They should pay attention to how Virtual Tabletop software does things. A lot of the setup issues would be similar between the two. For example many Virtual Tabletop had to deal with the issue of animating virtual dice. What they showed in the video is a bit too sluggish. Another concept of virtual tabletop is rulesets and modules. A ruleset configures a virtual tabletop for a specific game or RPG. While a module is a prepackaged bundle of maps, images, tokens, notes, monsters, etc. It should be easy to do both. In the end surface computer and virtual tabletop are going to be two parallel lines of development that will impact the futures of RPGs. With e-books being used alongside both as well as normal tabletop play.

The problem isn't BASIC, PHP or any other entry level langauge. They are langauges allowing people with no training in computer language to create *GASP* applications.

The problem is that a lot of people have no formal training. They often don't know about even the most basics of computer science. Things like structured programming. For database the features of referential integrity, transactions, and subselects are needed to implement important database concepts if you want software that maintains and extends easiler.

If a langauge or database that actually hinders you from implementing best practices then criticize away. But to criticize a langauge or database because of it allow novices to start creating application is elitist and smells of snobbery.

Rather than take a holier than thou stance of "I don't use PHP" write a tutorial on the best practices to use to make bug-free software in a timely manner. Show how they can use their knowledge of PHP/MySQL to start using better tools or *GASP* even how to use PHP /MySQL with best practices.

I write a variety of software for machine controllers, CAD/CAM, to office management. Sometimes I don't get to work with the best langauge because of platform limitation. Sometime I have to work with assembly itself. But yet in all the platforms I use, I find my knowledge of using structured programming and other best practices applicable and helps me write good software.

When we hire other programmer I teach just because we have nothing but jump and conditional jumps in assembly doesn't mean that you stop using structured programming.