they should have waited to release Adventure tools - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

they should have waited to release Adventure tools

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Guest1309747454
Jul 13, 2010 15:20:06
Until they had actual adventure tools to add to it. Right now, its one module.
Monster builder.

I dont know about anyone else, but I can do that with a scratch pad and a MM.
SOMETHING useful would have been so much more...
useful...

really, really like the character builder though. Its a great tool for DMs to make quick an dirty NPCs AND to make well thought out ones. Its also great if you dont have every book in D&D c ause it seems to include them all lol
#2
nightwalker450
Jul 13, 2010 15:48:12

Until they had actual adventure tools to add to it. Right now, its one module.
Monster builder.

I dont know about anyone else, but I can do that with a scratch pad and a MM.
SOMETHING useful would have been so much more...
useful...

really, really like the character builder though. Its a great tool for DMs to make quick an dirty NPCs AND to make well thought out ones. Its also great if you dont have every book in D&D c ause it seems to include them all lol

You can do character builder with a scratch pad and a PHB... The tools will do nothing that you can't already do, they make your job easier. Also NPC's are usually built better as Monsters (in a Monster Builder) than as characters.
#3
Guest1309747454
Jul 13, 2010 17:00:13 Maybe for you, but theyre "better" built as characters for me lol
Its easier to keep track of them and who they are, their motivations etc. Well for me anyway.
#4
_Mithreinmaethor_
Jul 13, 2010 18:16:37 The game has been out 2 years and has 2 applications for it. Thats a one ap per year so far. If they announce a 3rd ap at Gencon then it would stick to this pattern.
#5
Omnirahk_half-Rahkshi
Jul 13, 2010 20:11:51 Personally I love the Monster Builder. I use it all the time. Also, since it functions as a monster compendium too, I can use it rather than have a bunch of manuals on hand at the same time.
#6
Tony_Vargas
Jul 14, 2010 16:05:29 Monster Builder is pretty good, and they had to give out something for your DDI subscription. They should have put more recources into developing more Adventure Tools, though, rather than delaying it. Failing that, letting us have what they can manage as it's ready is better than just saying "wait, we've got something really cool on the way, promise!" for /years/...
#7
Guest1309747454
Jul 14, 2010 16:43:07 I thought access to Dungeon and Dragon magazines and access to the Compedium and character builder were what you got for the sub.
#8
Marandahir
Jul 14, 2010 17:07:25 And Adventure Tools, which are still rolling out.

Of course, the cost of the subscription is more than enough to be worth the Compendium and the two magazines alone to me.
#9
ranadiel
Jul 14, 2010 17:13:16
Monster Builder is pretty good, and they had to give out something for your DDI subscription. They should have put more recources into developing more Adventure Tools, though, rather than delaying it. Failing that, letting us have what they can manage as it's ready is better than just saying "wait, we've got something really cool on the way, promise!" for /years/...

I think this is actually what they are doing. They have all of their programming resources behind the Adventure Tools(minus those required for monthly updates)....but the problem is that they don't have too many. They are releasing the new tools as they are ready....just they aren't able to go too fast with them. x_x
#10
Chameleon-X
Jul 14, 2010 21:48:24 I disagree entirely with the TC. I love the monster builder, and use it constantly. Most, if not all of the monsters I use in my campaign are either customized or made from scratch using the MB, and if I didn't have it, that would be WAAAY more work each week than I would feel like doing (especially since I tend to toss in unique monsters every week).
#11
VaultDweller
Jul 16, 2010 6:57:43 Although it still needs a lot of work, I'm glad that the Monster Builder was released.

However, they should have just released it as the Monster Builder, not Adventure Tools. Calling it the Adventure Tools and having a startup screen where you choose what tool you want to use seems a bit premature when only one tool exists.
#12
Austinwulf
Jul 16, 2010 8:02:38 I am completely happy with adventure tools. Give us what you got, as you get it, and let the users give you feedback.

The monster builder is a great tool for making that creature you wanted to face the party be more level appropriate, and possibly a solo. Saves on a lot of accounting.

I'm generally rather pleased with Insider. I really wonder why I keep buying new books, when everything I need is there a month later.
#13
Dane_McArdy
Jul 16, 2010 8:15:37 Sure. you can tweak monsters by hand on paper. But with the monster builder, I can print that neat stat block out. I don't have to spend time writting things over. Plus, I can tweak the image I have, and include a hit point tracker. Mine go up to Bloodied. When I reach the end, I know the monster is bloodied, and then just check backwards till it's out of hit points.
#14
GhostStepper
Jul 16, 2010 19:17:44 I can easily say that the monster builder is probably the most valuable piece of my DDI subscription because its the part i use the most. I can pull up a monster i want to use and hit a button to instantly make it level-appropriate for my party. I can pull up a monster and switch out powers in a minutes time. I can make a monster from scratch in a few minutes with all the correct math and a nice, printable stat block.

