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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Luke" data-source="post: 2188378" data-attributes="member: 602">Got it. Cool idea.Agreed. As I said: "Quality and ease-of-use would be very important."I find that I'm continually tweaking over time to make things more and more intuitive. My current mapper is getting a heavy work-over - especially for shared networking. Since D&D/D20 attempts a reasonable "reality simulation" through what must be the most rules intensive game in the entire world, its pretty inevitable that software attempting to carry out that simulation wont be easily intuitive without a lot of effort.Personally, I go for a "phased option approach". The idea is to let people do whatever they want, at the level they want. Program features should have a simple level, but also allow you to dig deeper for extra automation - if you're comfortable with that. Simple example: Use a few mouse clicks to generate an encounter (complete with equipment, extra feats, spell lists etc), and then just work from the resulting statblocks, or creature info window.Using the full available functionality, you might actually add spell effects, item effects and conditions to your character/creature - making a bit more effort, and getting more accurate results. Extended example (from my last gaming session):Last week my party encountered a dragon. I'm using the full software capabilities for my character. 1) Green dragon approaches, and DM asks for a Will save, and 3 mouse clicks later I have my full breakdown for my will save. I uncheck the potential elvish enchantment bonus, and thankfully note that the "Bless" still in effect from our Cleric does apply. A double click on my "Bless" condition confirms this in the description from the spell - without checking from the book.2) I fail my save, and use 3 mouse clicks and 2 key presses to add the "Frightened" condition to my character.3) A short while later, we're all rolling a reflex save to avoid the full effects of the dragon's breath weapon. It turs out that I only just failed my save. The clincher was that I was frightened and it cost me a -2. The main point here is that those not using the program (no laptop) forgot to apply their -2 to their save for being frightened. When I realized that, a further check revealed that a couple also forget to apply the +1 from the Bless in their original save. Its very easy to play inaccurately without a computer to remind you of all the effects in play. Does it take and need a PhD to get this kind of software support to be of real benefit?Personally, I know that good software can make it work well, although it may take some familiarization to know exactly what the few mouse-clicks or key presses are to get the results.For DMs? Indespensible! From 3rd edition onwards, DMs have the complexity of effectively trying to manage a hoard of PCs, since monsters and NPCs do have a PC level of complexity.I'm confident in saying that DMs simply cannot play with the accuracy of the rules as presented in the books (especially high level encounters) - unless they have a good software tool to help them. I realize that this could inflame some, and if you want to challenge me on this point - please start a different thread for a challenge, and I'll join you there <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" /> . Sure, DMs can be accurate , if they take a very boringly long amount of time for each creature action. Don't forget the dizzying array of modifers that you can start off with (depending on equipment in use, feat options <power attack/point blank range/expertise/rapid shot/etc etc>, spell effects, class abilities, race abilities - and the kicker --> how all the different effects actually combine with the stacking rules !!!). Anyway, however you play, my personal experience is that having strong software options available to you as options is ALL GOOD <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /></blockquote>

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