Setting this feedback thread in advance for Randy's Digital Insider #11, due to go live tomorrow.
As i don't know how to get the old Magazines ^^'
I'm not going to subscribe just yet, I do like what I've been seeing in the way of Dragon and Dungeon content so far but I actually have more of it printed out than I have yet had a chance to utilise! As such I don't need any more content 'right now' but the chances are high in 6 months time that I will want more content to throw in my game.
What happens if I later decide to purchase a subscription? Will I immediately gain access to all the months Dragon/Dungeon content I've missed and will these immediately become available for download? Or if I didn't subscribe for 'that month' are they forever unavailable to me?
It strikes me that WotC imposed some limits on DR, but now is putting all the blame on DR. *shrugs*
The first subscription was sold way before 10:21 PST, I bought mine around 10:21 CST and I got my delivery Conf, about 20 minutes later. I wonder if I was actually the first... that would be very cool!!!
Or if I didn't subscribe for 'that month' are they forever unavailable to me?
this, partially. you won't see the old mags or articles from the time you were no sub.
but: you will likely be able to buy back-issues selectively, or buy a best-of book at the end of the year. both include a certain amount of guesswork, what it will look exactly, as no plans have been posted officially, yet.
It strikes me that WotC imposed some limits on DR, but now is putting all the blame on DR. *shrugs*
absolutely true. i'm guessing however, that WOTC wants some kind of an age limit support for DDI which paypal does not offer. obviously, they did not want that for mtgo, as really many magic players are underage.
I'm not interested in paying for Windows programs that a) won't run on my computer and b) aren't what I want out of D&D (getting away from my computer job).
Please continue the web-only subscription plan.
Well if DR takes Paypal for other services my burning question is why is it so hard to turn on to sell D&D?
It strikes me that WotC imposed some limits on DR, but now is putting all the blame on DR. *shrugs*
In my experience subscribing/buying things online that use paypal is that there's some backend work to be done.
I'm guessing DR has to setup a Paypal "store" on behalf of WotC, and then has to enable the various price-points (1/3/12 months), then test that system.
From there, once they know that payments are being debited correctly they have to ensure that the right customer data is being collected - IE what if my paypal e-mail address is different from my WotC e-mail address (they are).
Then they have to take whatever notifications they get from PayPal, and parse that data so that it plays nice with their payment verifcation system, and then pass that data along to the WotC Entitlement service(s) servers to make sure your account get turned on.
Not to mention most of this likely requires paperwork being signed by all three parties, and time for each of the three parties to communicate back and forth. If new encryption keys are required for any of these conduits, they also need to work with their keysigner (Verisign, for example) to get those keys - introducing a fourth party.
It'd be nice if it were as easy as "flip the on switch" but when you're dealing with private/sensitive customer data and transferring it between three different companies, it's seldom that easy to setup all the conduits involved.
It's misleading and should be changed. It should be very clear to subscribers that those tools are not available yet. I'm not saying it's intentional, but it could definitely be clearer.
Now, it's not not a ton of money, but it I'm basically paying 13 months for 12 months of content.
Also, the fact that paypal was not activated right away is (or it would be if this was not a WotC online D&D effort) astounding.
I've been praising your progress for the last couple of months, but you just can't seem to do anything that doesn't have something just a little off/wrong....
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It did not seem to matter what I typed in, I always got this message. I know that I am logged in because I was able to get the new Dungeon and Dragon downloads.
On the first page you hit when you get to D&Di, here, it's unclear what's available and what's not. To some extent, it appears that all the tools are available. When you go to subscribe, there's a paragraph that explains what you're getting, but I'm not sure people will read it. I mean, if I'm new to the website and I hit that page and I scroll down and see "Ooh, a character builder and visualizer... and a game table... and a dungeon designer! Awesome, I'm subscribing." There's nothing that says those last 4 things are not available except different colored buttons on the graphic at the top.
It's misleading and should be changed. It should be very clear to subscribers that those tools are not available yet. I'm not saying it's intentional, but it could definitely be clearer.
I don't think their is anything misleading about it. right above the tab when you click on it their is huge coming soon the tabs of available programs are different colors and they state in the section where you buy what you are paying for. If people are to lazy to read before they buy something that is their problem.
I will not subscribe to your tools as long as they're Windows only. No way. I have all the books in PDF and they're on a flash drive, so I don't need the Compendium. If I really want to read something in Dragon, I can get my DM (who I believe is going to subscribe) to print it out for me. As a non-DM, there's no compelling reason for me to subscribe. I would have liked to use the Visualizer, but as it's Windows-only, if I really want a nice portrait, I'll sit down at my DM's PC and make one and be done with it. None of the Bonus Tools are something I'd care about.
