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warty_nosed_goblin
Underboss
1384 Posts
    
 | | 08/20/2007 7:33 AM |
| I just saw this over at Gamespy, and thought I'd post a link over here in case it had some new information in it.
http://www.gamespy.com/articles/813/813705p1.html
Has some interesting information on the Digital Initiative in it- I must say its sounding more exciting by the day, at least to me. | |
Call me: W.N. Gobo!
originally posted by grim:
While he is clearly insane, he does have a point. | |
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Shottglazz
Sergeant
907 Posts
Quinte West, Ontario, Canada
| | 08/20/2007 7:42 AM |
| | Darn...websensed... | |
Shottglazz
"Take my love, take my land, take me where I cannot stand;
I don't care, I'm still free, you can't take the sky from me."
Completed trades ( 42 ): Pikel, Darrell, JeffDHarvey, BiggPappa001, Ghendar, Valinrook X2, Wolfgang x2, Wraithborne x5, Mr Ruffles, Anothermullen, CKissee x3, Browns_Scoundrel, Kyrin, GuJiaXian x2, Tyngfumv, Basic_Aim, Mickey Mouse, Berus316, Crisisman, Zoons, Rockfrd, Sterling40 x2, Brucemc, 2007 Magical Mystery Trade, Redskullz x2, Stephengroy, Lyus_Sleyden, Foolforthought, 2008 Magical Mystery Trade, Kilsek, Generic Fighter
Pending trades ( 2 ):Wolfgang, Auric
WotC trades ( 1 ): Red_Deceiver
Bad trades ( 2 ): LeftEyeofGruumsh, Yotebeth | |
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zenthrus
Commander
4676 Posts
SLC, UT
| | 08/20/2007 9:01 AM |
| For the websensed:
Bill Slaviscek on 4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons
We talk to WotC's Bill Slaviscek about 4th edition, MMOs, Gleemax and how Dungeons & Dragons is finally embracing the videogame era.
By Allen 'Delsyn' Rausch | Aug. 17, 2007
GenCon 2007 is a pretty noisy place, filled with RPG hawkers selling their wares and dozens of companies bringing out new products to compete for the disposable income and free time of the world's most dedicated gamers. For all the noise and hype generated at the show, however, the undisputed 900-pound gorilla in the room is Wizards of the Coast. With its twin towers of paper-based gaming (Magic: the Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons), the Washington-based game company rules this place like the priest-king of one of its fantasy kingdoms. This year, the king dropped a bombshell. D&D, the venerable godfather of role-playing games, would be bringing out a new edition. We sat down with WotC R&D Director Bill Slaviscek to discuss the new game and how the three-decade old game is getting ready to compete in a world seemingly ruled by electronic entertainment -- by taking back some of what it's always given away.
"We've spent eight years gathering feedback on 3rd edition," Slaviscek said as we sit down in the Wizards booth on GenCon's show floor. "We've figured out what works and what doesn't. D&D 4th Edition is our way of fixing what doesn't work and taking what does work and make it better." Many of the elements he discusses that are being worked on in the new game sound remarkably familiar to anyone who plays an MMO -- complaints of unbalanced classes, games that take too long to play and unclear and arcane rules that keep everyone from getting to the good stuff, fighting monsters, looting treasure, playing their roles and generally having a good time.
Indeed, many of the new game's solutions sound like they come straight out of the video game world, particularly the massively multiplayer world and the digital version of the very game being discussed. One the game's new innovations, for example is an attempt to create more defined class roles so that every class has something to do in combat and every class has unique powers to do it with. They're also bringing out new power-sources for spell-casting classes that will give them more options than just setting up camp for the night when the cleric or the mage runs out of spells. Indeed, the classic "fire and forget" spell-casting system first devised by Gary Gygax based on the work of Jack Vance is often one of the first things video-game developers do away with in RPGs. Slaviscek doesn't deny the influence of video games on the direction of the new edition; he just says that the development team drew inspiration from all over the gaming world in addition to their own discussions with players.
