WOTC has a pretty horrible track record when it comes to software (stemming all the way back the the "character creator" that was included in 3.0 books. We shall see.
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- The Lone Wolf Development Team
D&D Starter Set (5E)
- Thread starter Irondrake
- Start date
WOTC has a pretty horrible track record when it comes to software (stemming all the way back the the "character creator" that was included in 3.0 books. We shall see.
So far there hasn't been any Open licensing on 5th. The OGL for 4th didn't emerge from WotC until 4e was dead production-wise. We might be waiting awhile. It is likely a community data set will be necessary if this system is to happen in hero lab.
Started my 5th ed. game this weekend, and yeah, I really wish there was HeroLab support for 5E. +1 for hoping this happens.
If those tactics really upset you, why buy 5e anyway?
Cant speak for Dafrca - but it doesnt sound like like Dafrca feels they are "tactics", just that they dont do good digital products. I also dont think digital products, or the lack thereof is a reason to play or not play a Pen and Paper RPG.
Do I wish that it worked with HeroLab - of course. Am I going to boycott a game because it doesnt have a license for it? Nope. I play plenty of other games that dont.
Personally, I have other issues that I dont like WOTC, but I actually think, so far, that their 5e is a not bad product, and as a whole will be good for the hobby.
Do I wish that it worked with HeroLab - of course. Am I going to boycott a game because it doesnt have a license for it? Nope. I play plenty of other games that dont.
Personally, I have other issues that I dont like WOTC, but I actually think, so far, that their 5e is a not bad product, and as a whole will be good for the hobby.
I bought 5E personally because the wife wanted to as well. I too have been burned by WotC and their poor software when it comes to character creation systems. I have to say Morningstar is something I am not really looking forward to with their software knowing full well it is going to be subscription based. (based again on WotC's track record). So Fuzzy you wanted an explanation from him, you are getting one from me.
I want it for Hero Lab because I hate WotC's software practices. I have a lot of issues with WotC in general. I have been a gamer now for 40 years with D&D. I have worked for both TSR and WotC in one form or another and I quit on my own terms. Fortunately I am glad I am not part of the engine that they have going now and their lack of a good customer service like another company I know.
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My main point was that Paizo's policies are so much more friendly, which is the main reason I am going to stick to them. The game system is not the most important part of an RPG, so if I can play one that most freely lets me use it however i choose (Hero Lab, online documentation, etc), then i will continue to do so. People who complain about WotC, yet still buy the products, are WHY they haven't changed their ways.
Fuzzy; you clearly have read so much more into my post than is there.
I feel a company can make a bad product once in a while or fail to maintain a marginal one and not be bad. They can have a particular line that I believe is not good and still not be a bad company.
Paizo has produced some products I love and some I dislike. The fact that I disliked some of Paizo's products, per your way of thinking, should stop me from buying any more of their products. Is this really what you think?
As Mirtos said, and was right, I don't feel WotC is good at digital products. Both of their last two attempts at a character generation program has failed in my opinion. If they were really smart they would admit digital is not their strong suit and work with an existing product that has stood the test of time, like HeroLab. But that is just my opinion of course.
I feel a company can make a bad product once in a while or fail to maintain a marginal one and not be bad. They can have a particular line that I believe is not good and still not be a bad company.
Paizo has produced some products I love and some I dislike. The fact that I disliked some of Paizo's products, per your way of thinking, should stop me from buying any more of their products. Is this really what you think?
As Mirtos said, and was right, I don't feel WotC is good at digital products. Both of their last two attempts at a character generation program has failed in my opinion. If they were really smart they would admit digital is not their strong suit and work with an existing product that has stood the test of time, like HeroLab. But that is just my opinion of course.
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I was inferring that what you did not like (and this is partly coming from the tone of the thread in general, not just your post) was their licensing, leading to an inability for 3rd parties to make/release tools for their ruleset. Somewhat draconian licensing is something they apply company wide, not really restricted to a particular product, which is why I recommended simply going to another publisher.
Its my belief, that to make a product, that is supposed to be a storytelling tool, and then limit the scope of what can be done with those tools, is pretty contradictory.
The Hero Lab issue for them, I feel, is one of pride, more than actual business acumen. I feel many at WotC see the very close (near official) relationship between Hero Lab and Pathfinder, and feel that to connect themselves to the same 3rd party tool would somehow validate what they see as Paizo's 'theft' of their 3.5 gaming system (even though it was their open license that allowed it). Even if WotC could get more money in licensing DnD5 to Lone Wolf than they could get from their own in-house solution, I don't think they'd do it.
Its my belief, that to make a product, that is supposed to be a storytelling tool, and then limit the scope of what can be done with those tools, is pretty contradictory.
