1) Does not conform to UI standards. Case in point: Clicking the scroll bar does not page the list. Tab UI does not work.
2) VERY slow, non performant. For a simple list picking program this one is pathetic.
3) Encounter print requries a popup. If a browser is not configured for popups (most aren't) and you allow popups you lose all the information you've selected in the encounter builder.
Not that it matters but I'm running on a C2D 6850 (3.0GHz) with 4 GB RAM on Vista Pro.
Seriously, if this is the quality I have to look forward to with other DnDi tools I'll pass.
I don't know who built the encounter builder but it's not a good peice of software:
1) Does not conform to UI standards. Case in point: Clicking the scroll bar does not page the list. Tab UI does not work.
2) VERY slow, non performant. For a simple list picking program this one is pathetic.
3) Encounter print requries a popup. If a browser is not configured for popups (most aren't) and you allow popups you lose all the information you've selected in the encounter builder.
Not that it matters but I'm running on a C2D 6850 (3.0GHz) with 4 GB RAM on Vista Pro.
Seriously, if this is the quality I have to look forward to with other DnDi tools I'll pass.
The Encounter Builder is a "Bonus Tool" and I'm fairly certain that, yes, it IS amateur software - written by someone on the WotC staff in their spare time.
It is NOT reflective of the quality I've seen in the "major" software pieces DDI is going to offer.
The Encounter Builder is a "Bonus Tool" and I'm fairly certain that, yes, it IS amateur software - written by someone on the WotC staff in their spare time.
It is NOT reflective of the quality I've seen in the "major" software pieces DDI is going to offer.
That you believe this or that people think WotC is capable of producing quality software... I don't which is more saddening.
That you believe this or that people think WotC is capable of producing quality software... I don't which is more saddening.
Keep in mind that WolfStar76 has, at DDXP, seen and tested working versions of the character builder. At GenCon also IIRC.
It's true. I've had hands-on use of the Character Builder, and was given a personal Q&A by Didier Monin (WotC_DM) for the Game Table.
I reviewed both of them on my GenCon Blog, here.
Also, even if you're skeptical of the work WotC may or not may not be able of producing, keep in mind that they used a 3rd party for a lot of the development.
To give a little perspective, I've not yet liked any of the software that WotC has sponsored. I felt that both Character Maker I&II for 2nd Edition were buggy and too restrictive (respectively), and while E-Tools became a much better product after CMP got their paws on it, the initial release was barely functional.
So, while I'm eager to see DDI do well, I've been skeptical of the potential software offerings as well.
I've already heard of software updates to the UI that address some of the issues I had on the builder, but I have to say the software just "feels" very solid.
I truly believe they have it right this time - to the point that I think I'll *want* to use the Character Builder, instead of simply using it when I "need" to.
It's true. I've had hands-on use of the Character Builder, and was given a personal Q&A by Didier Monin (WotC_DM) for the Game Table.
I reviewed both of them on my GenCon Blog, here.
You mean the Character Builder that is not even ready for beta testing and the Game Table that does not even have a scheduled release date for next year.
Those are the two products you are referring to.
Also, even if you're skeptical of the work WotC may or not may not be able of producing, keep in mind that they used a 3rd party for a lot of the development.
Sort of the way Magic Online was developed by a 3rd party and Magic Online 2.0 and 3.0 were produced by WotC from that. Like that?
Mind you, I will confess to being genuinely shocked that the DDI subscription service is actually going live tomorrow after the "warning" of its "sudden and impending advent" this past Tuesday. That it is only four months late from its original premiere date and two weeks late from its revised premiere date we will just have to sort of construe as a reason to be impressed instead of just realy skeptical.
You mean the Character Builder that is not even ready for beta testing and the Game Table that does not even have a scheduled release date for next year.
Those are the two products you are referring to.
Yes, those are the products to which I refer.
At GenCon and at PAX these softwares were shown in their alpha form. Even those alpha builds were well received by the reviews I've seen. Even the "bad" reviews were typically lukewarm at the worst.
Fairly impressive for Alpha software. I look forward to the Beta.
