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Message: <blockquote data-quote="delericho" data-source="post: 2394776" data-attributes="member: 22424">Absolutely. However, if you're talking an electronic product, then rather than providing a database of pre-generated stat-blocks, I think I would prefer a tool to quickly and easily generate stat blocks. So I can take the standard orc, add any combination of classes and templates, and print the whole.There are two key features I think I'd need from such a tool. The first is the ability to expand the database (to support MMII, MMIII, and a future MMIV), which would need to be supported by both Wizards and the 3rd party publishers (because if I have to enter new monsters from one or the other by hand, or worse I simply can't add monsters from one or the other, the product is worthless to me.(Incidentally, the task of adding new monsters to the database would require that the designs be subjected to the rules associated with feats and skills, in a form where they won't be missed by the editors. It is therefore entirely possible that this would cut down on the stat errors in all the latest monster books.)The second key feature I'd need would be the ability to partially specify a creature, and click a big "finish it for me" button. This would allow me to specify some key feats of a high-level fighter, but not have to worry about every skill point, and be sure to receive a complete and legal creature.I agree wholeheartedly with this sentiment. Sadly, the costs involved in building a suitably powerful PC tool that can be shrink-wrapped and used by any DM with a computer are probably prohibitively high, given the likely number of copies sold. And if you don't sell it, but instead give away copies of the database with every MM purchased (for instance), you then have to add to the cost of the MM to compensate.This then leaves the possibility of a fan-driven effort building a tool as a labour of love. The problem here is that any fan-generated tool is unlikely to have the exposure to command the respect of enough of the industry to allow them to keep the database up-to-date except through a huge amount of their own blood, sweat and tears. And that assumes that Wizards of the Coast even allow them to use monsters from their expansion books, which seems unlikely. Sadly, without those monsters, any such tooll has extremely limited utility to me (and I suspect I'm not alone).(That said, there is an argument that Wizards are shooting themselves in the foot by not immediately declaring all new monsters (and perhaps spells and magic items) to be OGC immediately upon being published. By that's their right, and a whole other debate.)</blockquote>

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