I just am wondering, and maybe a WotC rep will comment a bit; what the deal is with the other apps that came out. I mean, we have the compendium which is totally great and the character builder which is awesome but we're waiting on the table and the visualizer amongst others. The visualizer is more "not a big deal" but the table gives 4e a whole new realm to be played in and I think that getting that out there would be absolutely invaluable to the community. I'm wondering why we haven't heard hide nor hair for the longest time in regards to anything having to do with the other apps. I don't know about the rest of the community but I'm just feeling a bit disappointed and neglected in that I think that we could use at least a "This is next on the list" to show what we can get ready for next; OR, if there's no set thing that's being planned on yet, if everything is being worked on in tandem, perhaps a poll could be taken of the community to see what utility the community would most like to see. Just some thoughts. Any information / clarification would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for all the great work you do, all of you at WotC; you rock.
~Paintknight
Sig: Looking for some indie game reviews? Looking for some reviews that aren't JUST vid games? Check out playonwordsblog.com! It's a new review site I'm working on to help get the word out about games in an honest, frank way. My first review was of D&D 4th ed! Any requests can be taken as well. Check it out!
it's coming, slowly but surely.
This is what I prefer to believe. Naysayers (Vaporware-sayers?) be damned!
This is what I prefer to believe. Naysayers (Vaporware-sayers?) be damned!
You're not alone, doc.
We may not be quite as vocal as the nay-sayers, but there's a contingent of people who DO still have faith that the old adage "no news is good news" still applies.
Yeah, I'm with you "Yay-sayers" on this one lol. I believe that something still is in the works; it just doesn't make any sense for them to let something that was such a big hype-item to just fall by the wayside;
corporate decisions usually have nothing to do with hype or status, just with cashflow and income. since i do not believe ddi is a large cashcow (i would not know, they never posted anything about their users, but this should tell something as well), very often corporate thinking is to cut the losses and get something else up and running. i've already seen products cancelled that have reached 100% completion in coding. i agree there's still some hope, at least for some more months. if come summer, there's no announcement, we can be sure that there will be no new products.
I make this assumption based on the fact that any reference to these three features has been removed completely from the DDI website, and because neither the community reps here on the boards nor members of the WOTC Dev team have offered a direct yes or no answer from customers asking specifically whether these three items are cancelled or not.
I don't blame the community reps from these boards as they may not be allowed to tell us anything or they may also be in the dark as well.
The cancelation of these features is a deal breaker. I am not willing to pay any amount of money for DDI as it exists right now. I had been waiting for the completion of the 3 features mentioned above before subscibing.
I'm holding out a glimmer of hope that we'll see the Table Top in the near future. Me, my wife and several of our friends try to get together monthly for some pen & paper fun. We all have jobs, families and other obligations so getting these dates set in stone can be very difficult. The DDi Table Top would solve many of our problems.
Any recommendations for other digital table top software? I've looked into Battlegrounds and Fantasy Grounds. I'm not sure which of these would work better with 4e.
Any recommendations for other digital table top software? I've looked into Battlegrounds and Fantasy Grounds. I'm not sure which of these would work better with 4e.
There's MapTool (free, java-based, and system-agnostic). MapTool has pretty rich scripting, but you have to write the scripts or find someone at the MapTool forums who's written some - unless you customize it, all MapTool will do is give you a shared map and tokens to move around on it, and a text chat that supports dice rolling. If you customize it, you can get into things like lighting, managing hit points and damage, automate attacks, etc. There's a point of diminishing returns on all that automation, but some auto-calculated stuff does speed the game along.
There's GameTable (not the WotC one!) which is similar to MapTool, but simpler (no real scripting support, but you can build common dice "macros" to make common rolls, like 1d20+9 or whatever)
There's also d20Pro (not free, but nice lookin, also Java-based). It's strictly D&D focused, and has some nice features for processing attacks and resolving damage, etc. There are some guidelines to using it with 4th Edition. I've never used it beyond monkeying around with it; MapTool is my preferred VTT.
There's also iTableTop, which I've only glanced at.
