| Post/Author/DateTime | Post |
|---|---|
| #1burningroseAug 17, 2009 19:18:27 | Please, please, please format the Assassin article the way you did for the Psion. The thought of paying for DDI when I could easily get all the information, and the exclusives (which they really wouldn't be, if you didn't) without paying is not a good one indeed. I don't want to see this article pirated everywhere. I don't want to see people who join DDI for a single month and then leave with this class wholly intact. I want the exclusives to remain exclusive. So please: Keep that from happening. |
| #2CinnibarAug 17, 2009 19:50:36 | Please, please, please don't print the Assassin article the way you did for the Psion. I pay for my D&DI subscription as a DM, and it makes it next to useless for me to have an article for a player character option that I can't provide for my players without jumping through hoops. Pirates have the data for the Psion in a more convenient and portable format because they probably ripped the data out of the compendium during the free Gencon preview ANYWAY. (NOTE : IT DIDN'T STAY EXCLUSIVE VERY LONG!!!) I want to print this article and use it in my campaign in two minutes, not spend an hour in the compendium printing individual powers. I want the exclusives to be USEFUL. |
| #3burningroseAug 17, 2009 19:56:40 | Please, please, please don't print the Assassin article the way you did for the Psion. I pay for my D&DI subscription as a DM, and it makes it next to useless for me to have an article for a player character option that I can't provide for my players without jumping through hoops. Pirates have the data for the Psion in a more convenient and portable format because they probably ripped the data out of the compendium during the free Gencon preview ANYWAY. (NOTE : IT DIDN'T STAY EXCLUSIVE VERY LONG!!!) I want the exclusives to be exclusive. Otherwise, what the hell am I paying for?! It's still thoroughly useful; You can print out the article, and powers can be printed out with characters in the character builder. I don't understand what the real problem is. I'd rather be paying for something that is occasionally a little clunky than paying for something that is free. |
| #4CinnibarAug 17, 2009 20:17:23 | I respect your opinion, and understand it, but hold an opposing view... for a variety of reasons. I'm a paying customer, and I want convenience, I don't want to be treated like a pirate because someone assumes I'm going to distribute the article on the web for free. I don't pay to be treated like a criminal. I pay for product... useful product, convenient product. Yes, I'm concerned when the content becomes freely available, as it has right this second, as it makes me wonder WTH I'm paying for. I expect Wizards to properly handle security through simpler and more direct means... watermarks, embedded marks to indicate which D&DI subscriber downloaded. Punish the people that cheat the system directly with prosecution if that's what's necessary. As it stands now, a determined criminal or pirate... or even a random passerby can cut-and-paste all the content or webcrawl the content without restriction. I wish Wizards had implemented some sort of controls on the free preview they're offering now that limited people to view... say a dozen powers and entries at most. Giving away the whole shebang right after telling us it was exclusive... and trying to obscure the content from subscribers during that brief period... well... it's a slap in the face. Yes, I want controls... but reasonable ones... ones that don't make it more difficult to use the product I'm purchasing for its intended purpose. |
| #5tiwaztyrsfistAug 17, 2009 20:31:32 | PLEASE ignore the OP, because I, as a paying customer, REALLY hated the format of the Psion article. I really, REALLY, do not want the headache associated with that AWEFUL design piled ontop of the Assassin class. But then, I doubt you would do that anyway. You wised up after the outcry and did a good job on the Gith article. Don't go back to the bad format. |
| #6CinnibarAug 17, 2009 20:33:27 | Just for fun, because I like being contrary... Don't ignore the OP. Just find a happy medium or compromise where the content is protected AND convenient. |
| #7burningroseAug 17, 2009 20:37:42 | PLEASE ignore the OP, because I, as a paying customer, REALLY hated the format of the Psion article. I really, REALLY, do not want the headache associated with that AWEFUL design piled ontop of the Assassin class. Bolding is mine. If there's no protection from Piracy, isn't that worse? What's worse: Paying for a less-than-optimal service or Paying for a service you could have entirely free? Just for fun, because I like being contrary... If they can do that, I'm all for it. But it's not possible if you want it all to be in a PDF. |
