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As an extra tool, I would vote for a combat tracker first, followed by a utility to port characters over to the monster builder. But as to the update, I need Dark Sun to start my campaign.
I also read the tentative date being set at September 21st, although this was on the wizards board versus the calendar of releases.
As an extra tool, I would vote for a combat tracker first, followed by a utility to port characters over to the monster builder. But as to the update, I need Dark Sun to start my campaign.
I also read the tentative date being set at September 21st, although this was on the wizards board versus the calendar of releases.
Well I'm speculating on Random Magical Treasure Generator based on other rumours I have heard and also because its both a comparatively easy update and it has a tie in with Essentials.
That said I'd really, really, like a random magical treasure generator! So maybe I'm projecting.
As an extra tool, I would vote for a combat tracker first, followed by a utility to port characters over to the monster builder. But as to the update, I need Dark Sun to start my campaign.
I also read the tentative date being set at September 21st, although this was on the wizards board versus the calendar of releases.
Something to port characters over to the monster builder sounds kind of neat. But that sounds like breaking a lot of new ground. Currently there are no rules for translating a full, complete, character into a monster. I suppose the Monster Builder could do it simply as a way of translating one kind of stat block (a character sheet) into another kind of stat block (a monster one) but feats and such simply do not translate - there is no equivalent and no reason to believe that such a translation is well play balanced. I'd think such a utility is a long shot because of these issues.
Beyond that...if they are going to do something with the monster builder then where the f$~& are the templates already?
If it's not a random magical item generator, might I point you to...
...here? :3c
That is actually what I currently use and its a fine piece of software to boot. However its really not kept up to date and, once magical item rarity comes into play, it'll be seriously out of date.
As an extra tool, I would vote for a combat tracker+1
Personally I'm not that enthused with such a product. I'm very much of the school that feels that the best combat tracker around is ones players. Make them track initiative and hps and all the rest of it. Last thing I want to be doing as the DM is screwing around with this sort of program. It not only adds to my work load but it means that players who would normally be kept busy and therefore not distracted by extraneous things (like female players busts) are suddenly presented with idle time while I'm dealing with the combat tracker.
Its hard to have the tracker be utilized by the players because I'm forced to hand over all sorts of info to the player in control of the tracker - some of which they may not need to know and the tracker can't really be split up among several players as tracking hps and initiative and such currently can.
As an extra tool, I would vote for a combat tracker+1Personally I'm not that enthused with such a product. I'm very much of the school that feels that the best combat tracker around is ones players. Make them track initiative and hps and all the rest of it. Last thing I want to be doing as the DM is screwing around with this sort of program. It not only adds to my work load but it means that players who would normally be kept busy and therefore not distracted by extraneous things (like female players busts) are suddenly presented with idle time while I'm dealing with the combat tracker.
Its hard to have the tracker be utilized by the players because I'm forced to hand over all sorts of info to the player in control of the tracker - some of which they may not need to know and the tracker can't really be split up among several players as tracking hps and initiative and such currently can.
For a live game I agree with you, the players are the best combat trackers but for pbp games a combat tracker is invaluable.
A good combat tracker would be simple to write and would not need to port character or monster information over, if it covered all the basic conditions.
A random treasure maker doesn't do much for me, as I would change most of the selections anyway, unless it had a list of criteria for random generation.
As to porting characters over to monster builder, I would settle on a condensed character sheet format without the power cards, but I know some view that as a feature. Character builder functionality integrated with a monster builder is probably a pipe dream, but I could accept it, even if you had to make a choice on what powers moved over.
If they allowed third party developers to create a file format to allow the addition of custom races, classes, etc. into character builder ... well maybe I am dreaming too much.
I'm with JMD on this one, a random generator with rarity factored in would be nice. Even better if like Uchawi said it had modifiable options. Being able to say that for my party the only implements to add are Holy symbols, Rods and Wands would be neat. I am eager for the DS stuff though, as my campaign is set to start and I have a bunch of CB addicts that won't make their toons til ALL the options available to them are on the program. [Old man voice] "Back in my day, we looked through every book and magazine we had to find that one power we saw that one time".
"Unfortunately, we will not have a data update ready for the D&D Insider tools in September. The process of integrating the new changes from Dark Sun and Essentials is taking a bit longer than we expected, and we plan to update the Character Builder in early October. We will continue to keep you informed of any changes to the schedule, and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause." - WotC Trevor
"Unfortunately, we will not have a data update ready for the D&D Insider tools in September. The process of integrating the new changes from Dark Sun and Essentials is taking a bit longer than we expected, and we plan to update the Character Builder in early October. We will continue to keep you informed of any changes to the schedule, and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause." - WotC Trevor
Doh!
When the next update does arrive, will it also include the new options from Psionic Power in addition to Dark Sun & Essentials?
Also, will any changes between existing rules & Essentials become the new cannon? For example, I heard that in Essentials, Magic Missile is changing slightly. If so, will the new version become offical and the old version will disappear from the CB?
Thanks for your feedback!
It already has. If you look on the compendium Magic missile has changed. They have already said that anything that actually changed in essentials will be changed, but the only things that are supposed to be changed is a few powers.
Anything new on the next Character Builder update?
On a related topic, is anything new coming out soon after Essentials?
I presume Gamma World will not be in DDI. If it is a 'collectible card game' they do not want to make the same mistake as with the power cards (i.e. giving people the ability to print cards for free with DDI.)
Just got this:
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
October 2010 Character Builder and Compendium News
Here’s a summary of the new data and features for Character Builder and Compendium, straight from the desk of our very own Paulo Marcucci.
Data Update:
Data from the following published material are new to the Character Builder this month:
•Books
•Psionic Power
•Magazines
•Dragon # 389
•Dragon #390
•Dungeon #180
•Dungeon #181
Data from the following published material are new to the Compendium this month:
•Books
•Psionic Power
•Dark Sun Campaign Setting
•D&D Essentials: Heroes of the Fallen Lands
•Magazines
•Dragon # 389
•Dragon #390
•Dungeon #180
We’ve also made some changes to the Compendium and we’re doing the normal monthly errata.
I for one am pissed, all the stuff they added could have been done last month and the Dark Sun stuff I've delayed a game for still hasn't been added.
WotC added all of the Dark Sun Campaign guide into the compemdium so how much f!$~ing harder is it to add a DS theme option to the character builder.
If they're adding some big tool to the DDI line up, great but doing so at the expense the meager offerings included in DDI is total crap.
WotC giving me a free month only if I complane isn't good enough. WotC should automaticly give every subscriber a free month because they are the ones who screwed up.