Does this product exist?

[Particle_Man]

I was looking for a (presumably electronic) product that:

a) Allows you to enter the name of an SRD monster and an SRD template, and it stats up the templated monster for you.

b) Allows you to advance a monster by HD, and it stats up the monster for you. (Picks "typical feats and skills" (I don't even care if it repeatedly picks "toughness").

c) Combines functions a and b.

d) Has NPC stats, not just for base classes, but for the SRD prestige classes, using the most common classes as prerequisites (and if necessary as "filler" classes to top it up to lvl 20), along with equipment, etc.

e) (And I imagine this is too much to ask for): Allows one to enter a monster and add X number of class levels, and get that monster statted up for you.

f) Combines functions c and e.

Does this product exist yet? Is this what e-tools does? If not, is it possible to invent one or does even the SRD alone provide too much of a combinatorial explosion?
__________________

 

[IronWolf]

You may want to try out the trial version of DM Genie. It does some of what you want it to do.

A DM Genie lets you apply a template to a creature rather easily.

B You can advance the HD of the monster, but you do need to choose the feats. It's as easy as double-clicking the feat though to add it.

C The above are done through the same set of improvement screens.

D Not really.

E You can easily add class levels to creatures. You do have to assign the skills, feats, etc. but the interface makes this pretty easy and quick.

The trial should let you see if the tool will help you out.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

E-Tools will do all of that for you, though the templating can be a little troublesome, in my experience. It's a great tool for advancing monsters, and adding class levels to them. Keep in mind they're working on a replacement for it, but I don't know what teh ETA on that is.

 

[SubMensa]

Just to make sure that you understand, E-Tools can do things like that. However there is no 'One Button Solution' to creating prestige classed NPCs.

Creating a prestige classed NPC is actually somewhat involved, and one of the worst parts of the program.

1. Create an NPC with enough levels to qualify for the prestige class.
2. Add feats and skills necessary.
3. Manually add enough XP to level up.
4. Level up.
5. Level up, one level at a time.
6. Level up, one level at a time ...
7. Aargh!

Oh, and one more thing, if you made a mistake in one of the earlier levels, you have to start all over 'cause there aint no goin' back.

Personally I prefer Heroforge for my NPCs, I can force it easily to override any rule if need be. Or I can just add the levels I want and run the feats on the fly.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

True, E-Tools doesn't do e) all that well for all the reason SubMensa says, but it's very handy for a, b, c, e, and f.

 

[kingpaul]

I was looking for a (presumably electronic) product that:

a) Allows you to enter the name of an SRD monster and an SRD template, and it stats up the templated monster for you.

PCGen does this

b) Allows you to advance a monster by HD, and it stats up the monster for you. (Picks "typical feats and skills" (I don't even care if it repeatedly picks "toughness").

You can advance the monster in PCGen, but you'll need to pick the feats.

c) Combines functions a and b.

Yes, but you'll need to pick the feats.

d) Has NPC stats, not just for base classes, but for the SRD prestige classes, using the most common classes as prerequisites (and if necessary as "filler" classes to top it up to lvl 20), along with equipment, etc.

You can create NPCs with PCGen, but there aren't, to my knowledge, any pre-built NPCs bundled with the distributions.

e) (And I imagine this is too much to ask for): Allows one to enter a monster and add X number of class levels, and get that monster statted up for you.

You can add classes to mosnters. However, you'll need to allocate the equipment, feats and skills yourself.

f) Combines functions c and e.

As mentioned above.

 

[Vascant]

About the only thing NPC Designer can't do as of yet.. is the Monster Advancement.. And even then I think it is just because no one has tried yet.

You don't have to pick feats (AI Handles it)
You don't have pick equipment (AI Handles it)

You can select Monsters as races,
Templates (Only 1 at the moment.. but heck, this is beta)
Up to 4 Classes and 4 Prestige Classes (400th level is the max this far)
Bloodlines and Paragon races..
New stat block format..


Even makes coffee in the morning.. oh wait, thats my wife but you get the idea.

