WotC's new Digital Initiative

[Rob Kuntz]

" * WotC keeps on concentrating on miniatures: They are very successful according to what some people claim here. They appeal to young players who grow up with video games and might think "pure D&D" to be too abstract (?).

All in all things aren't so bad, though."

Seems to be a contradiction, IMHO, and of course only Americans seem to judge things by "how bad" they are. YMMV.

IMO this is the great change in progress, this initiative, and it poses a subtle threat to paper and pencil FRPGs as we have grown used to them over the years. 3E fostered a more "miniatures oriented" environment for play, coupling all so nicely with computer games, etc., all appealing to the young generation of gamers.

WotC is no doubt seeking higher ground (and revenues) from this initiative, and they claim not to be leaving P&P RP behind, which is a good thing. Proof is in the black pudding, however.

I am strictly of the wait and see camp. But being a veteran gamer with scads of material in my library, I am a person who likes a book and magazine before me. Go figure. Something with the smell of ink which I don't have to press a button to read, can carry anywhere in the house, wherever I go, etc., as many have noted in these forums before me.

I strongly support Paizo's great "Print Initiative" to bring quality material to the public, and was deeply saddened today upon reading DUNGEON #150, which I had forestalled reading for a week.

Thanks for the great ride with Dungeon and Dragon, Lisa, Erik and James (and staff). Let the presses continue to roll.

Rob Kuntz

[Aberzombie]

Well said Uncle. At this point in time, "Wait and see" seems to be the best option. If WotC goofs everything up, we at least still have Paizo showing us the love with Pathfinder and Gamemastery.

[snowyak]

chopswil wrote:

They have no real plan.

Guess they do.

Browse the forum.

But for the first couple of years i stay true to 3.5.
Maybe i borrow some stuff from DI or 4th though.

[Aberzombie]

snowyak wrote:

chopswil wrote:

They have no real plan.

Guess they do.

Yes, and it seems to be....rolls Sarcasm check ....

"Switch over to a new digital format, then make sure the server crashes."

[tdewitt274]

Found a back door into the site

[chopswil]

snowyak wrote:

chopswil wrote:

They have no real plan.

Guess they do.

Browse the forum.

4e? That's their plan?

After only how many years from doing 3.5?
I hope you haven't bought MMV or Expedition to Castle Greyhawk.
Oh, and there's the big Rules Compendium coming out soon.
Bet that's going to be a big seller.

I'm all for digital content, I get Kobold Quarterly and write my own software, but if you can't store their DI on your own PC it won't be worth it.

[Keno]

chopswil wrote:

4e? That's their plan?

After only how many years from doing 3.5?
I hope you haven't bought MMV or Expedition to Castle Greyhawk.
Oh, and there's the big Rules Compendium coming out soon.
Bet that's going to be a big seller.

I'm all for digital content, I get Kobold Quarterly and write my own software, but if you can't store their DI on your own PC it won't be worth it.

Actually the Rules Compendium is actually there for users that won't be switching over anytime soon.

What I've heard about the DI so far doesn't sound too promising, but like my boss said, "The whole point of 4e is because someone at Hasbro said, 'We want online monies.'"

Hopefully I'll learn more tomorrow while I'm at GenCon.

[The-Last-Rogue]

Keno wrote:

What I've heard about the DI so far doesn't sound too promising, but like my boss said, "The whole point of 4e is because someone at Hasbro said, 'We want online monies.'"

.

We will have to agree to disagree. Depending on pricing, I do not mind paying for expanded content, visual pleasing generators and tabletops, and the continuation of Dragon and Dungeon in electronic format.

[John Robey]

$10/month (i.e., $120 a year) for blogs rather insultingly called "Dragon Magazine" and "Dungeon Magazine" -- which you then have to pay your own printing costs if you want to have on your shelf to keep -- plus all the stuff that was supposed to go into "Master Tools" but failed so spectacularly, and the ability to create 10 characters.

Yeah. Not exactly my definition of "value for your money." More like "Get away from my wallet, you leeches." :-`

-The Gneech

[chopswil]

John Robey wrote:

$10/month (i.e., $120 a year) for blogs rather insultingly called "Dragon Magazine" and "Dungeon Magazine"

$10/month??!!??

Doesn't include print version??!!?
Well, maybe I'll sign up for one month out of the year and download all your stuff?
or I'll just wait till your stuff ends up as a torrent