| #8alumanAug 17, 2009 20:45:26 | 'cause I am fan of ninjas not pirates. On a serious note: The real answer is because using pirated material right or wrong is against the law, some people have issues with it. Then there is the fact that using the items free means waiting for them to be pirated, where as using it through DDI means: on day of release. |
| #9burningroseAug 17, 2009 20:48:59 | Then there is the fact that using the items free means waiting for them to be pirated, where as using it through DDI means: on day of release. Then they should be called "a few days early" content, and not "exclusive" content. |
| #10GMforPowergamersAug 17, 2009 21:48:23 | I have to admit it does tick me off a little that in atleast 1 lfr game there is a pirate sitting at my table...he has everybook, so do I...he has every issue of dragon, so do I, he now has psion (the only one he did not have since his CB is 3 months old...) the diffrence...he is yet to buy a 4e book, or ddi...I am yet to not... the psion articale did stop him...well slowed him more sooner or later the builder update will be up there too... but as a paying custopmer what do I get he doesn't??? |
| #11nomanAug 17, 2009 21:48:54 | Oh come on, this is ridiculous. I'm currently in my year-long subscription, and allowing people a trial (especially as a courtesy to a gaming convention and as a promotion for DDI itself), in no way diminishes the value of DDI for me. 1) It *STILL* is a DDI exclusive, they just allowed people to sample the DDI Compendium for *very limited time*. 2) Only the Compendium was free, Dungeon magazine, Dragon magazine (including the actual articles that the classes were derived from and their artwork and fluff descriptions), the Character Builder, and the Monster builder weren't even available. Why this would bother anyone is beyond my understanding. I *WANT* them to promote DDI. I want it to be successful. I'd like to see them benefit from the economy of scale and maybe be able to offer more for the same or less money. I want to see them be able to afford more content and more development on tools. Stop being so short-sighted and worrying about some temporary bonus that someone else got. |
| #12nomanAug 17, 2009 21:51:15 | but as a paying custopmer what do I get he doesn't??? Getting the class and race first. The actual article, including art, descriptions, flavor, etc. Access to the rest of the Dungeon and Dragon magazines that have been created since subscriptions began. The Character builder. The Monster builder. Actual access to the magazines. Continued access to new content as it comes in. Aside from those, I guess you got nothing at all. |
| #13GMforPowergamersAug 17, 2009 22:06:57 | Getting the class and race first. he has the reverant, and did by the end of the month it came out... Access to the rest of the Dungeon and Dragon magazines that have been created since subscriptions began. so does he, in fact he often offers to burn us a CD of them and the books The Character builder. he has this about 3 months behind me... The Monster builder. I have neve known him to DM so I don't know... Actual access to the magazines. he has the compiled magazines the last saterday of everymonth... Aside from those, I guess you got nothing at all. aside from what? you didn't name anything randy doesn't have... |
| #14GMforPowergamersAug 17, 2009 22:09:31 | I *WANT* them to promote DDI. I want it to be successful. I'd like to see them benefit from the economy of scale and maybe be able to offer more for the same or less money. I want to see them be able to afford more content and more development on tools. how do you feel about some guy at WotC sponcered events (He went to gen con, he plays LFR, and he is a regular on game days) giving CDs out saying "Don't waste your money" I WANT people to subscribe...I am sick of people who do not having all the same things I do...I subscribed week 1 (Although not day 1 I waited for my payday that week) |
| #15nightwhisperAug 17, 2009 22:10:07 | Even if they format it like the psion article, it'll be pirated just the same. Yes, it might take a day or two longer, but that's all. There is no way to make something electronic totally secure. And I, as a paying customer, don't want to pay for maybe two days more of exclusivity with more complicated access to the material. |
| #16GMforPowergamersAug 17, 2009 22:12:59 | Even if they format it like the psion article, it'll be pirated just the same. Yes, it might take a day or two longer, but that's all. There is no way to make something electronic totally secure. And I, as a paying customer, don't want to pay for maybe two days more of exclusivity with more complicated access to the material. well my experiance is diffrent...it maybe the guy I know just missed it...but since he pirates everything I doubt it...he said no full psion... |
| #17sirkaikillahAug 17, 2009 22:24:17 | I could care less if I pay for DDI and someone who doesn't also has access to that information. In fact I share the info with 2/3 of the people I game with, who do not have DDI. Heck, between all of us, only three of us have purchased the PHB. Just a random thought, Most of those I know with DDI don't even have the PHB. |
