone else feels the growing irritation that I do at not being able to access material from new books in the Compendium until a month (or more?) after the book is out. I get the logic; if the content isn't available anywhere but in the books it'll encourage book sales. That's their prerogative, I'm just getting fed up with being away from my library, going to look up the specific wording of a feat, and finding that it isn't there because the Compendium still hasn't been updated yet. As with the discontinuation of those wonderful PDFs, I guess it's just another shot across the pirates' bow that lodges itself firmly in the hull of the honest customer.
#2
Dragon9
Nov 12, 2009 8:13:23 POersonally, I don't. Then again my play opportunities are scattered far enough apart that it's updated by the time I play next. If I'm using something from a new book or Dragon that hasn't been added yet I just write down the specific rule item or print out the page it's on and take it with me.

I am rarely away from my library with a need to access it.
#3
asmodeuslore
Nov 12, 2009 8:14:46
     Just checking to see if anyone else feels the growing irritation that I do at not being able to access material from new books in the Compendium until a month (or more?) after the book is out. I get the logic; if the content isn't available anywhere but in the books it'll encourage book sales. That's their prerogative, I'm just getting fed up with being away from my library, going to look up the specific wording of a feat, and finding that it isn't there because the Compendium still hasn't been updated yet. As with the discontinuation of those wonderful PDFs, I guess it's just another shot across the pirates' bow that lodges itself firmly in the hull of the honest customer.

I'm right there with you. So tired of actual customers suffering because a company decides to try and fight an unwinable battle against something that isn't even hurting them, rather than embracing the opportunities that technology offers.
#4
chanter_hound
Nov 12, 2009 8:16:14 what sort of battle?

Oh the battle against pirates. Yeah, that sort of battle can never really be won. They have tried for 30 years with computer games. Now honest customers, such as myself, have so many problems when trying to play games. Cdkeys that get lost, a billion play disks.. (which eventually get put someplace as well...)

Only through steam have i seen even the slightest real anti-piracy actually win a little bit. Heck we even have pirates traveling the seven seas again.. the east indian trading company did nothing to stop them either.

As for the books.. If the books wern't 30 or so dollars, I'd actually buy more of them beyond the basics and occassional supplment. I'd rather pay 10 dollars a month, for access to the information. I'd buy more figurines if they had some weird and wacky combonations that could actually work, rather than sticking 3 stereotypes in a box and calling it a night.

For books, why not make some 'resource' books that have information that costs only 10 dollars or so? Like the Manuel of Combat where it talks about all the different actions you can do in combat, and status effects. It would be esspecially nice, since it would be easier to replace this book every errata rather than spending 30 dollars on a book thats already outdated.

For figurines, make a Gnoll Bard, a couple of ebberon characters, amongst other things. Then put up on the sight DDI exclusive purchases or rewards of some sort for reverents and assassins.
#5
Vengeful_Deity
Nov 12, 2009 9:49:42

For books, why not make some 'resource' books that have information that costs only 10 dollars or so? Like the Manuel of Combat where it talks about all the different actions you can do in combat, and status effects. It would be esspecially nice, since it would be easier to replace this book every errata rather than spending 30 dollars on a book thats already outdated.

I would buy something like that. I have to lug around my PHB wherever I go even though I don't play a PHB class just in case I need to look up a random combat rule. They could stuff all of the combat rules into a 30-50 page paperback and I might not have to take an Extended rest between my car and the house.
#6
chanter_hound
Nov 12, 2009 11:07:00 Exactly. If they break the stuff down into small little 'rules' black and white paperback books, It helps everyone out. Don't have to carry a book case from place to place because they had some combat rules in that book, some other ones in this book, and even more in that book ever there.

Better yet.. since Errata will inevitiably come out and change things, why not make it something like a small cheap version of things like the WoW statagy guide or a book on technoligy. Were you have the ability to put the pages in a binder, then as errata comes out you can buy an errata pack for 2-3 dollars and replace those rules that changed.
#7
DMaple
Nov 17, 2009 11:45:06
     Just checking to see if anyone else feels the growing irritation that I do at not being able to access material from new books in the Compendium until a month (or more?) after the book is out. I get the logic; if the content isn't available anywhere but in the books it'll encourage book sales.