We just use it to display a map on my LCD tv so that the DM can apply "fog of war" properly and we can measure disitnces better.
You're not alone, doc.
We may not be quite as vocal as the nay-sayers, but there's a contingent of people who DO still have faith that the old adage "no news is good news" still applies.
Yes, I'm still optimistic, too. I also believe that the character visualizer is a necessary component for the gaming table to work. Kind of like having a battle mat with no minis.
And since it's going to be designed to work with the character visualizer, it would be kind of bass ackwards to release it before the character visualizer is in place. JMHO.Just saying the prices for what we get are good, and I'd be cool with out the VTT or dungeon builder at this point, I am no longer looking forward to them, since I don't think they will ever show up.
Yes, I'm still optimistic, too. I also believe that the character visualizer is a necessary component for the gaming table to work. Kind of like having a battle mat with no minis.
you can always only include base models in the gametable. there's no actual need for fully customizable models, but it would be fun/nice. we've been playing with tokens on our battlemat for a long time. over time, some of those got replaced with minis, especially on the players side, but not even all players have their own mini.
FantasyGrounds. (www.fantasygrounds.com) - it isn't free, but it IS (in my no-so-humble opinion) the premier virtual tabletop experience.
I played with that for a while. Never got the hang of its interface - it was bizarre (in fairness, I do not like applications that invent new interaction paradigms).
But anyway, it looked really nice, and the features seemed like they'd be quite useful (provided you can figure out how to use them!)
I played with that for a while. Never got the hang of its interface - it was bizarre (in fairness, I do not like applications that invent new interaction paradigms).
But anyway, it looked really nice, and the features seemed like they'd be quite useful (provided you can figure out how to use them!)
I prefer it over the others because of its immersiveness - the plethora of windows in all the other applications drives me nuts.
In fairness - it still takes me a little time in each session to re-acclimate to the "right-click, radial menu" paradigm - but after 2-3 minutes it quickly becomes second nature. That UI "quirk" aside, it's the only one I've ever found to be so intuitive that I could sit down and just make a module in a couple hours (as in - a couple hours after my first use).
The others are just too. . . . much.
But, to each their own. This is why competition is a good thing.
What I did like about it was its focus on the whole module. MapTool, for example, is about the map. It can be module-oriented, but that's not its goal. FantasyGrounds had a more "holistic" approach, which is neat.
Ah, then you and I have different goals - I MUCH prefer to have the "module" in the software - being able to link to my monsters, or images (what NPC is speaking, the bloody note the party finds, the uber-cool suit of armor) - or from this polot point to that one - and to link all THOSE notes to the map is what REALLY sold me.
In fact I hope DDI's Game Table replicates that. I want a Dundjinni/FantasyGrounds hybrid. ^_^
If the problem is a technical one (insofar as programming, modeling, etc.), has anyone at WotC considered partnering with NCSoft to get this done? If you're familiar with City of Heroes/Villains then you've seen their character customization options. Considering that the VTT was only intended to create static 3d minis for the players and static monsters for the DM, this may be a quick solution.
I'm certain there are several (over 9000?) problems to be ironed out, but I figured I'd toss the idea out there.
Thanks!
Ah, then you and I have different goals - I MUCH prefer to have the "module" in the software - being able to link to my monsters, or images (what NPC is speaking, the bloody note the party finds, the uber-cool suit of armor) - or from this polot point to that one - and to link all THOSE notes to the map is what REALLY sold me.
In fact I hope DDI's Game Table replicates that. I want a Dundjinni/FantasyGrounds hybrid. ^_^
That would be pretty neat. MapTool can do those things - I know people have all sorts of images that they can pop up (like the bloody note, etc.) and you can have all sorts of monster details and whatnot linked into the "campaign file" but again, if you want that, you'd need to write scripts to do it in MapTool. FG just did all that work already.
Ah, yeah, that reminds me there's also ScreenMonkey and OpenRPG. There are a lot, actually.
Over 40 virtual tabletop programs, in fact.
