I Want More Adventure Tools!

[Dausuul]

If they wanted to make a really slick DDI Map Maker setup, they could arrange a deal with Kinko's where you could design a dungeon map, then print the whole thing at battlemat size at the nearest store - no more pausing to sketch out the map with a dry-erase marker.

 

[Scribble]

really to start with, I just want to be able to open the adventure builder and do my "normal" DM duties quickly and easily.

That means, campaign planning, (complete with easily creating one of the campaign settings things to import into the CB) campaign tracking, monster/encounter/adventure building, treasure building/tracking/selecting, and the ability to print it all out in nice easy to read/use formats.

The houserule stuff can come later (although not much later!!! ) as long as the main program makes my basic game prep easier!

 

[Shemeska]

As freaky as it might seem for me to be defending WotC, give their coders a break. The available staff they still have to work on new DDI parts (plus keep earlier stuff up to date) is a fraction of the staff that they originally had. A not-small number of names on the character builder credits for instance aren't there anymore due to various rounds of layoffs and contract-to-hire stuff not going to hire because of the Hasbro hiring freeze.

 

[Scribble]

As freaky as it might seem for me to be defending WotC, give their coders a break. The available staff they still have to work on new DDI parts (plus keep earlier stuff up to date) is a fraction of the staff that they originally had. A not-small number of names on the character builder credits for instance aren't there anymore due to various rounds of layoffs and contract-to-hire stuff not going to hire because of the Hasbro hiring freeze.

Oh I'm not really angry. I'm just impatient because I really like what I have so far. So it's less of a "Why are you so slow???" and more of a "DUDE THIS IS AWESOME GIMMIE MORE MORE MOOOOOOREEEEEE!!!!!"

 

[Dausuul]

As freaky as it might seem for me to be defending WotC, give their coders a break. The available staff they still have to work on new DDI parts (plus keep earlier stuff up to date) is a fraction of the staff that they originally had. A not-small number of names on the character builder credits for instance aren't there anymore due to various rounds of layoffs and contract-to-hire stuff not going to hire because of the Hasbro hiring freeze.

Hmm, good point.

In that case, what I want them to do is junk all other coding projects and work on setting up a Compendium API.

Instead of us waiting on them to produce all the goodies themselves, set things up so that we can build the goodies, using an API to provide compendium data to DDI users who have been authenticated through WotC servers.

Then sit back and see what the fans build, pick out the most promising sites, and encourage them. RPGs have about the most tech-savvy and creative fanbase of any entertainment industry, it's silly not to take advantage of it.

Not gonna happen, especially since WotC legal seems to have been infiltrated by the RIAA, but I can dream.

 

[Deverash]

I want Encounter Builder to print out statblocks for a full encounter, preferably formatted so I can fit multiples onto a page. Basically, give me the ability to print out encounters like they are in the books.

This. This is probably the most annoying thing I've found about the monster builder. Maybe I'm just missing something, but having to cut&paste to a word processor to print out the monsters for use int he game is less useful.

 

[Scribble]

This. This is probably the most annoying thing I've found about the monster builder. Maybe I'm just missing something, but having to cut&paste to a word processor to print out the monsters for use int he game is less useful.

You are... Kind of.

You can print the monster directly from the builder (bottom right corner click the little printer picture.)

Only issue is it prints it in GINORMOUS mode. The thing is like a full Page.

So pasting to a word processor is still the best bet.

So far though without an encounter builder I don't mind, as I usually want multiple monsters on one page.

 

[KidSnide]

I want Encounter Builder to print out statblocks for a full encounter, preferably formatted so I can fit multiples onto a page. Basically, give me the ability to print out encounters like they are in the books.

This. This is probably the most annoying thing I've found about the monster builder. Maybe I'm just missing something, but having to cut&paste to a word processor to print out the monsters for use int he game is less useful.

QFT. I like the monster builder, but a huge part of its convinience is removed when I have to do so much fiddly formatting work to get them to print. Getting the numbers right isn't that hard -- I often think I'm better off taking an existing monster in a word doc and changing it by hand. After all, if I'm going to waste my time with fiddly work, I'd rather be playing with stats than playing with tables in word.

-KS

 

[Jack99]

So pasting to a word processor is still the best bet.

So far though without an encounter builder I don't mind, as I usually want multiple monsters on one page.

You can also just c/p the picture into paint and print from there, if you want to avoid the word processor...

 

[Scribble]

You can also just c/p the picture into paint and print from there, if you want to avoid the word processor...

Well... I don't want to avoid the WP necessarily.

All I'm saying is I hope they put in a decent encounter builder. WP works best right now (in my opinion) for arranging the monsters into encounter format.