E-Tools: Should I or Shouldn't I?

[TheAuldGrump]

Hmmmm, catcthing a theme here? Yeah, take it back. I wanted Master-Tools, what came out was a character generator for about the same price, and not a very good one at that. Take it back, my friend who bought it and CAN'T take it back will be jealous...

The Auld Grump, who will not buy E-Tools...

 

[DDK]

What annoys me about this is that WotC will probably view this as a reason not to delve into the arena of CARPG (Computer Aided RPG), despite the fact that the reason for the failure was simply that the product was crap.

 

[Eudaimic]

Take it back.
There might be *other* ways of getting it... hint hint, nudge, nudge.

And its not THAT bad...

 

[TheAuldGrump]

The sad thing is, even if offered E-Tools for free I'd still stick with PCGen. It just plain does more...

The Auld Grump

 

[Buttercup]

Take it back! I can think of at least three fan-created programs that are better. Heck, even the cheesy character generator that came with the 1st printing of the PHB is better.

Take a look at these:
Campaign Suite
Roleplaying Master
DM Familiar
DM Buddy
PCgen

None of the above are without flaw, but they're all a damn site better than that piece of dreck known as E-Tools.

 

[DMFTodd]

at least three fan-created programs that are better

Just so no one is confused, DM's Familiar is not a character generator. It's a combat manager, reference library and campaign organizer. It's meant to be used by DMs, not players, and at the gaming table during the game.

If you were including DM's Familiar in the "three fan-created programs that are better" than E:Tools, then I agree

If someone is interested in a character generator, there is Campaign Suite (my preference), PCGen, Roleplaying Master and Crystal Ball (for the Mac users).

If someone is looking for a combat manager, there is DM's Familiar (my preference, obviously), Roleplaying Master and DMGenie.

I'm not familiar enough with DM Buddy to categorize it.

And there's probably more programs than that floating around out there that I don't know about.

 

[Breakdaddy]

Take it back, do yourself a favor. I purchased this craptacular program in good faith knowing it had flaws and "knowing" that Wizards and Fluid would step up to the plate and fix the issues in no time, and I would have a fully functional program with far less flaws. That was months ago, and Im not holding my breath. WOTC has lost much of my respect and faith, and I try to buy as much non WOTC stuff as possible at this time. Oh, and sorry if this turned out to be a mini-rant.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Take it back, do yourself a favor. I purchased this craptacular program in good faith knowing it had flaws and "knowing" that Wizards and Fluid would step up to the plate and fix the issues in no time, and I would have a fully functional program with far less flaws. That was months ago, and Im not holding my breath. WOTC has lost much of my respect and faith, and I try to buy as much non WOTC stuff as possible at this time. Oh, and sorry if this turned out to be a mini-rant.

In defense of WOTC, they didn't write it in house, they are waiting for the patch too.

I would guess that they aren't too happy with Fluid, and Fluid in turn isn't too happy with WOTC, the mistake WOTC made was creating a 'moving target' of a design goal, and then scrapping a lot of the work in progress. (Too many bosses.)

I also suspect the 'No online gaming' ruling that came about because Hasbro sold off ALL their computer game licenses annoyed both WOTC and Fluid.

Don't you love it when a plan comes together?

All in all, I'm not holding my breath til they come out with a full patch.

The Auld Grump, who still hasn't bought E-Tools... but isn't really blaming anybody in particular, just spreading it thin.

 

[Breakdaddy]

Auld, I see your point, and dont take issue with it in the least. However, it is ultimately WOTC's responsibility to get the product on target for us, the consumers. Fluid is just a developer, maybe a poor one, maybe a misunderstood one, maybe a great one that was given an impossible goal. I dont know, and don't care. WOTC commissioned this work, and WOTC needs to commission the fix. This is all IMHO, of course

 

[Vpenman]

I have to agree with Breakdaddy.

This is WotC's product. It commissioned it, oversaw the development, decided when it was ready to ship, published it, and sold it.

Everything else is just noise.

On a hopeful note, I believe Anthony Valterra is trying to find an acceptible solution to the unfinished product and no bug fixes problem.

Victor