I truly can't understand why someone would say they should have held this back until all the tools are out. What benefit would that have?
#15
hewhorocks
Jul 17, 2010 10:12:26 Anyone else not have Monster Manual 3 update in their Monster builder?
#16
badocter
Jul 17, 2010 12:55:54 The monster builder is useful as is, so I am glad it has already been released rather than waiting for whatever else they intend to put in it. I often adjust monsters up or down a level or two so and I like the official looking cards you can print out. The filter search that it has is useful for finding monsters of a certain theme, role, level or keyword without being connected to the internet as is required to use compendium.

What I would like to see in monster builder is a better facility for printing multiple creature cards on sheet. Seems daft that I need to copy and paste into powerpoint or photoshop to save paper. Would also like to see some facility to link in graphic images. and text to make MM like data sheets with the works.
#17
thax
Jul 17, 2010 18:39:52 With all that has been said, it still was not worth the price hike that preceded it, one that was imposed because of the "adventure tools" being added. Perhaps they will wait for the next price hike until they release the visualizer.
#18
GhostStepper
Jul 17, 2010 23:38:05 They clearly told everyone when the DDI first came out that initial price was a promotional one.
#19
thax
Jul 18, 2010 9:58:57 So raising the price without any benifit was alright because of advanced warning?

Sorry, but there should have been a lot more available than this, and there was no reason for this price hike, like there will be no reason for the next one.
#20
Marandahir
Jul 18, 2010 12:52:23 I dunno about you, but I'm still paying the initial price.
#21
migo
Jul 18, 2010 12:56:14 If there's advance warning, you expect it, so yes.

You're probably still on the promotional price due to buying a year package or something like that?
#22
Marandahir
Jul 18, 2010 14:12:03
If there's advance warning, you expect it, so yes.

You're probably still on the promotional price due to buying a year package or something like that?

Correct. WotC even made it possible to stay on the original pricing for another year on TOP of what you already were running for D&Di, for the same price. The price jump is legit.
#23
mudbunny
Jul 18, 2010 20:35:35
So raising the price without any benifit was alright because of advanced warning?

Sorry, but there should have been a lot more available than this, and there was no reason for this price hike, like there will be no reason for the next one.

First, they had the Compendium and the two magazines, and there was an introductory price.

Then they released the Character Builder, and there was no change in price.

Then they announced, almost 2 months ahead of time, that they were going to be increasing the prices, however, you could lock in your current price for up to 2 more years past the end of your current subscription, should you choose to.

They then increased the price and, a couple of months after that, they released the monster builder.
#24
Duskweaver
Jul 19, 2010 3:44:15
Anyone else not have Monster Manual 3 update in their Monster builder?

Since nobody else has answered this...

The MM3 monsters (along with the new stat block format) should be in tomorrow's update.
#25
GhostStepper
Jul 19, 2010 11:44:47
The MM3 monsters (along with the new stat block format) should be in tomorrow's update.

Oooh, really? Did the devs mention if the old monsters will be updated to the new stat block in the builder?

#26
mudbunny
Jul 19, 2010 11:56:38 From my understanding (and I have yet to receibve any information otherwise) tomorrow's update is still scheduled, and it is supposed to bring all of the monsters in the compendium and Monster Builder up to the layout in MM3.
#27
Marandahir
Jul 21, 2010 13:57:59
From my understanding (and I have yet to receibve any information otherwise) tomorrow's update is still scheduled, and it is supposed to bring all of the monsters in the compendium and Monster Builder up to the layout in MM3.

The update added the new monsters; however, it did NOT revise the old creatures in the Compendium to MM3-standard layout.
#28
Fedosu
Jul 21, 2010 15:27:41

The update added the new monsters; however, it did NOT revise the old creatures in the Compendium to MM3-standard layout.

But, for clarity, they have been updated to the new layout in the Monster Builder.
#29
Marandahir
Jul 22, 2010 10:33:59 Which is ridiculous, because some of us can't use the Monster Builder but can use the Compendium. It was announced as a Compendium update, not a Monster Builder update, and yet the Compendium wasn't updated beyond adding new monsters to it.
#30
mudbunny
Jul 22, 2010 13:30:33 I have been poking to find out about the compendium monsters not being updated to MM3-style statblocks.
#31
Marandahir
Jul 22, 2010 15:45:10 Thanks mudbunny.

I leave it to you, then.
#32
Austinwulf
Jul 23, 2010 7:33:09
The most I use the compendium for is to look things up when not at my home pc. I also like to use it for adventure prep. Printing out monster pages means I can leave my books at home, and makes me DM booking keeping much easier.