The one thing I was really looking forward to was the Character Builder, as I wanted to compare different paths my character could take to level 30. That's not enough for me to subscribe.
Unless I switch to DM-ing, I don't think you're getting my money. Something somebody said on the forums, though: If you're gonna have a subscriber-only forum, that might do it for me. Better signal-noise ratio would be good. Should be a lot fewer "Ooh, I hate 4th ed; 3.5 forever!" My time is precious; fewer worthless posts I have to wade through might be worth $5 a month.
And I'm as much of a Darwinist as anyone. If it was up to me, I might say "Let them eat cake." I was just trying to give WotC a heads-up about their front page. Doesn't really matter to me a whole lot whether they fix it. But I guarantee that if they leave it like it is, somebody is going to sign up thinking they're getting everything. Might have already happened. Would be good from a marketing/sales standpoint to avoid upset customers.
this, partially. you won't see the old mags or articles from the time you were no sub.
but: you will likely be able to buy back-issues selectively, or buy a best-of book at the end of the year. both include a certain amount of guesswork, what it will look exactly, as no plans have been posted officially, yet.
Whut?
So if I wait (as I'm planning to do) for the key features like the character builder and visualizer, etc, I don't get access to back issues of Dragon/Dungeon that were previously published while I wasn't a member?
Kinda disappointing, actually. The big draw for subscribers is the vast array of members-only content. Telling me I have to subscribe and then pay MORE for back issues on the web doesn't make much sense to me.
The initial impression I got from earlier Digital Insider articles was that you'd have access to all the back issues.
Access to the pages where PDFs of Dragon and Dungeon can be downloaded (including new articles three times per week and monthly full issue compilations).
From this quote, I got the impression that I had access to all the full issue compilations and articles, not just the compilations published while I was a member.
4. Will the web-only subscription package remain an option after the full package becomes available?
We haven’t decided the details of future pricing and packages yet. The one guarantee that we’re making at this stage is that we will honor the full term you sign up for now. If you buy 12 months of web content at $4.95 per month then you will get 12 months of web content at $4.95 per month, no matter what we decide to do with our pricing in the future.
Is anyone else a little confused by this? It seemed like not too long ago Randy was saying that even after the game table, character design thing, etc are available, that there WOULD be the option for people to only subscribe to just the magazines, the compendium and whatever else they classify as the basic tools.
Basically, I recall the two-tier system of Basic Package and Full Package being a part of their whole scheme. Are they now saying that they may change it up in the future and force people who only want the magazine content to get the Full Package? Am I reading this wrong (I hope)???
If I'm reading this correctly, WotC, please reconsider. You're developing tools that are not compatible with people running mac or linux, if you return to a one-price plan that includes the game table and a bunch of other windows-only tools, you WILL lose subscribers.
Is anyone else a little confused by this? It seemed like not too long ago Randy was saying that even after the game table, character design thing, etc are available, that there WOULD be the option for people to only subscribe to just the magazines, the compendium and whatever else they classify as the basic tools.
Basically, I recall the two-tier system of Basic Package and Full Package being a part of their whole scheme. Are they now saying that they may change it up in the future and force people who only want the magazine content to get the Full Package? Am I reading this wrong (I hope)???
If I'm reading this correctly, WotC, please reconsider. You're developing tools that are not compatible with people running mac or linux, if you return to a one-price plan that includes the game table and a bunch of other windows-only tools, you WILL lose subscribers.
Never was there any announcement of two tier pricing of DDI.
The only thing close to the 2nd tier was a plan to sell back issues of the ezines from the time you were not a subscriber.
As it stands right now, WotC is considering the idea of a two tier price system. Final pricing has not been set on back issues, nor when monthly fee will increase though the plan is that full DDI should not exceed 15.00 (14.95 current plans).
In my experience subscribing/buying things online that use paypal is that there's some backend work to be done.
if you do it for the first time, yes. no additional contracts between paypal and DR will be required for the WOTC billing though. its more likely DR can not guarantee everything WOTC wants them to guarantee when using paypal.
Is anyone else a little confused by this? It seemed like not too long ago Randy was saying that even after the game table, character design thing, etc are available, that there WOULD be the option for people to only subscribe to just the magazines, the compendium and whatever else they classify as the basic tools.
well, not exactly. what he was stating was:
1) "there will be a web package, it will be valid for up to 12 months, and you will only get the magazines and bonus stuff"
2) "there will be a full package at higher price later"
they never stated that option 1 will be available after option 2 goes live.
on a side note: it would be really nice to see how many people really signed up over the first few weeks.
Never was there any announcement of two tier pricing of DDI.
The only thing close to the 2nd tier was a plan to sell back issues of the ezines from the time you were not a subscriber.