The Hero Lab issue for them, I feel, is one of pride, more than actual business acumen. I feel many at WotC see the very close (near official) relationship between Hero Lab and Pathfinder, and feel that to connect themselves to the same 3rd party tool would somehow validate what they see as Paizo's 'theft' of their 3.5 gaming system (even though it was their open license that allowed it). Even if WotC could get more money in licensing DnD5 to Lone Wolf than they could get from their own in-house solution, I don't think they'd do it.
For those of you who want to see Hero Lab support for D&D 5E, your best course of action is to POLITELY and publicly (e.g. on their forums), let Wizards know of your desires. If there is enough demand, they may just see fit to give their players what they want. It certainly wouldn't hurt to ask. 
Partly true, but not getting in to a debate about WotC's policies and customer service issues. This thread was started for D&D 5th Ed for Hero Lab.. not for debating WotC's issues in here. So lets put it to rest now
Fuzzy please don't speculate on what is on another companies mind and what they do or do not want to do. As Rob mentioned lets go to their forums and try and get them to let Lone Wolf support 5E through Hero Lab. Though I do warn everyone... you will have a negative response from a lot of people there. Be prepared. I have spoken out about Hero Lab and wanting it for Hero Lab
Unfortunately, the lone wolf forums are about the only system agnostic board where this type of thing CAN be discussed. Bringing it up on either Paizo's or WotC's forums result in being trampled upon by one side or the other. About the only other gaming centric forum I can think of is Giant In the Playground, and they haven't even figured out that Pathfinder is different than DnD 3.5 yet.
I also wrote a polite letter asking if they would be allowing Lone Wolf to add 5th ed to their stable of supported games. I have not heard back and to be honest do not expect to, but I figure a letter does sometimes find it's way to the right people.For those of you who want to see Hero Lab support for D&D 5E, your best course of action is to POLITELY and publicly (e.g. on their forums), let Wizards know of your desires. If there is enough demand, they may just see fit to give their players what they want. It certainly wouldn't hurt to ask.
WotC/Hasbro kind of dropped the ball in digital tool outsourcing last edition. They had outsourced the character builder to another company, along with the dm tools. They promised us 3d dungeon tiles and designs for running the game, but somewhere along the line they had a falling out with the company they outsourced it to. We ended up with their character builder as a result. I had to use Hero Lab after their builder went "online only" because their online builder crashed repeatedly. Hero Lab was a necessary evil in 4e, no one in my group wanted to write out all their powers by pen and paper. It killed the game.
I wish they would just License Hero Lab, if they can outsource writing of modules to Kobold Press (who also writes content for Pathfinder), I can't see why they wouldn't just license hero lab. WotC/Hasbro's track record on software hasn't been good. But this is the same company that decided to just throw four previous editions into a blender and call it 5th edition for fear of alienating anyone rather than producing a new edition and taking risks. I hope if this edition doesn't sell well that Mike Mearls gets the axe and that they bring in new talent (hopefully someone with experience). If you really want them to license hero lab, go write to them about it. You can sit here hoping for a license or go over to WotC's forum and raise a stink about it. If you get enough people petitioning WotC they might actually listen.
I wish they would just License Hero Lab, if they can outsource writing of modules to Kobold Press (who also writes content for Pathfinder), I can't see why they wouldn't just license hero lab. WotC/Hasbro's track record on software hasn't been good. But this is the same company that decided to just throw four previous editions into a blender and call it 5th edition for fear of alienating anyone rather than producing a new edition and taking risks. I hope if this edition doesn't sell well that Mike Mearls gets the axe and that they bring in new talent (hopefully someone with experience). If you really want them to license hero lab, go write to them about it. You can sit here hoping for a license or go over to WotC's forum and raise a stink about it. If you get enough people petitioning WotC they might actually listen.
For those of you who want to see Hero Lab support for D&D 5E, your best course of action is to POLITELY and publicly (e.g. on their forums), let Wizards know of your desires. If there is enough demand, they may just see fit to give their players what they want. It certainly wouldn't hurt to ask.
So I went to the WotC forum and started a thread. I asked real nice if there was any information regarding HeroLab being able to have 5th edition in the program. After 10 days I only had one person post saying they would like it too.
I hoped they might take notice if the thread pulled losts of "me too" posts but two posts in 10 days means the thread will be ignored for sure.
Gong to be honest. One of the reasons you might not be getting as much traction is the simplicity of 5e. A lot of people might be thinking that software isn't as much a necessity for it as compared to pathfinder or 3.5 or even 4e because of its simplicity. Eventually, as book creep eventually takes over, that mig change.