/. 4e D&D QnA

On Feb 23, 9:44 am, shawn <shawn.ro....DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote:
> You guys see this?http://games.slashdot.org/games/08/02/18/1459259.shtml

At least they confirmed in the very first Answer that the "Digital
Tools" are a core objective of theirs. i.e. They came right out and
*said* that they needed rules that would be easier to use in digital
form.

Until the advent of the 3d holographic coffee table, I won't be having
game sessions with any sort of "digital game table"... and WOTC is
nuts if it thinks most people are any different.

Sure, for people who are doing multiplayer *online* gaming it works
fine. My computer screen is *almost* adequate for a single person to
interact with the space. But it's really awkward to crowd the entire
DND group around my laptop...

That's the point I'm trying to make here: I like my DND as an *IN*
*PERSON* activity. I think it makes no sense to take the gaming
experience in a direction that leads away from that. We already have
WOW for that.

Gene P.
Slidell LA
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On Feb 25, 9:48 am, Alcore <alc....TakeThisOut@uurth.com> wrote:
> On Feb 23, 9:44 am, shawn <shawn.ro....TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > You guys see this?http://games.slashdot.org/games/08/02/18/1459259.shtml
>
> At least they confirmed in the very first Answer that the "Digital
> Tools" are a core objective of theirs. i.e. They came right out and
> *said* that they needed rules that would be easier to use in digital
> form.
>
> Until the advent of the 3d holographic coffee table, I won't be having
> game sessions with any sort of "digital game table"... and WOTC is
> nuts if it thinks most people are any different.
>
> Sure, for people who are doing multiplayer *online* gaming it works
> fine. My computer screen is *almost* adequate for a single person to
> interact with the space. But it's really awkward to crowd the entire
> DND group around my laptop...
>
> That's the point I'm trying to make here: I like my DND as an *IN*
> *PERSON* activity. I think it makes no sense to take the gaming
> experience in a direction that leads away from that. We already have
> WOW for that.
>
> Gene P.
> Slidell LA

Trying to capitalize on distance gaming seems an alright idea in my
books. As I've gotten older I"ve noticed how hard it is to arrange
schedules for all my gaming friends. Nothing beats in person gaming,
but I can accept the possibility of Wizards wanting to try its hand at
it. There have been many programs made for this purpose, except none
of them have been accessible enough for me. Heroforge has been as far
as I've been willing to go as far as giving time to learn D&D
computing.

Now, as for the marketing guys's thinking that I would pay a monthly
fee for the privilege to use their product when there are free
alternatives that have been around longer and with solid fan bases...
well that isn't an argument I expect they're going to win there.
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On Feb 25, 9:48 am, Alcore <alc....TakeThisOut@uurth.com> wrote:
> On Feb 23, 9:44 am, shawn <shawn.ro....TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > You guys see this?http://games.slashdot.org/games/08/02/18/1459259.shtml
>
> At least they confirmed in the very first Answer that the "Digital
> Tools" are a core objective of theirs.  i.e.  They came right out and
> *said* that they needed rules that would be easier to use in digital
> form.
>
> Until the advent of the 3d holographic coffee table, I won't be having
> game sessions with any sort of "digital game table"...  and WOTC is
> nuts if it thinks most people are any different.
>
> Sure, for people who are doing multiplayer *online* gaming it works
> fine.  My computer screen is *almost* adequate for a single person to
> interact with the space.  But it's really awkward to crowd the entire
> DND group around my laptop...
>
> That's the point I'm trying to make here:  I like my DND as an *IN*
> *PERSON* activity.  I think it makes no sense to take the gaming
> experience in a direction that leads away from that.  We already have
> WOW for that.
>
> Gene P.
> Slidell LA

I agree. Part of the fun of the game is hanging out with my friends,
physically rolling dice, writing and erasing in pencil (dry-erase
marker for my crusader's hit point commodity ), and moving
miniatures when we use them. They say that's still possible with 4E,
but even if true that's not where their priority is. My DM does use
his laptop as a tool for notes and references, which is fine, but
that's it. I know I definitely do not want the computer to handle
randomness. In my experience whenever a DM did so it always worked
against the players' interest.

Gerald Katz
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In article
<1f20efd5-5663-4ccb-addc-470d14705a55.RemoveThis@h11g2000prf.googlegroups.com>,
Hadsil <forumite.RemoveThis@netzero.com> wrote:

> It depends. Hypothetically speaking, as soon as they have an
> "exclusive content splat book" only available for online play, game
> over. I'm not saying they will do that, but the option is there.
> Should they do it, they have abandoned live interaction.

I would expect them to have virtual figures in the online content that
weren't available as a physical figure within about a year of going
live. Especially larger ones.

I think it will take them longer to get online exclusive content, but
the pressure will be there if they can succesfully transition to
digital. You'll know if a splatbook sells in digital form anywhere
close in numbers to a physical version.

