Some Early D&DI information

WotC_Trevor · May 7, 2009

Hey guys. I posted this over on our forums, but I wanted to make sure you guys had it here for you own discussions/perusal. Just an early look at things that should be showing up in the next update for Character Builder and Compendium and a bit about some possible future developer support:

Character Builder/Compendium Update - Starting on Tuesday, June 2nd, we will release new updates for the D&D Character Builder and the D&D Compendium on the first Tuesday of every month instead of the fourth Tuesday. The scheduled May 26th update will be moved to June 2nd, and updates will fall on the first Tuesday of every month going forward.
Hybrid Classes – Originally we held off on including the Hybrid Class rules in the Character Builder because of the heavy playtest nature of the rules. You guys have given us a lot of feedback and R&D is behind it too, so it looks like we’ll be seeing Hybrid Class rules in the June update to Character Builder.
Monk Playtest – With the way information is compiled and added to the Character Builder and Compendium, it generally takes four to eight weeks to get Dragon content into the tools. We all want to get our hands on the monk, and the devs must love us because it looks like we’ll be getting the Monk in the Character Builder and Compendium on the June 2nd update.

The info I glanced over had some more stuff about the basic data updates we get every month and some neat things such as resizing windows on your character sheet, but you’ll have to wait for the official announcement to read more on those and the things I already mentioned above. That official announcement goes up the week before the update hits and we’ll make sure to link it for you. Of course, we’re still a few weeks out and things could change, but I wanted to give you guys a peek at what’s on the docket.

In related sneak peek news, we are working on another project in the same vein as the XML output version for Character Builder, with the intention of getting more information into the hands of people who want to make tools that interact with the Character Builder and Compendium. You can check out Don's blog to get an idea of the type of information you might see included in this project. I have no clue when we’ll have something like this compiled and ready for people, but I knew some of you would be interested to hear about it

mach1.9pants · May 7, 2009

# Hybrid Classes – ... so it looks like we’ll be seeing Hybrid Class rules in the June update to Character Builder.
# Monk Playtest – ... Monk in the Character Builder and Compendium on the June 2nd update.

Awesome news, thanks for popping in!
You probably won't be able to answer this but since the Hybrid class set up (apart from the features bit) looks like it is based on a formula HP etc, when will we see the new classes appear PHB?
It is good to see you including hybrid in the CB, yes it is open for abuse but hybrid classes really really open up options for those of us willing to take a balance risk

And do WotC have any plans (even thoughts?) to open up the CB to #pp in some way, i.e pay an extra to WotC to include 'x' 3PP material, WotC pays a portion onto 3PP....

Monk monk, monkety MONK

Ktulu · May 7, 2009

So two weeks for an update after a book is released, rather than one? Well, though it makes Ktulu sad, it does make a lot more sense.

As for the updates coming, sweeeeeeeeeet!

doctorhook · May 8, 2009

Cool stuff, and thanks for stopping by!

Remathilis · May 8, 2009

NOOOOOOOO!!!!

Waiting another week for my Char Update is torture!

Fallen Seraph · May 8, 2009

Hmm... While we may wait a week longer for books. It will shorten (if reading it right) the wait for Dragon and Dungeon content on Builder/Compendium.

Riley · May 8, 2009

Hybrid rules: they rock,* and - for including them in the Builder - so do you.
Thanks!

*: As an idea, although tinkering may be required here and there.