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Review of Player Minion & DM Minion by Goat Head Software
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<blockquote data-quote="Neuroglyph" data-source="post: 7648363" data-attributes="member: 85633"><p><span style="font-size: 12px">One of my all-time favorite quotes has to be from Arthur C. Clarke, when he asserted - “<em>Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.</em>” And thinking back to how we used to play Dungeons & Dragons back in the 70s and 80s - using piles of hand-written character sheets and stacks of graph paper maps, surrounded by stacks of game manuals - as compared to today’s gaming table - with full color printed sheets from an online character generator, surrounded by lap tops and portable devices to look up rules in a knowledge-base Compendium - and it really does feel like technology has added a bit of magic to our favorite fantasy role-playing game.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">And while DDI has truly offered a number of great resources for D&D 4E, sadly, the WotC development team promised more than they actually delivered. We never saw the <strong><em>Virtual Tabletop</em></strong> come into being until only just recently, and there was no development on tools for DMs and Players which were optimized for hand-held devices. </span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">But thankfully, GSL allowed for other developers to create 3rd Party Apps for D&D 4E, and one such company has recently risen to the challenge. <strong>Goat Head Software</strong> has, over the past week, released two new apps for iPhone and iPad, <strong><em>Player Minion</em></strong> and <strong><em>DM Minion</em></strong>, which offer Players and DMs a bit of technology to add a bit of magic to their gaming experience!</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><u>Player Minion & DM Minion</u></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Developer</strong>: Goat Head Software</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Media</strong>: iOS for iPhone & iPad </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Retail Price</strong>: $2.99 for <em>Player Minion</em> & $12.99 for <em>DM Minion</em> (both available now from the <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/player-minion/id512656419?mt=8%29" target="_blank"><strong>iTunes Store</strong></a>)</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">[align=right]http://www.neuroglyphgames.com/rpgblogs/home/neurogly/public_html/rpgblogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Dm-Minion-logo.jpg[/align]<strong><em>Player Minion</em></strong> and <strong><em>DM Minion</em></strong> are iPad/iPhone apps for Players and Dungeon Masters for use with D&D 4E. <strong><em>Player Minion</em></strong> is a full-service character sheet reader, providing information on stats, powers, feats and skills, condition and hit point tracker, and other useful functions. <strong><em>DM Minion</em></strong> is an adventure organizer, encounter builder, and combat tracker, which handles initiative, logs damage and healing, as well as conditions, action points, and surges for monsters and characters. Both apps also contain a dice roller for handling attack, damage, and skill rolls, as well as a generic dice roller for use as needed.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><u>Production Quality</u></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">The production quality of the two apps is excellent, with the features set up in a very intuitive design, and effortless running on an iPhone/iPad. Both apps have functions separated into tabs to keep them organized, and the developers used colorful icons for many features such as the dice roller and condition tracker, to make the apps even more intuitive to use.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">Of a slightly less intuitive nature, the use of these apps require a the app-user to sign-up for a free account on the <a href="http://myminion.goatheadsoftware.com/myminion/" target="_blank"><strong>Goat Head Software site</strong></a> in order to upload .dnd4e and .monster files to a database, which can then be uploaded to the portable device. However, uploaded files can be conveniently saved on the device locally, so that loss of internet connection will not impede the use of the data during a gaming session.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><u>About Player Minion</u></strong></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">In essence, Player Minion is a D&D 4E interactive character sheet. It contains nearly all the information that would be detailed on a printed 4E character sheet, but placed into a iPhone/iPad interface with additional functions and features.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">[align=left]http://www.neuroglyphgames.com/rpgblogs/home/neurogly/public_html/rpgblogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/player-minion-s3.jpg[/align]The app gets all the data from a .dnd4e file which is exported from DDI character builder, and uploaded to an account through the Goat Head Software site. From there, when signed in with the app on a device, a list of uploaded characters can be seen, and those can be then transferred and saved locally on the device.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">The character sheet is broken down into five tabs - Racial/Class Features; Ability Scores/Feats/Skills; Gear; Combat Stats/Defenses/Hit Points/Surges; and finally Powers. But beyond mere information from the character sheet, the app also allows the player to tap certain features, like ability scores, skills, and powers, and roll a d20 for a check or an attack, as even the damage dice on powers! