New monster builder

[bgjyd834]

Have many of you used it?
Is it better than the old builder?

i would guess so since the old builder seemed clunky.

i was just wondering, and I would like to hear.

 

[OnlineDM]

The new builder is not a real Monster Builder yet - it's just there so that people participating in the beta test of the Virtual Table can automatically load monsters into the VT program. It doesn't let you create your own powers, change text, etc.

So, for now, stick with the old Builder. The new one will get better eventually, but it's not there right now.

 

[Dannager]

The new builder has three advantages over the old builder:

1. It contains an updated set of monsters to reflect releases over the last year.

2. It is integrated with the VTT, allowing you to import monsters to your VTT game.

3. It utilizes cloud storage and is an online app, meaning you can access the monsters from any computer, anywhere (including Macs).

In all other ways, the new monster builder is inferior to the old one, simply because it does not yet have all of the old monster builder's features. Based on the roll-out of the new Character Builder (which has seen constant feature additions and bug squashing), I wager that the new monster builder will eventually be excellent, and will prove itself better than the old one. We'll just have to wait a while for it to get to that point. Until then, the old monster builder remains available.

 

[the Jester]

Since it doesn't actually, you know, BUILD MONSTERS, and since what it does do- relevelling- it does wrong, I think it's completely useless.

It's a shame; a good MB that actually built monsters is what would probably win me back as a subscriber to DDI.

 

[Dr_Ruminahui]

At the risk of sidetracking this thread, can you explain further, [MENTION=1210]the Jester[/MENTION]? I've used it for releveling, and didn't notice any problems with the math... what exactly went wrong in your experience.

 

[NewJeffCT]

Have many of you used it?
Is it better than the old builder?

i would guess so since the old builder seemed clunky.

i was just wondering, and I would like to hear.

The new one can be clunky as well. We have a high speed cable modem, but the new MB still seems to get hung up if you want to change options on one of the drop down menus.

Plus, it does not allow you to upgrade a monster from standard to elite or from elite to a solo like you could with the old MB. Similarly, if you did upgrade from an elite to a solo and wanted to add in a new power, or modify an existing power, you cannot do that with the new MB.

I suspect after a few more updates over the next few months, the new MB will be much more functional, and within 6-8 months, will hopefully be better than the old MB.

 

[the Jester]

AFAIK it still uses the old pre-MM3 math for everything.

This may have changed since I let my sub lapse, but I haven't heard anything to that effect.

 

[OnlineDM]

AFAIK it still uses the old pre-MM3 math for everything.

This may have changed since I let my sub lapse, but I haven't heard anything to that effect.

I see where you're coming from on that, but I wouldn't say that it's doing the re-leveling wrong. If you take a Monster Manual 1 monster of 12th level and change it to 14th level or 10th level, its damage will go up or down a little bit - it won't be completely changed to the damage expressions that show up on newer monsters. That's a bug in the monster itself, not the Builder!

 

[Mithreinmaethor]

WOTC has stated that they currently have no plans to update monsters from MM1 and MM2 to the new MM3 math.

So dont expect it when you use the Monster Builder.

 

[the Jester]

WOTC has stated that they currently have no plans to update monsters from MM1 and MM2 to the new MM3 math.

So dont expect it when you use the Monster Builder.

So "It doesn't work and never will"?

Encouraging...