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Realm Works: Player Edition and Beyond

I know that there have been some strong feelings thrown your way prior to release, mostly due to slipping release dates. And I know you guys probably felt more than a little burned by that. To follow up post-release with an in-depth announcement and analysis like this, however, is exactly the reason I'll keep coming back to Realm Works. I love this kind of transparency and despise that there are folks out there that just don't have the patience to recognize that some things just take time and other things, like you've outlined here, greatly impact project plans.

Personally I think you guys should know that IMHO the vast majority of us are folks that fully understand and even appreciate this kind of openness. Delays are going to happen, but this kind of openness with your customers will keep us coming back for more, I think. Keep up the great work!

P.S. Go pay CapedCrusader to be a full time Savage Worlds dev in Hero Lab, while you're at it. ;)
 
I'm pretty damn happy with the program as it is now. I only have a few niggles, like saving certain settings between tabs that are only minor quality of life issues. So, do what you guys need to do and don't worry, you've got a solid product anything you do is just going to make it better.
 
I don't know if I'm more impressed by the thorough and forthcoming update or the reasoned and understanding response from the users - you keep doing what you're doing, folks.
I'm disappointed in the delay of web-based functionality that I was planning on using for a Roll20 game, but workarounds are in place and I'm mostly thrilled just to be able to brainstorm and record my thoughts so easily.
 
Sorry to hear about a developer leaving and the resulting bumps in the road. I should get my resume up to speed, even though I'm not really in a position to leave my current job anyhow. Just in case, you know.

In any case, you have a great product right now. Even at its current state its better than anything else out there. Kudos for that. But I would like to make the point you have done everything right so far. You haven't pushed the product out the door just to have the product out the door. You've taken your time and you've done it right, something that is lacking in the industry. Take you time. Do it right. Stick to those principals and you'll be on track regardless of the release timeline. We'll still be waiting loyally. :)
 
We should have a much better handle on web-based player access in early July. Ideally (i.e. probably just my dreams), we'll have something limited starting to come online this summer that we'll continue evolving from there. But we'll have a much better sense of that possibility in 6-ish weeks.

Thanks, that's helpful, and I won't expect your dreams to come true, though I hope they do!

Two more questions on Player Edition that I can't find answered:

1) Will we be able to buy it as a gift for our players?

2) Will there be an option to upgrade Player Edition to the full version?
 
from my understanding the player edition was free and could be upgraded. i dont eremmber where i saw that and i may have misread as well.
 
from my understanding the player edition was free and could be upgraded. i dont eremmber where i saw that and i may have misread as well.

The web interface, using a browser will be.

The player version of the installable client will not be.
 
Thanks, that's helpful, and I won't expect your dreams to come true, though I hope they do!

Two more questions on Player Edition that I can't find answered:

1) Will we be able to buy it as a gift for our players?

2) Will there be an option to upgrade Player Edition to the full version?


1) YES!

2) Let me confirm the answer and get back to you.
 
ok, i thought i had remembered reading something about players being able to view for free

My understanding is that viewing the information entered by the GM is free, but to add information (in a player journal, etc.) the player must make the minimum payment must be made. (Liz, feel free to throw me under the bus if this info is incorrect)! :D
 
My understanding is that viewing the information entered by the GM is free, but to add information (in a player journal, etc.) the player must make the minimum payment must be made. (Liz, feel free to throw me under the bus if this info is incorrect)! :D

To access the Player Edition software, once it's available, you will need to purchase it. This is purchase price is for activating the product as a whole (like with the GM Edition), and isn't based on what features are used.

To use the web-based player access, once it's available, it will be free.

I hope that clarifies things. :)
 
2) Will there be an option to upgrade Player Edition to the full version?

We may have the ability to upgrade from Player Edition to the GM Edition, but that wouldn't be available immediately when the Player Edition releases. Unfortunately, ensuring that someone could immediately upgrade from Player Edition to the GM Edition would delay the Player Edition release even more. We'd rather get the Player Edition out and available for players to use it. :)
 
What is the functional difference between player program and web-based?
Can both be used for player journals and session feedback?
Do they look/feel different?
Do they match the GM program in layout?
Will they remember views?
What is the value add of a standalone product?
Can players print materials?
Can players access their characters in HL via RW?
How granular will the player view be - by player, by realm, by character?
Since GM is already paying for cloud space, this feels like double-dipping. Is it?
 
What is the functional difference between player program and web-based?

