DDI Virtual Tabletop Beta
- Thread starter Dave
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Maybe HC or Jay would be interested?
You could made a generic Halforums account and we could use it on a first come first served basis (within limits, like don't use it more then 1 hour at a time or something). Mostly because while i'd like to try it i don't have the time for proper beta play so the account would be wasted on me...
With the way Dave rigs online dice rollers, he won't need luck.
Well that blows...
Someone record a session and post it on youtube then... or is there an NDA?
Dave
Staff member
NDA.
*whisperwhisper*
Feel free to delete this but here's my feedback thus far.
It's definitely unpolished, very few tiles/pogs available but the interface is very very nice and I can easily see a huge potential than what Gametable can ever offer. Heck, you can even intergrate voice over the client. That's neat. Not much in terms of games available at the moment, so testing will take awhile. If they ever managed to link the online builder with this it would be rocking.
As a DM I can see a lot of potential with this. I wonder what the final thing will be, will every player need to have their own paying subscription for this? Or can a DM pay for a group rate?
It would be pointless if players had to pay monthly payments when we can do it for free elsewhere unless they offer some bells and whistles for their customers?
Hmmmm
It's definitely unpolished, very few tiles/pogs available but the interface is very very nice and I can easily see a huge potential than what Gametable can ever offer. Heck, you can even intergrate voice over the client. That's neat. Not much in terms of games available at the moment, so testing will take awhile. If they ever managed to link the online builder with this it would be rocking.
As a DM I can see a lot of potential with this. I wonder what the final thing will be, will every player need to have their own paying subscription for this? Or can a DM pay for a group rate?
It would be pointless if players had to pay monthly payments when we can do it for free elsewhere unless they offer some bells and whistles for their customers?
Hmmmm
Dave
Staff member
From my understanding, not only does each PLAYER have to have the app, but pogs have to be PURCHASED by the GM. I even heard once (unconfirmed) that you get only a finite number of them, but that could just be bitching. (What I mean by that is someone said if you bought 5 orcs and wanted to use 6 you had to buy more...) Again, that is unconfirmed RUMOR - and doesn't make much sense to me.
I like to generalize the problems you mention as the Hasbrozation of RPGing.
Dave
Staff member
See, I hate the fact that all classes are the same. You could literally run a whole campaign with everyone running the same class. All mages? Fine. All fighters? Also fine. No matter who they are they have X Encounter Powers at 1st level, gain 1 Utility power at 2nd level, etc. There's no REASON to run a thief, or a cleric, or....
All characters are geared towards combat. All characters are min/maxed bullshit and I hate it.
All characters are geared towards combat. All characters are min/maxed bullshit and I hate it.
NO. No no no. Absolutely not.
In our experience you have to have all the character types covered (leader, defender, striker, controller) or encounters get a whole heck of a lot harder. Each character type definitely has a separate, distinct role on the battlefield and in our experience each class provides a different way of fulfilling those roles.
Out of combat scenarios in our group tend to be governed by skill checks and ad hoc rules, just like it was in 3.5. And frankly, that's all I'm going to say about this right now due to the amount of cocktails I've already had tonight. And it's only 9:30. Welcome to Prague.
In our experience you have to have all the character types covered (leader, defender, striker, controller) or encounters get a whole heck of a lot harder. Each character type definitely has a separate, distinct role on the battlefield and in our experience each class provides a different way of fulfilling those roles.
Out of combat scenarios in our group tend to be governed by skill checks and ad hoc rules, just like it was in 3.5. And frankly, that's all I'm going to say about this right now due to the amount of cocktails I've already had tonight. And it's only 9:30. Welcome to Prague.
Just to cheer you up a bit, I play in a campaign and my character of almost three years now does not have an ability score higher than 19, and they are 18th level, which gives you the chance to boost a score about 5 times.
I see your point but personally I like the 4th edition and in fact like it more than I ever liked 3.5.
As someone who roleplays in his games, there are a lot of ways of being unique. The feats you pick, the power and training you choose. Sure, you can have a Wizard who's an expert at theivery but will do so without the advantages that a rogue has. (most wizards aren't dex based). I believe rogue have the training for free while another class will need to spend 1 of their training to pick up the feat to be maybe 75% as good as a rogue can be. then there's feats, background and nifty ways where you can boost such things.
I like it. I also like that no characters suck a dick in combat which can be a drag for a DM who has to go above and beyond to setup things.
As for the DDI, the character builder is great. The online one IS coming along but is still a poor man's version. I can live without D&D essentials and honestly once I find a decent game to join, I'd like to test out this new tabletop. It has a lot of potential but any Hasbro douchbaggery with pay for extra pogs or pay to allows your players to play is going to be a quick "fuck off".
As someone who roleplays in his games, there are a lot of ways of being unique. The feats you pick, the power and training you choose. Sure, you can have a Wizard who's an expert at theivery but will do so without the advantages that a rogue has. (most wizards aren't dex based). I believe rogue have the training for free while another class will need to spend 1 of their training to pick up the feat to be maybe 75% as good as a rogue can be. then there's feats, background and nifty ways where you can boost such things.
I like it. I also like that no characters suck a dick in combat which can be a drag for a DM who has to go above and beyond to setup things.
As for the DDI, the character builder is great. The online one IS coming along but is still a poor man's version. I can live without D&D essentials and honestly once I find a decent game to join, I'd like to test out this new tabletop. It has a lot of potential but any Hasbro douchbaggery with pay for extra pogs or pay to allows your players to play is going to be a quick "fuck off".
Dave
Staff member
Higher than 19?!? WTF?
Jesus Christ of a pogo stick! A 19 STR is supposed to make Conan weep. A 19 INT is Einstein. A 19 WIS is that little old man on the mountain top dispensing advice to the hearty traveler who seeks him out. And you are bragging that your character ONLY has this?
May as well give him a ring of wishes and tell him what's behind door #2.
Jesus Christ of a pogo stick! A 19 STR is supposed to make Conan weep. A 19 INT is Einstein. A 19 WIS is that little old man on the mountain top dispensing advice to the hearty traveler who seeks him out. And you are bragging that your character ONLY has this?
May as well give him a ring of wishes and tell him what's behind door #2.
Bullshit. The game is built around the 4 different roles. All fighters is able to cover tanking and dealing a lot of damage, but miss out on buffs and debuffs. All mages have debuffs, but have problems with doing a lot of damage. The reason to run a thief is to deal a lot of damage. The reason to run a cleric is for buffs, as well as doing extra damage to undead enemies.
Level 1 halfling rogue:
+2 from background
+2 halfling bonus
+3 skill focus
+5 training
+5 from dex
17 thievery
Level 1 halfling ranger:
+2 halfling bonus
+3 skill focus
+5 training (from background)
+5 from dex
15 thievery
I might be misremembering that backgrounds can give you skill training. If they can't give training, then the ranger waits until level 2 to be 2 points behind a rogue, as his level 1 feat is skill training and his level 2 feat is skill focus. Anyway, it's closer to 90% effectiveness
Dave
Staff member
I already play WoW.
Get more original complaints.
In response to your thoughts on min/maxing most characters start first level with either a single 20 or two 18's. Ability scores just ain't what they used to be. So to have an 18th level character with scores under 20 is definitely a commitment to not min/maxing.
Is there a goat behind door #2 Monty?
Added at: 21:12
My fighter actually deals terrible, horrible, pathetically low damage, but is good at controlling, not to shabby at healing and is a spectacular meat shield.
I didn't!
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