I'd like to register that I am in favor of the proposal. It might not be perfect, but it is better than we have now.
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I'd like to register that I am in favor of the proposal. It might not be perfect, but it is better than we have now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ged
Ged, I'm happy to know that it's still on the 'consider as a possibility' pile! thanks for keeping the hope alive for us pulling for it!
zWolf -out.
Having considered this carefully, I must say that I'm not as keen on a subscription model as that of a one-off purchase of a floating license. However, if this is the only way to get this functionality without damaging sales of FGII for SmiteWorks, then I'm for it. It would give me the option to run some open demonstration games for future FUMCon events, beyond the current demo restrictions of two players and d20 ruleset.
I would caveat that by saying that, as a GM, I'd want a way to turn the floating licenses off for a game that wasn't open. An option tick-box at game start would be fine.
I would have to say that if the "rental" structure is the end structure, I will bite the bullet and take my business elsewhere. There are other VTT's out there that do a fine job, and tho the 3D dice of FG are absolutely awesome, they are in no way awesome enough to justify the price difference between Fantasy Grounds and some of the other options available.
While the subscription option isn't one I will use, I can see how it makes sense.
After all, nothing stops me from buying a car even if I can also rent it.
- Obe
That's almost exactly my point. Why would I rent floating licenses for Fantasy Grounds when I can buy them for Battlegrounds, or any number of other products?Quote:
Originally Posted by Oberoten
I realize I may be bringing up a dead horse or whatever, but as a new player (hopefully soon DM) who is looking to buy into FG I thought I could add my point of view.
I have played with OpenRPG before and it was adequate, but after trying the demo I really think FG is the way to go. It gives a lot more in terms of atmosphere for the players which really makes you feel the whole role playing game vibe. The 3d dice, the wood finish background, the lighting effects. These things really make the program much better than the other products I've tried, just as an ambience for the game.
I am looking to buy a GM license, which is just a bit more than I'd like to spend. The problem is I'll be DMing for a group of players that have never played in FG before, if online at all, so it's a bit of a steep buy to just have each of them get their own licenses without knowing if they'll even like the game.
This is presumably where the floating license idea would come in. The problem I'm having though is if I buy a GM license, and then have 6 players play for a month on my floating license, that's 40 for the GM and then 30 for my players to try the product. That puts me out 70 bucks when I can't guarantee my players will even buy their own licenses the next month. I see both sides of the argument, because GMs want to be able to let people try out FG for less than the cost of a license, and 5 bucks is a cost that I could maybe cover as a limited or one time deal for a new player/group. Of course if I make the player pay that, then they also still have to pay the full 30 for a lite, as the whole floating monthly fee actually prohibits the use of the bundle deal. Let me say that again for effect.
It feels like the $5 monthly floating license, if used, completely negates any savings from a bundle deal, for the GM. (Or for that matter, a new player joining the group when everyone else already owns a license)
On the other side of the argument, I see what some people are saying. Yes sometimes I will buy a new game book or two for the group, and yes I am paying 40 bucks so they can play and not have to pay. However, after we're done playing, the book goes home with me. I think that's the problem people have with it. They pay their $5 and it just disappears, they don't really get anything in return for their money. Especially if the person just shows up 1 time or doesn't mesh with the group/whatever. When I pay for a floating license, I want something that I keep in return. The reason some people prefer a 1-time buy for a floating license that they keep, is that they don't lose out if the player doesn't work out. They would keep the license rather than buying a lite for the person who just leaves with it. That way they could reuse the license on someone that works out for the group.
Okay, so we've seen both sides of the argument, and both are valid points, now what? Well I have a solution. It's just an idea really, but I think both sides could agree on. This is predicated on the fact that SmiteWorks can credit someone with x amount of cash for their floating licenses, which I believe is possible because they said someone could pay $15 and have 3 people play for 1 month or 1 person for 3 months on the same $15. This would also require SmiteWorks to be able to know which floating licenses are connected to which GM license (which I assume they can do). Finally, this would require SmiteWorks to be able to take a floating license as a discount/coupon code in their online store (which I hope they can figure out how to do, if they can't already).
Solution:
1- GM buys a GM License for $40 (or discounted price based on bundle)
2- SmiteWorks credits the GM License with $40 (or discounted price as above) to their License to be used ONLY for Floating Licenses
3- GM then brings in players and can give them each a Unique Floating License tied to his own GM License (call it a Sub-License)
4- The Sub-Licenses can then play at $5 per month per license, taken out of the GM License credit (which he can then refill with his own cash, or let it run out)
5- The Sub-License can then be used to purchase a Lite (maybe Lite only?) at a discount of $5 (or something scaling preferably on # of months it was used) but CANNOT be used in a bundle discount.
