D&D 4E Hero Lab for 4e...is it good?

[Stacie GmrGrl]

I am just finding out about this program and it looks like it would be a life saver when making character...but is it complete and is it good? By complete I mean does it support all the books and stuff, or just the PHBs? And by good I mean, how user friendly is it, things like that.

 

[kaomera]

I am just finding out about this program and it looks like it would be a life saver when making character...but is it complete and is it good? By complete I mean does it support all the books and stuff, or just the PHBs? And by good I mean, how user friendly is it, things like that.

It's pretty good, but about 0% complete. There are no classes, races, powers, etc. (or anything else under TM) baked in - you have to enter it all yourself.

 

[smtwtfs]

What's Included?

• The 4th Edition mechanics data files are included with the Authoring Kit data package. They include only the 4th edition game mechanics, and no copyrighted content. A downloader is provided to allow you to download free content from D&D Insider, or subscriber content with the provision of a username and password. Note that some of the features described below require subscriber data to be used.

Never used this product but found this of interest "...subscriber content with the provision of a username and password."

 

[666Sinner666]

HL is a good program for 4e character building. Since Lonewolf does not have a license agrement with WOTC they can not pre-enter the information for the game into HL. That being said though it does come with a nice tool called the DDIDownloader which goes out to the compedium and pulls all the information bit by bit, it takes about 5-6 hours, at rate as fast a "normal" human could copy/paste the info.

Currently, the Essentials classes and inherent bonus options are not in there. Essentials mainly because how the characters are built is vastly different from other 4e characters. Inherent bonuses because the guy responsible for the 4e material completely missed the option.

What HL has over the WOTC tool is that you can create any homebrew options you want and share them with your players. That being said the learning curve on how to properly enter that info using the HL Editor is steep and there is not a lot of documentation to help you learn how. On the flip side to that there are a lot of very nice people on their boards, including the developers, who are more than happy to help you. That and the builder is available without an internet connection.

 

[kaomera]

HL is a good program for 4e character building. Since Lonewolf does not have a license agrement with WOTC they can not pre-enter the information for the game into HL. That being said though it does come with a nice tool called the DDIDownloader which goes out to the compedium and pulls all the information bit by bit, it takes about 5-6 hours, at rate as fast a "normal" human could copy/paste the info.

Did this actually work for you? Because if it did I may have to give it a second try - for me I left it on overnight, and although it seemed to have completed it didn't actually pull anything usable off of DDI. I probably should have asked on the Lone Wolf forums at that point, but I kind of assumed it was the same deal as with MasterPlan.

 

[666Sinner666]

Did this actually work for you? Because if it did I may have to give it a second try - for me I left it on overnight, and although it seemed to have completed it didn't actually pull anything usable off of DDI. I probably should have asked on the Lone Wolf forums at that point, but I kind of assumed it was the same deal as with MasterPlan.

Works like a charm for me. Just ran it last night in fact to get the latest info. Depending on what operating system your using you may have to run the program in administrator mode and once its done completely shut down and restart your system.

Make sure you have the latest version of the downloader as well as older version do not work with the new compendium.

 

[Stacie GmrGrl]

So if I don't have DDI access than I'd pretty much have to enter just about everything by hand...that could take a while.

 

[kaomera]

So if I don't have DDI access than I'd pretty much have to enter just about everything by hand...that could take a while.

That's what I did for my Bard - mind you, the character only ever got to 3rd level, but it wasn't really that bad, IMO.

 

[666Sinner666]

So if I don't have DDI access than I'd pretty much have to enter just about everything by hand...that could take a while.

Thats correct. You either pay WOTC for their material or you enter it manually. That said there is nothing stopping you from "borrowing" a current subscirbers log in info, with their permission, once a month and grabbing the info.

Yeah, not so much. Please don't promote piracy and the like here. Thanks. - Piratecat

(If this violates some law or user agreement feel free to delete/edit this post mods.)

Appreciated. And now you know - and knowing is half the battle. Go Joe!

 

[Jhaelen]

Thats correct. You either pay WOTC for their material or you enter it manually. That said there is nothing stopping you from "borrowing" a current subscirbers log in info, with their permission, once a month and grabbing the info.

(If this violates some law or user agreement feel free to delete/edit this post mods.)

Ever read the EULA?

Of course it's not allowed! Otherwise, why don't you just post your login data, so everyone can just grab the info once a month using your account?

And while you're at it, please also post your online banking account, WOW account, etc. I'm sure someone will find the information useful