Comments on: D&DI: The Price is Right http://rpgcentric.com/ddi-the-price-is-right.html One gamer's opinion of everything RPG Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:31:58 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: reveal http://rpgcentric.com/ddi-the-price-is-right.html/comment-page-1#comment-1058 reveal Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:49:31 +0000 http://rpgcentric.com/?p=74#comment-1058 @Jesusfreak444 - Thanks for commenting! I know what you mean. With your WoW scenario, DDI is a much better deal. :) @Jesusfreak444 – Thanks for commenting! I know what you mean. With your WoW scenario, DDI is a much better deal. :)

]]> By: Jesusfreak444 http://rpgcentric.com/ddi-the-price-is-right.html/comment-page-1#comment-1057 Jesusfreak444 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:41:37 +0000 http://rpgcentric.com/?p=74#comment-1057 I agree with you sorta. I never got the mags, but what you say about the lower price is cool. But the thing is, it's not organized in any apparent(at least to me) fashion on the D&DI website. As for the game table, even though its not out yet, I wil GLADLY pay 8 bucks for it. I NEED the game table, cause gaming here in Chicago sucks. Just think about it this way: I used to play Wold of Warcraft, and it sucked up my life, and for nothing!= 15 bucks a month. I'll be playing with people all over the world, and have complete fun.= 8 bucks a month! See what I mean? I agree with you sorta. I never got the mags, but what you say about the lower price is cool. But the thing is, it’s not organized in any apparent(at least to me) fashion on the D&DI website. As for the game table, even though its not out yet, I wil GLADLY pay 8 bucks for it. I NEED the game table, cause gaming here in Chicago sucks. Just think about it this way:

I used to play Wold of Warcraft, and it sucked up my life, and for nothing!= 15 bucks a month.

I’ll be playing with people all over the world, and have complete fun.= 8 bucks a month!

See what I mean?

]]> By: Tiny Adventures: Wizards continues to lag behind in the electronic age | RPGCentric » One gamer's opinion of everything RPG http://rpgcentric.com/ddi-the-price-is-right.html/comment-page-1#comment-998 Tiny Adventures: Wizards continues to lag behind in the electronic age | RPGCentric » One gamer's opinion of everything RPG Sun, 24 Aug 2008 21:49:03 +0000 http://rpgcentric.com/?p=74#comment-998 [...] read my review here. Recently, a new pricing structured was announced. While I do think that the price is fair, they are asking people to pay for what is essentially an incomplete product. While Wizards [...] [...] read my review here. Recently, a new pricing structured was announced. While I do think that the price is fair, they are asking people to pay for what is essentially an incomplete product. While Wizards [...]

]]> By: Bagpuss http://rpgcentric.com/ddi-the-price-is-right.html/comment-page-1#comment-881 Bagpuss Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:17:39 +0000 http://rpgcentric.com/?p=74#comment-881 The quality and care that has gone into these PDF is considerably less than under Paizo as well. Take the Scales of War adventure path, there are a host of errors with it massive gaps in the information given to DM's. Compare that to the support given to the adventure paths by Paizo. They are recycled art from the MM, and maps from old adventures. Didn't even bother to show the location of the dungeon crawl on the area map, or map the ground level of the castle. You might be paying half of what you would have for the magazines, but Dungeon at least isn't even a quarter of the quality. They have also got worse at correcting there errors in the latest compiled edition of Dragon, not bothering to fix a load of problems people spotted with powers and items. At least for the first compiled edition of 4th Ed Dragon they made that effort, now it looks like they can't even keep that up. They still haven't added the new powers and items from Dragon to the D&D Compendium, even though the deadline they original announced was it would go live at the same time as the compiled editions. I'm not paying for it because they constantly fail to deliver on their tragets. They ask for feedback, but then ignore it. They can't even provide basic stuff that Paizo did (like decent scale maps, without the DM information). The editing and writing of Dungeon is not of the quality I've come to expect, and Dragon isn't much better. The quality and care that has gone into these PDF is considerably less than under Paizo as well. Take the Scales of War adventure path, there are a host of errors with it massive gaps in the information given to DM’s. Compare that to the support given to the adventure paths by Paizo. They are recycled art from the MM, and maps from old adventures. Didn’t even bother to show the location of the dungeon crawl on the area map, or map the ground level of the castle.

