Originally Posted by monsterfurby
The player version is still very barebones and definitely WIP, but just like with Hero Lab, I am starting to gain a creeping feeling that it was developed for a use case unlike that of me, my group, or any group I have ever participated in, for that matter.
Player Version isn't bare bones it does exactly what it was intended to do, minus of course features yet to be brought into RW. Not sure what HL has to do with RW, but what creeping feeling keeps you from using HL? In my group 6 of the 7 use it, I can't imagine gaming with out it now. Considering if your like me and have near 25yrs in RPG gaming and over a dozen groups, I find it weird that none could use RW or HL, when I am pretty much sure all of my groups would love to use HL and have RW, just 20yrs ago we did not have nice small lappies and tablets.
Also as a custom content creator, Having Herolab and its editor? Money as of now I have drafted 18 races for my game world into HL and just finished final test of 3. I have custom weapons, custom gear, all done so they just click and create, HL is th ebest custom GM tool I have ever used. Better than paper, as it does the calculations and work for you. Best part is between RW and HL my entire campaign is my own IP and fully electronic, no reems of paper, and notes and rules, want to create a Daedrea Human magus? NP fire up HL enable World of Daede, turn off all PF Campaign seeting materials, and you are in business. Want to know the world history? the lore of the Humans and their relatiosn with the Hominex, NP fire up Realm works, sync my game and ther eis it, all the player knowledge needed to begin play, all the hostory and lore that is "public" knowledge. Want to know what NPCs/Places/things you have contact with in Daedrea City? NP look at it in RW, itsall there baby, every thingyou have seen, done, learned, met, and visited.
The biggest issue for my players remains responsiveness. I an worried that this might be related to the was the database and overall program are set up and that it's nothing that will ever improve. This is a BIG one, and I just cannot stress enough how much a UI that feels sluggish or unresponsive can turn away users. Maybe I'm a bit too usability focused due to being an online marketing professional, but seriously, this is something that needs work.
Responsivenss means your not using RW for what it was meant for. Really too bad so many seem to have so far off the mark expectations. RW is a campaign management tool, not a VTT. But everyone seems ot think you manage a campaign much like you run a battlemap over a VTT. For me? The idea of after game sync to ensure every player hass full access to all historical data and information is spot on. No more losing hand outs, which happens every campaign, no more missing players missing info, or notes not taken. Simply look in RWPE and the info is there. What happens today? Thats in the brain, thats in the now, do not need to sync what you were just told, it should be fresh and right there.
Secondly, for me as a GM, changing around templates to fit one's group's particular campaign is way too bulky as well - there should be a possibility to start with all predesigned entry types hidden, so one can build custom entries without having to sift through a massive list half of which is not really usable for one's own purpose. This has become more of an issue since my players have started seeing the way my data is set up and suggested changes. Going through hundreds of entries to update the way they are laid out is not optimal.
Now that is a clever feature request, and one you should have put in the thread!
On a sidenote regarding this thread, I feel that undue focus is put on having a content marketplace of sorts. I realize that some groups play in published settings and adventures, but again, my point here is that my experience in particular just doesn't really fit where the software seems to be going. I, as a GM, generally don't 'do' anything published. I adapt systems, but the rest is always custom-made. That said, I see that there's a demand for it, but I think addressing issues of usability for content creators should come before expanding content sharing.
Marketplace doesn't get near the attention of printing or calendars, so not sure where you seem to be worried about market place being so important, but it is to some degree. I am willing to bet 75%of all gaming groups use published content. paizo's sales seem to back this up too. I am the odd ball GM from my gamign days, more than 3/4 of all GMs I have played under use published material, and now in my group we are 7, and 4 GMs and I am the only one doing custom material. The market place is huge for Paizo Aps, since Pathfinder is by far and away the single most popular game system right now.
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