Special Announcement - Kickstarter

[seycyrus]

I said I'm just throwing numbers up in the air. And I don't appreciate what you are implying about me and my group.

I'm sorry. I got you and your group confused with that *other* random internet person and group over there. The message was directed at them, not you and your noble group of paladins.

That being said, your original message mentioned very large numbers, and if you don't think that there are folks out there would try to abuse the system ...

... Besides, people who would go to such lengths to avoid paying would get a cracked copy anyway, so the lost revenue is probably close to zero.

I don't think it is a good business model to live in fear of the hackerz.

I want SW to continue to make their awesome product. I want them to sink their revenue into making it better for me and my group, not giving huge discounts to others.

[Zacchaeus]

So, let’s keep it friendly please.

[LordEntrails]

A license that covers up to X players with the same license key. Everyone using that license key could be a GM or a player, one GM at a time but that could be anyone holding that key. Should be very straightforward to implement, as that's how many corporate software licenses work so I imagine the tech is fairly robust. Probably requires FG to phone home, though.

Pricing could be compared to FGU Standard $35 per player with a discount as otherwise it wouldn't make sense, so perhaps $25 or $30 per license. Or if that's too confusing, have group size tiers, e.g. up to six players for $180, up to ten for $275 and up to fifteen players $375, perhaps even bigger one for those who host online games with random groups. Just throwing numbers up in the air here.

Except wouldn't it be MORE functional than a Standard license? So then it should cost more, not less.

Second, the phone home part would be necessary, unless SW used something like FlexNet so each user or group could install their own license server. Licensing FlexNet or other license management software like that is expensive, and would easily increase the cost of each FGU user/group license by a few hundred dollars. So that woudn't work. (And FlexNet is one of those big license management software companies that all those business applications use to management concurrent licensing that you referred to.)

Not everyone has money to forgo four mickey dee meals for a luxury that is RPGs. Real-life friendships are more important to me than financial grandstanding. Just sayin...

Absolutely.

And again, I think SW would be open to something that actually worked as a business model. But works for your use case may not work for them. Hence the points I asked originally. It has to be no more challenging, resource intensive or expensive to manage than their current system. It s needs to be just as secure. And it needs to be on par with the financial incentive (i.e. profitable) for them so they can make a fair wage and continue to grow and take the financial risks that they have and receive reasonable returns.

As for bulk or group licensing, Steam also has the 4 for the price of 3 deal. And unless SW were to build a new automated system for buying ana managing bulk licensings (i.e. a investment in capital) the break even point for bulk licenses is probably upwards of 10 or 12. (i.e. the over head with dealing with special cases actually makes them more expensive, not less).

But, we are pretty far OT and maybe should move this into a thread of its own.

[Magnimost]

Except wouldn't it be MORE functional than a Standard license? So then it should cost more, not less.

Not as I understand it. With everyone having a Standard license anyone can be a GM AFAICT, exactly like with a group discount. Essentially the group license would be a discount on the Standard license. A bulk discount as someone else pointed out, which is very common. A way to encourage groups to migrate to or pick up FG.

Second, the phone home part would be necessary, unless SW used something like FlexNet so each user or group could install their own license server. Licensing FlexNet or other license management software like that is expensive, and would easily increase the cost of each FGU user/group license by a few hundred dollars. So that woudn't work. (And FlexNet is one of those big license management software companies that all those business applications use to management concurrent licensing that you referred to.)

That sounds like a corporate solution, there's nothing cheaper for SMBs?

And again, I think SW would be open to something that actually worked as a business model. But works for your use case may not work for them. Hence the points I asked originally. It has to be no more challenging, resource intensive or expensive to manage than their current system. It s needs to be just as secure. And it needs to be on par with the financial incentive (i.e. profitable) for them so they can make a fair wage and continue to grow and take the financial risks that they have and receive reasonable returns.

I know the financial and profitability side well, I do that for a living.


Is a subscription model being looked at for FGU? Perhaps one that would count towards buying a Standard license? Say, $5 per month, and after 10 months you'd get a Standard license? That way people who just don't have or won't pay $35 could dip their toes in, and get a Standard license if they like the product enough and stick with it. Require enough months so you essentially get interest from these customers.

[LordEntrails]

Subscriptions will be available for FGU v1, not beta version. Standard subscription is $4/ month and does not count towards a one time license (has been asked before)

[The High Druid]

I am very, very disappointed that multi-monitor support isn't going to be a thing. It's been top of the wishlist for a very long time, and screen space is one of the biggest annoyances in FG. Just the ability to put the map in another window would make a world of difference.

What's stopping this from happening?

[Magnimost]

I am very, very disappointed that multi-monitor support isn't going to be a thing. It's been top of the wishlist for a very long time, and screen space is one of the biggest annoyances in FG. Just the ability to put the map in another window would make a world of difference.

What's stopping this from happening?

Probably the small portion of users who have multi-monitor setups. Not sure if there are statistics (Steam hardware survey?), but I imagine it being in the single percentage digits.

[The High Druid]

Probably the small portion of users who have multi-monitor setups. Not sure if there are statistics (Steam hardware survey?), but I imagine it being in the single percentage digits.

I find that very hard to believe. I'm in three games, I only know of one player that doesn't have access to at least 2 screens.

[damned]

I am very, very disappointed that multi-monitor support isn't going to be a thing. It's been top of the wishlist for a very long time, and screen space is one of the biggest annoyances in FG. Just the ability to put the map in another window would make a world of difference.

What's stopping this from happening?

There is no robust cross platform multi monitor support in Unity.
There are multi monitor libraries available but they do not have the required cross platform support.

I find that very hard to believe. I'm in three games, I only know of one player that doesn't have access to at least 2 screens.

I use two screens on my computer when GMing and playing. But I only use one for FG. I have always only used one for FG.
I usually have open Chat and Combat and the current Map as background.
Everything else I open, use, and then close.
I use the shortcut bar and pins on maps to keep anything important close by.
Im not saying multi-monitor support wouldnt be useful - Im just saying that even having access to 2 screens I personally dont use or need them for FG.

[Patou]

So... who's excited for Wednesday? Real anxious here! Trying to remember if Doug had said most pre-existing 5E modules were updated (new features)....or will be during and up to the December official release

Too early....need coffee