You might be paying half of what you would have for the magazines, but Dungeon at least isn’t even a quarter of the quality.

They have also got worse at correcting there errors in the latest compiled edition of Dragon, not bothering to fix a load of problems people spotted with powers and items. At least for the first compiled edition of 4th Ed Dragon they made that effort, now it looks like they can’t even keep that up.

They still haven’t added the new powers and items from Dragon to the D&D Compendium, even though the deadline they original announced was it would go live at the same time as the compiled editions.

I’m not paying for it because they constantly fail to deliver on their tragets. They ask for feedback, but then ignore it. They can’t even provide basic stuff that Paizo did (like decent scale maps, without the DM information). The editing and writing of Dungeon is not of the quality I’ve come to expect, and Dragon isn’t much better.

]]> By: reveal http://rpgcentric.com/ddi-the-price-is-right.html/comment-page-1#comment-848 reveal Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:52:36 +0000 http://rpgcentric.com/?p=74#comment-848 @MadBrewLabs - Thanks for commenting. I know everyone has different opinions of whether or not bound print is for them. For me, I see no difference in me printing it out and the bound magazine. But, obviously, some folks want it the way it used to be. :) @MadBrewLabs – Thanks for commenting. I know everyone has different opinions of whether or not bound print is for them. For me, I see no difference in me printing it out and the bound magazine. But, obviously, some folks want it the way it used to be. :)

]]> By: MadBrewLabs http://rpgcentric.com/ddi-the-price-is-right.html/comment-page-1#comment-847 MadBrewLabs Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:20:52 +0000 http://rpgcentric.com/?p=74#comment-847 I'd have to agree with Ghendar here. There is something to be said about have a nicely bound, glossy print magazine to hold in your hand. It's the same reason I buy the physical books when I could just as easily download a cheaper (or free) PDF. Oh sure, I could print it. But I prefer the quality of bound, professional books. By the time I'd finish printing 100-150 pages front & back on quality paper in full color, I'd have to then spend another $80 dollars in ink and it still wouldn't be the same as a professional version. I would rather have the physical, then if I wanted the portability, scan it at no cost (other than the initial scanner purchase, which I already have). I don't want to be bothered with printing either, but it is related to cost and quality not laziness. As for the actual quality of the writing in Dragon and Dungeon magazines, the jury is still out (for me). And this current pricing structure isn't going to last, I would wager a few dollars that when ALL the tools are available, DDI will have a double digit monthly fee. It might be interesting if they allow a la carte pricing, say if I only want Dragon and I could get it for $15 a year. I might go for that. All the bitchin' aside, I do like your blog and by no means is my irritation directed at fans of DDI. If it fits your ideal, use it. I’d have to agree with Ghendar here. There is something to be said about have a nicely bound, glossy print magazine to hold in your hand. It’s the same reason I buy the physical books when I could just as easily download a cheaper (or free) PDF.

Oh sure, I could print it. But I prefer the quality of bound, professional books. By the time I’d finish printing 100-150 pages front & back on quality paper in full color, I’d have to then spend another $80 dollars in ink and it still wouldn’t be the same as a professional version. I would rather have the physical, then if I wanted the portability, scan it at no cost (other than the initial scanner purchase, which I already have). I don’t want to be bothered with printing either, but it is related to cost and quality not laziness.

As for the actual quality of the writing in Dragon and Dungeon magazines, the jury is still out (for me). And this current pricing structure isn’t going to last, I would wager a few dollars that when ALL the tools are available, DDI will have a double digit monthly fee. It might be interesting if they allow a la carte pricing, say if I only want Dragon and I could get it for $15 a year. I might go for that.

All the bitchin’ aside, I do like your blog and by no means is my irritation directed at fans of DDI. If it fits your ideal, use it.

]]> By: CrazyMike http://rpgcentric.com/ddi-the-price-is-right.html/comment-page-1#comment-846 CrazyMike Thu, 07 Aug 2008 22:56:23 +0000 http://rpgcentric.com/?p=74#comment-846 If they keep the price at the same or lower as it would be if someone went down to purchase a magazine they should be ok. I don't care what they end up offering in the end, if they get greedy and drive up the price then I won't be on board. If they keep the price at the same or lower as it would be if someone went down to purchase a magazine they should be ok. I don’t care what they end up offering in the end, if they get greedy and drive up the price then I won’t be on board.

