Did anyone see this? What the hey? Is WotC intentionally trying to undercut Beyond?
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Grant K. Smith A+, Network+, MCP x 2, BSIT/VC, MIS
Software Engineer & Dungeon Master
"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger." - J. R. R. Tolkien "Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup" - Anonymous
It looks less like trying to undercut Beyond, and more like trying to satisfy fan requests in a way that doesn't go against things they've done to satisfy brick & mortar stores.
I'm interested to see how this works out... though I expect to hear numerous complaints from people because anything short of exactly what they asked for (PDF) won't be good enough, and because having bought a couch last winter doesn't entitle them to a lounge chair for free today.
But yeah, go WotC. Give people D&D in as many different mediums as you can, so that maybe everyone will find their favorite way of getting content and focus on enjoying it instead of pitching fits about how evil you are for trying to make money off selling a game people love to play.
It looks less like trying to undercut Beyond, and more like trying to satisfy fan requests in a way that doesn't go against things they've done to satisfy brick & mortar stores.
I'm interested to see how this works out... though I expect to hear numerous complaints from people because anything short of exactly what they asked for (PDF) won't be good enough, and because having bought a couch last winter doesn't entitle them to a lounge chair for free today.
But yeah, go WotC. Give people D&D in as many different mediums as you can, so that maybe everyone will find their favorite way of getting content and focus on enjoying it instead of pitching fits about how evil you are for trying to make money off selling a game people love to play.
My point is that Curse (with Beyond) is already offering this service through the Compendium so why does another product need to exist for it?
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Grant K. Smith A+, Network+, MCP x 2, BSIT/VC, MIS
Software Engineer & Dungeon Master
"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger." - J. R. R. Tolkien "Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup" - Anonymous
My point is that Curse (with Beyond) is already offering this service through the Compendium so why does another product need to exist for it?
Because it's not actually the same. With D&D Beyond, if I'm trying to read the information like a book, I have to stop at the end of each chapter, hit the back button, then pick the next chapter - but an eBook version I could just keep flipping pages.
It's similar, yes, but since people are still asking for PDFs even after D&D Beyond gives them what it gives them, so there is clearly room for another style of offering.
Mashable has an article about this too and when asked said that this was separate from D&D Beyond. The linked article has a different company developing this. So it seems to be a separate product.
My point is that Curse (with Beyond) is already offering this service through the Compendium so why does another product need to exist for it?
Because it's not actually the same. With D&D Beyond, if I'm trying to read the information like a book, I have to stop at the end of each chapter, hit the back button, then pick the next chapter - but an eBook version I could just keep flipping pages.
It's similar, yes, but since people are still asking for PDFs even after D&D Beyond gives them what it gives them, so there is clearly room for another style of offering.
We don't know how navigation will work in the DDB app. That could be more similar.
Mashable has an article about this too and when asked said that this was separate from D&D Beyond. The linked article has a different company developing this. So it seems to be a separate product.
Correct, hence my original post.
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Grant K. Smith A+, Network+, MCP x 2, BSIT/VC, MIS
Software Engineer & Dungeon Master
"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger." - J. R. R. Tolkien "Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup" - Anonymous
So it will be horrendous. At least I know to completely avoid it.
Ha! I think if D&D Beyond gives me bookmarks and a proper offline option it will do everything this other app is going to. Which is why I'm questioning WotC inking yet another deal....
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Grant K. Smith A+, Network+, MCP x 2, BSIT/VC, MIS
Software Engineer & Dungeon Master
"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger." - J. R. R. Tolkien "Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup" - Anonymous
My guess is because of the lack of bells and whistles, this app will be able to come out before DDB's offline app. I have no doubt WotC has seen the constant complaints on these boards and on other social media, and probably figured this would be a good alternative for people who only wanted the books in digital form but didn't want all of the extra features.
The head scratcher for me is that it looks to be similarly priced. I could just get the compendium content from here for less. So maybe the ebook format is the justification, but idk...
I have no doubt WotC has seen the constant complaints on these boards and on other social media, and probably figured this would be a good alternative for people who only wanted the books in digital form but didn't want all of the extra features.
It seems that people really don't understand how this all works. WotC doesn't commission these things. A company like Dialect asks WotC for a license and they negotiate a deal. WotC basically only says yes or no and everything else is done by the developer.
I just figured Dialect was probably more under the WotC umbrella than Curse based on what little I've picked up from the Dragon Talk Podcast. But maybe it's exactly like the Curse arrangement. Doesn't affect me either way. I have everything I need here.
DND Beyond is showing people that there is a market for this stuff.
They just want a piece of the market pie. DND Beyond should have a step up on the others due to time in developing a great product. I have been pretty happy so far.
The Reader App makes no sense to me. If it costs the same to buy the PHB on D&D Reader as it does to buy on DDB, only a fool who hasn't heard of DDB will buy it? Eventually DDB's app will be out with offline access, so those of us who already bough the books here have no logical reason to spend the same money again somewhere else. Those who haven't already bought the books would do well to buy DDB and get the best of both worlds, including the PC builder, campaign manager, etc.