As it stands right now, WotC is considering the idea of a two tier price system. Final pricing has not been set on back issues, nor when monthly fee will increase though the plan is that full DDI should not exceed 15.00 (14.95 current plans).
I haven't spotted this anywhere in the prior Insider articles when I just skimmed them. Every quote I see mentions access to the magazines, not limited access to the magazines.
EDIT : The only reference I find is in the FAQ, which indicates that non-subscribers can purchase individual copies of Dragon/Dungeon PDF's. Everything else seems to point to full access, which makes far more sense.
I mean, it's not like they limit Compendium access based on when you signed in, right? Why limit the articles if the essential content is available elsewhere as a subscriber?
Of course, the FAQ also says we're in free-insider mode, which indicates it hasn't been updated yet.
From Digital Insider #2:
What happens to my year-long subscription when the price goes up?
The $4.95 / month price covers Web content only (Dragon and Dungeon Magazines, the D&D Compendium, and the Bonus Tools). We will be charging more for access to the Character Builder, Character Visualizer, Game Table, etc. Our previously announced pricing for the full package (including both Web content and client applications) is $9.95 if you sign up for a full year (going up to $14.95 if you pay one month at a time).
The details of how transitions from one subscription package to another will work will be announced later, but you can safely assume that a) we will honor the terms of the package you signed up for and b) you won’t be charged more unless you choose to pay for more services.
So, that's disheartening, until I noticed this, I was going to subscribe this week for the mags. Knowing that in the future I won't be able to get them without paying for tools I can't use on my computer is making me second guess myself though.
The initial impression I got from earlier Digital Insider articles was that you'd have access to all the back issues.
I think this needs official clarification before this month is out. I won't be exceptionally happy about it but I WOULD subscribe if there is the risk of not being able to get this content again at a later time. I don't really want to miss something I might use but I don't see why I shouldn't be able to just subscribe later on and get access to this at that time.
I think this needs official clarification before this month is out. I won't be exceptionally happy about it but I WOULD subscribe if there is the risk of not being able to get this content again at a later time. I don't really want to miss something I might use but I don't see why I shouldn't be able to just subscribe later on and get access to this at that time.
there will be an option to get back issues, I'm pretty sure of that - they'd never let money go to waste they could earn that easily.
there will be an option to get back issues, I'm pretty sure of that - they'd never let money go to waste they could earn that easily.
Okay, but is it going to be cheaper now or later when they become back issues? It seems very misplaced to be launching a charge-for service without fully explaining the ramifications of subscribing or not. We need to be able to make an informed decision about our purchase.
I think this needs official clarification before this month is out. I won't be exceptionally happy about it but I WOULD subscribe if there is the risk of not being able to get this content again at a later time. I don't really want to miss something I might use but I don't see why I shouldn't be able to just subscribe later on and get access to this at that time.
Well we do have this
5. How will the compilations work if you sign up mid-month?
As a subscriber you will always get one pair of issue compilations. If you sign up in mid-November then you’ll get the end-of-November compilations and you’ll get to see the early December articles, but if you cancel at the end of your one month then you would not get the end-of-December compilations. Note, however, that you will get to see all of the November articles including the ones that were initially unveiled before you became a subscriber.
This should resolve back issue access by joining later then now.
That is he does not indicate you will get the Oct. compilations which likely would be released the first few days of Nov.
Whut?
So if I wait (as I'm planning to do) for the key features like the character builder and visualizer, etc, I don't get access to back issues of Dragon/Dungeon that were previously published while I wasn't a member
If you subscribe to Maxim, Windows World, Dog Fancy, National Geographic, or Popular Mechanics, do you get the past issues of that with your one year subscription?
If you subscribe to Maxim, Windows World, Dog Fancy, National Geographic, or Popular Mechanics, do you get the past issues of that with your one year subscription?
It's a pretty common thing if you subscribe to digital only content to get access to the "digital vault".
If people were able to get all past subscriptions with one purchase, there'd be a lot of one-month purchasers every six months or so, after all...:P
Exactly.
Or even once a year - in the RPGA we need to be able to have copies of any non-corebook class/race/power/etc we're using.
It would be common for people going to GenCon to subscribe every August, download every issue, and cancel just so they can bring the PDFs with them.
That creates a disparity in the value given an annual subscription.
Exactly.
Or even once a year - in the RPGA we need to be able to have copies of any non-corebook class/race/power/etc we're using.
It would be common for people going to GenCon to subscribe every August, download every issue, and cancel just so they can bring the PDFs with them.
That creates a disparity in the value given an annual subscription.
Right, I see your point. Some of the magazines that I have unlimited access to past issues of are limited to people who buy a one year (or more) sub. Generally they limit the content to html format (not pdf). So you can go on, read the article, print it out, etc, but you're not getting the full magazine in its original format.
Exactly.