]]> By: reveal http://rpgcentric.com/ddi-the-price-is-right.html/comment-page-1#comment-843 reveal Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:25:26 +0000 http://rpgcentric.com/?p=74#comment-843 @ghendar - Actually, it <i>is</i> the point. If the quality of the printing is not as important to you as the content, why is it so important that it be in print format? You are still viewing the same content and have the ability to search through it quickly, copy and paste info into other documents, and print it out. Not wanted to be "bothered" by having to print it out seems, no offense, really lazy to me. It takes very little effort to click a print button. I'm really having a hard time understanding why you are so against the digital format. @ghendar – Actually, it is the point. If the quality of the printing is not as important to you as the content, why is it so important that it be in print format? You are still viewing the same content and have the ability to search through it quickly, copy and paste info into other documents, and print it out. Not wanted to be “bothered” by having to print it out seems, no offense, really lazy to me. It takes very little effort to click a print button. I’m really having a hard time understanding why you are so against the digital format.

]]> By: ghendar http://rpgcentric.com/ddi-the-price-is-right.html/comment-page-1#comment-842 ghendar Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:40:24 +0000 http://rpgcentric.com/?p=74#comment-842 And even if they decide to do print compilations of e-content at some point in the future, it won't be everything. It will be what they consider to be the 'best of...' type of material. For those that like DDI, I hope you get the best out of it. Some of us are still cheesed that WotC killed the print mags. And even if they decide to do print compilations of e-content at some point in the future, it won’t be everything. It will be what they consider to be the ‘best of…’ type of material.

For those that like DDI, I hope you get the best out of it. Some of us are still cheesed that WotC killed the print mags.

]]> By: ghendar http://rpgcentric.com/ddi-the-price-is-right.html/comment-page-1#comment-841 ghendar Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:37:46 +0000 http://rpgcentric.com/?p=74#comment-841 reveal said... @ghendar - How often, when reading either magazine, in the past did you sit down and think “the quality of this print is really, really well done” on anything other than maps and other pullouts? Not really the point. The point is that a preprinted magazine will always be of higher quality than one I could produce by printing out PDFs on my own. Perhaps I could if I bought a color laser printer and used slick/glossy paper stock. Maybe Another point is that I don't want the hassle of having to print it out on my own. The fact is that us 'luddites' would prefer a pre-printed magazine to e-content and in many cases, always will. reveal said…
@ghendar – How often, when reading either magazine, in the past did you sit down and think “the quality of this print is really, really well done” on anything other than maps and other pullouts?

Not really the point. The point is that a preprinted magazine will always be of higher quality than one I could produce by printing out PDFs on my own. Perhaps I could if I bought a color laser printer and used slick/glossy paper stock. Maybe

Another point is that I don’t want the hassle of having to print it out on my own.

The fact is that us ‘luddites’ would prefer a pre-printed magazine to e-content and in many cases, always will.

]]> By: reveal http://rpgcentric.com/ddi-the-price-is-right.html/comment-page-1#comment-840 reveal Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:09:26 +0000 http://rpgcentric.com/?p=74#comment-840 @Jay - Thanks. :) I think a tiered package would be nice. Maybe pay a set price per feature and then combine some for a discount. @Jay – Thanks. :) I think a tiered package would be nice. Maybe pay a set price per feature and then combine some for a discount.

]]> By: Jay http://rpgcentric.com/ddi-the-price-is-right.html/comment-page-1#comment-839 Jay Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:02:39 +0000 http://rpgcentric.com/?p=74#comment-839 Nice article. I'm weary of the price at this point compared to the content, especially since they somehow forgot they don't own the digital rights to their game and can't do all they originally said they would. What I'd really like to see is tiered pricing. If I only want this initial offering, or if I want the taco supreme package with everything I want to be able to pay for what I use and take the sting out of it. Nice article. I’m weary of the price at this point compared to the content, especially since they somehow forgot they don’t own the digital rights to their game and can’t do all they originally said they would.

What I’d really like to see is tiered pricing. If I only want this initial offering, or if I want the taco supreme package with everything I want to be able to pay for what I use and take the sting out of it.

