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Message: <blockquote data-quote="iwarrior-poet" data-source="post: 3268787" data-attributes="member: 13860">I returned to gaming almost five years ago after a 13 year absence. I jumped from first edition to 3.0. I was lured back by the heavenly Baldur's Gate computer games. One of the most enjoyable part of the games was leveling up/equping my PC. I bought the 3.0 PHB and tried the the Chargen Demo---slick interface---though a bit limited and buggy. Its interface was somewhat like the Baldur's Gate interface. When you equiped chain mail, you heard a nice little clink---plate armor?---a nice little clank. You could quickly zip through feats, skills, classes, race. It captured one of the real joys of D+D---the excitement and creativity that occurs when you get to level up a PC---one of the true tests of a good chargen. Not the frustration and delays that happens with any of the current solutions.So it was with some anticipation that I looked forward with relish to the forthcoming "Master Tools" (now E-Tools). It was going to be the Swiss Army knife of D+D Software: PC Generation/managemant, Campaign Management, Mapping, Encounter/Melee management... You name it---it was going to do it. I visited the WoTC boards with hopeful anticipation. In the meanwhile I began to use PCGen. It was clunky and very slow (and still remains so), but it was free and (back then) included all the WoTC material.Then began the dark days... Master Tools was pared down to E-Tools---it would only be a PC generator/manager. Then, shortly after E-Tools was released, WoTC ordered PCGen to stop including WoTC data (in order to help launch E-Tools into the market). E-Tools was dismal, virtually no one bought it. Some PCGen folks rallied and got a contract to revamp E-Tools and produce WoTC data for both PCGen and E-Tools. I continue to use PCGen, but am increasingly frustrated with it incalculable slowness (particulalry when loaded with more than five datasets). CMP also touted their own Swiss Army Knive program (RPGTK)---my hopes were buoyed---for the time being.I tried using some of the other ones out there---I think I tried DM Genie and RPGXplorer---I was somewhat enthused by their interfaces----but their full versions were expensive---particularly if I wasn't going to be able to access any WoTC data...Then it happened again---WoTC stops allowing CMP to produce datasets. There has been much speculation that this is due to a new web-based application they will be premiering at the Winter Fantasy convention in February. Now we are left with no access to WoTC datasets---and only speculation about any future software that will give us that access. Also---I really don't like the limits that a web-based application would put on the average gamer. Wanna bring your laptop to manage your PC/Game? Better make sure you have fast internet access! Ready for an crazy allnight session to finally smoke that pesky Balor? Oops!! to bad the WoTC server is down...Soooo, there's the history. Now, can I just say that the general state of D+D game aids is HORRENDOUS when you consider what they could be? There is plenty of blame to go around, WoTC and CMP in particular have really fallen down.CMP has been working on its new software for well over two years (maybe even three, I've lost track)---and they do not appear even close to finishing. Also---they too seem to have pared down their software to just a character generator/manager---and now they won't even have access to WoTC datasets. I personally believe that if they had finished their software in a timely fashion they would be THE success story of this market. Instead they are just another company with virtually no product and a very murky future.WoTC has been silent and has not shown any initiative or leadership in this field. When you consider the typical D+D consumer---it is simply atrocious that no good comprehensive software is out there.Where's the program that lets me create a quick map, generate four 3rd level orcs with a fifth level orc seargeant, whip out a more detailed NPC wizard, and throw together some interesting treasure?---All the while allowing me to either use WoTC and other publishers' data or to easily create my own (within the UI---so I don't have to pretend I am a coder and crack an .lst file or something even more nasty...)????WHERE IS THE GOOD SOFTWARE?!? We deserve it!!!</blockquote>

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