While the new rules and the new books (the three "Core books" will be available in 200 are the heart of this new initiative, the 4th edition will have aspects that go far beyond merely paper-and-pencil and the kitchen table. Wizards of the Coast is embracing the online world in a big way with the launch of 4th Edition. While there are several new elements that fall under this digital program including a couple of software programs, they all fall under the name "D&D Insider."
D&D Insider will be a subscription-based program ("it'll cost more than a cup of coffee but less than an MMO," Slaviscek said when asked about price) that aims to do for the real Dungeons & Dragons what legions of MMOs can only simulate -- bring the true Dungeons & Dragons experience online. "Part of the reason this is so exciting is that it will give players new ways to connect with one another, allowing them to get a D&D game together whenever their lifestyle permits," Slaviscek said. In certain ways, D&D Insider is a logical extension of "D&D Alumni." This is a program designed to get people who stopped playing Dungeons & Dragons because they got jobs, kids, mortgages and the other trappings of real life that kept them from having the free time to devote to the game.
The first part of D&D Insider is a new piece of software called "D&D Tabletop." This is a piece of software that places on screen a digital representation of the tiled table top on which D&D miniatures are placed. Players can create their own dungeons, walls and obstacle representations. There are also digital representations of miniatures that the Dungeon Master can move around, dice rolling utilities, experience point calculators, voice chat and facilities for players to move their own character miniatures around. The only thing missing is artificial intelligence and this is entirely deliberate. Slaviscek is quick to point out that D&D Tabletop is not a game in and of itself. It's a tool, a utility that allows people to play the game with a real-live Dungeon Master across the Internet or a useful thing for a real-world group to use on a laptop around a real kitchen table.
Other elements consist of enhanced digital components attached to real-world books. When a player purchases a physical book, they'll also be able to get a code that gives them an e-version of the books that can be placed within their own private space within Insider. This digital content will be continually updated with addendums and new materials that will then be added to the digital versions of the books they own. There will also be a "character creator" software tool. Again seemingly inspired by MMO character creation tools, players of 4th Edition will be able to create a virtual character and character sheet, adjust their appearance, equip them with what they're actually wearing, pose them any way they like and import them into the D&D Tabletop. Slaviscek expects this to be a huge hit among players. "You can finally have a miniature that looks like your character rather than a close approximation."
The company is also bringing their successful pair of magazines, "Dungeon" and "Dragon" into the online space. They're promising that both will be much more useful since they can now be updated with new material every few days. The material they offer will also be more in-depth with more long-form material because the editors no longer have to worry about word counts. At the end of each month, the entire updated contents will also be packaged up as a digital download and offered for sale to non-subscribers.
Finally, the company is using their Gleemax initiative to power the back-end on the entire program. Gleemax is the company's oddly named attempt to create a social networking hub for table-top gamers. The site's features run the gamut from standard social networking tools such as friends' lists and personal blogs to game-specific tools such as a scheduling and calendar package, universal d20 character sheets and specialized content for specific types of games such as tabletop miniatures and collectible card games. While the Gleemax site itself is game-neutral, the company is planning on stressing the links between the Insider software packages and the services available from Gleemax.
While the specifics of the 4th Edition rule set will undoubtedly cause plenty of arguments among D&D fans (there were more than a few boos among the claps at the official unveiling), the power of what the company is attempting can't be denied. In a world that's busier than ever, one of the reasons people turn to video games as a source of entertainment is because of their convenience factor. Online multiplayer games in particular offer the benefits of social activity for time-pressed people who may not have the time to dedicate to a deliberate gaming experience. D&D 4th Edition is nothing less than an attempt by Wizards of the Coast to bring some of that ease-of-use and convenience to the granddaddy of all time-sinks. "This is about bringing Dungeons & Dragons to the people," Slaviscek says as we conclude our conversation. "We want them to be able to play wherever, whenever and however they want to."
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Knight Warlord a.k.a. Commander (#32) in only 6 months. Where's my pie?