]]> By: reveal http://rpgcentric.com/ddi-the-price-is-right.html/comment-page-1#comment-838 reveal Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:41:43 +0000 http://rpgcentric.com/?p=74#comment-838 @shay - Oh it was definitely worth mentioning. If they're smart, they'll roll out the price increase as they roll out the new content. See ya next week, muchacho! @shay – Oh it was definitely worth mentioning. If they’re smart, they’ll roll out the price increase as they roll out the new content. See ya next week, muchacho!

]]> By: Shaylon http://rpgcentric.com/ddi-the-price-is-right.html/comment-page-1#comment-837 Shaylon Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:29:32 +0000 http://rpgcentric.com/?p=74#comment-837 reveal, I agree that the price isn't too bad for what you get. I am curious what the final totals will be. Just wanted to mention it as I thought the way things were worded were curious. See you in a week or so! -Shay reveal,

I agree that the price isn’t too bad for what you get. I am curious what the final totals will be.

Just wanted to mention it as I thought the way things were worded were curious.

See you in a week or so!

-Shay

]]> By: reveal http://rpgcentric.com/ddi-the-price-is-right.html/comment-page-1#comment-836 reveal Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:17:20 +0000 http://rpgcentric.com/?p=74#comment-836 @ghendar - How often, when reading either magazine, in the past did you sit down and think "the quality of this print is really, really well done" on anything other than maps and other pullouts? @ghendar – How often, when reading either magazine, in the past did you sit down and think “the quality of this print is really, really well done” on anything other than maps and other pullouts?

]]> By: ghendar http://rpgcentric.com/ddi-the-price-is-right.html/comment-page-1#comment-835 ghendar Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:10:54 +0000 http://rpgcentric.com/?p=74#comment-835 @reveal - Yes, I could and then add the cost of color printer ink and have to deal with lesser quality than a print magazine such as Paizo could produce. @reveal – Yes, I could and then add the cost of color printer ink and have to deal with lesser quality than a print magazine such as Paizo could produce.

]]> By: reveal http://rpgcentric.com/ddi-the-price-is-right.html/comment-page-1#comment-834 reveal Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:10:20 +0000 http://rpgcentric.com/?p=74#comment-834 @Sandie - Been there. Done that. @Sandie – Been there. Done that.

]]> By: Sandie Law http://rpgcentric.com/ddi-the-price-is-right.html/comment-page-1#comment-833 Sandie Law Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:08:24 +0000 http://rpgcentric.com/?p=74#comment-833 So...you're saying you use your phone and/or mini laptop thingy on the can? Heh. So…you’re saying you use your phone and/or mini laptop thingy on the can? Heh.

]]> By: reveal http://rpgcentric.com/ddi-the-price-is-right.html/comment-page-1#comment-832 reveal Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:14:32 +0000 http://rpgcentric.com/?p=74#comment-832 @ghendar - 1) You can always print it out and 2) I, personally, have two devices that will allow me to do that (my AT&T Tilt phone and my EEE PC laptop). @Micah - What do you think is a fair price for the content they currently provide? @ghendar – 1) You can always print it out and 2) I, personally, have two devices that will allow me to do that (my AT&T Tilt phone and my EEE PC laptop).

@Micah – What do you think is a fair price for the content they currently provide?

]]> By: Micah http://rpgcentric.com/ddi-the-price-is-right.html/comment-page-1#comment-831 Micah Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:10:47 +0000 http://rpgcentric.com/?p=74#comment-831 Too little for too much. The right way to do a magazine like Dragon & Dungeon is to do <em>both</em> print and online. It's nice to be able to bookmark and mark up the physical copy, plus having the ability to store and archive easily from a digital standpoint. Online publishing is vastly cheaper than print mailings, so the fact that you get a slight savings over the print version is pretty shady. They're passing the savings directly into their own pockets. I have no problems with charging for stuff, but I really hope that low demand will show them that they're providing too little and asking too much. Too little for too much. The right way to do a magazine like Dragon & Dungeon is to do both print and online. It’s nice to be able to bookmark and mark up the physical copy, plus having the ability to store and archive easily from a digital standpoint.

Online publishing is vastly cheaper than print mailings, so the fact that you get a slight savings over the print version is pretty shady. They’re passing the savings directly into their own pockets. I have no problems with charging for stuff, but I really hope that low demand will show them that they’re providing too little and asking too much.

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