- FREE - Gratis - costs NOTHING
- Frequent development updates with beta software(rarely does a beta update break anything drastically and when it does the lead developer usually fixes within a few days, many times the same day)
- Open source, so if you can code, you don't have to wait for the developers to do it, you can do it yourself.
- Active community. There are several macro packages for 4E, at least 1 for 3.5, at least 1 for Pathfinder, at least one for Savage Worlds. These do not replace the books, but help automate the tedium of adding in specific stat bonuses to attack and damage rolls.
- SYSTEM AGNOSTIC, ie you can in some way play any game which has a GM and one or more players. I have played D&D 3.5, 4E, Battletech, and Marvel Super Heroes (like the 80s version) using the same tool because it did not limit me to it's own genre. EDIT oh yea.. even played Basic (red box) D&D recently!
Of course, the above does not explain any of the FEATURES of Maptool. Currently, the existing documentation is for the release version that is almost 2 years old and there have been a ton of improvements added in that time. The expectation is that in the next 4-6 weeks, a fully stable version will be released and the developers will begin working on the next major version.
As with anything, features will always be a trade off and software x has feature a that software y does not have an visa-versa. I do know quite a few people who have come from Fantasy Grounds and far prefer Maptool's gameplay but really miss feature X from FG, however, they still play day in and out with Maptool.
This is what I prefer to believe. Naysayers (Vaporware-sayers?) be damned!
I prefer to beleive that too.
Too bad reality doesn't give a rat's patootie about my preferences.
MapTool does require more work and as a player, you really only need two windows. The chat window and your impersonation window. All the rest are just extras you can hide until needed.
Anyone complaining that MapTool focuses on the map and not the "module", hasn't looked very closely at what MapTool can do.
I am very aware of what it can do. I maintain, though that MapTool is a shared mapping program at its heart. If you want to build a D&D module, the basic install doesn't give you an already-present framework to do it in - it gives you features/functions/options, but not "put module here."
In other words, it wasn't a complaint, merely a statement - FG was built, IIRC, to create virtual D&D modules. MapTool is designed to create shared whatever-things-you-want-to-create-if-you-can-create-them.
Regardless of that, MapTool is my preferred VTT (it's more than just a VTT, in fact...but what that "more" is is up to me!)
I am very aware of what it can do. I maintain, though that MapTool is a shared mapping program at its heart. If you want to build a D&D module, the basic install doesn't give you an already-present framework to do it in - it gives you features/functions/options, but not "put module here."
Wait for ver 1.4
FantasyGrounds is vastly superior to maptool. Though it is a one time fee to buy. I do RPGA modules on it all the time and it's a fantastic program. Not even concerned over the DDI tabletop anymore really since i got FG. Just something to check out.
HAHAHAHAHAHAH! Sure, keep believing that. I have FG2. I think it was a mistake to buy.
HAHAHAHAHAHAH! Sure, keep believing that. I have FG2. I think it was a mistake to buy.
since I'm in the market, care to elaborate?
FantasyGrounds is vastly superior to maptool. Though it is a one time fee to buy. I do RPGA modules on it all the time and it's a fantastic program. Not even concerned over the DDI tabletop anymore really since i got FG. Just something to check out.
I downloaded FG a while ago. I wanted to try creating an encounter, but I had some technical difficulty that couldn't be overcome by the demo version. So I sent an email asking how I might test the feature in question (don't remember what it was, sorry). I said I would be willing to pay for it to try it out, but I wanted to know what the refund policy was if it didn't work for me. I never got a response to my email.
So I sent it again a few days later. Still nothing.
This is not something I have a problem with regarding the RPTools folks.
FantasyGrounds is vastly superior to maptool.
During this discussion, I think it's important to keep in mind that not every tool is a perfect match for every person and situation.
What might be helpful is to discuss specific key features that make the tools useful for a particular purpose, or approach.
With that in mind, Samrin could you elaborate on what makes FG the perfect VT for you ?
During this discussion, I think it's important to keep in mind that not every tool is a perfect match for every person and situation.