6- Optionally, each Sub-License bought under a GM License rewards the GM License with a $5 credit to his Floating License account.
The numbers can be tweaked, but I think this solves a number of problems.
1 and 2 encourage the GM to be the first member of the group to buy, and also gives him added value for paying more, while also encouraging him to convert others. 4 allows new people to try the game while not spending more of the GMs money. The credit money from the initial license gets used up and doesn't actually lose SmiteWorks much because they can make it up through the lite being bought but not bundle discounted. The credit back to the GM encourages him to bring even more people in for more Lites. Everyone feels like they got some extra value from trying out the system, and since people still only have a finite amount of time to be on a floating license, they can get hooked without losing either the GM or SmiteWorks much money. Like I said, it's just a rough idea, and maybe someone in accounting can adjust it so SmiteWorks doesn't lose out at all on the deal.
This way, someone who plays for only 1 month or 1 session uses up the $5, but doesn't really hurt the GMs real wallet. In the case that someone ends up playing for 2 or more months, of course they're going to buy the full version rather than quit out of the game, especially when they get a $5 discount. This also helps new players join a group that already have licenses (since they couldn't get a bundle anyways). And if a bunch people all buy lite licenses at the same time with their $5 discount, they're each still getting a deal, but still paying more than the bundle, and still rewarding the GM back for using up his credit. Credit which he can then use to convert more followers, err, I mean players.
Anyways, i've probably gone on way too long, and it's just a rough idea, but I'm sure you could make something like that work. Help us help you sorta deal. We all want to see FG become more popular, and maybe SmiteWorks can stay as profitable or more so while they do it. All I ask in return is if you use my idea, think about tossing me a free GM license :D.
Hopeful future member of the Fantasy Grounds community,
-Blurr
And a worthy point of view it was, too. Thanks for sharing it with us!Quote:
Originally Posted by Blurr
-Kevin McD
As has been stated earlier, my vote would be for an option to buy server licenses that allow X random people to connect to my license and play. They can install a client version that doesn't do anything until it connects to my server. My server copy is assigned a private key. When I'm ready to host, my server version gets a fresh public key for use with hosting from SmiteWorks. Each un-licensed user puts in my server address and when they connect, it uses their crippled private key to contact Smiteworks for the public key they need to connect to my server. If they try to connect to anyone else with the key it will fail and the software will remain crippled.
I've already tried to sell the use of FG2 to my groups and haven't gotten any takers. If I buy enough to host 5-person games, I'll probably end up getting a bunch of them to eventually buy full licenses of their own. Meanwhile I'll simply keep my floating licenses. If you want to reward the GM who brings in players like that, maybe reimburse them for every referral so they get part of their floating license cost back for each sell. Heck, if someone goes hog wild and ends up generating 1000 referrals, give them a small profit as well. It's not uncommon for a company to pay 15%-25% commission on any sales. They make money on every sell even with the commission and don't lose anything if they don't make any sells since they paid for the floating license up front anyway.
I have to agree with this much of that message.Quote:
Originally Posted by MeepoSose
I came to the FG site having been sold on it by a user who uses it to run his table for a person to person game. He projects his maps and initiative board etc down on to a whiteboard and we play in his home.
He was confused on how licensing works. I had come to the site planning to buy 1 GM license and 6 lite licenses because he was convinced that I could plug those lite licenses into my GM server and I could let 6 people log into my server and play.
For an LFR player, this is awesome. I don't know who my 6 players at the table may be each weekend, but I don't have to care. They'd get to use the license while connected and we'd all be good. When they log out, their licenses deactivate unless they hit another server with roaming lite licenses.
I know who my core players are, and they'd very much likely buy FGII after getting to use it for a while. Which is fine, they'd pick up full licenses, and I'd still have floaters to cover potential new customers to FGII.
Of course then I found out how lite/full license work. I'm sorry, but that's not very useful for me when I'm trying to find a common denominator that I can use with LFR players. In a heartbeat, I'd drop $200 to buy 7 full licenses if necessary so that people plugging into my server could play games, but since I can't control who uses my licenses that way, I guess I'm stuck looking elsewhere.