Champion of Dwarven Thunderlashers
Knight of the Large Dire Chicken
Have/Want List
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zenthrus
Commander
4676 Posts
SLC, UT
| | 08/20/2007 9:02 AM |
| Every time I hear that 4E is going to "make it better," I cringe. Sounds like "better" means paying $5 a month for a quasi-MMO.  | |
Knight Warlord a.k.a. Commander (#32) in only 6 months. Where's my pie?
Champion of Dwarven Thunderlashers
Knight of the Large Dire Chicken
Have/Want List
Trade References | |
|
zenthrus
Commander
4676 Posts
SLC, UT
| | 08/20/2007 9:04 AM |
| As a side note, every time I see "DI" I chuckle. Around here, DI stands for "Deseret Industries." It's a charity store (much like the Salvation Army stores).
WotC sure has taken a vested interest in the DI. They must have a lot of clothes to donate  | |
Knight Warlord a.k.a. Commander (#32) in only 6 months. Where's my pie?
Champion of Dwarven Thunderlashers
Knight of the Large Dire Chicken
Have/Want List
Trade References | |
| Master of the
Awesome Sauce
Teflon Jeff
Warlord
6519 Posts
Idaho. Yes, we have Gamers in Idaho.
| | 08/20/2007 11:08 AM |
| Yeah, I'm with Zenthrus, I keep thinking it's a thrift store...
Seriously, I am liking 4E more and more. Especially the modular aspect. Use what you want, ignore what you dislike. | |
Official Delegate, Wizards of the Coast
Against The Giants Called Shot: Huge Green Dragon
Icons Called Shot: Gargantuan Prismatic Dragon
"Rejoice, for bad things are about to happen." | |
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Vrecknidj
Warlord
10099 Posts
United States
| | 08/20/2007 4:32 PM |
| One advantage to the social networking aspect is that access to other gamers' PCs, NPCs, monsters, maps and all the rest means I can spend time browsing and pilfering stuff instead of making everything myself. I mean, something like the Draconomicon could be assembled by the community and continue to be revised and improved over time.
Having 10,000 designers instead of a few dozen designers, even if many of those 10,000 are sub-par, means a lot more material.
Dave | |
Knowledge Arcana editor issues 5-9, Phoenix Lore Magazine editor, assistant editor for Rite Publishing;
My Trade Thread and My Reference Thread; Winner of WBC IV, IX and XIII; Rule #0: bshugg is always right! | |
| Master of the
Awesome Sauce
Teflon Jeff
Warlord
6519 Posts
Idaho. Yes, we have Gamers in Idaho.
| | 08/20/2007 6:38 PM |
| | And Dave has yet another idea I like about it. Now,that awesome house rule that [insert gamer here] thought of, can spread like wildfire and be in the next splatbook before you can say "Man, that's a good rule" | |
Official Delegate, Wizards of the Coast
Against The Giants Called Shot: Huge Green Dragon
Icons Called Shot: Gargantuan Prismatic Dragon
"Rejoice, for bad things are about to happen." | |
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Vrecknidj
Warlord
10099 Posts
United States
| | 08/21/2007 6:04 AM |
| Not only that, but, there are these amazing web resources, like (ahem) Knowledge Arcana, that can be repositories for this stuff. With a little negotiating, we may just find that KA can store some "best of" material from these social networking sites compiling all the great articles into one place, but maintaining hyperlinks to the original articles so that readers can have immediate access to the material.
Dave | |
Knowledge Arcana editor issues 5-9, Phoenix Lore Magazine editor, assistant editor for Rite Publishing;
My Trade Thread and My Reference Thread; Winner of WBC IV, IX and XIII; Rule #0: bshugg is always right! | |
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nyjastul69
Commander
2710 Posts
Rhode Island
| | 08/21/2007 6:11 AM |
| Posted By Vrecknidj on 08/20/2007 4:32 PM
Having 10,000 designers instead of a few dozen designers, even if many of those 10,000 are sub-par, means a lot more material.