Or even once a year - in the RPGA we need to be able to have copies of any non-corebook class/race/power/etc we're using.
It would be common for people going to GenCon to subscribe every August, download every issue, and cancel just so they can bring the PDFs with them.
That creates a disparity in the value given an annual subscription.
On the flipside, if that subscription includes access to web-only tools, you'd lose access to those tools for that time period. Plus you'd be getting access to that additional Dragon/Dungeon content months after other subscribers.
Remember as well that you'd have access to all the powers/abilities the same way through the Compendium ANYWAY. You'd be able to do the one-month-for-all-the-powers trick ANYWAY, regardless of whether the past issues were or were not available.
Frankly, most of the insider-type subscriptions I'm familiar with (or use) include access to the historical archives. If I sign up for ESPN Insider, for example, I have access to all the content, not just the content published at or after the moment I subscribed.
Where the proposed strategy gets to be a real PITA, for example, is signing up halfway into a Dungeon campaign story arc... I'd only have access to the latest portion, not the entire arc.
If you subscribe to Maxim, Windows World, Dog Fancy, National Geographic, or Popular Mechanics, do you get the past issues of that with your one year subscription?
If you pay the $3 monthly fee for Fine Cooking Magazine's online access you get tons of past issue material and articles plus all the recipes. I dont even both with the actual printed issues anymore because of this. I wont say its everything but they do mark what issues each article comes from and they are from issues far in the past.
EDIT: incidently I have subscribed to them for about 8-10 months now. I havent turned it off and abused the systemof printing and saving articles. Its a good price for what they offer.
Dragon and Dungeon are different because there is no print version to cover costs and sell ads but I would suggest also that your Maxim and other magazine examples that sell print editions are equally invalid as mine.
When customers dont feel they are being ripped off they generally dont resort to ripping off the source material.
and: it increases the work of the technical employees so much - a system that is able to do such timestamping reliably, costs easily twice as much in maintenance as one without.
Question #3, from Digital Insider #11:
Can I turn off auto-renew?
Yes. There is a ton of useful information about the D&DI store FAQ. Our Customer Service Knowledge Base is actually pretty good and speaks directly to this question, among others.
From the FAQ:
What is auto-renewal and how does it affect my Dungeons & Dragons Insider subscription?
Auto-renewal allows you to sign up for a subscription plan that works for you, and then easily maintain that subscription through each billing period.. This means if you sign up for a month subscription of Dungeons & Dragons Insider, one month from the date that you started your subscription, your credit card will be charged for another month and your subscription will automatically be renewed. This will happen until you decide to turn off your auto-renew.
Auto-renewal Terms and Conditions
By checking the box (when making a D&D Insider order) and providing your credit or debit card billing information, you agree that your product subscription will automatically renew for successive renewal terms, and you expressly authorize and permit Digital River, Inc. (“DR”) to bill each product subscription renewal fee to the credit or debit card you have provided, until you cancel the automatic renewal and billing of your product subscription or DR discontinues the automatic renewal and billing option.
You have complete control over your product subscription and may cancel your auto-renewal at any time. [Emphasis mine-- see below.] Your order confirmation and confirmation email will include instructions for how to cancel automatic renewal and billing of your subscription. If you discontinue or do not select automatic renewal and billing of your subscription, [there's no option not to select auto-renewal] you must manually renew your subscription to prevent interruption of service. If you do not agree to these terms and conditions, do not check the box, provide your credit or debit card information, or complete this sale.
Currently there is no option to not check the auto-renewal box. It must be checked before your subscription can be confirmed; you can't go forward without it, there is no other option given.
As noted, "you have complete control over your product subscription and may cancel your auto-renewal at any time." It should also be noted however, that cancelation isn't instantaneous and requires human interaction. The chances of human error are a big concern for me here.
How do I turn off stop auto-renew on my subscription?
To stop auto-renew, you will need to fill out a form to contact our billing specialists. First, make sure that you are logged into the Wizards of the Coast website. Once you have logged in, click here to open the form. You will need to provide your first name, last name, and the last five digits of the credit card used when you purchased your D&D Insider subscription.
In the subject and message fields please indicate that you want to stop the auto-renew feature of your subscription. You should receive a response within two days of submitting the request. [Emphasis mine-- see below.]
For customers who want the 3 month or year long subscription, canceling auto-renewal shouldn't be a hassle; they only need to cancel once every few months or every year.
What about customers who only want to subscribe for a single month, occasionally? Do we need to fill out an online form each and every time? What if we don't receive a response within a short time (for whatever reason)? Will we be charged for the next month (which we may not want).
Seems like a hassle and could be problematic if not handled properly and promptly by both customer and company.