- Allen
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"Allen Wessels" <awessels.TakeThisOut@EXPUNGEpacbell.net> wrote in message
news:awessels-560EBE.13304925022008@newsclstr03.news.prodigy.net...
> In article
> <1f20efd5-5663-4ccb-addc-470d14705a55.TakeThisOut@h11g2000prf.googlegroups.com>,
> Hadsil <forumite.TakeThisOut@netzero.com> wrote:
>
>> It depends. Hypothetically speaking, as soon as they have an
>> "exclusive content splat book" only available for online play, game
>> over. I'm not saying they will do that, but the option is there.
>> Should they do it, they have abandoned live interaction.
>
> I would expect them to have virtual figures in the online content that
> weren't available as a physical figure within about a year of going
> live. Especially larger ones.

They have already announced allowing custom character minis online. Then
again, I would not be shocked to see them sell physical versions of these,
at higher prices due to low "print runs" with them.

--
^v^v^Malachias Invictus^v^v^

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishment the scroll,
I am the Master of my fate:
I am the Captain of my soul.

from _Invictus_, by William Ernest Henley
 >> Stay informed about: /. 4e D&D QnA 

In article <8OGdnQDmI9CBqF7anZ2dnUVZ_sqinZ2d RemoveThis @comcast.com>,
"Malachias Invictus" <invictusebay RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote:

> "Allen Wessels" <awessels RemoveThis @EXPUNGEpacbell.net> wrote in message
> news:awessels-560EBE.13304925022008@newsclstr03.news.prodigy.net...
> > In article
> > <1f20efd5-5663-4ccb-addc-470d14705a55 RemoveThis @h11g2000prf.googlegroups.com>,
> > Hadsil <forumite RemoveThis @netzero.com> wrote:
> >
> >> It depends. Hypothetically speaking, as soon as they have an
> >> "exclusive content splat book" only available for online play, game
> >> over. I'm not saying they will do that, but the option is there.
> >> Should they do it, they have abandoned live interaction.
> >
> > I would expect them to have virtual figures in the online content that
> > weren't available as a physical figure within about a year of going
> > live. Especially larger ones.
>
> They have already announced allowing custom character minis online. Then
> again, I would not be shocked to see them sell physical versions of these,
> at higher prices due to low "print runs" with them.

I was primarily thinking of larger virtual monster figures. Or stuff
that would just be too expsnsive, structurally delicate, or rare to
offer as a physical product.

I'm surprised that someone savvy about asian plastics manufactuers
hasn't found one that can do short run work cheaply.

Looks like Reaper is in the ballpark.

- Allen
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Alien mind control rays made Malachias Invictus <invictusebay DeleteThis @yahoo.com> write:
> They have already announced allowing custom character minis online. Then
> again, I would not be shocked to see them sell physical versions of these,
> at higher prices due to low "print runs" with them.

low print runs, my ass. they're gonna make about a billion
twin scimitar wielding dark elves, and you bloody know it.

--
n_n n_n drow DeleteThis @bin.sh (CARRIER LOST) <http://www.bin.sh/>
|"|n_n_n|"| ---------------------------------------------------------------
| | " " | | "Ryan Dancey doesn't *do* anything. He's got epic levels in
|_|_[T]_|_| psion. He simply wills people into action."
-- der_kluge
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On 2008-02-25, Alcore <alcore RemoveThis @uurth.com> wrote:
> Sure, for people who are doing multiplayer *online* gaming it works
> fine. My computer screen is *almost* adequate for a single person to
> interact with the space. But it's really awkward to crowd the entire
> DND group around my laptop...
>
> That's the point I'm trying to make here: I like my DND as an *IN*
> *PERSON* activity. I think it makes no sense to take the gaming
> experience in a direction that leads away from that. We already have
> WOW for that.

Given the number of times I have tried, and failed, to write utility
programs that really helped me much with D&D, I'm actually quite happy
about it.

I *am* a computer, if a slightly dodgy one. I like things that are
computer-friendly.

--
Copyright 2008, all wrongs reversed. Peter Seebach / usenet-nospam RemoveThis @seebs.net
http://www.seebs.net/log/ <-- lawsuits, religion, and funny pictures
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Game_(Scientology) <-- get educated!
 >> Stay informed about: /. 4e D&D QnA 

Seebs wrote:
> On 2008-02-25, Alcore <alcore.RemoveThis@uurth.com> wrote:
>
>>Sure, for people who are doing multiplayer *online* gaming it works
>>fine. My computer screen is *almost* adequate for a single person to
>>interact with the space. But it's really awkward to crowd the entire
>>DND group around my laptop...
>>
>>That's the point I'm trying to make here: I like my DND as an *IN*
>>*PERSON* activity. I think it makes no sense to take the gaming
>>experience in a direction that leads away from that. We already have
>>WOW for that.

Actually, we DON'T.

Unless WoW has changed to a "buy our book/CD once, never pay again,
change the rules you don't like, mod the ones you do to fit your
world, we'll help fit your world onto our servers" model, it's NOTHING
like real RPGing yet, and I doubt it will be for a long time to come.

>
>
> Given the number of times I have tried, and failed, to write utility
> programs that really helped me much with D&D, I'm actually quite happy
> about it.
>

I'd like to see a utility that's actually USABLE. PCGen was a nice
try, but badly flawed and hard to use.


