Greyhawk_DM
First Post
Do You use it? If you do, how do you like it?
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DMGenie
- Thread starter Greyhawk_DM
- Start date
I've been running my campaign with DMG for the better part of a year and I love it. Not only has it sped up our sessions, but, it has helped me become a better DM. I'm generally not one to pay attention to every little detail, but, with DMG alot of those details are factored in for me. This is especially true during combat when there is so much going on (not to mention 'heroic' actions by the PCs 
) it is often easy to forget something. But DMG does a good job of allowing me to select pre-defined conditions or quickly define my own, and then forget about them (kinda) until they expire.
Another really nice feature is the feat editor. Basically, this editor is an IDE (integrated development environment) for VBScript. DMG comes with numerous pre-defined feats from the SRD and provides support for customizing these feats or creating new ones. Along these lines there is also a Template editor, Race editor, Class editor, Condition editor, weapon editor, item editor... well, you get the idea.
And for DM's who also want to keep their notes in e-form, DMG comes with a robust Campaign Manager. This manager has the mandatory text editor (not another 'editor'...lol) but also allows the DM to create creature groups associated to each entry in the campaign. This makes scripted encounters a breeze to initiate. The Campaign Manager also allows a DM to link an image file to the campaign, so you can have all of your maps, npc pics, etc at your fingertips. You can then place counters representing the party, opponents, loot, or location on the map (and don't forget to check out 'hotspots').
Well, that is enough rambling for now. I highly recommend DMG and Player Genie (4 of 5 players polled at my table use PG). A very stong app with outstanding support from the designer (who frequents the boards and puts out regular updates) and members trolling the DMG forums.
) it is often easy to forget something. But DMG does a good job of allowing me to select pre-defined conditions or quickly define my own, and then forget about them (kinda) until they expire.Another really nice feature is the feat editor. Basically, this editor is an IDE (integrated development environment) for VBScript. DMG comes with numerous pre-defined feats from the SRD and provides support for customizing these feats or creating new ones. Along these lines there is also a Template editor, Race editor, Class editor, Condition editor, weapon editor, item editor... well, you get the idea.
And for DM's who also want to keep their notes in e-form, DMG comes with a robust Campaign Manager. This manager has the mandatory text editor (not another 'editor'...lol) but also allows the DM to create creature groups associated to each entry in the campaign. This makes scripted encounters a breeze to initiate. The Campaign Manager also allows a DM to link an image file to the campaign, so you can have all of your maps, npc pics, etc at your fingertips. You can then place counters representing the party, opponents, loot, or location on the map (and don't forget to check out 'hotspots').
Well, that is enough rambling for now. I highly recommend DMG and Player Genie (4 of 5 players polled at my table use PG). A very stong app with outstanding support from the designer (who frequents the boards and puts out regular updates) and members trolling the DMG forums.
I agree with ROM. I, too, have been using DM Genie quite heavily (2 years or so), and am more and more impressed with the features.
One of the best things I like about the program is the ever-active Forum, where the programmer is quite receptive to user's requests for the next update. Also, there are program updates quite regularly (every 1-2 months since I have bought the program). And, rarely are these program updates required because of fatal program errors/bugs; mainly they add new user-requested features to the program.
We have an active D&D campaign going on, and all 11 players are now using this program. In fact, we have laughed a few times about whether or not we are playing a pen & paper game or a computer game when we play (right now, we have 4 laptops at the table typically, because the players can so easily modify their PC's with spells, conditions, etc....you try to figure out a slowed, raging, blessed, weakened, etc. PC "on the fly").
Another example of how I used this program to ease my D&D playing was at a local gaming convention, where I had a 1st level character created and fully detailed in less than 5 minutes...all I then had to do was find a printer to get the character sheet printed.
In fact, I had not realized how much I relied on the program until my laptop recently went in the shop (with me as the DM as well...doubly horrific!!). I now have to rely on paper printouts from the program and hand-managing encounters, which I find quite challenging after using the program to manage the game so easily in the past.
Please note that this program, even as stable as it currently is, still has enhancements and features remaining to be added. One glaring example is that the program does not manage multiple damage resistance items properly (where the highest-powered item supersedes any lower-powered ones for the same type of resistance). Still, this is a known problem and I'm sure it will be corrected in a future update (the developer hasn't disappointed me in the past).
I have tried/bought all of the competitors (DM's Familiar, Roleplaying Master, Campaign Suite, PC Gen, come to mind), and have found none of the others come close.
One of the best things I like about the program is the ever-active Forum, where the programmer is quite receptive to user's requests for the next update. Also, there are program updates quite regularly (every 1-2 months since I have bought the program). And, rarely are these program updates required because of fatal program errors/bugs; mainly they add new user-requested features to the program.
We have an active D&D campaign going on, and all 11 players are now using this program. In fact, we have laughed a few times about whether or not we are playing a pen & paper game or a computer game when we play (right now, we have 4 laptops at the table typically, because the players can so easily modify their PC's with spells, conditions, etc....you try to figure out a slowed, raging, blessed, weakened, etc. PC "on the fly").
Another example of how I used this program to ease my D&D playing was at a local gaming convention, where I had a 1st level character created and fully detailed in less than 5 minutes...all I then had to do was find a printer to get the character sheet printed.
