I didn't see an FAQ on the site
The included Help file would have answered the majority of these questions. Each screen in DMF has a little button with a "?" on it. Hold the mouse over the button, a tooltip will say "Help". Click it. You'll get a topic telling you how the screen works.
To make the interface better - maybe instead of using the Periodic Table initials (i.e. Fe) - list Feats. The whole word should fit
Hold your mouse over the button, you'll get the whole word. I suppose I could have put the whole word on there but then someone would complain that the interface is too cluttered. I went with the standard Windows method of using a small button. I'd put a picture on there but can't draw a lick.
Unless their is some sort of database rationale reasoning for it's order {The Buttons}
It's a bizarre database rationale known as "Alphabetical Order".
Yeah, maybe there is a slightly better way to organize those buttons. If the order of a few buttons is truly a big issue to you though, then I doubt that DMF, or any other program, will ever meet your requirements. That has nothing to do with a "not so useable interface".
Feats: Only the A's appear to have information regaring them
Monsters: It only goes to Umber Hulk.
Spells: I have Acid Fog and Aid.
In my earilier post I suggested "if you haven't started entering any data yet, install the new Setup program from the website. The new Setup has all of the SRD Monsters, Spells, Skills, and Feats already in it." You opted not to do that and only installed the latest update. So, yeah, all of the SRD material is not in the version you're using. They can be easily imported as well but you choose not to do that either. So, yeah, that information is not going to be there with the setup you've choosen.
If I gain Wpn Spec. are the bonuses automaticly configured?
No. DMF is not a calculation tool. It's a free-form tool that will let you setup things the way you want them to be. If you want Kromm to have a +2 Dagger and he has a BAB of +3 you enter "Dagger +5" as the attack and "Dagger 1d4+2" as the damage.
Yes, that is not as powerful as it could be. Free-form entry has the advantage of being totally flexible. It's the direction I want DMF to go.
if these are put into another update - can they be taken out?
You have total control over all those entries and can change anything you want. Was that the question? You also have total control over the Import/Export process. You can choose to Import only some of the entries included with an Import file. You can mark entries in the database to be never overwritten regardless of what the Import file has in it (So you're Goblins will always stay exactly as you set them up).
? I want to use a picture
DMF does not at this time store pictures. It may or may not in the future.
Codex Tree: What exactly is this?
It's a word-processing/outline tool to use for whatever you like. It can also hold references to all of the database objects to instantly open them up (Monsters, Spells, etc.). There's a real good description of it in the Help file or on the website in the "Features" section.
Dicebag: Default is either 1d20 or unassigned. Why do I have to re-assign these? Don't all dice bags have a: 1d4, 1d6, 1d8, 1d10, 1d12, 1d20, 1d100
Yes, I could have given the defaults to all of those buttons but then someone would complain that they didn't like my defaults and had to change them.
Considering that the buttons can all be setup for whatever you like in about a minute, I don't see that it is really an issue.
The Big space above the first row is for what? [Dicebag[
It's for entering any diceroll you would like to make. You can enter "10d6", "5 Magic Missle 1d4+1" and things along those lines. The Help file explains more.
This isn't the easist dice rolling utility. I could easily roll my whole dice bag and have the results quicker.
You're joking now right? Once you've programmed the buttons, which takes all of a mihute, you just have to click a button. You can search through your dice, find the 12 sider, and roll it faster than clicking a button? Or here's a test. Let's do that Wizard's 10d6 fireball. I type 10d6 in the blank spot and hit enter. I'm done. How long does it take you to find the 10 dice, roll them, and add them up?
not many Gamers are willing to give up their dice. Are you?
If you want to roll your own dice, go right ahead. There's nothing in the program making you use it and that's a tiny little feature of the overall program.
Do I give up my dice? Yeah, when fighting the orcs, making a simple appraisal check, or other mundane things, I use the Dicebag. It's faster and easier. When my players have the final showdown with the Vampire Lord, I break out my dice.
The output button doesn't show up - it's behind the dicebag. I had to move it to see the output.
All of the screens in DMF can be moved whereever you like and the program will remember where they are and put them there next time. Most of the screens can also be resized and DMF will remember the size you wanted them at.
Yeah, I could have put default locations in for all of the screens so that they are nicely arranged but then someone would complain that they didn't like my arrangement. Bottom line is that the screens remember where you put them and what size they should be. With about 30 seconds work you can have things laid out exactly as you want.
But I think the Monster section has the best bet going for it. But I haven't compared it to the MonsterDB program
If you want to be able to reference Monsters, Spells, Skills, Feats, PCs and NPCs quickly; have a Combat Board to speed up your combats; have a word-processing/outline tool that is intergrated with all that other information; be able to Import/Export all that information to share with other people; have a Dicebag to make things a little easier; then use DM's Familiar.
If the only thing you want to do is look up a monster reference, then, yeah, use the MonsterDB program. If all you want is a cup holder, there's no need to buy a LandRover.
Nuff said.
