Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="EricNoah" data-source="post: 2436302" data-attributes="member: 4">I agree that computer tools are an essential part of my gaming toolbox.  E-tools and calculating spell spreadsheets are two I really can't do without.  They help me prep the game the way I want to run it (books closed 98% of the time, necessary rules are in my adventure notes, stat blocks, etc.).  Edit: let me give two examples.  I bought AU from Malhavoc.  The first thing I did was enter all of the AU spells into a calculating spellsheet.  It was a couple of weeks of pretty intensive labor.  But in the end I ended up with something that made it possible for me to prep lots and lots of different spellcasting NPCs as necessary, and allowed my players to prep their spell lists so they hardly ever have to refer to the books during combat.  The other thing I did was enter as many of the races and classes and equipment items as possible into eTools.  It may not sound like much, but it was THE thing that made it attractive for me to DM this campaign. The other example is the Expanded Psionics Handbook.  Again, first thing I did was build an auto-calculating spellsheet.  Now that book is ready for me to use, to fully integrate, into future D&D campaigns.  Converse example:  considering purchasing Complete Arcane.  Really really didn't feel like I would be up to the task of entering dozens of new spells into my master spreadsheet.  Ergo, never bought Complete Arcane.  Even if I had it, it wouldn't get used ... because if it's not on a spreadsheet when I'm prepping NPCs, it's like the spell doesn't exist. Would I like more electronic support from publishers?  Sure.  Do I think it's going to happen. No. Because when you do something like that you are committing yourself to constantly fixing/updating/improving the electronic tool, and that's not something most companies are interested in doing.  They'd rather get in, publish, and then say, "whew, done."  I can't say I blame them!</blockquote>

Verification