DDI Monster Builder

[Mengu]

Customize = Fail. Why do I care what the power is called, I want to be able to change the mechanics, or add/remove powers. This is sort of like them showing their silverlight-fu and saying "Look ma, I can ride a bike no hands!" Good deal, now go make yourself useful and get some bread from the bakery.

On a side note, it took less than 10 minutes to get a crash... I'll continue to ignore this tool, I'm perfectly fine using word for all my needs. Takes a split second to do the math in my head for all the numbers. And I rather enjoy the monster power design process anyway.

 

[the-golem]

Well, after a quick poke-through...

* You can customize names, but not mechanics. Fail.
* Slow and laggy as hell. Fail.
* Import feature. What format does it take? Will it pull custom critters from the old AT? Judgement Pending.
* You can save your "custom" monsters. How many? Judgement Pending.

EDIT:
Here is a link to it: New "Improved" Monster Builder.

Bah. XP for providing the link, which I didn't, except I "must distribute".

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Adventure Tools known issues list

3/22/2011

• Users at this time are not able to add, edit, or remove powers, traits, stat blocks, saving throws, action points, skills, languages, alignment, equipment, or perception.[1]
• Compendium Links are not in.
• Some custom monsters upon import may be missing (in part or in entirety) non standardized customized powers.[2]
• Double clicking monsters does not enter editing mode.
• There is no warning dialog when importing the exact same monster.
• Text boxes do not accept overtyping of highlighted text.
• The text box for Name in the filter section is cut off on the lower portion.
• Level field accepts alpha characters.
• There is no warning dialog should the user make changes to a monster, and then click return.
• Decreasing the browser size can hide buttons.

[1] Sorry, but this pretty much means, to me, "completely non-functional." Here's our promised product guys, except it doesn't actually do what it is supposed to do.

I've said this before about the Character Builder, but it's worth repeating: If you are going to replace a provided software, with a newer software, either (a) keep providing the old software until the new software is on par with the old one, or (more preferrably), (b) don't supply the new software (at all) until it's at least as feature-rich as the old one. Imagine if when MS came out with Office 2010, and said, "Oh, by the way, it actually does less than 2007"

 

[ThirdWizard]

This is so disappointing. It's completely unusable.

I mean, even if you change the name of the monster, it won't update the powers' text. A simple <name/> tag instead of plain text would have fixed that. So, what's the point of even giving us that functionality?

It makes it look like an amateurish job, a half implemented mess. And, they've had how long to put this out? How can they take pride in this thing? I can't imagine doing this kind of work and it seeing public access. That would never happen. QA would eat me alive, and rightfully so.

I'll hope the next release will fix some of the issues, but I won't hold my breath on moving to this "tool" over the old one.

With one exception, this builder uses the newer formatting, by action type.

Old one did that.

 

[interwyrm]

At least it's on time

 

[Saracenus]

The only use I can see for it right now is importing custom monsters from the old Monster Builder and being able to access them in the Virtual Table. Granted I haven't seen VT or said functionality so that might be a pipe dream on my part...

I guess I will have to wait 2 months before Monster Builder actually does what it means...

Sigh,

 

[webrunner]

Bah. XP for providing the link, which I didn't, except I "must distribute".

-----------------------------------------------------------
Adventure Tools known issues list

3/22/2011

• Users at this time are not able to add, edit, or remove powers, traits, stat blocks, saving throws, action points, skills, languages, alignment, equipment, or perception.[1]
• Compendium Links are not in.
• Some custom monsters upon import may be missing (in part or in entirety) non standardized customized powers.[2]
• Double clicking monsters does not enter editing mode.
• There is no warning dialog when importing the exact same monster.
• Text boxes do not accept overtyping of highlighted text.
• The text box for Name in the filter section is cut off on the lower portion.
• Level field accepts alpha characters.
• There is no warning dialog should the user make changes to a monster, and then click return.
• Decreasing the browser size can hide buttons.

[1] Sorry, but this pretty much means, to me, "completely non-functional." Here's our promised product guys, except it doesn't actually do what it is supposed to do.

I've said this before about the Character Builder, but it's worth repeating: If you are going to replace a provided software, with a newer software, either (a) keep providing the old software until the new software is on par with the old one, or (more preferrably), (b) don't supply the new software (at all) until it's at least as feature-rich as the old one. Imagine if when MS came out with Office 2010, and said, "Oh, by the way, it actually does less than 2007"

I would be far more okay if it was just 'less' features. That's still better than no features.

The new "Monster builder" literally has no working features whatsoever. This is pre-alpha, prototype, not beta.

 

[Stumblewyk]

Yeah, ordinarily, this would be the point when I go "But at least we have something!"

Nah. Not anymore. It took longer than most of the dyed-in-the-wool cynics around here, but WotC's out of goodwill from me. This is ridiculous. This is not a Monster Builder. It's a Monster Reflavorer. At best.

Cripes. How can one company so consistently miss the mark with their digital offerings? It's one thing to say "Hey guys, this is the best we can do," but this clearly isn't. We already have the old Monster Builder as evidence to the contrary. Instead they once again strip features and functionality, throw it out there, ask us to go (after doing this dance time and time again) "Sure, sure. This'll do. You just let us know when you're ready to give us back what we used to have."

Ugh.

 

[Dannager]

I've said this before about the Character Builder, but it's worth repeating: If you are going to replace a provided software, with a newer software, either (a) keep providing the old software until the new software is on par with the old one

They are doing this. The old Monster Builder is still available on their website for download.

 

[Obryn]

I dunno, at least they seem to know it's crap. They're still offering the old one for download & update.

-O

 

[Dannager]

Adventure Tools Update Info

They know it lacks a ton of features, they'll be adding them as time goes on. I guess for now it's probably best to view it as an online tool that does what it does, and to keep using the offline builder when you need to create monsters.