New Campaign Tools Info: The Monster Tool

[Kzach]

The only thing I'm somewhat disappointed on is that this is not a web app, which means [insert mac users getting left out rant here]. Though I understand the choice as they can probably reuse a lot of the CB code.

It'd be nice if it was incorporated into the CB and renamed "E-Tools"...

 

[Baumi]

I hope they don't forget Templates. In my last Adventure I used a Template for the first time and it the outcome was great, but it would have been really helpful if there was a way to simply combine the stats.

Also I hope that you could build Class-NPCs. To generate a level 10 Warlord, level 15 Cleric, etc. on the fly would be of great Value.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

I hope they don't forget Templates. In my last Adventure I used a Template for the first time and it the outcome was great, but it would have been really helpful if there was a way to simply combine the stats.

Also I hope that you could build Class-NPCs. To generate a level 10 Warlord, level 15 Cleric, etc. on the fly would be of great Value.

In the original thread on WoTC, Mike Donais said Templates wouldn't be in the first build. But of course this leaves it open to it being brought in, in future updates.

He also said that you would be able to make NPCs. Though I dunno if exactly like Class-NPCs, his wording is sort of either or: Yes, NPCs use the same rules as monsters, they just have different powers.

Oh and since it also deals with DDI: Monthly D&D Insider Update - July 7th - Wizards Community Info for July DDI Update: Big thing being Hazards and Traps in Compendium and Psion will be in the July Character Builder update.

 

[amysrevenge]

On a related subject: I just tried out the encounter builder for the first time the other day (I run RPGA modules only, but I wanted to write something of my own).

Am I correct in that none of the current tools will allow you to make a Solo or Elite monster (other than by doing it all by hand anyway)? I tried for a while, but the attempt was by no means exhaustive. Because I didn't have all the time in the world, I filled my XP budget with numbers rather than advancement.

 

[Spatula]

Well, I hope it's at least as good as Asmor's monster builder, which is super-fast (unlike the WotC web tools) and allows you to consult and pull in monster stats from the compendium.

 

[Piratecat]

It'd be nice if it was incorporated into the CB and renamed "E-Tools"...

Go sit in the corner and think about what you've said.

 

[Malacoda]

I am seriously glad to hear this. Nice to see a portion of my DDI money going to develop more tools. Still, to be honest, I wish they had started with a full-on encounter builder program before a monster builder program. Building encounters, complete with treasure ans statblocks would be more immediately useful to me.

 

[WampusCat43]

This is great news, I was hoping for something like this.

I hope by "edit monsters" they mean I can automatically add or subtract levels from an existing monster to bring it to where I want it for the encounter.

I hope they go one step further, and actually make it an encounter builder, so I can easily build an encounter, then easily print out a nicely formatted stat block(s) for the entire encounter.

If they do this, I'm a subscriber for life.

 

[Lord Xtheth]

Things I would like:
Its OFFLINE so I can make them any time I want, and not get kicked off the page after every monster.

It has a PLAIN TEXT output too, just like the currant monster maker.

it includes elite and solo enhancement modifiers


Question: When one makes a monster, and uses your format, is one allowed to print out and sell said orriginal monster. As far as I can tell by the GSL it isn't allowed... so why force us to take your format if we can't use it?

 

[avin]

It needs the "template" function ASAP.