No Character Builder Update

[BASHMAN]

I take it you missed the no update bit.

Then I take it you missed a few posts down the thread where it said that Wizards said the update would be today. This thread began more than a week ago, when someone was upset there'd be no update, but other posters said that there would be one on the 21st.

 

[Stumblewyk]

Then I take it you missed a few posts down the thread where it said that Wizards said the update would be today. This thread began more than a week ago, when someone was upset there'd be no update, but other posters said that there would be one on the 21st.

The update was originally pushed back to the 21st. They then sent out a message to DDI subscribers via their Community site informing us that there would be no update at all for September. They hoped that they could get everything done in time for October's scheduled update.

We'll see about that.

Anyway, what prompted this entire topic was the message about there being no update at all in September.

 

[P1NBACK]

then i take it you missed a few posts down the thread where it said that wizards said the update would be today. This thread began more than a week ago, when someone was upset there'd be no update, but other posters said that there would be one on the 21st.

^ lol...

 

[renau1g]

Then I take it you missed a few posts down the thread where it said that Wizards said the update would be today. This thread began more than a week ago, when someone was upset there'd be no update, but other posters said that there would be one on the 21st.

Here's the link to the WOTC site with the announcement for those who didn't get the email.

Whoops! Browser Settings Incompatible

 

[w_earle_wheeler]

It seems pretty darn unprofessional for them to miss this month's update, especially with the big Essentials marketing push going on.

Reminds me of the 4e books being released with a huge DDI advertisement in the back... but none of their advertised features were even ready at the time.

I don't want to totally bust their kobalds over this, but it just seems sketchy as hell.

 

[BASHMAN]

The update was originally pushed back to the 21st. They then sent out a message to DDI subscribers via their Community site informing us that there would be no update at all for September. They hoped that they could get everything done in time for October's scheduled update.

We'll see about that.

Anyway, what prompted this entire topic was the message about there being no update at all in September.

My bad. From my first read through, I thought that someone was complaining that there would be no update at all, and then later were corrected that there would indeed be an update on the 21st. That was however, apparently, the opposite of what was happening.

It is rather frustrating to try and play Dark Sun without the CB being updated.

 

[Holy Bovine]

It seems pretty darn unprofessional for them to miss this month's update, especially with the big Essentials marketing push going on.

Reminds me of the 4e books being released with a huge DDI advertisement in the back... but none of their advertised features were even ready at the time.

I don't want to totally bust their kobalds over this, but it just seems sketchy as hell.

Except for the fact Essentials wouldn't have actually been in this months original update. They did promise, when they moved the update to the 21st Sept that it would include Essentials. That was way too ambitious (2+ weeks early!) imo and was probably the root cause of this mess.

That said they will refund you the cost of September's subscription if you email them asking for it. Took me about 5 minutes to do.

 

[Theroc]

Except for the fact Essentials wouldn't have actually been in this months original update. They did promise, when they moved the update to the 21st Sept that it would include Essentials. That was way too ambitious (2+ weeks early!) imo and was probably the root cause of this mess.

That said they will refund you the cost of September's subscription if you email them asking for it. Took me about 5 minutes to do.

Do I just email the customer support or what? Also, what is the proper way to go about asking?

I ask partly because I've been attempting to get the CB to update at all, let alone for this month(and the CB was the deciding factor in my purchasing a DDI sub in the first place), and would like to get an extension so I can hopefully rectify the issue, but I want to make sure I'm not rude or anything.

 

[ourchair]

Isn't it just one months delay? It was due early September, was pushed back to late September, and now to early October. So September to October is one months delay. Two delays, but only one month.

Bagpuss' math is indisputable.

Fixed for accuracy but the bolded part is a big wtf to me. Are you seriously suggesting that because of a single missed update WotC should give every DDI subscriber free Essential and Dark Sun books? That is utterly ridiculous.

He actually said "vouchers," so that could easily mean a kind of rebate or discount,and not necessarily the whole book.