--
Sea Wasp
/^\
;;;
Live Journal: http://seawasp.livejournal.com
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"drow" <drow.DeleteThis@bin.sh> wrote in message
news:47c370d3$0$93285$8046368a@newsreader.iphouse.net...
> Alien mind control rays made Malachias Invictus <invictusebay.DeleteThis@yahoo.com>
> write:
>> They have already announced allowing custom character minis online. Then
>> again, I would not be shocked to see them sell physical versions of
>> these,
>> at higher prices due to low "print runs" with them.
>
> low print runs, my ass. they're gonna make about a billion
> twin scimitar wielding dark elves, and you bloody know it.

Nah. They already have 2 minis of that fellow, and given their popularity,
I imagine we will see a new one every year.

--
^v^v^Malachias Invictus^v^v^

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishment the scroll,
I am the Master of my fate:
I am the Captain of my soul.

from _Invictus_, by William Ernest Henley
 >> Stay informed about: /. 4e D&D QnA 

On Feb 25, 4:30 pm, Allen Wessels <awess... RemoveThis @EXPUNGEpacbell.net> wrote:
> In article
> <1f20efd5-5663-4ccb-addc-470d14705... RemoveThis @h11g2000prf.googlegroups.com>,
>
>  Hadsil <forum... RemoveThis @netzero.com> wrote:
> > It depends.  Hypothetically speaking, as soon as they have an
> > "exclusive content splat book" only available for online play, game
> > over.  I'm not saying they will do that, but the option is there.
> > Should they do it, they have abandoned live interaction.
>
> I would expect them to have virtual figures in the online content that
> weren't available as a physical figure within about a year of going
> live.  Especially larger ones.
>
> I think it will take them longer to get online exclusive content, but
> the pressure will be there if they can succesfully transition to
> digital.  You'll know if a splatbook sells in digital form anywhere
> close in numbers to a physical version.
>
> - Allen

I wouldn't "object" to cool graphic design characters for online
play. That I chalk up to the nature of computer programming for the
online format. Some icon is needed for character representation to
duplicate miniature use. If players could design their own look,
that's fine too. My concern is special feats, spells, class
abilities, etc., that's only available if you subscribe to their
online format.

Gerald Katz
 >> Stay informed about: /. 4e D&D QnA 

Seebs wrote:
> On 2008-02-25, Alcore <alcore DeleteThis @uurth.com> wrote:
>> Sure, for people who are doing multiplayer *online* gaming it works
>> fine. My computer screen is *almost* adequate for a single person to
>> interact with the space. But it's really awkward to crowd the entire
>> DND group around my laptop...
>>
>> That's the point I'm trying to make here: I like my DND as an *IN*
>> *PERSON* activity. I think it makes no sense to take the gaming
>> experience in a direction that leads away from that. We already have
>> WOW for that.
>
> Given the number of times I have tried, and failed, to write utility
> programs that really helped me much with D&D, I'm actually quite happy
> about it.
>
> I *am* a computer, if a slightly dodgy one. I like things that are
> computer-friendly.
>

Seebs? Is that you?
 >> Stay informed about: /. 4e D&D QnA 

On 2008-02-26, Hong Ooi <hong.DeleteThis@zipworld.com.au> wrote:
> Seebs? Is that you?

Yes.

Executive summary, since a few people may wonder where I've been since 2005:

I got sucked into some vB bulletin boards, and I've been very busy. Since
I was last active in rgfd, I have:

* done oodles of writing and consulting
* spent countless hours playing WoW because none of my immediate gamer group
had the attention span to run games
* gotten a "new" job which is actually my fourth consecutive employment with
the same group of people, due to a long and confusing history of layoffs,
buyouts, and such.
* been formally diagnosed as autistic, which I think explains a lot
* moved back to my home town
* shut down the hobby ISP I used to run
* taken over three months to figure out how to get working Usenet access
again
* gotten involved with demonstrations against the "Church" of Scientology.

I appear to be "back" for the forseeable future. I'm still doing some of the
vB boards, but I dropped the big time sinks.

And, for those who haven't run into this: Take half an hour to do some
research on the Church of Scientology. If there exists a human rights issue
on which you have opinions, you probably already hate them and just don't
know it. Pre-teen kids working >10 hour days for little to no pay, coerced
abortions, kidnapping, denial of medical treatment, systematic torture and
brainwashing, and of course, their famous harassment of critics.
Conveniently, a solution has been found: They can't sue EVERYBODY, and they
are currently reeling from the discovery that some random guys from the
Internet managed to get 7500+ people out protesting at over a hundred
different CoS sites on three weeks' notice.

Get informed, get involved.

--
Copyright 2008, all wrongs reversed. Peter Seebach / usenet-nospam.DeleteThis@seebs.net
http://www.seebs.net/log/ <-- lawsuits, religion, and funny pictures
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Game_(Scientology) <-- get educated!
 >> Stay informed about: /. 4e D&D QnA