Or encourage people to use the illegal PDF's that still get update faster than the D&D Compedium, and Character Builder.

#8
thajocoth
Nov 17, 2009 12:30:39
     Just checking to see if anyone else feels the growing irritation that I do at not being able to access material from new books in the Compendium until a month (or more?) after the book is out. I get the logic; if the content isn't available anywhere but in the books it'll encourage book sales.

Or encourage people to use the illegal PDF's that still get update faster than the D&D Compedium, and Character Builder.

The tools WotC provide are so good that they can't compare to pdfs, despite being buggy and incomplete. Though, you're right that the pirated pdfs, even as scans of the books since WotC stopped making pdfs of the books, ARE up and available BEFORE they get added to the builder and compendium. It definately encourages piracy, especially among DDI subscribers who wouldn't pirate anything otherwise. (The general mentality of: Why should I pay for the same thing twice?) If the stuff was added to the tools for DDI subscribers immediately, and pdfs were available for purchase 2 weeks later, the only people who'd be pirating anything are the ones who will be pirating regardless, therefore no loss in sales. It would also force the pirates to do more work, as they'll be just finishing up with the scanned pdfs when the official ones come out for purchase.

As a video game programmer, I know that piracy is impossible to remove entirely, but unless the company is penalizing their honest customers, everyone who would pay for material under any circumstances will pay for the material. The more blocks you put in place, the more piracy you encourage. I hear people say things all the time like "I really want that game, but their protection is too much of a pain, I'll just download a cracked torrent of it instead because it's easier." Note: easier, not cheaper. If buying is easier than pirating, most people will buy because they're lazy. It's basic human nature. Some old guy once said that man, like the mighty river, will take the easiest path. I forget who said it, and I'm paraphrasing, and I'm not going to look up the original because I'm lazy.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 MrCelsius Nov 12, 2009 1:25:57	Just checking to see if anyone else feels the growing irritation that I do at not being able to access material from new books in the Compendium until a month (or more?) after the book is out. I get the logic; if the content isn't available anywhere but in the books it'll encourage book sales. That's their prerogative, I'm just getting fed up with being away from my library, going to look up the specific wording of a feat, and finding that it isn't there because the Compendium still hasn't been updated yet. As with the discontinuation of those wonderful PDFs, I guess it's just another shot across the pirates' bow that lodges itself firmly in the hull of the honest customer.
#2 Dragon9 Nov 12, 2009 8:13:23	POersonally, I don't. Then again my play opportunities are scattered far enough apart that it's updated by the time I play next. If I'm using something from a new book or Dragon that hasn't been added yet I just write down the specific rule item or print out the page it's on and take it with me. I am rarely away from my library with a need to access it.
#3 asmodeuslore Nov 12, 2009 8:14:46	Just checking to see if anyone else feels the growing irritation that I do at not being able to access material from new books in the Compendium until a month (or more?) after the book is out. I get the logic; if the content isn't available anywhere but in the books it'll encourage book sales. That's their prerogative, I'm just getting fed up with being away from my library, going to look up the specific wording of a feat, and finding that it isn't there because the Compendium still hasn't been updated yet. As with the discontinuation of those wonderful PDFs, I guess it's just another shot across the pirates' bow that lodges itself firmly in the hull of the honest customer. I'm right there with you. So tired of actual customers suffering because a company decides to try and fight an unwinable battle against something that isn't even hurting them, rather than embracing the opportunities that technology offers.
