D&D 5E Screenshot Hero Lab 5e (Non-Official, Homebrew)

[MagicSN]

If that's the case, that's a bit more of that list. But it's still a long way off the full DungeonScape goals.

Having not everything on that list is only relevant if you think there should be only one tool. No monopoly means better software quality in released tools, also.

When I started to write the Hero Lab implementation, BTW, it was definitely NOT "let's do a concurrence to Dungeon Scape". I started to implement before anything was known about official digital tools. Online Tools BTW have the big disadvantage if your RPG room has no internet access ^^ Anyways, I still hope there will be a more open licence.

The stuff about "advertising other gamesystems" - this goes both ways. Many people use Hero Lab for several systems (for all systems they play pen&paper), and 5e showing up might cause many people to "give 5e a try". So it works both ways. Personally I think that it supports most game systems is a big plus for Hero Lab.

As to your list most of the stuff is supported by either Hero Lab or Realms Works. Though at least myselves I do not use Campaign tools. A matter of personal taste I guess.

MagicSN

 

[Jester David]

Thing is, DungeonScape isn't a character generator. That's just one of its functions. Herolab can't replace it.

I would imagine that the issues with Herolab are that (a) it doesn't incorporate the other functionality WotC wanted for its electronic tools suite (campaign management, integrated newsfeeds, etc.) and that (b) it advertises other systems to the customer, which is great for the customer but maybe not so ideal for WotC. Maybe if Lone Wolf were to create a standalone D&D specific version of the software it might appear more attractive to them, though it still wouldn't have the campaign management stuff WotC wants. WotC also wants to be able to sell adventures and the like via its electronic tools, and I got the impression from my conversation with Trapdoor at GenCon that much smaller chunks - sharing and selling individual monsters and the like - are also in the plan, plus being able to send things to other players or to and from the DM, privately if necessary.

So Herolab is a great character generator and manager, and has some great player-side in-game functionality, but it isn't a replacement for any more than one part of the DungeonScape plan. It supports players well, but it's not the tool for DMs, or the tool for WotC's commercial plans.

Now, if WotC just wanted a character generator with some awesome in-game player features, Herolab can't be beat.

(Bizarrely I've also seen people on FB and places saying "Just give it to Roll20!" - which bemuses me, since Roll20 is an entirely different type of software!)

Some features which were part of DS; Herolab does the first two, and a couple of others in a slightly more clunky way (you can share data packs, but not in the quick way WotC wants you to).

- Character generation
- In-game calculations and die rolls
- DM tools
- Sharing items or info between players and the DM
- Campaign management
- DM private access to character sheets in real time
- Maps and pictures
- Purchase and download of adventures
- Sharing custom content with other players and DMs online, both individual items and complete adventures

Lone Wolf Development has released their own campaign manager in the form of Realm Works:
http://www.wolflair.com/realmworks/

While there is no shared content as yet, that is coming:
http://www.wolflair.com/realmworks/features/content-market/
If they can incorporate Razor Coast into the product there's no reason they couldn't put Hoard of the Dragon Queen into it as well.

 

[Morrus]

Having not everything on that list is only relevant if you think there should be only one tool. No monopoly means better software quality in released tools, also.

It's not a question of what I think. I'd love to see a big open license and a selection of tools. I'm just trying to guess what WotC is thinking. What's good for me or you isn't necessarily what's good for them. And monetisation is obviously big in their priorities.

 

[Henrix]

I agree entirely with you, Morrus, I think wizards wants a lot more than a generator.

What I do think is that they as of this moment, and for a while into the future, they have nothing in the way of electronic support.

Now, that doesn't really bother me. I'm old enough to hold a pen and 5e is a breeze to make characters in. But evidently people expect to have it.

So what I think they ought to do is get something provisional out, and that soon.
And why not a custom made Hero labs to start with?


But predict they will not do that, but instead reinvent the wheel before they release anything. :/

 

[ZombieRoboNinja]

The thing that drives me nuts is that if they weren't worried about creating precedents, IP legal issues, etc. I'm sure the designers would be happy to see fans create nonprofit free tools to make d&d easier and more fun.

 

[MagicSN]

It's not a question of what I think. I'd love to see a big open license and a selection of tools. I'm just trying to guess what WotC is thinking. What's good for me or you isn't necessarily what's good for them. And monetisation is obviously big in their priorities.

If monetisation would be the issue the most clever thing would be to give a licence to Lone Wolf, Lone Wolf could take my code (which I had offered for the case that they get a licence) and still the same week something could be released, meaning the licence would give back money to WotC immediately. To start from scratch again (after DungeonScape stuff failed) means instead money needs to be invested first, instead of earned. So it seems to be not about monitisation. Of course I do not know what there reasons are for what things are and as it is their property they can do with it whatever they like.

 

[SteveC]

This is some great stuff, MagicSN. I hope that Wizards talks with the Hero Labs folks and this can become a reality.

Wizards seems to be making the same mistake of a couple of editions now: they want something perfect, when what they need is something that is available now. Launch is the very best sales are ever going to be for WotC (especially if they're not releasing a lot of sourcebooks/splats) and so having something to get people playing NOW is going to be their best option.

Six months or a year from now, the bloom will be off of the rose, so I'd try and reach as many people as possible NOW.

As a lot of folks may know, I am not a big fan of this edition so far, but I'd more than willing to play it. For me having electronic tools is most important for games that I'm not that into, since it makes doing everything for the game easy, and if I'm not going to spend a lot of time reading the rules, I like easy. I'm willing to pay for easy!

A module for Hero Labs (software I already have) would make me much more likely to get into the game more often.

 

[MagicSN]

This is some great stuff, MagicSN. I hope that Wizards talks with the Hero Labs folks and this can become a reality.

Wizards seems to be making the same mistake of a couple of editions now: they want something perfect, when what they need is something that is available now. Launch is the very best sales are ever going to be for WotC (especially if they're not releasing a lot of sourcebooks/splats) and so having something to get people playing NOW is going to be their best option.

Getting something perfect is not the mistake I think (actually I agree with them there). The mistake is trying to reinvent the wheel. When they announced Project Morningstar Realms Works was already short before release - so why not work together and save development cost? And Hero Lab has been polished for a very
long time...

Well, I guess we will see what the "new plan" will be.

 

[ZombieRoboNinja]

Getting something perfect is not the mistake I think (actually I agree with them there). The mistake is trying to reinvent the wheel. When they announced Project Morningstar Realms Works was already short before release - so why not work together and save development cost? And Hero Lab has been polished for a very
long time...

Well, I guess we will see what the "new plan" will be.

I mean, their actual logic seems obvious: they want any officially branded D&D product to be full-featured and polished to WotC/Hasbro standards. They probably also want to keep a tight rein on their copyrighted content while making it available in the program, which means they need full control over the program. HeroWorks has been around for a long time but LOOKS less "polished" than even the beta Morningstar.

 

[HighlanderFrodie]

Just putting on my "tin foil" hat, there is a new thread over at Hero Labs by one of the staff called "Hero Lab Beta Thread".

http://forums.wolflair.com/showthread.php?t=51224

Might be something going on, IDK fingers crossed!