By the way -- for any annual subscriber feeling ripped off by the lack of a Character Builder update this month, the savings over a monthly subscriber are just short of the monthly rate for five months. If September is the only month this year that is not worth the money, we are still ahead of the game. If we don't get an update in October, then Wizards as a whole may be in trouble, as many more customers than are already doing so would then lose faith in their ability to get their act back together. I would guess that the tipping point would come around October 5th -- at that point the number of subscribers doubting the ability of Wizards ever to get another Character Builder update out would go from a minority to a majority.

I understand what you are trying to analyze here, but I did not understand. Clarify, please?

I started a new Dark Sun game last weekend, and I was definitely disappointed that the Character Builder wasn't updated, but I just jiggered it in the Character Builder and was able to have my PC's have everything they needed.

One PC made a Mul. I just didnt give him a race. For ability scores, I just upped it to what it would have been (making it houseruled), and in the character sheet part I added his extra healing surge and his bonuses to skills, and then printed it out, no problem. For his racial power, I just created a quick card for it.

For the Warlock with the Sorcerer-King pact, I just didnt choose a pact and then made a quick card for Hand of Blight.

For both the Humans, I created a quick card for the +4 to one roll an encounter.

And then for the themes, I just created quick cards for each of the encounter powers, and two of the PC's even had the same Theme (Veiled Alliance), so that even made it a little easier.

While it would have been simpler to just have the Character Builder have it, it really wasnt this big ordeal to make changed to it either. It took maybe 20-30 mins? That may be a lot to some people, but to me it was worth the time and very easily done.

I *really* wanted the Character Builder done, for the Dark Sun material and the Psionic Power material, it even would have been nice with Essentials in there. But seriously, when that didnt work out, it took just a little bit and I was able to be just fine. I'm literally floored that some people chose to play a different game for one or two weeks just because the Character Builder wasn't updated. It really was that hard to just mess with a couple of things, or create your own? I mean, with my stuff, 90-95% of the stuff I needed was still in the Character Builder, and only a few things needed to be created by me.

I guess I'm just amazed that people are *that* reliant on it. Its almost scary that people have come to rely on it needing to be up to date. I understand if you dont have the Character Builder at all, then 4e can look a little daunting to create. But we are talking about an Update, sure it has some juicy bits in it, but it can't encompass most of your PC group, can it? I mean literally your group is made up of all Muls, Thri-Kreens, Sorcerer-King pact Warlocks, Wild Battleminds, and possibly other things that are in the Psionic Power book?

Again, dissapointing, but not very hard to get around with just a little bit of time, literally 20-30 mins, which I still believe most people can find.

If the Character Builder has only had this problem twice in the span of two years, I find that *wonderful* customer service and honestly exceeds my expectations by a lot. I'm actually amazed people are complaining about it. Sure its unfortunate it happened right at the time everyone seemed to want to start a Dark Sun game, and that sucks, but man twice is awesome to me. Instead of demanding a refund, I would have thought most people would have loved the track record. I guess people are just sensitive because its around Dark Sun/Essentials time, or at least I hope that is the reason.

You are a wise man, sir.

Also, I actually did the same thing. I house ruled Thri-Kreen racial benefits and theme powers based on the preview material in my campaign.

 

[ppaladin123]

I hope so..? I don't understand why someone wouldn't want this. For any other race it doesn't make sense. You wouldn't have an Essentials Dwarf and a Non-Essentials Dwarf because the only difference is that the Essentials Dwarf gets to choose between two attributes for their second stat.

But it *does* make sense to give the Human a choice on what they would like to do, gain an extra at-will or gain an encounter power that gives a +4 to one roll. I have no idea why someone *wouldn't* want to see that in there. If a fictional book came out called "Drow Power" which let me substitute a new power in the place of the Darkness power, I would want that in the Character Builder. Its just like choosing one class feature over another.

So I'm really not sure why you would not want that option? It does not make sense to me. Its literally swapping one racial power for another one.

P.S. Unless there's been more changes to the races than what I've seen?

Actually Dragonborn already have a choice of two racial powers at creation and Tieflings have two or three (one of them might require a feat). In the character builder you just select the racial power. I imagine it will be the same with humans.