How does the encounter builder work?

[caudor]

well it feels to me like a program that was thrown together fairly quickly. It should do a lot more than it does, I'll agree with that. In truth, I'd rather stuff like the monster builder and encounter build get fleshed out into more usable apps before WotC starts work on something like the character visualizer and VTT. I really want something that'll handle the math of adding or subtracting levels and applying templates (especially the class templates).

I agree. The encounter builder is like a smile with a missing tooth. It could be much more than it is.

 

[Verys Arkon]

Agreed. I'm not sure WotC knew how popular the Encounter Builder would become when Jonathan Tweet spearheaded (wrote?) the project for his home game.

I think the encounter builder is the 'low hanging fruit' in the DDI. I'm only guessing, but I think getting the EB to include stat blocks would deliver a lot of bang for the developer's buck/time. It is a tool that every DM could use, whereas the Visualizer, dungeon mapper, and VTT are highly dependent on your current gaming situation. If you have a face-to-face game, the VTT isn't of interest. If you don't care what your PC looks like, and you've been playing the game for 30 years with stick people drawings, the Visualizer is eye-candy only. The Dungeon builder would be handy for drawing out maps, and could save the DM a lot of time if it was powerful and easy to use.

My vote for WotC's next DDI tool would be the Encounter Builder.

Second place vote goes to the Monster Builder. Get it to
a) level up/down existing monsters from the Compendium
b) add templates
c) create elite or solo versions of monsters from the Compendium
d) save/open 'monster files' that could be traded and compiled by the community.


I'm not a programmer, but I'm guess these projects would take less time then the other main DDI programs. I have no idea how far along those projects where before they got put on the back burner, so they may take less time then 'pimping' the bonus tools.

Verys

 

[Holy Smokes]

I think its terribly ironic (as well as unsurprising) that the little throwaway, half-dev'ed flash tools they added as unsupported afterthoughts turn out to be real value-adds that generate real interest. Mis-identified user requirements are the #1 BANE of all software development.

I've always thought WotC was a kind of two-steps forward, one-step back company, but DDI has had that formula inverted until lately. They could catch up a step simply by putting some real effort into small, meaningful tools like the monster and encounter builders.

 

[Scribble]

This is just bad design. The information is there but not when you go to print the whole encounter? Whose beta testing these things? Actual GMs or suits? Utility should be up front. You don't want people to leave your program.

When it first hit the DDI I don't think it was intended to be a popular software feature. They included it as "bonus tools" like the name suggests. All it did was quickly figure out the numbers for you. Almost like using a calculator, but one designed with D&D stuff instead of number buttons.

I think it might have just been designed to use with physical books. Later, they added the link to the compendium monster stats.

I agree, it would be much better if it put all the stats on a single page for me in the end, but still, the utility of the thing that's already there is great. It's one of the things that helped me decide I'd be subscribing to the DDI.

I've always thought WotC was a kind of two-steps forward, one-step back company, but DDI has had that formula inverted until lately. They could catch up a step simply by putting some real effort into small, meaningful tools like the monster and encounter builders.

I get the feeling they're looking to go that route, depending ont eh results of that survey they did... A lot oft he questions seemed geared towards which DDI stuff do YOU want.

I think if enough users requested the DM tool stuff, that's where they're going to head.

 

[JoeGKushner]

I cast raise dead on this thread.

I haven't used the encounter builder in a while. Has there been any updated to it or is it still half useful?

Hell, anyone got a link to the thing? I can never find it on the D&D homepage. (Once again, bad design or I'm just suffering the dumbs.)

 

[The Human Target]

You can easily get all the monsters from the monster builder.

 

[Tharian]

Hell, anyone got a link to the thing? I can never find it on the D&D homepage. (Once again, bad design or I'm just suffering the dumbs.)

You can find it from the front page by following the link to the D&D Adventure Tools on the right side of the page. In the fine print of the description under that link, it mentions the Encounter Builder and Ability Generator. Just make sure you click the Adventure Tools link instead of the Download link.

Here's a direct link to the Encounter Builder for you:
Encounter Builder