I was unable to renew my DDI sub, so I have lost access to my online Tools (mainly the Adventure Tools and CB that I used to plan out my campaign (which has been running nearly 3 years now) and my group has just reached paragon tier, so I am looking for an alternative offline or online set of tools for 4E to replace the DDI ones, (that they would not let me renew, as my cred card expired and they would not let update my account with the new one before my account expired, nor will they let me sign up a new account). I do not have the time to run my campaign with out the aid of computerized tools, but I am loath to abandon my campaign because WoTC and DDI will not continue to support the online tools. Any help finding suitable alternatives would be appreciated.
Can't Renew my DDI SUB
- Thread starter MonkLover
- Start date
S
Sunseeker
Guest
There's nothing that comes even close to the DDI tools for 4E, not legally anyway.
Scrivener of Doom
Adventurer
I'm using the offline Character Builder updated with CBLoader, an offline, fan-created version of the D&D Compendium that is even better than the online version, and I use Masterplan as my monster builder. Posting links is in violation of board rules but I can assure you that these are all just as functional as the official versions, if not more so. (And not just more so because the official ones often don't work.)
The Fighter-Cricket
Explorer
Yes, the CBLoader works quite finde. Just do some searching on the interwebs and there will be sorrow no more.
Tony Vargas
Legend
You should be able to go to your account, check your account 'history' and re-order a past sub. Ours had been lapsed for years and I was able to get it going and auto-renewing again.
I wonder if I’m the only who uses/used only books and pdfs to play 4e. I mean, sure, it can be a problem when you have too many books, but I never had the constant money required for a subscription – and worst of all, was in dollars. So I always did in “old-school” style.
Nothing against those who use online tools: if it works for you, great! I just don’t like them, and I’m interested if anyone also has this opinion.
Nothing against those who use online tools: if it works for you, great! I just don’t like them, and I’m interested if anyone also has this opinion.
RedSiegfried
First Post
I recently attempted to update my credit card to allow my subscription to auto renew and had repeated error messages relating to the site itself. I gave up and tried a week later at home (I was previously at work!) and it worked first try no problem. Went ahead and renewed manually and that worked fine too. I pretty much seem to have issues every year when I try to renew my subscription - bizarre web page errors of varying sorts, but eventually I'm always able to get it renewed. And yes, you can still re-up even if your subscription expires, so you can keep trying.
No, that's me also - though I do use the online Compendium as an index, to find stuff in my books/PDFs.
And I did get a sub for a month or two to download all the PDFs (Dungeon and Dragon).
(Psi)SeveredHead
Adventurer
You're not the only one. However, I did like a searchable monster database. I could probably access all printed monsters in the various Dungeon Magazines and adventures and just make a list. Honestly, if that list just included monster names and sources I'd be pretty happy.
RedSiegfried
First Post
I'll say it again. I'll be very disappointed if the online tools become unavailable one day and WoTC doesn't make them available in some form for legal offline use. I find the tools very useful and fun to use, warts and all.
The Fighter-Cricket
Explorer
I used to make characters from PHB1 or the Essentials books quite quickly without the online tools. I even found the character creation process described in the Essentials very useful for an "analog" approach to making a PC. The crucial thing is to know on which resources/books you want to restrict yourself. If you have too many options character creation takes a lot of time even with the help of tools.
But for me as a DM that wants to manage my player's characters (I know, I have control issues...) the digital tools are great to have an overview over the party constellation, their synergies... and possible weaknesses which I could exploit to make their lives miserable... You know, the little things that make DMing fun.
Short: CBLoader ftw!
But for me as a DM that wants to manage my player's characters (I know, I have control issues...) the digital tools are great to have an overview over the party constellation, their synergies... and possible weaknesses which I could exploit to make their lives miserable... You know, the little things that make DMing fun.
Short: CBLoader ftw!
Neil Bishop
First Post
Fortunately, the not-legal offline tools are easy to find and work really well.
GameOgre
Adventurer
Never needed online tools. I did play in a game where the DM used them and he always had tons of cool print outs that I'm sure helped and made things faster to plan out but it was very doable without them.
I talked with him about it and I think it's more of like you can do it without ever using them at all and be fine but once you do, it would be very hard to go back.
D'karr
Adventurer
I never NEEDED the electronic tools to play or prepare. For that matter I was able to run the game simply with the tables in the DM Screen.
However, once I started using the electronic tools, such as the compendium and the offline character builder they became essential. They make preparation and record keeping so much faster and convenient.
I would compare it to using a pen and paper for writing a document, or using a word processor. You can use either and both of them will still get the job done. But one tool is way more convenient and useful for the long term editing needs.
However, once I started using the electronic tools, such as the compendium and the offline character builder they became essential. They make preparation and record keeping so much faster and convenient.
I would compare it to using a pen and paper for writing a document, or using a word processor. You can use either and both of them will still get the job done. But one tool is way more convenient and useful for the long term editing needs.
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