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">For instance, clicking a power brings up a power-card-like window, which shows most all the information such as flavor, attack and damage formulae, as well as effect text. And there are little d20s to signify that the app will roll out the attack and damage for you. Unfortunately, the powers are currently lacking build text, so that a special feature for, say, a Star Pact Warlock as opposed to an Infernal Warlock, on a power is not shown. </span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">Powers are also set up that they can be flagged as used, and the flags do not disappear until the proper rest is taken – there’s a screen for that too! Despite a few shortcomings, it’s still a very nice set-up for running powers during a combat, and tracking them through an adventure.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">The combat statistics tab s also very cool, with a big hit point bar which tracks damage, healing, and temporary hit points all in one display. Combat conditions can also be tracked here, and they have nearly every possible condition that a character might be afflicted with, including marks, curses, and quarry’s. The conditions can be set for a numeric value – such as ongoing damage – as well as a saving throw bonus, such as from a theme or racial bonus. </span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">For a more complete player’s perspective on the Player Minion app, my colleague Tizzbin got a chance to try out the app this last weekend in my regular D&D game, and has written his own <a href="http://www.neuroglyphgames.com/tizzbins-tirades-review-of-player-minion-by-goat-head-software" target="_blank">review in greater detail on the <strong>Neuroglyph Games</strong> site</a>.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><u>DM Minion</u></strong></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">The <strong><em>DM Minion</em></strong> is a combination adventure planner, encounter designer, and combat tracker, all-in-one. Like the Player Minion, the DM Minion requires that information be uploaded to the app from the Goat Head Software site, and lets a dungeon master add both character files (.dnd4e) and monster stat block (.monster) files, exported from DDI’s Character Builder and Adventure Tools. </span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><em>DM Minion</em></strong> has six tabs for major functions such as to Create/Save Adventures, Load Players, Load Monsters, Create Encounters, Run Combats, and Camp – this last one lets the DM track rest periods (short and extended), as well as surges, healing, action points, and milestones. [align=right]http://www.neuroglyphgames.com/rpgblogs/home/neurogly/public_html/rpgblogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/dm-minion-s1.jpg[/align]There is also an options tab with one option – one initiative roll for same monsters – and a tab for rolling any combination of dice of any sided-ness. You can even create imaginary dice… want to roll 1000 d999s? There’s an app for that…</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">The interface is very intuitive to use, and it take no time to set up an adventure, upload monsters for it, and then organize encounters. Once the characters are uploaded and the monsters are placed in encounters, you can run an encounter, tracking initiative, damage taken, and combat conditions, for both characters and monsters alike. Monster stat blocks are transferred into the program, and like the player-character powers, can be selected and rolled in the app for attack and damage. Damage results can then be transferred to targets, allowing the DM complete tracking of the combat from both sides of the DM screen. There is even a log to keep track of combat events, for reference at any time.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">Information about the adventure and its encounters can saved at any point, which is handy if a combat stops in the middle, or if an adventure runs for a dozen encounters. Like the Player Minion, action points, surges, and healing are tracked in a “camp” tab, allowing DMs to monitor these stats over the course of an adventure, even if it takes more than one session.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">About the only problem I could find with the DM Minion was with the Condition tracker. There was no way to add a <em>stance</em> as a condition, but otherwise all other conditions are there. There was also no way to add a combat condition which lasted until the end of the encounter, although it is possible to add and track conditions which last until the end of a turn, start of a turn, or a save end condition. </span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Overall Score</strong>: 4.0 <strong>out of</strong> 5.0</span></p><p> </p><p><u><strong><span style="font-size: 12px">Conclusions</span></strong></u></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">I was really impressed with both of these apps, and I have no doubt that I’ll be using DM Minion in my D&D 4E games from now on. Certainly, there are a few issues at launch that need to be fixed, such as the condition tracking duration and the player power card missing build specific text, but overall, I think players and DMs with iOS devices will find these apps very useful to their gaming experience.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">Pricewise, I think the Player Minion has a lot of bang for the buck, but the DM Minion is considerably more. But as long as the programmers at <strong>Goat Head Software</strong> continue to update and develop these apps, I think they are well worth considering for almost any 4E gaming group.