Breaking free of eTools reliance

[caudor]

I have an admission to make: I think I've become dependent on eTools. I've been using the tool since before 3.5, and while it started as a great time saver, it has become sort of a straight jacket for me now. eTools does not support any of the cool new classes (such as those from PHB II), I'm faced with rolling them on paper...something that I don't feel confident about. I'm also sure that I would be a better DM if I could break free of eTools.

I have tried. I rolled up a few characters on paper and compared them to one created with eTools. There were errors all over the place. It's very embarrassing.

So what do you suggest? Is it simply a matter of studying the PHB for hours? Is there a good basic guide out there outside the PHB? All comments, suggestions, and admonishments are welcome

 

[fafhrd]

I had the same problem a couple of years ago. I had gotten stuck DMing all the time and Etools really saved time, but it hurt my ability to hand craft the stuff. My solution was to get out of the mode of generating tons of NPCs and start working up a few prospective PCs I wanted to play.

When you're looking to make a single character you can really take your time to hone and polish them. When it's your own character, you make sure you pay attention to all of those synnergy bonuses and the like. Just start rolling up a simple character and when you're done, rebuild him with etools. Check to see what went wrong where and take those lessons to heart for next time. Go back to the books when you're stumped.

 

[DM_Jeff]

This sounds like a job for...dum-dum-duuuuum: WotC's New Digital Initiative! Ta-daaa!



What? Seriously.

-DM Jeff

 

[kigmatzomat]

Ironically, the only reason ETools and PCGen doesn't support the PHBII rules is that WotC pulled Code Monkey's license.

Like most things, practice makes perfect. Want to get good at making characters? Make some characters. Even better, grab some of the ones you've made in Etools. Remake them by hand and compare after each one. They should get progressively more accurate.

 

[talien]

I feel you brother. I'm totally and utterly dependent on e-tools and have no desire whatsoever to stray outside of it, to the extent that I seriously consider not purchasing books because it's too much work to fit it into the game.

Except that's not really true. What you need is the e-tools editor, ET Helper: http://www.dallas.net/~davin/

This fabulous thing lets you add classes and special materials, two major things missing from e-tools. You can already add races, maic items, weapons, armor, spells, gods, and even artwork with the House Rule tool. So download ET Helper and suddenly the D&D world is your oyster.

The problem I have now is using (ironically) third party products. There's almost nothing a third party product can offer me that I can't cover with e-tools now, because I've uploaded so much data into the thing it's got a version of every monster and race known to man.

Or to put it another way, I don't need to create the Freeport Pirate prestige class when I can just use the Dread Pirate prestige class. I don't need to create a crabman race when I can use the one in the Fiend Folio. And so on.

I recently posted a thread aggravated about all the errors I find in other adventures when I rebuild the NPCs in e-tools (and it discovers a multitude of flaws). And you know what? I don't think the majority of gamers CARE about their stats being too accurate. I'm pretty sure that most people don't bother with encumbrance...I can tell you I wouldn't if it wasn't for e-tools.

The future of D&D had better include a digital initiative to handle the rules. 'Cause it's clear to me that, on our own, the dizzing amount of material is simply too much for most mortals to use accurately.

 

[EricNoah]

In my DM role, my eTools is indispensible.

As a player, I could probably just do it manually.

It is funny how sometimes what looks like an error in eTools is actually the correct application of an obscure rule or a rule I misunderstood.

 

[talien]

Amen. I have learned to stop mailing the developers about it, because I just keep embarassing myself.

I've since told the players: E-Tools is always right. If something is wrong, it's you, not E-Tools. Learn to love your new master.

 

[dunec]

Except that's not really true. What you need is the e-tools editor, ET Helper: http://www.dallas.net/~davin/

This fabulous thing lets you add classes and special materials, two major things missing from e-tools. You can already add races, maic items, weapons, armor, spells, gods, and even artwork with the House Rule tool. So download ET Helper and suddenly the D&D world is your oyster.

Can you give me the secret for easily adding new Deities? I can't seem to find the spot with the ETH.

 

[Wraith Form]

I've since told the players: E-Tools is always right. If something is wrong, it's you, not E-Tools. Learn to love your new master.

Hunh?

I've seen more errors and stupid junk in eTools than by hand 99% of the time. I told my players to not use eTools, as it messes up calculations, etc. Plus adding abnormal or weird stuff to a character sheet is never easy in that app. As they say, "YMMV".

 

[EricNoah]

Can you give me the secret for easily adding new Deities? I can't seem to find the spot with the ETH.

You don't need ETH to make new deities. You do that in Etools itself. Go to House Rules, then Gods, create a new one (and hit Accept), and then add domains and favored weapon.

ETH really helps with 3 things: some database management tools (backup, import, export); custom classes; and custom materials.