Dungeons & Dragons Insider: Sneak Preview

[puzak07]

the only reason wizards made this was to make more money off our asses

[Shaitaasi]

Is this somehow tied to d&d 4th edition? I mean can it be used for 3rd ed? Or indeed any similar game system?

[adamthesonofgod]

It's not a video game it's a visual aid.

I'm overseas and I've been waiting for something like this; now I can play D&D with my friends stateside. I've seen similar fan developed tools but nothing this polished.

I agree with Dextolen but my "tabletop" DOES need this.

[Nathan4D]

Seems like a good way to get a map and figures to the players without having to blow a bunch of cash on map tiles and random minis. And I am sold on being able to create personal virtual minis.

[Dextolen]

My table top game doesn't need all this bs.  D&D is about a table, friends, dice, beer, chips and kibitzing. No online crap necessary.

[blargggg1]

don't forget moutain dew and cheetos!

[Loremasten]

I think I would get this product, but I would only use it for the mapping ability. I find that when I play, its easier to have the map for the players...that is, showing the exposed area as they tromp through the dungeon. I think I saw an option on this demo to include different light sources radii. I like that a lot. The other bells and whistles, such as character creation and detailing, are not important to me. Still, I would buy this product.

[SnowHeart1]

It's not a video game -- comparing it to WoW or NWN2 is apples and oranges. This is a new "tool" they're marketing for the next edition of D&D. I'm dubious as to whether it will be a good thing or not, but regardless, it's not a video game.

[JALongden]

It's not a video game people, it's a virtual table top for traditional D&D gaming.

[commify]

If I wanted a crude looking video game I'd play Nethack, thanks.

[tlilmiztli]

And what it has to do to that PROGRAM? It is NOT a game dude.

[shadow11781]

looks interesting xD

[jimhada]

NWN looked better.

I dare say this will find an audience though.

The game looks like a 3d Heroquest :p

[karabinas]

World Of Warcraft is much better...obviously

[tlilmiztli]

Obviously youre dumb - that is NOT a game, you idiot.

[Herrar]

Yep, you can play 4ed just like we've done for 30 years -- at your dining room table. This is another option, for those that can't play "live" or don't want to. Just another way to move along with the times and give gamers several playing options. Watch the other interview videos from GamerZer0 as they discuss this, especially the one with Randy Buehler.

[Taledor]

D&D creates a 3D world in my mind, not 2D. Jump and climb have uses, spider climb and fly are cool spells, and jumping on a table to battle the Orcish horde is much more heroic (and will get more girls) than staying on the floor. This certainly could be a useful tool, but it has the potential to pull some of the creativity and human element out of the game, as per the warning in the excerpt on pg 14 of the DMG 3.5E. Dang, I cite sourcebooks even in YouTube arguments; I think I have a problem.

[Taledor]

I must respectfully inform KraZ3d1 that, despite my cranky nature, I'm too young to really remember the 80's, and I definitely couldn't understand the AD&D 2e rules at that age, I hardly understand them now ;). I like the Hypertext d20 SRD, I must admit to owning NWN and all released expansions, though not NWN 2 because I'm a poor student and my computer is slow. I even play D&D by post over the internet. I'll agree that electronic supplements have their places, but...

[DasMuffin]

Also, the program is clearly using the D&D tiles that they recently released, and they're continually coming out with new tilesets: wilderness, crypts, caverns, ruins... There's a bias towards underground and indoors, but they're not going to stop coming out with new environments any time soon, and those places will all find their way into the application.

[DasMuffin]

Bluecar, this program is going to have a way to input your own maps and images instead of using "dungeon" tiles. If it doesn't come with that functionality, people will either demand it or mod the program themselves to make it happen. Either way, it'll be available for people who need alternative maps.

[ERoy1971]

The internet has its uses, but I don't want to HAVE to use it if I don't. As long as there's a classic tabletop version that doesn't require Insider access or the net, I'm fine.

[Taggme2]

How about Mapping Battles? There are other maps from what I have heard. Is this meant to replace table top? No... That would kill their own market. This is for all those people who live in areas that can't get a reliable table game going, those people who are more comfortable on the net than at a con... In short, if this isn't something your interested in.. fine, it might just bring in some others that didn't even realise that D&D was worth playing.

[bluecarpettiles]

I agree with Taledor, I preferred 2nd edition and as to the internet not being useful, it's great for music. Can't see how this thing will work for those of us who planscape or campaigns which don't involve any form of dungeon hacking.

[Wolfrover]

To be fair, we're not seeing the finished product, here. The final version should have at least a chat system (probably text) for dialogue/DM announcements, and more options on scenery. At least in my opinion...

[gmt4998]

I'm sorry it looks soooooo slow and clunky.

Why would I want to use it?

[vbywrde]

This could be good. It could be bad. Depends on the total package and how well it actually works. Demos like this one are fascinating, but don't really tell me enough about what it's like to actually use the program during live play. I'd need to know a lot more, and use it for a while to really have an opinion. That said, wow. Looks pretty!

[HoneyBBare]

Strange as it is to say, Wizards may actually have a good idea happening here. As for the it will kill the imagination comment...please, if computer games haven't killed peoples imaginations with the whole point and shoot deal, then I don't think this will either. Just not all that keen on having to pay a monthly subscription of Morethan Dragon/Dungeon mag subscription less than a MMPOG (Or whatever) to access it...guess I'll have to check it out later

[PzAz04Maus]

... *coughs*

[KraZ3d1]

Taledor, go back to the eighties if you don't want the internet to be a useful tool. I'm a tabletop player, but most of my gaming these days is with an online group.

If you don't have the imagination to think of a figure as more than what it is, you should get your brain checked and not complain about a rather adaptive program that's going to be useful to gaming groups the world over.

Meanwhile, I'm going to look forward to this coming out and not having to deal with homebrew map apps anymore.

[Taledor]

I had a rant, it was very sarcastic. YouTube wouldn't post it without me "confirming my E-mail" and in the process it got lost. Upshot: This program kills the imagination of the game, 3Ed and 3.5 lasted 3 and 5 years respectively (which is pathetic), and WotC just want our money. I mean, really, does D&D need to be updated as often as Windows OS? I said it a lot more artfully the first time, but this is the general point: Boo WotC! Yay TSR!

[Chase9824]

I just started playing DnD, straying away from MMO's, looking for something more imaginative, something I could really get in to... This 4th edition "virtual dungeon" crap is rediculous... I honestly hope you can still play the game without using these programs, and use just the books, pen and paper... the way it SHOULD be