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">Except for ANDROID users – no word from the developer as yet, but I’m hoping we’ll see this pair of apps for non-Mac devices as well!</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><em>So until next review… I wish you Happy Gaming!</em></span></p><p> </p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 12px">Author’s Note</span></strong><span style="font-size: 12px">: This Reviewer received a complimentary copy of the products from which the review was written.</span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Neuroglyph, post: 7648363, member: 85633"] [SIZE=3]One of my all-time favorite quotes has to be from Arthur C. Clarke, when he asserted - “[I]Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.[/I]” And thinking back to how we used to play Dungeons & Dragons back in the 70s and 80s - using piles of hand-written character sheets and stacks of graph paper maps, surrounded by stacks of game manuals - as compared to today’s gaming table - with full color printed sheets from an online character generator, surrounded by lap tops and portable devices to look up rules in a knowledge-base Compendium - and it really does feel like technology has added a bit of magic to our favorite fantasy role-playing game.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]And while DDI has truly offered a number of great resources for D&D 4E, sadly, the WotC development team promised more than they actually delivered. We never saw the [B][I]Virtual Tabletop[/I][/B] come into being until only just recently, and there was no development on tools for DMs and Players which were optimized for hand-held devices. [/SIZE] [SIZE=3]But thankfully, GSL allowed for other developers to create 3rd Party Apps for D&D 4E, and one such company has recently risen to the challenge. [B]Goat Head Software[/B] has, over the past week, released two new apps for iPhone and iPad, [B][I]Player Minion[/I][/B] and [B][I]DM Minion[/I][/B], which offer Players and DMs a bit of technology to add a bit of magic to their gaming experience![/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B][U]Player Minion & DM Minion[/U][/B][/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Developer[/B]: Goat Head Software[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Media[/B]: iOS for iPhone & iPad [/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Retail Price[/B]: $2.99 for [I]Player Minion[/I] & $12.99 for [I]DM Minion[/I] (both available now from the [URL="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/player-minion/id512656419?mt=8%29"][B]iTunes Store[/B][/URL])[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][align=right]http://www.neuroglyphgames.com/rpgblogs/home/neurogly/public_html/rpgblogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Dm-Minion-logo.jpg[/align][B][I]Player Minion[/I][/B] and [B][I]DM Minion[/I][/B] are iPad/iPhone apps for Players and Dungeon Masters for use with D&D 4E. [B][I]Player Minion[/I][/B] is a full-service character sheet reader, providing information on stats, powers, feats and skills, condition and hit point tracker, and other useful functions. [B][I]DM Minion[/I][/B] is an adventure organizer, encounter builder, and combat tracker, which handles initiative, logs damage and healing, as well as conditions, action points, and surges for monsters and characters. Both apps also contain a dice roller for handling attack, damage, and skill rolls, as well as a generic dice roller for use as needed.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B][U]Production Quality[/U][/B][/SIZE] [SIZE=3]The production quality of the two apps is excellent, with the features set up in a very intuitive design, and effortless running on an iPhone/iPad. Both apps have functions separated into tabs to keep them organized, and the developers used colorful icons for many features such as the dice roller and condition tracker, to make the apps even more intuitive to use.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Of a slightly less intuitive nature, the use of these apps require a the app-user to sign-up for a free account on the [URL="http://myminion.goatheadsoftware.com/myminion/"][B]Goat Head Software site[/B][/URL] in order to upload .dnd4e and .monster files to a database, which can then be uploaded to the portable device. However, uploaded files can be conveniently saved on the device locally, so that loss of internet connection will not impede the use of the data during a gaming session.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B][U]About Player Minion[/U][/B][/SIZE] [SIZE=3]In essence, Player Minion is a D&D 4E interactive character sheet. It contains nearly all the information that would be detailed on a printed 4E character sheet, but placed into a iPhone/iPad interface with additional functions and features.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][align=left]http://www.neuroglyphgames.com/rpgblogs/home/neurogly/public_html/rpgblogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/player-minion-s3.jpg[/align]The app gets all the data from a .dnd4e file which is exported from DDI character builder, and uploaded to an account through the Goat Head Software site. From there, when signed in with the app on a device, a list of uploaded characters can be seen, and those can be then transferred and saved locally on the device.