D&D 4th Edition: A Behind the Scenes Look at D&D Insider
Over the years, Dungeons and Dragons has slowly been losing more and more of their players' time to massively multiplayer online games and the digital revolution. Now D&D is ready to fight back! In his exclusive behind the scenes look, Cody "Micajah" Bye got a sneak peek at Wizards of the Coast's new digital format for D&D and just what it might mean for the common gamer.
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We don’t explicitly use words like “DPS” or “Tank,” but everyone understands that that is what we’re doing. The reason is obvious. There’s a significant part of the community that has already incorporated that knowledge into their subconscious when it comes to games, so why not talk to them on that level?
If you want to read the whole D&D 4th Edition article, click here!
I honestly don't know what I have to think about D&D Insider.
I mean, I am hugely anticipating 4e (Have the core books on order from amazon, should be here by Monday at latest :P), and Insider sounds awesome (I liked the info about the mini maker). That all being said, I just don't know how I feel about a monthly subscription for something like this (or even worse, micro transactions). Everything we have seen/heard about Insider makes it sound great, but not something I am willing to pay $10+ a month for. I would be totally with the idea of a B2P model, and even B2P with expansions for each book you want to have the rules for (though buying the same book 2 times is kinda a painful thought :P).
Really what it comes down to me is that it isn't an MMO, it is simply a program that has internet capability.
Oh well, nothing officially stated yet, but everything seems to be hinting at a monthly fee w/ micro-transactions to buy virtual minis, kinda a painful thought tbh.
I agree Thansal. While it probably isn't going to be an MMO, I do think it's important that TTH cover a product like this because it is directly competing with our audience. I mean, it sounds like the subscription plan is almost 100% similar to the common MMOGs.
We'll see though. It may turn out to be more MMOG-esque than I first surmised.
Oh, I totally agree that TTH should cover it, I am just expressing my concerns about D&DI itself :P
I mean hell, I have been praying for a beta invite for it for a long time, I really want to see exactly what is up with it, but it still worries me.
I mean it really just sounds like a fancy version of OpenRPG with an IRC client tacked onto it, and if that is all it is, well I have an IRC client and OpenRPG and will stick with them.
For years, online gamers have been waiting for a true translation of the Dungeons and Dragons universe into the digital realm, complete with character creation assistants and a virtual gaming tabletop. The 4th Edition of Dungeons and Dragons has promised to do just that with their refined rules and digital campaign known as the D&D Insider. With D&D 4th Edtition now officially launched worldwide, Ten Ton Hammer's Cody "Micajah" Bye concludes his exclusive preview of Dungeons and Dragons Insider. Check it out!
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Dungeon Masters will also have a variety of useful lighting options to choose from while building their map as well. “There are a whole variety of different light sources and radiances that DMs can choose to employ,” Youngs said. “Intensity, color, effect, flickering, all of these options are completely customizable for the Dungeon Master.” Rather than attaching light sources to the actual tiles themselves, the developers at Wizards have left the lighting options completely up to the DM. “You can attach light sources to tiles or monsters,” Youngs said.
a good article, and it covers a lot of what people are interested in.
Unfortunately WotC is telling us exactly what a number of us DON'T want to hear. $15 a month, microtransactions, etc etc. Sure it is nice that it comes with subscriptions to their magazines, but I don't really WANT subscriptions to those :P
It sounds like I will give the free trial a whirl but will likely end up sticking with OpenRPG. Sure, it isn't as glitzy and glamorous, but it gets the job done at the right price.
oh, and fie, I forgot to check on shipping times for my books and looks like they don't ship till Tuesday :P Oh well, I have patience.
This should have been done years ago. That said, I hope that they are successful and build on what they have so far.
I would love to see people creating and selling modules online. I know this will probably never happen due to IP conflicts etc. but you can always dream
D&D 4th Edition: A Behind the Scenes Look at D&D Insider
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