Also, this phrase is ambiguous: "You should receive a response within two days of submitting the request." Cancellation isn't instantaneous. Also, problematic (for me, at least) is that I'll have to contact "billing specialists" (as the FAQ calls them ;)) in order to cancel. An automatic process, with no human interaction would mean less chance for human error, yes?
Auto-renewal may be a common (if unsavory) business practice but the way this is set up has the appearance of being deceptive. I don't believe that the case at all but it's still worth noting.
If auto-renewal has to be a part of the deal (like it or not) please consider having cancellation be instantaneous, no delay, and no human interaction. Better yet, have an option to avoid it altogether. If this can be achieved, I'll be quick to reconsider buying a subscription.
* * *
That's my feedback on the topic of auto-renewal, covered in Digital Insider#11 ;).
Anybody have experience using these for online purchases?
On the flipside, if that subscription includes access to web-only tools, you'd lose access to those tools for that time period. Plus you'd be getting access to that additional Dragon/Dungeon content months after other subscribers.
Remember as well that you'd have access to all the powers/abilities the same way through the Compendium ANYWAY. You'd be able to do the one-month-for-all-the-powers trick ANYWAY, regardless of whether the past issues were or were not available.
Perhaps for home games, the Compendium isn't (currently) a valid source for RPGA rules.
Frankly, most of the insider-type subscriptions I'm familiar with (or use) include access to the historical archives. If I sign up for ESPN Insider, for example, I have access to all the content, not just the content published at or after the moment I subscribed.
Doesn't sports data sorta become stale after a few months however? This isn't meant to be snarky, I'm honestly not a sports fan at all, so I could be wrong. Just seems that sports is mostly about "current events".
Content from past issues of Dungeon/Dragon is still valid interesting, valued content - just as much as the current issue (and if you're looking for a specific race/class/power/item/adventure/etc might even be more valuable).
Where the proposed strategy gets to be a real PITA, for example, is signing up halfway into a Dungeon campaign story arc... I'd only have access to the latest portion, not the entire arc.
There are plans to allow purchase of missed/past issues.
If you pay the $3 monthly fee for Fine Cooking Magazine's online access you get tons of past issue material and articles plus all the recipes. I dont even both with the actual printed issues anymore because of this. I wont say its everything but they do mark what issues each article comes from and they are from issues far in the past.
Now that's a good example of something I see as being quite comparable to Dungeon/Dragon magazine.
Let me ask this, however. Does Fine Cooking Magazine let you download PDFs of past issues, or do you just get to search through a recipie database, much like the Compendium will let you do here?
Perhaps for home games, the Compendium isn't (currently) a valid source for RPGA rules.
But the Compendium is pulling directly from Dragon/Dungeon. So the rules-based content from Dragon/Dungeon would be directly available there. You'd be pulling Dragon/Dungeon content indirectly, even if the issues themselves were not available to you.
I'm just saying it doesn't make much sense : The subscription seems to be advertised as a complete access subscription to Dungeon/Dragon compilations, the data is available in the Compendium anyway... why not make all the past issues available to subscribers?
I'm more interested in the tools, but baffled as to why the past issues are extra cost, considering the additional overhead/cost of tracking who has access to what.
And if I paid for access to specific issues, or was a subscriber for six months... do I maintain access to those issues even if I cancel my subscription? How would that work?
It's just bizarre... I'd be paying for insider access to the compendium with the data, then I'd be paying AGAIN to see the magazines with the data?
Some of us have macs. Some of us don't play online with others, don't need a character visualizing tool, and some of us like using our books to create our characters.
So, in light of this, please consider keeping the web-only content, especially considering the current United States recession some of us need to be very careful with our money, and believe me I want to support Wizards of the Coast, I love what your company does. But I don't think I can pay for the full suite of tools which I can't even use because I don't have a pc and still call myself practical.
But I am more than willing to pay 4.95 a month for Dungeon and Dragon content. A subscription to one of those used to be what, 19.95? I think $53 dollars is a decent amount to pay for the good quality of the magazines considering you get the bonus tools as well.
I'd like to sign up, but i want to use paypal. Is it likely to be ready this month, so I get this month's issues, or am I sol?
But the Compendium is pulling directly from Dragon/Dungeon. So the rules-based content from Dragon/Dungeon would be directly available there. You'd be pulling Dragon/Dungeon content indirectly, even if the issues themselves were not available to you.
The problem for the RPGA is the dynamic nature of the Compendium, I think.
Currently Errata gets published to the Compendium even before it finds it was into the Update documentation. For a shared world we need systems that are more fixed so that on a give date we're all using the same set of rules (books, published magazines, update documents).
If the compendium conflicts with one of the above, we have to decide which source is "correct" - having relatively static documents is just a simpler solution.
Question on the paypal issue:
I'd like to sign up, but i want to use paypal. Is it likely to be ready this month, so I get this month's issues, or am I sol?