(Keep in mind, we are in beta at the moment.. but this should give you an idea)

Cometh CR19
Female Hill Giant Half-Red Dragon Barbarian 10/Demon (Intermediate) Bloodline
CE Large Dragon (Augmented Giant)
Init 6 (+2 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative) Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Listen +0, Spot +10
Languages Giant
---------------------
AC 31, touch 13, flat 29
hp 265 (22HD)
Immune sleep, paralysis and fire Resist acid 5
Fort +22 Ref +8 Will +6
---------------------
Speed 50 ft.
Melee +4 halberd +36/+31/+26/+21 (2d8+28) and Bite +27 (1d6+16) or 2 Claws +32 (1d6+16) and Bite +27 (1d6+16) or Slam +32 (1d4+16)
Ranged Rocks +18 (2d6+16)
Base Atk +17 Grp +37
Atk Options
Special Atk rock throwing, rage 3/day, breath weapon (30-ft. cone of fire) 1/day
---------------------
Abilities Str 42, Dex 15, Con 26, Int 8, Wis 11, Cha 6
SQ darkvision 60 ft., immunity sleep, paralysis and fire, resistance acid 5, hill giant traits, low-light vision, rock catching, fast movement, uncanny dodge, trap sense +3, improved uncanny dodge, damage reduction 2/- and +2 on saves against poison
Feats Blind-Fight, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Leadership, Power Attack, Quick Draw, Skill Focus (Spot), Track.
Skills Climb +26 (+16 str), Handle Animal +8 (-2 cha), Hide +0 (+2 dex, +2 racial, -4 size), Intimidate +4 (-2 cha), Jump +30 (+16 str, +8 speed), Ride +10 (+2 dex, +2 synergy), Spot +10 (+3 skill focus).
Possessions +4 padded armor, +4 halberd, ring of freedom of movement, gauntlets of ogre power, bracers of lesser archery, ring of protection +2, mantle of faith, potion of cure light wounds, oil of daylight, oil of magic vestment +2, potion of good hope, potion of magic circle against (evil), potion of misdirection, 15 pp, 14 gp, 20 sp, 15 cp, 565785 gp in other assets.



Rock Throwing (Ex): The range increment is 180 feet for a hill giant’s thrown rocks. It uses both hands when throwing a rock.


Rage (Ex): The following changes are in effect as long as Cometh rages:
AC 29, touch 11, flat 27
hp 309 (22HD)
Fort +24 Will +8
Melee +4 halberd +38/+33/+28/+23 (2d8+31) and Bite +29 (1d6+18) or 2 Claws +34 (1d6+18) and Bite +29 (1d6+18) or Slam +34 (1d4+18)
Base Atk +17 Grp +39
Abilities Str 46, Con 30
Skills Climb +28 (+18 str), Jump +32 (+18 str, +8 speed).
Her fit of rage lasts for 13 rounds, though she may voluntarily end it prematurely. After raging, he is fatigued (-2 Strength, -2 Dexterity, can't charge or run) for the duration of that encounter. Cometh can fly into a rage only once per encounter and only three times per day. Entering a rage takes no time by itself, but Cometh can do it only during her action, not in response to someone else's action.

Breath Weapon (Su): Cometh can use her breath weapon once per day, she can breath a 30-foot cone of fire that deals 6d8 points of fire damage to creatures within its area. A successful Reflex save (DC 18) reduces the damage by half.

Hill Giant Traits: Cometh is a large sized humanoid, she can catch and throw rocks. Cometh is automatically proficient with simple weapons, martial weapons, light and medium armor, and shields.


Low-Light Vision: Cometh can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar low-light conditions.


Rock Catching (Ex): Hill giant gains a +4 racial bonus on its Reflex save when attempting to catch a thrown rock.


Uncanny Dodge (Ex): Cometh retains his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if he is caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. However, he still loses his Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized.

Trap Sense (Ex): Has a +3 bonus on Reflex saves to avoid traps and a +3 dodge bonus to AC against attacks by traps.

Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex): Cometh can no longer be flanked. This defense denies a rogue the ability to sneak attack the barbarian by flanking him, unless the attacker has at least four more rogue levels than the target has barbarian levels.

 

[Joshua Randall]

I second the motion for DM Genie. It does essentially everything you want it to, and it's a helluva lot easier to use than PCGen.

 

[kingpaul]

and it's a helluva lot easier to use than PCGen.

What did you find dificult with PCGen?

 

[Joshua Randall]

kingpaul: the user interface. The ability to add new items without being a script monkey. And the fact that it runs under Java.

I think PCGen is very good for hackers, but not very good for people who just want to play D&D. I used PCGen for over a year, but now I use DM Genie. It's nothing personal.