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]The character sheet is broken down into five tabs - Racial/Class Features; Ability Scores/Feats/Skills; Gear; Combat Stats/Defenses/Hit Points/Surges; and finally Powers. But beyond mere information from the character sheet, the app also allows the player to tap certain features, like ability scores, skills, and powers, and roll a d20 for a check or an attack, as even the damage dice on powers! [/SIZE] [SIZE=3]For instance, clicking a power brings up a power-card-like window, which shows most all the information such as flavor, attack and damage formulae, as well as effect text. And there are little d20s to signify that the app will roll out the attack and damage for you. Unfortunately, the powers are currently lacking build text, so that a special feature for, say, a Star Pact Warlock as opposed to an Infernal Warlock, on a power is not shown. [/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Powers are also set up that they can be flagged as used, and the flags do not disappear until the proper rest is taken – there’s a screen for that too! Despite a few shortcomings, it’s still a very nice set-up for running powers during a combat, and tracking them through an adventure.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]The combat statistics tab s also very cool, with a big hit point bar which tracks damage, healing, and temporary hit points all in one display. Combat conditions can also be tracked here, and they have nearly every possible condition that a character might be afflicted with, including marks, curses, and quarry’s. The conditions can be set for a numeric value – such as ongoing damage – as well as a saving throw bonus, such as from a theme or racial bonus. [/SIZE] [SIZE=3]For a more complete player’s perspective on the Player Minion app, my colleague Tizzbin got a chance to try out the app this last weekend in my regular D&D game, and has written his own [URL="http://www.neuroglyphgames.com/tizzbins-tirades-review-of-player-minion-by-goat-head-software"]review in greater detail on the [B]Neuroglyph Games[/B] site[/URL].[/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B][U]DM Minion[/U][/B][/SIZE] [SIZE=3]The [B][I]DM Minion[/I][/B] is a combination adventure planner, encounter designer, and combat tracker, all-in-one. Like the Player Minion, the DM Minion requires that information be uploaded to the app from the Goat Head Software site, and lets a dungeon master add both character files (.dnd4e) and monster stat block (.monster) files, exported from DDI’s Character Builder and Adventure Tools. [/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B][I]DM Minion[/I][/B] has six tabs for major functions such as to Create/Save Adventures, Load Players, Load Monsters, Create Encounters, Run Combats, and Camp – this last one lets the DM track rest periods (short and extended), as well as surges, healing, action points, and milestones. [align=right]http://www.neuroglyphgames.com/rpgblogs/home/neurogly/public_html/rpgblogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/dm-minion-s1.jpg[/align]There is also an options tab with one option – one initiative roll for same monsters – and a tab for rolling any combination of dice of any sided-ness. You can even create imaginary dice… want to roll 1000 d999s? There’s an app for that…[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]The interface is very intuitive to use, and it take no time to set up an adventure, upload monsters for it, and then organize encounters. Once the characters are uploaded and the monsters are placed in encounters, you can run an encounter, tracking initiative, damage taken, and combat conditions, for both characters and monsters alike. Monster stat blocks are transferred into the program, and like the player-character powers, can be selected and rolled in the app for attack and damage. Damage results can then be transferred to targets, allowing the DM complete tracking of the combat from both sides of the DM screen. There is even a log to keep track of combat events, for reference at any time.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Information about the adventure and its encounters can saved at any point, which is handy if a combat stops in the middle, or if an adventure runs for a dozen encounters. Like the Player Minion, action points, surges, and healing are tracked in a “camp” tab, allowing DMs to monitor these stats over the course of an adventure, even if it takes more than one session.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]About the only problem I could find with the DM Minion was with the Condition tracker. There was no way to add a [I]stance[/I] as a condition, but otherwise all other conditions are there. There was also no way to add a combat condition which lasted until the end of the encounter, although it is possible to add and track conditions which last until the end of a turn, start of a turn, or a save end condition. [/SIZE] [SIZE=3][B]Overall Score[/B]: 4.0 [B]out of[/B] 5.0[/SIZE] [U][B][SIZE=3]Conclusions[/SIZE][/B][/U] [SIZE=3]I was really impressed with both of these apps, and I have no doubt that I’ll be using DM Minion in my D&D 4E games from now on. Certainly, there are a few issues at launch that need to be fixed, such as the condition tracking duration and the player power card missing build specific text, but overall, I think players and DMs with iOS devices will find these apps very useful to their gaming experience.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Pricewise, I think the Player Minion has a lot of bang for the buck, but the DM Minion is considerably more. But as long as the programmers at [B]Goat Head Software[/B] continue to update and develop these apps, I think they are well worth considering for almost any 4E gaming group.[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Except for ANDROID users – no word from the developer as yet, but I’m hoping we’ll see this pair of apps for non-Mac devices as well![/SIZE] [SIZE=3][I]So until next review… I wish you Happy Gaming![/I][/SIZE] [B][SIZE=3]Author’s Note[/SIZE][/B][SIZE=3]: This Reviewer received a complimentary copy of the products from which the review was written.[/SIZE] [/QUOTE]
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