What is the best D&D Assistant Software for me?

[Murrdox]

Okay, I'm going to say what I want software for, and anyone who is familiar with the multitude of D&D DM's assistant software out there can answer this for me.

I want DM software that I can use to:

Build NPC's, including spells, equipement, and prestige classes found in all 3.5 and splatbooks, in addition to Forgotten Realms sources.

Build Monsters, and add/change equipment, add character classes (such as build a 6th level Rogue Kobold) and such.

Generate statblocks for these NPCs and Monsters so that I can cut and paste them into my adventure.

I'm basically talking about a complete character generator here. I want to be able to take a Troll, give it 3 levels of Fighter, 2 levels of Sorcerer, and give it the Lich Template if I want to.

I want a software title to do this so that I don't have to spend an hour drawing up a 5 Rng/5 Fgt with a +1 Scimitar and +1 Flaming shortsword, with these feats, this animal companion, these magical items, etc etc etc. all on paper.

I've used Etools, and I've been pretty happy with it, but the lack of 3.5 means that currently it's not really an option. Are there any suggestions out there until 3.5 Etools comes out?

 

[Eternalknight]

HeroForge can do most of it for you:

http://home.san.rr.com/blackbart/main.html

 

[Davin]

I've used Etools, and I've been pretty happy with it, but the lack of 3.5 means that currently it's not really an option. Are there any suggestions out there until 3.5 Etools comes out?

I'm sure that several of the major packages will handle this kind of thing for you, but you might just wait a little while for eTools 3.5 support to come out. I think the code base is planned for just a couple of days from now, and the 3.5 purchasable datasets shouldn't be terribly far behind (if you don't want to enter your own data changes).

Anyhow, I just thought I'd point out that waiting shouldn't be a tremendously painful option at this point.

 

[Luke]

RolePlayingMaster will do all that for you, and a whole lot more.

Its often seen as been a specialist in-game DM app because of its strong commitment to that difficult task, but its very much a strong PC/NPC/monster generator, with all the flexibility of different setting/genre datasets, 3.5, and features such as templates (add, subtract, add multiples...).

You can even use the built-in Jamis NPC generator, and have it automatically spit out 3.5 versions of NPCs, and then use the new "single button" equipment generator capabilities, to get equipment suited to the appropriate race and classes.

If you're actually creating NPCs as a DM, you might also like to play with features for stuff like adventure building, encounter generatation, dungeon generation and campaign building.

Regards,

 

[SnowDog]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but RoleplayingMaster only allows 3E rules with the eval edition, not 3.5E (you have to register to use Import and have to Import to use 3.5E, as I understood it). That might factor into your decision; it did for me.

I wanted to eval RPM in my quest for a tabletop assistant program (use at the table), but this was enough for me not to. I don't have time to "try it out" with 3E rules and adjust everything while it goes -- especially with the learning curve for RPM's interface. I need to be able to evaluate the program as I'll be using it to get a solid feel for what I'm getting into, before I spend my money.

Not trying to "poop on" RPM -- it might be a very great application. But since you specifically called out 3.5E I thought I'd mention that you won't be able to try 3.5E RPM for free. Obviously if anyone here knows differently, please correct me!

 

[Luke]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but RoleplayingMaster only allows 3E rules with the eval edition, not 3.5E (you have to register to use Import and have to Import to use 3.5E, as I understood it).

Thats correct. The registered version allows you to import, and the 3.5 rules are a dataset import.

Its a pretty simple step from 3.0 to 3.5, though. Moving to 3.5, there are some additions, a few removal, and some name changes to things such as feats, skills an classes, but its all pretty obvious stuff - especially when you have a program working it out for you.
Everything works pretty much the same. Its as simple as if you imported a splatbook, except that the original 3.0 stuff gets over-written in the process.

It takes *very* little imagination to see how 3.5 works in RPM, when you're evaluating the 3.5 edition, though I guess you don't get to see the massive 3.5 Rules Encyclopaedia until you do the import. Its well above whats in the 3.0 rules version - full of all the tables and other rules info. Nevertheless, things like that are extras on what was originally asked for.

Regards,

 

[Murrdox]

Currently trying out Roleplaying master.

Interface is a bit chunky... but once you hit the right button to get you where you're going it seems to work fairly well. It's unfortunate that I can't import Forgotten Realms or 3.5 datasets into it until it's registered...

 

[kingpaul]

Build NPC's, including spells, equipement, and prestige classes found in all 3.5 and splatbooks, in addition to Forgotten Realms sources.

