4e Fan Creations and House RulesWorking on variant powers? Statting up a PC race or your version of a monster? Creating or converting an adventure? Put it here!
Pretty reasonable, depending on how often real life rears it's ugly head between now and then.
I just finished up Rogue paragon paths from MP, so that leaves Warlord (and paragon paths) and feats.
Once I get the next release out, it's going to be awhile before I add any more content. I have to write a 4E tournament module due to be ran at a convention at the end of April so I'm going to be busy with that for awhile.
I hear you, actually thats the reason I asked about the time too since your sheet is one of the best chargen resources I have found but with new books coming out, it needs at least MP before I can use it for my players for a couple of things I am running. If you ever run anything in Upstate NY (well the arm of NY AKA Central NY) gimme a buzz
I'm sure most of you know this by now, but for those who don't: the full D&Di Character Builder is released now. They haven't updated the download page to show that's it's the full version but it's there. You can download the file without being logged in (at least, you can right now) but you have to enter your D&Di login name and password inside the application in order to update from the demo version to the full version.
It supports levels 1-30 (the demo still only supports 1-3) but it has all the books and articles released to-date included in it, except for the most current magazine articles. It *does* have the Invoker and Druid previews, for instance. I assume those work in the demo mode, but since I went straight in for the full version, I don't know.
There are still some quirks and lots of typos but the sending only one page to the printer at a time bug is gone, as is the Skills list being truncated in Vista bug on the character sheet.
All in all, I'd say go for it. At the very least, the demo should be relatively easy to use for printing your level 1-3 characters now.
I'm sure most of you know this by now, but for those who don't: the full D&Di Character Builder is released now. They haven't updated the download page to show that's it's the full version but it's there. You can download the file without being logged in (at least, you can right now) but you have to enter your D&Di login name and password inside the application in order to update from the demo version to the full version.
It supports levels 1-30 (the demo still only supports 1-3) but it has all the books and articles released to-date included in it, except for the most current magazine articles. It *does* have the Invoker and Druid previews, for instance. I assume those work in the demo mode, but since I went straight in for the full version, I don't know.
There are still some quirks and lots of typos but the sending only one page to the printer at a time bug is gone, as is the Skills list being truncated in Vista bug on the character sheet.
All in all, I'd say go for it. At the very least, the demo should be relatively easy to use for printing your level 1-3 characters now.
Still, I find charging money for it... weird, to say the least -.-
Therefore, the only option left to me is to keep using Wonko's sheet, for not everyone is willing to pay for something like that every month... Wizards' greed is incredible >__<
Last edited by L-Voss; 28th January 2009 at 10:36 AM..
Agreed I can't see paying $5-8 a month for a character builder. Save us Wonko you are our only hope
Just a quick note, you get a lot more than a character builder for the $5-$8 per month.
Some believe the Dungeon and Dragon issues are worth it all by themselves, and the char builder is icing on the cake.
__________________ Game on, gang! Ptolus #16 (with customized, personalized sig from Monte. Awesomesauce.), Rappan Athuk Reloaded #37 (Another Awesomesauce, the Necromancer way.)
Try to not let failure to use technical language properly get in the way of getting to the real point under discussion. - Umbran
Characters & Games
Books currently in play: Dungeon & Dragon Magazine (*Scales of War AP*), WOTC 4e Core and Supplemental books
Current Campaign: Scales of War - Lost Mines of Karak -- Kodirgo, Minotaur Barbarian 6; Vondal, Dwarf Cleric 6; Karithul, Gnome Bard 6; Marshaun, Elf Druid 6
Part of the reason that Wonko's sheet is good is because its an Excel spreadsheet, not an application that has to be installed. This makes it ideal to use on public computers, computer labs, etc.
I'm sorry to say this, because I admire the work Wonko and others have done, but the Wizards did a really good job with the character builder. I only find minor bugs when it comes to super weird stuff like armor that grants attacks. It's so good.
I fear that 3rd party developers are going to fall behind. WotC has proven already that they are updating their databases with almost no delay (compendium) after a new rulebook comes out. We can expect the same for the character builder. How in the world does Wonko want to implement the gazillions of choices coming with PHB II? I rather spend the handful of dollars and save tons of time with something that's really well done and official (!), plus the compendium and access to the magazines.
I also want to say that I think it's not a rip off. There is staff to be paid for this work, and despite all their failings, we now have something that's worth paying for.
I'm sorry to say this, because I admire the work Wonko and others have done, but the Wizards did a really good job with the character builder. I only find minor bugs when it comes to super weird stuff like armor that grants attacks. It's so good.
I fear that 3rd party developers are going to fall behind. WotC has proven already that they are updating their databases with almost no delay (compendium) after a new rulebook comes out. We can expect the same for the character builder. How in the world does Wonko want to implement the gazillions of choices coming with PHB II? I rather spend the handful of dollars and save tons of time with something that's really well done and official (!), plus the compendium and access to the magazines.
I also want to say that I think it's not a rip off. There is staff to be paid for this work, and despite all their failings, we now have something that's worth paying for.
Not all regions of the world are wealthy, and D&D players are not only Americans. For Poles, for example, it still seems unusual to pay for an online feature every month... though most Poles could easily afford it. There are lot of people who are not fanatics but just regular players all over the world. Such people would not mind delays and keep using free tools instead of having to pay.
That said, I do admire and appreciate Wizards' work, though I think it would be better if they had us pay once for every new material (e.g. you could unlock the MP features by buying your unique special activation code for it ONCE but for a higher price). Wouldn't it be a better way than forcing people to pay every month, even if they don't use it so often? Another example: some people use only two of ten supplements. Should they pay the same amount as the people who want access to every single option Wizards came up with?