What might be helpful is to discuss specific key features that make the tools useful for a particular purpose, or approach.
With that in mind, Samrin could you elaborate on what makes FG the perfect VT for you ?
I would also like to see a reply from Samrin on this...
I would also like to see a reply from Samrin on this...
As a fan of FG - I'm interested too. I agree with him, but I'm curious if his reasons are the same, or different from mine.
Please note - the other VTTs are all useable (well, the 3 or 4 I've tried) - I just have a (strong) preference for FGII.
It becomes much more user friendly IMO. Personally, I recommend DeviantNull's.
As a fan of FG - I'm interested too. I agree with him, but I'm curious if his reasons are the same, or different from mine.
Please note - the other VTTs are all useable (well, the 3 or 4 I've tried) - I just have a (strong) preference for FGII.
I hope you will also do the same. While I love Maptool and have a preference for it for many reasons (most of which are not directly related to specific product features), I am always interested to hear others impressions (because more than once I have found out people had a mistaken impression and many times once they get solid information, they change their mind (while I have had it happen with maptool, I am talking in general since it has happened with a few other products as well.)
I can say that if having multiple chat panels going is critical for you, Maptool does not have that (as of yet). If you are looking for a quick, simple game lobby to connect with others looking for games to jump in quickly, again, Maptool does not have that (again, soon...) Though I have never used FG, from what others who have converted from FG to Maptool have shared, these are some of the big ticket items that FG has over MT.
As Trevor notes, it would be really nice to know what reasons someone has for choosing one over the other.
DISCLAIMER: I am not one of the RPtools founders, but I have contributed a few (very small) patches and have been very active in their forums for over a year.
I am sure as soon as they have more info they will post it.
while i'm sure that many others, and myself, are appreciating posts from the devs, this is hardly anything constructive. it's more like pouring oil onto a hot plate. just go and bug someone higher up, as this is really less informative than this months insider news.
I hope you will also do the same.
I don't want to de-rail this thread too much more, so I'll re-link to what I said before as my primary reasoning: http://forums.gleemax.com/showpost.php?p=18157764&postcount=19
If you want something more in-depth, let me know and I'll consider making a new post in the Digital D&D forum (http://forums.gleemax.com/forumdisplay.php?f=917).
I like the fact that the entire 4e ruleset book by book can be uploaded into it.... All powers and equipment and all... and there is only a small learning curve to use it. I use it for LFR games and absolutely love it. It's very user friendly if yo invest maybe 10 minutes to learning to use it.
That doesn't really explain how Fantasy Ground sis vastly superior to MapTool as a virtual tabletop.
I don't want to de-rail this thread too much more, so I'll re-link to what I said before as my primary reasoning: http://forums.gleemax.com/showpost.php?p=18157764&postcount=19
If you want something more in-depth, let me know and I'll consider making a new post in the Digital D&D forum (http://forums.gleemax.com/forumdisplay.php?f=917).
I think that would be a great idea. I am NOT trying to convert anyone or argue for the sake of argument, but if there is a perception of Maptool, I would love to help change that perception. For example, I read someone once say on a blog something to the effect that Maptool is only for coders and nothing is further from the truth in my opinion, and I really can't see how anyone would get the perception. Granted, somethings will always be subjective like "FG is prettier than Maptool"(which I could see), but if there are substantive things that are being perceived incorrectly, I would hope we could change on that count.
Maptools scripting isn't hard, I learned all I needed to accomplish some things in one afternoon. The one time I got really stuck a post on the forums got me the help I needed in about 20 minutes. (logic error too!)
I like Maptools also, because I don't use modules, I create my own stuff, this means I can grab a tileset I like off of the boards, plop it into maptool and go about crafting a dungeon. A dungeon that might take me 4 days worth of work I can do in a couple hours in maptool, that's notes, monsters, treasure, design, everything.
Maptools .rptok file type is also amazing, as it is a xml file that you can use to represent everything from tokens' data to macro information, and it ports from all of their tools beautifully. Since it's an open format someone could easily write a different tool if they felt the could expand upon what the current tools do.