In the short-term, Realm Works Player Edition will have more features available than the web app. Realm Works Player Edition is based on the existing Realm Works GM Edition, so we get to reuse a lot of what's already there. The web app is being written from scratch. Generally speaking, our plan is to roll out features to the web app over time. So the initial version will be very limited, but will frequently get new features added as soon as they come online. The goal is to make it available as soon as it's useful, rather than holding it back until it can do "all the things."

Another important thing to keep in mind is that the Player Edition desktop client will be usable offline, just like the GM edition. You'll be able to sync the realms you're in, then use them "on the go" without needing a constant internet connection. The web application will not be able to do this. For many people, this difference alone will make Player Edition worth purchasing. A reliable internet connection can be hard to find at a convention (or in a friend's basement), and mobile data plans can be expensive if you make heavy use of them.

Can both be used for player journals and session feedback?

Eventually yes, our plan is to allow players to view and author their own journals, both in Player Edition and on the web. They will probably not both become available at the same time, however. You'll almost certainly be able to write player journals in Player Edition before you'll be able to in the web app.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "session feedback". I assume you mean some kind of private message to the GM?

Do they look/feel different?

Player Edition is based on the same interface as GM edition, so they will look and feel very similar.

As for Player Edition vs the web app, they will certainly look different. The desktop clients (GM and Player Edition) are visually very Windows desktop-focused. The web app will be running in many different browsers on many different devices with different operating systems. We won't be going out of our way to try to make the app running on these varying devices "look like Windows". Expect something closer to a traditional web application (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Gmail, etc).

Do they match the GM program in layout?

Will they remember views?

Again, Player Edition is based on the same interface as GM edition, so the layout will be similar but with appropriate functionality disabled or hidden from players (no revealing the evil mastermind for you! :D)

The web application will have a number of differences to provide the best browser-based experience. This means you'll be able to use your browser's tabs, bookmarks, favorites, history, back button, etc. This will necessitate some changes in behavior and layout between the desktop apps and the web app, simply because whatever browser you use will be "in charge" of those things, rather than Realm Works.

We're also aware that Realm Works is pretty complex and can be daunting to newcomers. The web app will initially be focused on players, so we may also be experimenting with some possibilities to make it a friendlier experience overall. If we find some changes particularly helpful, they might find their way back into the desktop apps too.

What is the value add of a standalone product?

I'm not sure which product you're referring to, so I'll assume you mean Player Edition and you can tell me if you meant something else. I think I answered this above, regarding offline use vs the web app.

Can players print materials?

Can players access their characters in HL via RW?

I don't have a solid answer for this. We don't really even have these features in GM Edition yet, so it's unknown how it will unfold.

How granular will the player view be - by player, by realm, by character?

I don't understand the question. Currently, Player View is the feature that allows GMs to display information to the players on their PC or a second monitor. Is this the feature you're referring to, or something else?

Since GM is already paying for cloud space, this feels like double-dipping. Is it?

Unfortunately I'm probably not the best person to answer this question. Hopefully someone else *cough* Liz *cough* will help me out. ;)
 
To put it another way, at one point I think it was said that the Player Edition would be virtually identical to the GM edition.. the difference would be that the user's account (as a player only) would be unable to perform GM functions (make a new Realm, add a Topic to an existing Realm, etc.).

GMs using their own (full) copy and logging into a friend's game (where he/she is just a player) would have similarly limited rights; as a player, they would not have access to GM actions in that other GM's realms.

People who initially bought their version as the Players version were (at that time) expected to have an upgrade path, primarily related to their account being a Player only or GM.

Some of that may have changed; it was tenuous then, and not in any way an announcement of "this is how it will be". It sounds like the Player Edition will at least hide actions the players do not have access to.

Most recently, I think Player visibility has been said to be controlled at the Character level (which was a pleasant update when I saw that; I had expected it to come later). Player access has always been expected to be limited to Realms where the player has been somehow "invited" to be a player... but I don't think we've ever had details on how that would work.
 
Silveras - really? I didnt think that was coming initially? Where did you see that? (regarding player/character level access being there in the beginning?)
 
Silveras - really? I didnt think that was coming initially? Where did you see that? (regarding player/character level access being there in the beginning?)

I will see if I can find the post.

EDIT: Found it.. initially, reveal will be all players or none. When individual reveal status is implemented, THAT will be per-character not per-Player.

Link
 
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I
I don't have a solid answer for this. We don't really even have these features in GM Edition yet, so it's unknown how it will unfold.

huh?

This is in already. I have been linking portolio's from HL into RW consistantly. If you click the view, it shows the HTML printout (very nice btw).

If you click another button, it goes and load's the portfolio. Another will load it into an already open portfolio (import).

How is this not in the GM edition? it works fine for me.
 
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