As Randy stated - it's a priority, but he doesn't have an ETA.
Our biggest priority with Digital River right now is to get PayPal turned on. I do not yet have a timeline for this
4. Will the web-only subscription package remain an option after the full package becomes available?
We haven’t decided the details of future pricing and packages yet. The one guarantee that we’re making at this stage is that we will honor the full term you sign up for now. If you buy 12 months of web content at $4.95 per month then you will get 12 months of web content at $4.95 per month, no matter what we decide to do with our pricing in the future.
Let's put it this way. I am happy with my group and how we play. I don't want to have to use some web tools that I am not asking for. If this is where WOTC is going to pigeon hole my group then I will put all my books up on E-Bay and go back to Pathfinder at least they understand that the digital age should be a convenience and not an obstacle for us old school gamers. That said, I am willing to pay for the Mags Dungeon and Dragon, but if Wotc thinks they are going to make me pay so they can develop a bunch of junk forget that. If it comes down to Dungeon and Dragon mag at an upped charge or nothing. Then give me nothing. Sorry $7.95 is too much too pay for a digital mag that I have to pay for ink and printing myself.
I am off to buy my year so that I can pay a reasonable amount ($4.95 for 2 mags about $2.42 a piece) I will then spend another $9 printing off the 120 pages on my color printer so that I can actually have a copy to take with me to work, the John or on the plane etc. Total cost ends up about $6 bucks a piece pretty expensive for a magazine.
You take that on top of the $34.00 bucks I paid for a 160 page book that had a whopping 1 race and 1 class and had the nerve to call itself a Player's Guide and you will find a pretty disastisfied customer. At this time the 4E material I am short one module and the useless tiles. All in all I have about $400 bucks invested in 4E and now they want to sap us for some more. Given the economy I have to wonder if they have thought this thru.
If I was going on the info in the D&D Insider #10, it implies that I get the Character Generator, and the additional tools (Visualizer, Game Table, etc) as they are created as a D&D Insider. I am purchasing a "D&D Insider Subscription". If I later find that my $4.95/month actually doesn't include those additional features (much as I thought it included FULL access to Dragon/Dungeon Magazines), I'm feeling more and more like I'm getting less and less for my money.
I really want to know exactly what comes for the $50+ I'd put down... do I get full access to Dragon/Dungeon? All of the tools that are currently advertised as "Insider" tools as they become available? I'm currently shown all these features and perks for being an Insider... yet I get the sneaky suspicion that I'll be charged more based on the latest (#11) news as the features become available.
So which is it? WHAT do we get for the subscription that is currently being offered? The whole shebang advertised or a limited-access "web" insider subscription that needs to purchase the tools, back issues, etc separately?
So which is it? WHAT do we get for the subscription that is currently being offered? The whole shebang advertised or a limited-access "web" insider subscription that needs to purchase the tools, back issues, etc separately?
I will point you towards the text at the initial subscription screen:
No one else probably cares, but I'm happy. And I subscribed!
One thing that slightly disappointed me was the tax issue (VAT in my case). I suggest to put a sentence in the page listing the costs saying that taxes may apply depending on the state/country where you live, so that people will be prepared when they see a tax line in their billing confirmation.
The only thing missing from Dragon now is the Knights of the Dinner Table page we used to have some time ago. Please bring it back...
I'm very interested in these four tools, and will be interested in subscribing when either the tools become available, or it becomes clearly stated what package I need to purchase in order to access these tools when they become available.
I'm not running around in a panic and burning my books.
And if I paid for access to specific issues, or was a subscriber for six months... do I maintain access to those issues even if I cancel my subscription? How would that work?
It's just bizarre... I'd be paying for insider access to the compendium with the data, then I'd be paying AGAIN to see the magazines with the data?
This is something I would like to see addressed before I shell out the cash for a years subscription, as I am currently somewhat on the fence.
People pointed out that if you subscribe to actual physical magazines you don't get back issues. However I do get to keep the magazine.
Now I know that I can download or print out copies of the article for use in RPGA games, but if I have to rebuy issues if my subscription runs out and I don't renew right away, or can't access the content I already paid for, I would be irate. Computers can be fickle sometimes and information can be lost, and I don't want to resubscribe later on only to find out that I need to pay for back issues I already paid for.
Here is another example of this possible problem.
If I somehow missed downloading an article and then my subscription ran out or
new articles came out and I didn't download them in time before my subscription ran out, and then I didn't resubscribe immediately, for any number of financial issue.
Basically if I can be assured that once I have paid for 12 months of content, that I can always access that content, even if my subscription runs out, then I will be much more likely to buy a subscription at all.
However if a situation ever arises where I can't access the articles I already paid for, especially when back-issues might have their own price, I will most likely stop worrying about online content and just buy the books.