#4 chanter_hound Nov 12, 2009 8:16:14	what sort of battle? Oh the battle against pirates. Yeah, that sort of battle can never really be won. They have tried for 30 years with computer games. Now honest customers, such as myself, have so many problems when trying to play games. Cdkeys that get lost, a billion play disks.. (which eventually get put someplace as well...) Only through steam have i seen even the slightest real anti-piracy actually win a little bit. Heck we even have pirates traveling the seven seas again.. the east indian trading company did nothing to stop them either. As for the books.. If the books wern't 30 or so dollars, I'd actually buy more of them beyond the basics and occassional supplment. I'd rather pay 10 dollars a month, for access to the information. I'd buy more figurines if they had some weird and wacky combonations that could actually work, rather than sticking 3 stereotypes in a box and calling it a night. For books, why not make some 'resource' books that have information that costs only 10 dollars or so? Like the Manuel of Combat where it talks about all the different actions you can do in combat, and status effects. It would be esspecially nice, since it would be easier to replace this book every errata rather than spending 30 dollars on a book thats already outdated. For figurines, make a Gnoll Bard, a couple of ebberon characters, amongst other things. Then put up on the sight DDI exclusive purchases or rewards of some sort for reverents and assassins.
#5 Vengeful_Deity Nov 12, 2009 9:49:42	For books, why not make some 'resource' books that have information that costs only 10 dollars or so? Like the Manuel of Combat where it talks about all the different actions you can do in combat, and status effects. It would be esspecially nice, since it would be easier to replace this book every errata rather than spending 30 dollars on a book thats already outdated. I would buy something like that. I have to lug around my PHB wherever I go even though I don't play a PHB class just in case I need to look up a random combat rule. They could stuff all of the combat rules into a 30-50 page paperback and I might not have to take an Extended rest between my car and the house.
#6 chanter_hound Nov 12, 2009 11:07:00	Exactly. If they break the stuff down into small little 'rules' black and white paperback books, It helps everyone out. Don't have to carry a book case from place to place because they had some combat rules in that book, some other ones in this book, and even more in that book ever there. Better yet.. since Errata will inevitiably come out and change things, why not make it something like a small cheap version of things like the WoW statagy guide or a book on technoligy. Were you have the ability to put the pages in a binder, then as errata comes out you can buy an errata pack for 2-3 dollars and replace those rules that changed.
#7 DMaple Nov 17, 2009 11:45:06	Just checking to see if anyone else feels the growing irritation that I do at not being able to access material from new books in the Compendium until a month (or more?) after the book is out. I get the logic; if the content isn't available anywhere but in the books it'll encourage book sales. Or encourage people to use the illegal PDF's that still get update faster than the D&D Compedium, and Character Builder.
#8 thajocoth Nov 17, 2009 12:30:39	Just checking to see if anyone else feels the growing irritation that I do at not being able to access material from new books in the Compendium until a month (or more?) after the book is out. I get the logic; if the content isn't available anywhere but in the books it'll encourage book sales. Or encourage people to use the illegal PDF's that still get update faster than the D&D Compedium, and Character Builder. The tools WotC provide are so good that they can't compare to pdfs, despite being buggy and incomplete. Though, you're right that the pirated pdfs, even as scans of the books since WotC stopped making pdfs of the books, ARE up and available BEFORE they get added to the builder and compendium. It definately encourages piracy, especially among DDI subscribers who wouldn't pirate anything otherwise. (The general mentality of: Why should I pay for the same thing twice?) If the stuff was added to the tools for DDI subscribers immediately, and pdfs were available for purchase 2 weeks later, the only people who'd be pirating anything are the ones who will be pirating regardless, therefore no loss in sales. It would also force the pirates to do more work, as they'll be just finishing up with the scanned pdfs when the official ones come out for purchase. As a video game programmer, I know that piracy is impossible to remove entirely, but unless the company is penalizing their honest customers, everyone who would pay for material under any circumstances will pay for the material. The more blocks you put in place, the more piracy you encourage. I hear people say things all the time like "I really want that game, but their protection is too much of a pain, I'll just download a cracked torrent of it instead because it's easier." Note: easier, not cheaper. If buying is easier than pirating, most people will buy because they're lazy. It's basic human nature. Some old guy once said that man, like the mighty river, will take the easiest path. I forget who said it, and I'm paraphrasing, and I'm not going to look up the original because I'm lazy.