DriveThruRPG questions

I thought it would be nice to have a thread, where we all could post and share our questions, problems or experiences we had over at DriveThruRPG while getting our long awaited TREK or LOTR products.

I'd like to start this one off with the question of payment.

I've read in the LOTR or WORLDS threat, that there has been at least one problem with credit card use so far...

I haven't created an account yet, so I'd like to know what methods of payment are accepted.

Do they accept PayPal and what kind of Cards are welcome?

After browsing their site for several minutes, trying to find any kind of information about the payment, I've completed the first steps of ordering and was finally led to a page showing what methods of payment are accepted. PayPal is one of them, as are credit cards. Since I don't have a credit card I'll use the former method. Even if I had one, I wouldn't use it, since nobody has complained about problems with PayPal payment, yet, however the credit card system seems to be flawed.

I used Paypal. Took me 2 minutes to sign up for a DTRPG account, buy WORLDS, and download it. Took me a minute or two to set up my Reader software to accept DRMs, and I was good to go. Easy and no hassle. :)

I used DriveThruRPG to get my hands on Terra Primate,

No real problems that I can remember; Used debit card (is that bad?), got saved my book in my documents, and I still have 4 more downloads from the site!

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Originally Posted by Ineti

I used Paypal. Took me 2 minutes to sign up for a DTRPG account, buy WORLDS, and download it. Took me a minute or two to set up my Reader software to accept DRMs, and I was good to go. Easy and no hassle. :)

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What are "DRMs" and how does one go about adjusting Reader to accept them?

Is it absolutely necessary to do this adjustment to get the products from drivethrurpg?

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Originally Posted by Jem'hadar

What are "DRMs" and how does one go about adjusting Reader to accept them?

Is it absolutely necessary to do this adjustment to get the products from drivethrurpg?

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There's a FAQ on DTRPG all about them. Basically, some of the products they sell (including Decipher's books) are watermarked and protected so that you can't just send a copy to everyone you know and have them able to use it.

Adobe Reader has a function that you can unlock (for free) that allows the software to read DRM-protected documents. It's easy to set up. A bit of a hassle, but it's a way to help prevent piracy.

DRM is basically short of 'Document rights management' - which basically is a system which the reader software has an 'identity' - which your file matches. This identity can be on up to 6 machines, but no more (according to their FAQ). It's basically much the same system as if you were buying a MP3 from apple, for Itunes, or the new and exciting DRM features the intell / microsoft consortium is trying to bring to the next version of windows (note the ironic lilt in my annoyed voice :D)

There doesn't seem to be any restriction to the watermarked version, other than it has your name and order number on every single page.. so if it was pirated, they would know where it came from! :) It's not too intrusive, just mildly annoying, and definatelly less so than the DRM annoyance.

I have several files from DriveThru, and I've never had any probs with them, regardless of payment method or file type.

I bought Worlds and Paranoia XP Service Pack 1 from drivethrurpg the other day. I paid with a credit card. Everything worked fine. I'm using a Mac and as soon as the files downloaded, the files opened in Preview straight away with no tinkering around for the DRM stuff.

No problems with any of the stuff I've downloaded from Drivethru. Credit card works fine.

Over at Heresy Games, we've had a bunch of sales through the site. No problems reported to us.

Apprently they've dropped the DRM thing for just the watermark though, since I've taken my copies on a thumb-drive to school and read them there.

Just bought worlds with my credit card too, with no problem whatsoever

Has Decipher given any kind of hint of what kind of release schedule their using? Once a week, Month, etc?

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Originally Posted by Shoshuro

Has Decipher given any kind of hint of what kind of release schedule their using? Once a week, Month, etc?

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No, no formal release schedule. Which is probably a good thing given the amount of crap slung their way when they miss a deadline they impose on themselves. :)

Mirror Universe and Isengard are slated to come out sometime in November. Releases beyond that are up to Decipher and how fast they can get product together to release. I've heard them talk about releasing all the older books as PDFs as well, and Kieran suggested that they might do a proofread/errata fix pass on the older books before releasing them.

We'll have to see.

Ordered Worlds and downloaded it woth no problems. I made a point of paying by Paypal though.

The book itself looks great. I'm glad it's seen the light of day. :)