Mind = Boggled.
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"Orcs are savage raiders and pillagers with stooped postures, low foreheads, and piggish faces with prominent lower canines that resemble tusks." MM p245 (original printing) You don't OWN your books on DDB: WotC can change them any time. What do you think will happen when OneD&D comes out?
The Reader App makes no sense to me. If it costs the same to buy the PHB on D&D Reader as it does to buy on DDB, only a fool who hasn't heard of DDB will buy it? Eventually DDB's app will be out with offline access, so those of us who already bough the books here have no logical reason to spend the same money again somewhere else. Those who haven't already bought the books would do well to buy DDB and get the best of both worlds, including the PC builder, campaign manager, etc.
Mind = Boggled.
The key word there is eventually. The app isn't out yet, so Reader will be relevant until Beyond's app is out.
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"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
When I first read this, I thought that it was the D&D Beyond app finally getting released. Now it looks like this is going to be another separate product. So, this will be interesting to say the least. I'm really only here for the rulebooks.
If D&D Reader offers offline access on a PC/Mac/Linux, along with annotation, then I'll look at it.
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Did anyone see this? What the hey? Is WotC intentionally trying to undercut Beyond?
Grant K. Smith
A+, Network+, MCP x 2, BSIT/VC, MIS
Software Engineer & Dungeon Master
"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger." - J. R. R. Tolkien
"Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup" - Anonymous
Such a mystery!! :D
I'm sure more details will follow soon.
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It looks less like trying to undercut Beyond, and more like trying to satisfy fan requests in a way that doesn't go against things they've done to satisfy brick & mortar stores.
I'm interested to see how this works out... though I expect to hear numerous complaints from people because anything short of exactly what they asked for (PDF) won't be good enough, and because having bought a couch last winter doesn't entitle them to a lounge chair for free today.
But yeah, go WotC. Give people D&D in as many different mediums as you can, so that maybe everyone will find their favorite way of getting content and focus on enjoying it instead of pitching fits about how evil you are for trying to make money off selling a game people love to play.
Grant K. Smith
A+, Network+, MCP x 2, BSIT/VC, MIS
Software Engineer & Dungeon Master
"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger." - J. R. R. Tolkien
"Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup" - Anonymous
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twitch.tv/PGKarieo
Mashable has an article about this too and when asked said that this was separate from D&D Beyond. The linked article has a different company developing this. So it seems to be a separate product.
Grant K. Smith
A+, Network+, MCP x 2, BSIT/VC, MIS
Software Engineer & Dungeon Master
"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger." - J. R. R. Tolkien
"Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup" - Anonymous
The same people who do Dragon+?
So it will be horrendous. At least I know to completely avoid it.
Grant K. Smith
A+, Network+, MCP x 2, BSIT/VC, MIS
Software Engineer & Dungeon Master
"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger." - J. R. R. Tolkien
"Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup" - Anonymous
My guess is because of the lack of bells and whistles, this app will be able to come out before DDB's offline app. I have no doubt WotC has seen the constant complaints on these boards and on other social media, and probably figured this would be a good alternative for people who only wanted the books in digital form but didn't want all of the extra features.
The head scratcher for me is that it looks to be similarly priced. I could just get the compendium content from here for less. So maybe the ebook format is the justification, but idk...
I just figured Dialect was probably more under the WotC umbrella than Curse based on what little I've picked up from the Dragon Talk Podcast. But maybe it's exactly like the Curse arrangement. Doesn't affect me either way. I have everything I need here.
DND Beyond is showing people that there is a market for this stuff.
They just want a piece of the market pie. DND Beyond should have a step up on the others due to time in developing a great product. I have been pretty happy so far.
Pain Heals, Chicks Dig Scars, Glory Lasts Forever!
The Reader App makes no sense to me. If it costs the same to buy the PHB on D&D Reader as it does to buy on DDB, only a fool who hasn't heard of DDB will buy it? Eventually DDB's app will be out with offline access, so those of us who already bough the books here have no logical reason to spend the same money again somewhere else. Those who haven't already bought the books would do well to buy DDB and get the best of both worlds, including the PC builder, campaign manager, etc.
Mind = Boggled.
"Orcs are savage raiders and pillagers with stooped postures, low foreheads, and piggish faces with prominent lower canines that resemble tusks." MM p245 (original printing)
You don't OWN your books on DDB: WotC can change them any time. What do you think will happen when OneD&D comes out?
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
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I was sort of excited when I thought that WotC might be working on a reader device, then I read the article. I'll pass on that.
When I first read this, I thought that it was the D&D Beyond app finally getting released. Now it looks like this is going to be another separate product. So, this will be interesting to say the least. I'm really only here for the rulebooks.
If D&D Reader offers offline access on a PC/Mac/Linux, along with annotation, then I'll look at it.