I've never used FG so I can't comment in that direction.
One, you are not being charged the full amount, so WoTC recognized that it would be unfair to charge full price without the full tools. So you aren't paying for something you aren't getting. Not to mention, I've heard talk that people who do sign up now, would get access to those features when they come out, without an increase. If $8-10 (For Canadian) a finical burden for anyone, they have other issues that might need addressing.
So if you aren't happy with what they offer at this point, please don't subscribe. WoTC won't have it's feelings hurt, and in fact, fully understand. But don't be mad if people that subscribe now, get a discount later. Companies often offer special pricing for long term accounts.
Software never comes out on schedule. I've yet to see a firm date from WoTC on when the all the tools will be out. Yes, they have posted when they hope to have it out, and it's changed. The only reason they even give estimates on when, is because of demand for that information.
Now we have a bad economy, and companies are letting people go. That effects schedules. They need to keep working on the projects, with less people. Losing one person can put a schedule behind months of the projection.
Software is written by error prone humans. It takes a long time to get it to a point were it mostly works right most of the time.
Put all that together, no wonder it's not ready, and why people think WoTC is being elusive.
Put it all in perspective. It will come. It doesn't stop you from playing, unless you live in an area that has very few people willing to play.
But even then you aren't without options.
One, you are not being charged the full amount, so WoTC recognized that it would be unfair to charge full price without the full tools. So you aren't paying for something you aren't getting. Not to mention, I've heard talk that people who do sign up now, would get access to those features when they come out, without an increase. If $8-10 (For Canadian) a finical burden for anyone, they have other issues that might need addressing.
I've heard speculation to this effect as well, but when I tried to pin someone down for an answer, I was told that WotC wasn't sure what would happen to subscriptions as new tools were released.
What they WILL commit to is that if you pay for a years subscription, and that prices includes the CB, Compendium, Magazines, etc - you'll get those tools at the price you paid, even if rates go up.
It just so happens that there was no price increase and everyone with an existing subscription got the Character Builder when it released.
Here's hoping they continue with the policy of "everything for our existing subscribers" going forward.
You're not alone, doc.
We may not be quite as vocal as the nay-sayers, but there's a contingent of people who DO still have faith that the old adage "no news is good news" still applies.
Duke Nukem Forever will be out Soon!
Duke Nukem Forever will be out Soon!
Along with MasterTools. Oh, wait. They cancelled MasterTools due to budget and development issues as well as delays, and they instead released E-Tools which only had a fraction of the tools that MasterTools was supposed to have.
Hey all,
I just am wondering, and maybe a WotC rep will comment a bit; what the deal is with the other apps that came out. I mean, we have the compendium which is totally great and the character builder which is awesome but we're waiting on the table and the visualizer amongst others. The visualizer is more "not a big deal" but the table gives 4e a whole new realm to be played in and I think that getting that out there would be absolutely invaluable to the community. I'm wondering why we haven't heard hide nor hair for the longest time in regards to anything having to do with the other apps. I don't know about the rest of the community but I'm just feeling a bit disappointed and neglected in that I think that we could use at least a "This is next on the list" to show what we can get ready for next; OR, if there's no set thing that's being planned on yet, if everything is being worked on in tandem, perhaps a poll could be taken of the community to see what utility the community would most like to see. Just some thoughts. Any information / clarification would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for all the great work you do, all of you at WotC; you rock.
~Paintknight
Sig: Looking for some indie game reviews? Looking for some reviews that aren't JUST vid games? Check out playonwordsblog.com! It's a new review site I'm working on to help get the word out about games in an honest, frank way. My first review was of D&D 4th ed! Any requests can be taken as well. Check it out!
According to the new info, Not being worked on until, the personal pet projects of the WotC staff is programed.
My Guess 5th Ed
Lee
Hey all. I wanted to pop in and let you know that we posted up some more information about the D&D Insider Tools.
Yeah this guy, is the one.
Lee
You're not alone, doc.