| #18Black_Knight999Aug 17, 2009 22:27:19 | I agree, please ignore the OP. I would like to have the assassin in a convenient format. I don't want to be going all over the place to find stuff like with the psion. |
| #19sirkaikillahAug 17, 2009 22:27:48 | how do you feel about some guy at WotC sponcered events (He went to gen con, he plays LFR, and he is a regular on game days) giving CDs out saying "Don't waste your money" I got my subscription in April when they released the character builder, and still have everything ou have. How is this, I let other friends, who do not have DDI, use my computer to make characters and I share the info from Dragon and Dungeon with my friends as well, who pay nothing. They just let me pay for it all. I really don't mind. |
| #20sirkaikillahAug 17, 2009 22:28:50 | I agree, please ignore the OP. I would like to have the assassin in a convenient format. I don't want to be going all over the place to find stuff like with the psion. Me too. I would rather have that article in one piece. But then I do not care if I pay for it and someone else gets it free. |
| #21burningroseAug 17, 2009 22:34:19 | Oh come on, this is ridiculous. I'm currently in my year-long subscription, and allowing people a trial (especially as a courtesy to a gaming convention and as a promotion for DDI itself), in no way diminishes the value of DDI for me. This is not at all what I was talking about. |
| #22MoleculeAug 17, 2009 23:19:02 | From where I am sitting, the reason I (or anyone) buy DDI rather than getting it for free from somewhere is the same reason I don't shoplift apples when I go into the produce section: because it's theft. If you disagree with this assertion or don't have any qualms about said theft, then why are you paying for it in the first place? (And I don't mean for that question to be pointed, that is something I sincerely think should be asked introspectively). The digital age has left us with an unfortunate issue with freeloading, but I file that under NMP and wish distributors of online media the best of luck in coming up with a real, viable solution to this decade-old problem. I'm not happy about piracy, but I'd rather pay for easily accessible content that someone else is getting for free than pay for contact with inelegant (and most likely ineffective) obfuscation "features" included. |
| #23burningroseAug 17, 2009 23:26:51 | From where I am sitting, the reason I (or anyone) buy DDI rather than getting it for free from somewhere is the same reason I don't shoplift apples when I go into the produce section: because it's theft. If you disagree with this assertion or don't have any qualms about said theft, then why are you paying for it in the first place? (And I don't mean for that question to be pointed, that is something I sincerely think should be asked introspectively). *sigh*... I suppose. I wish there were easier ways to restrict piracy. |
| #24GMforPowergamersAug 18, 2009 0:26:37 | *sigh*... I suppose. I wish there were easier ways to restrict piracy. yea, movies and songs never got to me, becuse if I was watching/listening to the one I paid for, I didn't have it thrown in my face...with D&D it is diffrent...I play with pirates...some annoying but it is getting on my nerves now even the one that don't throw it in my face... I am unemployed and D&D is my only vice. with all the scrimping and saving I do now, it is driving me nuts as others freeload what I am paying for... like above I just wish there were a way to stop it... |
| #25gregt_314Aug 18, 2009 1:03:32 | Please, please, please format the Assassin article the way you did for the Psion. The thought of paying for DDI when I could easily get all the information, and the exclusives (which they really wouldn't be, if you didn't) without paying is not a good one indeed. Yes. It really makes me angry when my players all have access to the same content. I pay good money to ensure that there are articles that many of my players, who don't have internet access, will never be able to read or use. It's part of the complex web of machinations by which I maintain my superiority as Dungeon Master. The best bit of DDI, to me, is the large number of exclusive rules it offers, which players have no way of accessing without paying money and going online. A player who doesn't know the rules is a vulnerable player, and a vulnerable player is one who'll take what I give them and enjoy it. The psion article was the capstone of this philosophy; not only did it restrict a popular and iconic class to the small subset of the fanbase who subscribe to DDI, but it went on to ensure that the class content was totally unsuable at the table without the benefit of a laptop connected to the internet. Forcing my players to choose between using the limited table space for snacks or for laptops was a brilliant move and I applaud how it created a new, hungrier, breed of player, able to browse YouTube