Tome Show 159

[Amazing Triangle]

http://thetome.podbean.com/2010/12/19/tome-ep-159-chacter-builder-web-app/

Though I thought they were a little biased to be nice about a change I feel was bad (as did my gaming group), there is an interesting caller at the end of the interview in the middle of the podcast. Some awesome James brother, Mike James. I don't agree with their views and the questions for Trevor were softball, which is how interviews are done, all in all I guess. The slow response is annoying and well makes making a character a slow process.

[Matt James]

What specifically was the point you didn't agree with? I'm being lazy and don't want to listen to all of it again.

[Amazing Triangle]

They seemed to like the fact that they changed over to a new character builder. There are few I know of that are happy with the change, they made it out that they were happy with this change.

My problem with the whole web based character builder was that it is not available offline. Both Game Parlors (when I was there) didn't have web access. I don't like the fact that I can't use it offline, as when I go to friends houses, to cut down on distractions, I turn off my wireless unless I need it.

They were also quite muted about the fact that it crashes regularly (6 times in the first month and 3 times this month). The host, Jeff, seemed to be happy about it more because he is a mac guy and can now make characters but the fact that it pauses, which was brought up, was not made significant enough. Speed is a huge concern, on my home computer it is quite fast, online there computers are quite slow. Even the "nonbiased" host seemed to like the fact that it "could" get better. I quote those because that was a point they made over and over again. That they had a good program that would get better. I felt that they took out all that made the old program great. Speed, at home access, and as many characters as my hard drive can hold.

I am not someone who went one month at a time paying just to update my builders. I payed for the whole year. I feel that they made these changes to get folks who paid one month to get all past months progress. I don't think I am getting my money's worth on this 'upgrade'.

[Matt James]

I don't think Jeff really claims to be unbiased, so we can move that out. He gets more utility out of the new CB, thus his review. He gives an honest appraisal of the application-- one he happens to like. As for crashes, I had more issues with the old CB crashing so this point I can't sympathize with.

Me, I like that it is web-based. It has a lot that needs to be fined-tuned and tweaked, but I prefer the current iteration and feel it should have been this way from day 1. I'm sure as the next couple months roll by, we will see improvements and changes that will bring it more in line with their vision for it.

[ERJHolton]

I don't like the current online character builder. The interface is a substantial step backwards from the offline one in all ways except search; it's slower than the offline one for me; it is substantially feature-light compared to the offline version; and it's suffering from even more rules omissions and errors than previously. It's a product that was far from ready to replace the previous character builder, and on top of that there's a real feeling of dishonesty in WotC's communication leading to its introduction.

I know the principle reasons behind replacing the old CB were piracy and a desire to end the practise of subscribing one month in however many (Mac support was a bonus and WotC used it as a smokescreen), and I accept them as being natural behaviour for shareholder-driven corporate entities*. I also feel that the former could have been dealt with by other means, and the latter group is more likely to use cbloader than go for a full-time subscription. VT integration is smoke and mirrors too. Web integration could have been done with the original CB.

At the moment, the only things keeping me subscribed to DDI are the magazines**. The VT is OK, but the lack of content import options (tiles, characters, monsters) seriously cripples its use as a rapid adventure development tool. I know such integration is a planned feature, but there is no timeline for it. Additionally, we don't even know if the VT will be part of the DDI subscription yet; another strike against using it as a factor in staying subscribed. Finally, the current Monster Builder has serious usability bugs that won't be fixed, and the online version is delayed; regardless, with the online CB transition, I have low hopes for the first six months of transition to the online equivalent.

* I was going to discuss my dislike of such, but this is a gaming forum, not a political one.
** A few lemons aside, I'm generally happy with them.

[Amazing Triangle]

As for crashes, I had more issues with the old CB crashing so this point I can't sympathize with.
In all the time I have had the old character builder I have had 3~5 crashes. The new one did that in a single weekend.

I hope in two months we see improvements because as it stands when my DDI stops in February I plan to stop subscribing.

[Matt James]

I never advocate anyone paying for something they don't like. I hope it all works out. I've had no issues.