BunkerBob wrote:I will get in touch with a few of my coding buddies, I bet they would jump at the chance to develop an app that tracks vehicle and character damage.
It is a step forward to see a 3rd party app, but ultimately I think
GW would be in a better position to develop such an app because the use of the app could be tightly integrated with their future rules books, or vice versa.
Introduction
The purpose of the tablet software is for automating "game monitoring" (i.e. score keeping, damages tracking:shared among all participants, rules searching, turn progression, units stats...etc) would actually freed players from micro game managements. They would have more time enjoying table-top games. The tablet software would also allowed
GW to develop more interesting table top rules.
Features
This app should be able to track all in-game meta information (as mentioned above)
This app should allow gamer's for setting up army list(s) in preparation for battle. Each unit (in a army list) would be represented as in interactive icon for displaying real-time game stats.
This app should also have the ability to share certain in-battle, post-battle information among participants. This is why the app would need connections to a remote server.
This app should also support sound notifications when a certain battle condition is met.
In-game shared information: victory points, damage tracking, effects duration, turn progression...etc
Post-game stats information: kill counts, death counts, player ranking...etc
Post-game activities: post game photos & comments for sharing, could be handled by the
GW account (then delegated to social media site) as well.
The tablet camera could be utilized to check a questioned unit was being affected by an explosive blast range or not. The camera could also be used to judge distance.
http://www.cnet.com/news/augmented-reality-comes-to-mobile-phones/
It has the potential to replace all physical measuring devices if gamers are be able to judge distance or blast range just by aiming a camera at the area without physically move the tablet/camera directly above the examined area.
The possibilities is endless. I just want to say tablet software could actually 'enhance' table top experiences because it could freed players from performing many necessary manual micro-tasks, in order to enjoy the games.
Revenue Model
The app should be free to download, but...
The app would required login to the
GW server
40k table top account (similar concept as google/apple account), where player could purchase any extension such as
40k rules, specific army rules
databases of latest/previous version.
An app (after login) would have all the purchased rules
databases. So players would have an option to play with an older rules if agreements are reached before a battle begins.
The home page of the app could publish (non intrusively) any news or, newly released products from
GW or
FW.
The purpose of the physical rule books (different from rules
database extension), would be for human readers to better understand the rules (with extensive examples, lore, guidelines, pictures and art works...etc), and the future rules books could explicitly mention a particular function of the app for rules checking, or outcome determination.
If
GW/
FW develop/own such an app, they would be able to develop more interesting/interactive rules/effects. The development of the rules book and this app would be in parallel and synchronized, so each would not contradict the other.