We may not be quite as vocal as the nay-sayers, but there's a contingent of people who DO still have faith that the old adage "no news is good news" still applies.
See Trevors post that says it is not being worked on?
Lee
See Trevors post that says it is not being worked on?
Lee
See his later post where he says they're being put to the side? (IE - not canceled?):
There's been a lot of work done on the Game Table and the Visualizer, and while we focus on the Campaign Tools, we're putting those and any other unreleased tool ideas to the side.
See his later post where he says they're being put to the side? (IE - not canceled?):
Did you also see later on in that same post that he said they will evaluate AGAIN after it is done?
I think it is a real stretch by reading that any other way than:
This is what we are working on, nothing else. After this is done, we will tell you what we are working on next.
Now, that could be the tools that were announced, or it could be something entirely different.
I have worked on these kinds of projects. Projects where they were effectly cancelled, only not announced they were cancelled. I hope I am wrong, but who knows?
The only thing I know is that everything that comes from the Digital side of WotC I take with a "When I can download it, I will believe you" attitude.
I fell for the 3.0 Generator, the Master Tools stuff, that excuse for a generator E-Tools, and now the 4th edition tools. Shame on me.
The bright side is I like the CB and use it all the time. I believe I will finally get some use out of the Compendium now that rules are going to be in it as well.
Did you also see later on in that same post that he said they will evaluate AGAIN after it is done?
I think it is a real stretch by reading that any other way than:
This is what we are working on, nothing else. After this is done, we will tell you what we are working on next.
Up to this point I agree with you completely.
Where we disagree is that I don't see this as any sort of doublespeak for "It's canceled".
They started with "fixed" and extremely (by comparison to their current status) grandiose plans. That bit them in the ass.
The follow changes happened:
1) Release was pushed back
2) The decision was made to do one project at a time instead of everything at once
3) Release dates were no longer discussed until they were inevitable.
In light of these changes, and #2 specifically, that means that WotC has to evaluate where to next focus their efforts when a project is complete.
Given that WotC is now communicating carefully (yes, too carefully) and avoiding saying ANYTHING that might be taken as any form of a promise (since broken promises - whether implicit, implied, or just assumed by the community - only upset people), to say "we'll evaluate when we're done with our current project" is pretty much the only thing they CAN say with any degree of relative safety.
Let's play hypothetical.
Hyptothetically, let's go back and edit Trevor's post. Let's say his post states "We're going to build the Campaign Manager, then we'll most likely start to work on the Visualizer again"
Months pass, the Manager is released, and WotC announces "Based on the vociferious posts in our forums, we're going to put the Visualizer on hold, and finish the Game Table instead" (flip-flop Visualizer and GameTable in this example for extra credit).
WotC is now under fire for changing plans - and what more they're doing it "AGAIN!"
I suppose what I'm getting at here is that we, the community, have sort of painted WotC in a corner. Yes, they had a plan. Yes, they failed to acheive that plan in a big way.
However, because so many people are SO adamant about holding them to that plan, even when they've stated "oops, our bad" a FEW times - they now refuse to share ANY but the most basic info about their plans with us.
Let's say that all the complaining here about "Just finish the Game Table already!" works. It's Monday, so maybe WotC will post this afternoon that they're going to do what the "squeaky wheel" demands.
67% of subscribers will be happy. But 88% want the campaign manager. Now they've got an extra 21% who're mad about changing plans.
Not to mention - since people are mad when they change plans, even some of the people who want the game table are upset that WotC won't stick to a plan. Now they have reason to worry and be upset all over again.
I get that it ABSOLUTELY SUCKS that the Game Table isn't next. I've seen it up close and personal. I use VTTs on occasion and would love to corral my scattered friends into playing again - and this would be THE WAY to do it.
But we've got WotC telling us what's going on - yet the reply seems to be "Changing plans sucks! Change them again!" or "Ignore your poll and that stupid Campaign Manager! Cater to what your customers want!" - all while the poll shows "we" want Campaign Management tools (*note - I didn't vote for them, I voted Game Table all the way).