Dave
Much like the OGL and d20 STL. =)Â
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You know, I keep thinking that after the new design team gets done with D&D 4e, D&D won't stand for Dungeons and Dragons anymore, because well, that's just not fun. It's old and stuffy. - Originally Posted by BabWryter on Kenzerco.com | |
| Master of the
Awesome Sauce
Teflon Jeff
Warlord
6519 Posts
Idaho. Yes, we have Gamers in Idaho.
| | 08/21/2007 9:16 AM |
| Posted By nyjastul69 on 08/21/2007 6:11 AM Posted By Vrecknidj on 08/20/2007 4:32 PM
Having 10,000 designers instead of a few dozen designers, even if many of those 10,000 are sub-par, means a lot more material.
Dave Much like the OGL and d20 STL. =)Â
This is a step beyond OGL, because now I can have one small idea and contribute it to the community, instead of needing to fill out to book-size, then try to print an sell. Evoution... | |
Official Delegate, Wizards of the Coast
Against The Giants Called Shot: Huge Green Dragon
Icons Called Shot: Gargantuan Prismatic Dragon
"Rejoice, for bad things are about to happen." | |
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Bert the Troll
Commander
3771 Posts
Adelaide
| | 08/21/2007 4:42 PM |
| Posted By Teflon Jeff on 08/20/2007 6:38 PM
And Dave has yet another idea I like about it. Now,that awesome house rule that [insert gamer here] thought of, can spread like wildfire and be in the next splatbook before you can say "Man, that's a good rule"
Do keep in mind that that house rule would become WoTC intectual property and they wouldnt need to ask or pay you for it, so make sure your handle is well affixed to it so you can claim credit if nothing else.
I do like the idea of sharing ideas and such, but I also figure thats what the internets are for anyway - not excatly novel. | |
"Mutton yesterday, mutton today, and blimey, if it don't look like mutton again tomorrer." Bert the Troll - The Hobbit
Semi-Secret sig business: Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason. ~ Seinfeld
Champion of Epic Lolth, Orcus, & Demogorgon and bring us Asmodeus! | |
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Vrecknidj
Warlord
10099 Posts
United States
| | 08/21/2007 5:08 PM |
| Yep. The ideas do become WotC property. But, if WotC staffers notice that great ideas keep pouring out of the same few people, they've managed to find a brilliant recruitment too.
Dave | |
Knowledge Arcana editor issues 5-9, Phoenix Lore Magazine editor, assistant editor for Rite Publishing;
My Trade Thread and My Reference Thread; Winner of WBC IV, IX and XIII; Rule #0: bshugg is always right! | |
| Master of the
Awesome Sauce
Teflon Jeff
Warlord
6519 Posts
Idaho. Yes, we have Gamers in Idaho.
| | 08/22/2007 9:00 AM |
| Posted By Bert the Troll on 08/21/2007 4:42 PM Posted By Teflon Jeff on 08/20/2007 6:38 PM
And Dave has yet another idea I like about it. Now,that awesome house rule that [insert gamer here] thought of, can spread like wildfire and be in the next splatbook before you can say "Man, that's a good rule" Do keep in mind that that house rule would become WoTC intectual property and they wouldnt need to ask or pay you for it, so make sure your handle is well affixed to it so you can claim credit if nothing else. I do like the idea of sharing ideas and such, but I also figure thats what the internets are for anyway - not excatly novel.
Yeah, the internet is useful, but 4E will bring more D&D players to the internet... For D&D. Most of my friends play D&D, and a few play DDM. I am the only one who actually uses the internet for that, though. And then, even only because I had moved, and needed a D&D community without my group. Then, as I created and lured a group here, I stayed on teh interwebs. But most gamers are insular, and this will encourage them to come to the warm light of a D&D community. | |
Official Delegate, Wizards of the Coast
Against The Giants Called Shot: Huge Green Dragon
Icons Called Shot: Gargantuan Prismatic Dragon
"Rejoice, for bad things are about to happen." | |
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