In fact, I had not realized how much I relied on the program until my laptop recently went in the shop (with me as the DM as well...doubly horrific!!). I now have to rely on paper printouts from the program and hand-managing encounters, which I find quite challenging after using the program to manage the game so easily in the past.
Please note that this program, even as stable as it currently is, still has enhancements and features remaining to be added. One glaring example is that the program does not manage multiple damage resistance items properly (where the highest-powered item supersedes any lower-powered ones for the same type of resistance). Still, this is a known problem and I'm sure it will be corrected in a future update (the developer hasn't disappointed me in the past).
I have tried/bought all of the competitors (DM's Familiar, Roleplaying Master, Campaign Suite, PC Gen, come to mind), and have found none of the others come close.
Count me as another very satisfied customer. I have also purchased most of the competing products and did not find the same level of use.
It is great for game preparation only and it is great for using at the table, if you so desire.
Everything stated so far matches my experience pretty well, too.
If there was one thing I would ask for, it would be an easier method of inputting or creating my own templates.
You can do it, but you have to be able to write or edit the scripts, and I'm not a good scripter.
Then again, none of the other products do Templates well either.
Game ON!
Nyrf
It is great for game preparation only and it is great for using at the table, if you so desire.
Everything stated so far matches my experience pretty well, too.
If there was one thing I would ask for, it would be an easier method of inputting or creating my own templates.
You can do it, but you have to be able to write or edit the scripts, and I'm not a good scripter.
Then again, none of the other products do Templates well either.
Game ON!
Nyrf
TheEldereye
First Post
DM Genie is superb. I started using it over a year ago and slowly have been getting more and more use out of it. At first I just used it to track the PCs and roll some party checks - like a group spot. The time section saw heavy use from the start - I customized the calendar and loved the weather generator. The journal is helpful for typing session notes. Lately I've been using the campaign section - I scanned a Dungeon Magazine adventure into it with TextBridge and then downloaded the maps from Paizos site. I was able to tab back and forth between maps, creature stats, and area decriptions. I can just about DM with only my laptop now - and I agree with the folks above it has made me a better 3e DM - I catch alot of the little rules because of the program. If you add Fiery Dragons Battle Box (as I did) you can DM with only the genie and it. I highly recommend it to anyone with a laptop. It is well worth the money.
I got a laptop a few weeks ago (got a fairly good price through Dell small business) and picked up DM Genie as I had tried the demo out once a while back and liked it. But now that I have it and a machine to run it on, I'm finding myself highly intimidated... I'm no programer. Sure I can figure out code well enough to edit php files for forums or write scripts for an IRC client (pIRCh, many years ago), but I don't know where to begin learning a language like VB.
Right now my group uses the core rules and the Complete series of supplements. I plan to add the Race, Environment, and other "generic core D&D" series' in the future as well. The program handles the core books just fine. To the best of my knowledge it handles the rules correctly (except for a few minor points as noted above) and has all of the various feats and class abilities scripted so that the necessary points are automated.
Off the bat my group has a half-drow (from one of the FR books I think), a Blood Magus, and an Order of the Bow Initiate. So I have to get one race and two prestige classes into the thing just to get my players up and running. Not to mention the collection of feats and spells my players have taken from the Complete books.
I've been monitoring the yahoo groups. I've found the feats from most of the Complete books, but with no scripting to back them up. And I haven't found the classes I need right away, yet.
Don't get me wrong. This isn't a negative review so much as another newbie hoping to gain some enlightenment. The program rocks on toast for core play. But integrating other books seems pretty overwhelming to me right now, and I'm going to have to be able to do so if I'm going to be using this program to run my regular games.
Right now my group uses the core rules and the Complete series of supplements. I plan to add the Race, Environment, and other "generic core D&D" series' in the future as well. The program handles the core books just fine. To the best of my knowledge it handles the rules correctly (except for a few minor points as noted above) and has all of the various feats and class abilities scripted so that the necessary points are automated.
Off the bat my group has a half-drow (from one of the FR books I think), a Blood Magus, and an Order of the Bow Initiate. So I have to get one race and two prestige classes into the thing just to get my players up and running. Not to mention the collection of feats and spells my players have taken from the Complete books.
I've been monitoring the yahoo groups. I've found the feats from most of the Complete books, but with no scripting to back them up. And I haven't found the classes I need right away, yet.
Don't get me wrong. This isn't a negative review so much as another newbie hoping to gain some enlightenment. The program rocks on toast for core play. But integrating other books seems pretty overwhelming to me right now, and I'm going to have to be able to do so if I'm going to be using this program to run my regular games.
Aristotle said:
Yes, there can be a steep learning curve with using DMG to its full capability, which includes learning VBScript well enough to code non-SRD feats,classes,templates, etc. However, there is strong support in the various DMG forums to share tips associated to scripting and even help debug scripts when needed. Generally, I will add the new objects to DMG without any code and then add in the various bonuses of the aforementioned object manually. Eventually I get around to adding code and testing.
Don't let the spectre of VBScript scare you off. Between snagging scripts aready created for another feat, or just browsing the scripts for insight into VBScript, there is plenty of examples to help you learn the language.
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