Perhaps I'm just short-sighted, but I fail to see how that gives WotC any plan of action that creates a "win". The listened to what "we" wanted - and they're catching Hell for it. They announced their plans as we asked, and they're catching Hell for it. They've been told that changing plans is BadWrongFun - but then they're being told to change them again.
I can't help but be unsurprised that WotC wants to play their cards close to the vest, and stick with plans that come from measurable metrics, as opposed to the loudest - and often somewhat conflicting - voices.
But again, maybe that's just me.
But again, maybe that's just me.
BTW, I can't get any information from those pecentages. If 67% of the customers are satisfied and fed the gametable, that does not mean 88% of the customers are getting what they want, unless your customer base has somehow grown to over 100%...
In order for any of that to make any sense in that regard they have to break it down into a 100% for the real figures. I t really could be that 40% want the Campaign Manager and 38% want the Game Table - We don't know becuase there is nothing to reference them against each other.
I think most of the complaints are that a non-existent tool was pushed to the forefront INSTEAD of working on one of the products that have talked about and demoed since the start of the 4th edition announcement.
Now, we do not have any assurances at all that a non-existant tool, after the Campaign Manager is finished, will not be put ahead of the other tools. All we can look at is their track record and make our own concusions.
Mine are that there is no commitement, and they are wording it that way on purpose. There was a real reason to take the coming soon section off of the website (and it wasn't we are redesgning the site, unless that was the redesign
). There was no reason to take it off if they are 100% commited to getting those tools out.To be fair, I don't want them to change their plans now. They have made them and now they have to live with them and reap the rewards or suffer the consequences. What I want is for them to not let the fans wallow in the abyss for months while they get their act together.
What should they do? They should make it clear that the rest of the products are not on their radar at all (clear as in there are clear that they are not woking on them AT ALL - I have read the implied stuff here and it is really stretching it). After each tool is done, we will evaluate (quickly! not months) what tool to make next. State they are starting from square 1 and that there is no guarantee that any of the tools that are not out yet will ever come out. There is a chance that those tools would be ressurected at a latter time, but at this time, they are cancelled. Will they take abuse for it? Hell yes. But take it like a man and suck it up. You put yourselves in the situation, and you have to live with it. Now work to correct your image by doing it the RIGHT way.
That is, there are numerous VTs already out in the wild that can be used immediately, so in order to maximize the DDI marketing value they have to provide something that's not already easily accessible. Several VTs have campaign management like features, but perhaps they are banking on people wanting a tool dedicated to it.
I know if I were them, I"d be looking for something to make myself stand out from the crowd.
BTW, I can't get any information from those pecentages. If 67% of the customers are satisfied and fed the gametable, that does not mean 88% of the customers are getting what they want, unless your customer base has somehow grown to over 100%...
People could choose more than one answer.
Those who spent money on the core books apon release IN GOOD FAITH that the tools would be released would be satisfied with the Game Table. Online offerings for campaigns played at a real table don't help some of us. Granted, its probably a small percent, so I understand where they decide to make the masses happy, but does'nt make us or our wallets feel any better.
My experience with gamers, they would have bought the books if the VTT had never been mentioned when 4E was announced. Gamers are the type of people who will put buying gaming products first.
Not a slam, just as how it is. I myself have two giant cases of minis, 8 new books, about 8 dungeon tile sets, and spent hunderds of dollars on making my whole physical re arrangeable dungeon pieces:
All for the game.
I just find that crying about having spent money on the books some what odd, since most likely, a very large percentage of players, probably over 90% would have bought at least one book.
Which you probably would have needed if the VTT had come out over a year ago.
So for me, and i am sure there are others who dont visit these boards, our initial purchases are a pointless waste of money right now.
Saying someone is "crying" over spending money on books is , imho, a bit offensive. You're correst we would hav e most likely have purchased books to play with the GameTable. But we purchased with the intent on using them with the GameTable (The only way some of us can play).
I bought a years subscription to DDi and even though I cannot even play the game, I feel it was WELL worth the money spent.
(Nice setup BTW. Looks great!!)