Not all regions of the world are wealthy, and D&D players are not only Americans. For Poles, for example, it still seems unusual to pay for an online feature every month... though most Poles could easily afford it. There are lot of people who are not fanatics but just regular players all over the world. Such people would not mind delays and keep using free tools instead of having to pay.
That said, I do admire and appreciate Wizards' work, though I think it would be better if they had us pay once for every new material (e.g. you could unlock the MP features by buying your unique special activation code for it ONCE but for a higher price). Wouldn't it be a better way than forcing people to pay every month, even if they don't use it so often? Another example: some people use only two of ten supplements. Should they pay the same amount as the people who want access to every single option Wizards came up with?
I'm pretty sure that the monthly subscription model, where you need to a) login to the software in order to unlock it and b) can only really use it if you install monthly updates, which is limited to 5, was designed to fight piracy, and still allow a user to install it on more than one computer.
But WotC has changed their pricing models in the past, and I'm sure they are open to suggestions that don't make copyright violations easier.
Pretty reasonable, depending on how often real life rears it's ugly head between now and then.
I just finished up Rogue paragon paths from MP, so that leaves Warlord (and paragon paths) and feats.
Once I get the next release out, it's going to be awhile before I add any more content. I have to write a 4E tournament module due to be ran at a convention at the end of April so I'm going to be busy with that for awhile.
Show me what to change where, and if I have time (said the full-time MBA student), I'll add stuff in.
Just to point out, you don't need a continual subscription, at least not with how it works now. You could buy a $8 one month subscription twice a year (and with the way it works now, you'd have full access to all those dragons/dungeons you missed during that time!) to pull new updates, but in the meantime, you'd have a sheet that worked good except for not having content released since the last time you updated, but considering how fast one developer can put out a sheet ... how old is Martial Power? 2.5 months? With PHB 2, Divine Power, Arcane Power, on top of Dragon every month... I can't imagine keeping up.
No. Just no. I realize you have probably just lurked the last six months, but this isn't how we operate here.
--Dinkeldog/Moderator
BTW Wonko woot woot! Big supporter here. Most of my players use your sheets and we lovem' so if you keep posting we'll keep using Great effort and great work on everything so far!
P.S. sorry for the rant!
Last edited by Dinkeldog; 1st February 2009 at 02:23 AM..
WotC is being too much. 8 USD is 29 of my currency. People here already earn little, how can they afford so much MONTHLY? Plus, I've seen and tested their beta, and was impressed by the decorations and detail, but no by their programming. You can easily program that in .NET. The performance is slow for a .NET program too, and just about anyone can program in .NET. If it was a normal bit level C++ program then it would be a different issue since the performance is far better and the work far more tedious and skillful. Plus, the WotC Character Builder is just a character builder. Wonko's is a character sheet that's way more flexible. Plus, who the heck sells their programs on a monthly charge? Even intricate computer games are a one-time sale! You've got to be kidding me if this isn't greed.
WotC is being too much. 8 USD is 29 of my currency. People here already earn little, how can they afford so much MONTHLY? Plus, I've seen and tested their beta, and was impressed by the decorations and detail, but no by their programming. You can easily program that in .NET. The performance is slow for a .NET program too, and just about anyone can program in .NET. If it was a normal bit level C++ program then it would be a different issue since the performance is far better and the work far more tedious and skillful. Plus, the WotC Character Builder is just a character builder. Wonko's is a character sheet that's way more flexible. Plus, who the heck sells their programs on a monthly charge? Even intricate computer games are a one-time sale! You've got to be kidding me if this isn't greed.
Multiple points here but I don't feel like breaking up your post, so I'll just reply to them one by one.
1) It's not a monthly charge *for the program*. The monthly charge is for D&Di which includes the Compendium (ie, the rules), the Dungeon and Dragon magazines and access to download the full version of the Character Builder. There is no monthly access fee for using the Character Builder.
2) If it's so easy to do, then let's see you do it. It's written in a .NET language. We don't know which language they are using and, guess what? C++ is a .NET language now. So, this isn't a valid argument.
3) Your third complaint about intricate computer programs shouldn't have to be paid for monthly is covered by my first response.
Bottom line: no one is holding a gun to your head telling you that you *have* to use the D&Di character builder. Please, continue to use Wonko's sheet. I still use it from time to time myself (and am still waiting on the A.8 release!) In the meantime, I have access to the character builder which is fully up-to-date and functional. No Excel 2007 required, by the way. Sure, Wonko's sheet is nice to keep on a flash drive, but at the end of the day, you still need to have Excel 2007 installed on a PC in order to use it.
With the D&Di character builder, I'm thinking of testing it with the Western Digital app which lets you install programs on a portable harddrive and access them on any PC. If it works there, then portability is no problem.
All things considered, I hope Wonko won't stop working on his sheet as long as there are some people who still choose to use it instead of D&DI. So, I beg you, Wonko, keep up your work! ^^'
The next update should be out by week's end...I'm in the process of programming paragon and epic feats from MP (heroic are done).
As an aside, this weekend I saw the output from the DDI character builder...very nice. I'm not sure how well it works re: adding modifiers to things based on feat/item/whatever selection, but it looks pretty good. So good in fact, that I was considering mothballing this project - it was starting to feel like I was trying to re-invent the wheel. The posts here and emails of encouragement however, were enough to keep my nose to the grindstone.
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