Sort of the way Magic Online was developed by a 3rd party and Magic Online 2.0 and 3.0 were produced by WotC from that. Like that?
I'm not a M:tG player (online or off) so I'm not familiar with their development process. If you say it was third party, I'll take your word for it.
All I can say is that the company working on the DDI toolset is Radiant Development or Radiant Design. . . something of that sort.
Yes, those are the products to which I refer.
At GenCon and at PAX these softwares were shown in their alpha form. Even those alpha builds were well received by the reviews I've seen. Even the "bad" reviews were typically lukewarm at the worst.
Fairly impressive for Alpha software. I look forward to the Beta.
Right.
Of course those were not really "working" versions of the software. If they were, they would be in release. Those were just alpha demos, which well could be what was turned over to WotC and have received no real development or attention since then.
Or not. They could represent nothing but in-house work.
Unless the development history is revealed, which I seriously doubt WotC will do, it is a bit of a stretch to take either as "proof" that WotC can do better than the bonus tools.
Not that I think they are ragingly incompetent mind you, but let us have some full disclosure.
I'm not a M:tG player (online or off) so I'm not familiar with their development process. If you say it was third party, I'll take your word for it.
That is not my word for it, that is the word from WotC. Do a bit of simple searching and it is easy enough to find.
All I can say is that the company working on the DDI toolset is Radiant Development or Radiant Design. . . something of that sort.
You mean "was working on", no?
Otherwise it would mean those are still being done by a third party, and this in no way proof that WotC can produce such products internally.
Keep in mind that WolfStar76 has, at DDXP, seen and tested working versions of the character builder. At GenCon also IIRC.
Maybe I'm just being cynical or possibly depressive...but I'm begining to wonder if the Convention display versions of these applications are kind of like the old "Spanish Prisoner" con:
I meet you "by chance" and claim to be the brother of a beautiful, wealthy heiress held prisoner by the perfidious Spanish. I show you a portrait of her. I offer to smuggle a letter from you to her, and to smuggle back a response from her. She loves you. If only we had some gold, we could bribe the Spanish to release her. She would be so grateful, would marry you, and then you would inherit her estate. If only you had some gold for her... Oh wait, you do? Splendid...
In the "Spanish Prisoner" con, the heiress and the Spanish prison don't really exist. They are illusions spun in the mind of the mark by the con artist. The con artist just keeps spinning enough tales, generating enough artifacts, showing just enough to keep the mark believing the tale--and paying.
Most of us don't get to go to conventions. From what we can tell, the products shown at the conventions are "partial demos" of what is promised for the future. These aren't completed products that people get to test out just like they would want to use them on their own--they are guided demonstrations, with their use scripted and limited by the demonstrators.
Again, I hope I'm just in a depressed funk...but the virtual gaming table is beginning to seem a lot like the imprisoned beautiful noblewoman of old: "She's real! She's beautiful and everything you could want! All you have to do is keeping paying." And "paying" in this context means continuing to buy 4E D&D products in the belief that eventually I will be able to play them with friends and other gamers around the country on a stable, high-quality web system.
It's true. I've had hands-on use of the Character Builder, and was given a personal Q&A by Didier Monin (WotC_DM) for the Game Table.
I reviewed both of them on my GenCon Blog, here.
This is why I'm pretty sure that the online tools aren't a "spanish beauty."
WolfStar76 has absolutely no reason to lie about them and he's been pretty straight-forward with all of us in these forums so far. Plus he's the VCL of the RPGA forums, so he has every reason in the world to maintain his credibility.
This is why I'm pretty sure that the online tools aren't a "spanish beauty."
WolfStar76 has absolutely no reason to lie about them and he's been pretty straight-forward with all of us in these forums so far. Plus he's the VCL of the RPGA forums, so he has every reason in the world to maintain his credibility.
That's true, but keep in mind that he is VCL of RPGA folk. Who klnows what playing at all those cons with the (literally) unwashed, stinking masses has done to their brains.
:D
(Note, if people are taking the above post seriously, you are completely misreading me. It is meant as a joke.)
For now. ;)