instead of paying attention to the game. I think we all understand that the real way to "win" D&D is by having more rules and supplements than other players; when it becomes too easy to keep up with the latest content, there's really no reason for playing any more. I am a huge fan of the way that reading and accessing the rules has become one of the game's most punishingly difficult trials and the sense of victory I feel when I manage to build a character that players can't understand or meaningfully critique is deep and very real. It makes me feel special in a way that I haven't experienced since I was a young child; it may not be a substitute for the love of a good woman but I'll be damned if it isn't very, very close. So thank you Wizards, and please, keep validating our elitism. This is a special relationship we have here - one too special to let just anybody get in on it - and for as long as you prevent the plebians from getting to see the full ruleset you'll have my ongoing loyalty and support. |
| #26BelorinAug 18, 2009 2:37:44 | Please, please, please format the Assassin article the way you did for the Psion. The thought of paying for DDI when I could easily get all the information, and the exclusives (which they really wouldn't be, if you didn't) without paying is not a good one indeed. Sorry to say, but that won't be happening any time soon as stated here. Bel |
| #27aliothefoolAug 18, 2009 5:20:25 | I agree it is frustrating when someone steals what you've legitimately paid for. (I have always been anti-piracy, including software and music, after being a victim of IP theft a long time ago.) However, I don't want to be gimped out on content I legitimately pay for, just because some clown is going to steal it. The fact is, they're going to steal it no matter what. When WotC stopped selling PDFs the pirates started scanning the books manually. I'm sure the Psion article is out there as a "complete" package as well. I agree it would be great if Wizards could devise a way to protect their stuff, and perhaps they're on their way. I wasn't there, but according to the tweets and blog posts, they announced at GenCon that they have something in mind for reintroducing PDFs. |
| #28asmodeusloreAug 18, 2009 9:50:32 | But back to the topic at hand, I am going to side with Cinnibar, and say that I hope that WotC does not return to the format used in the psion article. It was painful to use, and just like DRM, it only served to inconvenience legitimate paying customers, while not doing anything to really stop the people it was aimed at disrupting. Stop focusing on the pirates and focus on your customers. They are the ones who you need to make/keep happy. And to those customers above, who are displeased with someone else getting something for free, I ask why do you care? They didn't deprive you of anything. So what if the content isn't 100% exclusive? You still get to use it, and you still get to enjoy your D&D game. Isn't that what matters? Play the game and have fun. Don't let things like whether or not johnny has a psion article in his backpack get in the way of that. |
| #29Dane_McArdyAug 18, 2009 10:08:42 | I can not help but laugh. When they said they did the Psion article the way they did, because people complained the format took up to many pages. Now someone is complaining because they didn't do it the same way. Seriously, how are they supposed to please everyone? |
| #30asmodeusloreAug 18, 2009 10:13:34 | Seriously, how are they supposed to please everyone? That question is answered here: http://forums.gleemax.com/showpost.php?p=19195894&postcount=29 |
| #31ekioAug 18, 2009 10:14:39 | The psion's format was a flop. I don't care about pirates. Just give me the Assassin in a pleasurable format, easy to print off and use at my tabletop. :\ |
| #32mrmythAug 18, 2009 10:52:16 | The psion's format was a flop. Also, just to reassure people - despite the original poster's request, there is no reason to worry that the Assassin article will be formated like the Psion. The Assassin is not a PHB3 preview - it will almost certainly be released as a full article without any limitations. |
| #33tiwaztyrsfistAug 27, 2009 18:13:06 | Bolding is mine. If there's no protection from Piracy, isn't that worse? What's worse: Paying for a less-than-optimal service or Paying for a service you could have entirely free? See, that's an idiotic arguement. Because people will go to ANY length to steal things. Copy pasting stuff from the compendium into a text file coupled to the truncated PDF? Compared to the dificulty of Scanning every page of a comic or magazine individually, it's nothing. And Hundreds of people scan things every day and post them on the web. So, what I'm saying is this. Piracy will happen, pretty much no matter what you do, short of simply not offering the product, at all, anywhere, in any form. Making things inconvenient to try to deter pirates hurts the honest user, while doing nothing to actually STOP the piracy |