I hate paying for things twice.
I realize I've personally brought this issue up a couple of time already but it really is a concern for me. As long as auto-renewal is in place, I don't feel comfortable buying a subscription ............
.......If auto-renewal has to be a part of the deal (like it or not) please consider having cancellation be instantaneous, no delay, and no human interaction. Better yet, have an option to avoid it altogether. If this can be achieved, I'll be quick to reconsider buying a subscription.
* * *
That's my feedback on the topic of auto-renewal, covered in Digital Insider#11 ;).
I can see absolutely no reason for auto-renewal, it's one thing to have a option for auto-renewal this is quite another, right now I'm on the fences over the subscription and this just pushed me over edge. I keep being shocked by the way WotC has handled every thing to do 4th ED. WotC's lack of faith in there own products and there bunker mentality is greatly disheartening. We can only guess at the internal political struggle in the halls and 20'*20' rooms of WotC headquarters but its defiantly showing !!!
This is something I would like to see addressed before I shell out the cash for a years subscription, as I am currently somewhat on the fence.
People pointed out that if you subscribe to actual physical magazines you don't get back issues. However I do get to keep the magazine.
Now I know that I can download or print out copies of the article for use in RPGA games, but if I have to rebuy issues if my subscription runs out and I don't renew right away, or can't access the content I already paid for, I would be irate. Computers can be fickle sometimes and information can be lost, and I don't want to resubscribe later on only to find out that I need to pay for back issues I already paid for.
Here is another example of this possible problem.
If I somehow missed downloading an article and then my subscription ran out or
new articles came out and I didn't download them in time before my subscription ran out, and then I didn't resubscribe immediately, for any number of financial issue.
Basically if I can be assured that once I have paid for 12 months of content, that I can always access that content, even if my subscription runs out, then I will be much more likely to buy a subscription at all.
However if a situation ever arises where I can't access the articles I already paid for, especially when back-issues might have their own price, I will most likely stop worrying about online content and just buy the books.
I hate paying for things twice.
I can not assure you on anything, all I could try to point you to was the Vminis concept. The plan then was if you purchased one you owned it for life. If the coding is robust enough, the data base backuped up enough, it should be possible that if you subscribe this year, then leave for a while, then rejoin in 2012, the 2008 material would still be there for you without extra fee.
There again see sig.
Auto-Renewal
Auto-renewal will allow you to easily maintain your subscription by automatically renewing it at the then current renewal price (plus applicable tax).
By checking the box and providing your credit or debit card billing information, you agree that your product subscription will automatically renew for successive renewal terms, and you expressly authorize and permit Digital River, Inc. (“DR”) to bill each product subscription renewal fee to the credit or debit card you have provided, until you cancel the automatic renewal and billing of your product subscription or DR discontinues the automatic renewal and billing option.
You have complete control over your product subscription and may cancel your auto-renewal at any time. Your order confirmation and confirmation email will include instructions for how to cancel automatic renewal and billing of your subscription. If you discontinue or do not select automatic renewal and billing of your subscription, you must manually renew your subscription to prevent interruption of service. If you do not agree to these terms and conditions, do not check the box, provide your credit or debit card information, or complete this sale.
Yes you may thank me now.
Bolded parts from me for your convenience.
Maybe, just maybe you want to look under the NOT checked auto-renewal box:
Yes you may thank me now.
Bolded parts from me for your convenience.
Err everyone that has posted on the issue so far have indicated not selecting auto renew, the transaction would not be processed.
Of course if one person or more can step forward and say I did buy without selecting auto-renew that clearly would indicate that the part you bolder is true.
Of course it would still raise the question of why so many people could not do so, however that might be narrowed down to OS and/or browser.
*blushes* i couldn't progress because i don't have a credit card and waiting for Paypal ^^' (i would check the auto reneval option)
And so i asumed that the few posters before me just didn't see it or were trolling ^^'
My bad, mea culpa
Right now, until I can get more such as the Character Builder, Vizualizer and Gametable I was going to wait and subscribe then. Once I saw that back issues weren't going to be available I did balk; but then another question popped up in my mind. What if I subscribe for a month change my mind and then re-subscribe in a month or two? Would I have a period of not subscribing blocked out to me unless I bought back issues? While I support the people in the gaming industry making money at a certain point it starts to make me wonder about subscribing for intermittent periods when I need and can afford to spend the money or just saving to subscribe for a much longer period at a later date.
You can subscribe to whatever month(s) you so choose.
However, if you subscribe now for one month you'd have access to the October issue, and the articles for November up to the day your subscription ends. If you re-subscribe in mid-December you'll get the December issues, but you would not have access to the November issue. The data will be available in the Compendium, but the compiled issue won't be part of your account.