PCGen can do the generating. The RSRD data set is currently in development. You can buy the splat book and FR datasets for PCGen from CMP. (Please note, I'm not an agent of CMP)

Build Monsters, and add/change equipment, add character classes (such as build a 6th level Rogue Kobold) and such.

Can do that too. Took about a minute for:

New1, Male Kobold Rogue6 CR 6; Size: S Type HUMANOID; HD (6d6); hp 28; Init +1 (+1 Dex, +0 Misc); Spd Walk 30'; AC 13 (flatfooted 13, touch 12), ( /x ) or ; SA: Evasion (Ex), Light Sensitivity(Ex), Sneak Attack 3d6, Uncanny Dodge (can't be flanked), Uncanny Dodge (Dex bonus to AC); Vision: Darkvision (60'), Normal AL: NG; Sv: Fort +2, Ref +6, Will +2; Str 7, Dex 12, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 10

Skills and Feats: ;
Possessions: ,

Generate statblocks for these NPCs and Monsters so that I can cut and paste them into my adventure.

There's a whole host of output sheetse to choose from, and the statblock is one of them.

I'm basically talking about a complete character generator here. I want to be able to take a Troll, give it 3 levels of Fighter, 2 levels of Sorcerer, and give it the Lich Template if I want to.

Yep, can do that too. Just using the SRD, it took me about 3 minutes to create:

New1, Male Troll Giant6 Fighter3 Sorcerer3 CR 13; Size: L Type GIANT|UNDEAD; HD (6d8)+(3d10)+(3d4); hp 50; Init +2 (+2 Dex, +0 Misc); Spd Walk 30'; AC 23 (flatfooted 21, touch 11), ( /x ) or ; SA: Fear Aura, Immune to Cold/Electricity/Polymorph, Immune to mind-influencing effects/ poison/ sleep/ paralysis/ stunning/ disease, Not subject to critical hits/ subdual damage/ ability damage/ energy drain/ or death from massive damage, Paralyzing Touch, Regeneration(Ex), Rend(Ex), Summon Familiar, Turn Resistance 4; Vision: Darkvision (90'), Normal AL: CE; Sv: Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +6; Str 24, Dex 14, Con *, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 8

Skills and Feats: ; Cleave, Craft Wondrous Item, Power Attack
Possessions: ,
Sorcerer - Known:

I had to use 3 levels of sorcer to qualify for Craft Wondrous, a prereq for Lich though. I didn't fill everything out, obviously.

I want a software title to do this so that I don't have to spend an hour drawing up a 5 Rng/5 Fgt with a +1 Scimitar and +1 Flaming shortsword, with these feats, this animal companion, these magical items, etc etc etc. all on paper.

I find char gen fairly easy, but, I'll be honest, I'm biased. Took me about 5 minutes to get this guy up:

New1, Male Human Ranger5 Fighter5 CR 10; Size: M Type HUMANOID; HD (5d10)+(5d10)+40; hp 94; Init +4 (+4 Dex, +0 Misc); Spd Walk 30'; AC 14 (flatfooted 10, touch 14), *Scimitar +1 +15/+10 0'S (1d6+8 15-20/x2 Primary M ) or *Sword +1 (Short/Flaming) +15 0'P (1d6+5 17-20/x2 Off-hand S +1d6 fire damage) or ; SA: favored enemy (Humanoid (Goblinoid)) +2, favored enemy (Humanoid (Orc)) +1; Vision: Normal AL: NG; Sv: Fort +12, Ref +6, Will +6; Str 20, Dex 18, Con 18, Int 18, Wis 18, Cha 18

Skills and Feats: ; Ambidexterity, Improved Critical (Scimitar, Sword (Short)), Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus (Scimitar, Sword (Short)), Weapon Specialization (Scimitar, Sword (Short))
Possessions: 1 Scimitar +1, 1 Sword +1 (Short/Flaming),
Ranger - Known:

I've used Etools, and I've been pretty happy with it, but the lack of 3.5 means that currently it's not really an option. Are there any suggestions out there until 3.5 Etools comes out?

Well, per the CMP boards, the 3.5 datasets should be coming out soon. If I understand it correctly, to do 3.5 required a patch to the program. The patch should be coming out soon, with the datasets after that.

 

[d20books]

PCGen Schism

Even with me seemingly on the wrong side of the present PCGen Schism, PCGen is still the best application out there. I looked into Crystalball, but it does not have the same flexibility yet as PCGen.

 

[smetzger]

Even with me seemingly on the wrong side of the present PCGen Schism, PCGen is still the best application out there. I looked into Crystalball, but it does not have the same flexibility yet as PCGen.

Unless of course you want to do 3.5 right now. I know that will eventually change but if you want to use the tool to prep for this weekend....