We've been told there will be an option to purchase individual issues, but no details have emerged on how that will happen.
Am I alone in being unable to see individual articles?
Once you've subscribed, you need to log out of DDI, close all of your browser windows, then re-open your browser and log back in. That fixes the issue for most users.
The editorial calendar says the compiled issues of Dungeon and Dragon will be released on October 29th and 31st. If I subscribe on November 1st, do I not get access to those?
At what point do we lose access to the previous month's compiled issue?
The editorial calendar says the compiled issues of Dungeon and Dragon will be released on October 29th and 31st. If I subscribe on November 1st, do I not get access to those?
No you do not get them based on current plan.
Though you might be able to purchase the back issue, once they figure out how to market it.
So if you want Oct. issues you better sign up before Nov.1st.
No you do not get them based on current plan.
Though you might be able to purchase the back issue, once they figure out how to market it.
So if you want Oct. issues you better sign up before Nov.1st.
Technically, if you sign up October 31st, you'd get the October content, plus the full November Content for one month's subscription cost, assuming that the November compilations would both be up by the last Friday of the month (November 28th)
Actually, Since Oct 31st falls on a Saturday in 2009, you'd probably end up getting 13 months worth of content for a one-year subscription purchased on that date.
Guess which day I'll purchase a subscription if I decide to pull the trigger?
Technically, if you sign up October 31st, you'd get the October content, plus the full November Content for one month's subscription cost, assuming that the November compilations would both be up by the last Friday of the month (November 28th)
That's how I read it too. Even without the date manipulating, you could still expect to get Month A's compiled issue as well as all of Month B's individual articles if you just waited until the day before compilation to subscribe. Two months later you subscribe again at the end of the month and get the Month C compilation and all of Month D's articles as they come out.
The tricky part for me, though, is that my military pay allotment system doles out my fun money on the 1st of every month. While I might be able to plan ahead for future purchases, I don't know that I'm going to have the $8 to subscribe on the 29th in order to avoid losing the October content.
Technically, if you sign up October 31st, you'd get the October content, plus the full November Content for one month's subscription cost, assuming that the November compilations would both be up by the last Friday of the month (November 28th)
Actually, Since Oct 31st falls on a Saturday in 2009, you'd probably end up getting 13 months worth of content for a one-year subscription purchased on that date.
Guess which day I'll purchase a subscription if I decide to pull the trigger?
For a "loophole" this seems a bit too obvious to be credible. Consider:
[u]Sign up on:[/u]
October 31 (get Oct compilation, get Nov individuals)
December 31 (get Dec compilation, get Jan individuals)
February 28 (get Feb compilation, get March individuals)
And so on . . .
Surely it's not that easy to manipulate the system (getting a free month's material)?
For a "loophole" this seems a bit too obvious to be credible. Consider:
[u]Sign up on:[/u]
October 31 (get Oct compilation, get Nov individuals)
December 31 (get Dec compilation, get Jan individuals)
February 28 (get Feb compilation, get March individuals)
And so on . . .
Surely it's not that easy to manipulate the system (getting a free month's material)?
Keep in mind that at that rate you're causing yourself a lot of hassle, to save $1/month over the annual subscription rate.
You also will only have every-other compiled issue, and while you may download the individual articles, you'll only have non-erratted copies of the articles that receive copies in the final correction.
Keep in mind that at that rate you're causing yourself a lot of hassle, to save $1/month over the annual subscription rate.
You also will only have every-other compiled issue, and while you may download the individual articles, you'll only have non-erratted copies of the articles that receive copies in the final correction.
You're right. It won't save anybody any real money in the long run, but what about the short run ;)? For instance, if I want to read articles for October and November (only); using this loophole, I get both (for just $8, instead of $16). Errata is a sacrifice of course.
It does seem to be a legit loophole, one that many will have no compunction about exploiting (considering this is the internet). As a fan of the mags, I'm not advocating such behavior in any way; it's just curious.
Keep in mind that at that rate you're causing yourself a lot of hassle, to save $1/month over the annual subscription rate.
Yeah, I'd crunched the numbers too which makes me feel comfortable with this plan. I really have been enjoying the 4e Dragon enough that I really don't want to cheat WotC for it. It's a bit of extra work for not much savings, but since I'm not sure when I'll ever have $60 all in one go for a year-long subscription and with no written guarantee that I'll be able to buy back-issues (or how much they'll be if I can), I'm okay with the short-term benefit of bi-monthly subscription planning.
You also will only have every-other compiled issue, and while you may download the individual articles, you'll only have non-erratted copies of the articles that receive copies in the final correction.
I am prepared, however, to use my one-month access to the compendium to copy over errata. Again, some extra work but I don't mind the effort if I don't have the dollar.