I'll have to poke around monster builder right now. Currently, when you print, you only use up one corner of the page. Need to see if you can tile an encounter's worth of monsters on one page to make my life a bit easier.
#33
mudbunny
Jul 23, 2010 12:28:35 re: Compendium statblocks

See WotC_Microbless' response here.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Guest1309747454 Jul 13, 2010 15:20:06	Until they had actual adventure tools to add to it. Right now, its one module. Monster builder. I dont know about anyone else, but I can do that with a scratch pad and a MM. SOMETHING useful would have been so much more... useful... really, really like the character builder though. Its a great tool for DMs to make quick an dirty NPCs AND to make well thought out ones. Its also great if you dont have every book in D&D c ause it seems to include them all lol
#2 nightwalker450 Jul 13, 2010 15:48:12	Until they had actual adventure tools to add to it. Right now, its one module. Monster builder. I dont know about anyone else, but I can do that with a scratch pad and a MM. SOMETHING useful would have been so much more... useful... really, really like the character builder though. Its a great tool for DMs to make quick an dirty NPCs AND to make well thought out ones. Its also great if you dont have every book in D&D c ause it seems to include them all lol You can do character builder with a scratch pad and a PHB... The tools will do nothing that you can't already do, they make your job easier. Also NPC's are usually built better as Monsters (in a Monster Builder) than as characters.
#3 Guest1309747454 Jul 13, 2010 17:00:13	Maybe for you, but theyre "better" built as characters for me lol Its easier to keep track of them and who they are, their motivations etc. Well for me anyway.
#4 _Mithreinmaethor_ Jul 13, 2010 18:16:37	The game has been out 2 years and has 2 applications for it. Thats a one ap per year so far. If they announce a 3rd ap at Gencon then it would stick to this pattern.
#5 Omnirahk_half-Rahkshi Jul 13, 2010 20:11:51	Personally I love the Monster Builder. I use it all the time. Also, since it functions as a monster compendium too, I can use it rather than have a bunch of manuals on hand at the same time.
#6 Tony_Vargas Jul 14, 2010 16:05:29	Monster Builder is pretty good, and they had to give out something for your DDI subscription. They should have put more recources into developing more Adventure Tools, though, rather than delaying it. Failing that, letting us have what they can manage as it's ready is better than just saying "wait, we've got something really cool on the way, promise!" for /years/...
#7 Guest1309747454 Jul 14, 2010 16:43:07	I thought access to Dungeon and Dragon magazines and access to the Compedium and character builder were what you got for the sub.
#8 Marandahir Jul 14, 2010 17:07:25	And Adventure Tools, which are still rolling out. Of course, the cost of the subscription is more than enough to be worth the Compendium and the two magazines alone to me.
#9 ranadiel Jul 14, 2010 17:13:16	Monster Builder is pretty good, and they had to give out something for your DDI subscription. They should have put more recources into developing more Adventure Tools, though, rather than delaying it. Failing that, letting us have what they can manage as it's ready is better than just saying "wait, we've got something really cool on the way, promise!" for /years/... I think this is actually what they are doing. They have all of their programming resources behind the Adventure Tools(minus those required for monthly updates)....but the problem is that they don't have too many. They are releasing the new tools as they are ready....just they aren't able to go too fast with them. x_x
#10 Chameleon-X Jul 14, 2010 21:48:24	I disagree entirely with the TC. I love the monster builder, and use it constantly. Most, if not all of the monsters I use in my campaign are either customized or made from scratch using the MB, and if I didn't have it, that would be WAAAY more work each week than I would feel like doing (especially since I tend to toss in unique monsters every week).
#11 VaultDweller Jul 16, 2010 6:57:43	Although it still needs a lot of work, I'm glad that the Monster Builder was released. However, they should have just released it as the Monster Builder, not Adventure Tools. Calling it the Adventure Tools and having a startup screen where you choose what tool you want to use seems a bit premature when only one tool exists.
#12 Austinwulf Jul 16, 2010 8:02:38	I am completely happy with adventure tools. Give us what you got, as you get it, and let the users give you feedback. The monster builder is a great tool for making that creature you wanted to face the party be more level appropriate, and possibly a solo. Saves on a lot of accounting. I'm generally rather pleased with Insider. I really wonder why I keep buying new books, when everything I need is there a month later.
#13 Dane_McArdy Jul 16, 2010 8:15:37	Sure. you can tweak monsters by hand on paper. But with the monster builder, I can print that neat stat block out. I don't have to spend time writting things over. Plus, I can tweak the image I have, and include a hit point tracker. Mine go up to Bloodied. When I reach the end, I know the monster is bloodied, and then just check backwards till it's out of hit points.
#14 GhostStepper Jul 16, 2010 19:17:44	I can easily say that the monster builder is probably the most valuable piece of my DDI subscription because its the part i use the most. I can pull up a monster i want to use and hit a button to instantly make it level-appropriate for my party. I can pull up a monster and switch out powers in a minutes time. I can make a monster from scratch in a few minutes with all the correct math and a nice, printable stat block. I truly can't understand why someone would say they should have held this back until all the tools are out. What benefit would that have?
#15 hewhorocks Jul 17, 2010 10:12:26	Anyone else not have Monster Manual 3 update in their Monster builder?
#16 badocter Jul 17, 2010 12:55:54	The monster builder is useful as is, so I am glad it has already been released rather than waiting for whatever else they intend to put in it. I often adjust monsters up or down a level or two so and I like the official looking cards you can print out. The filter search that it has is useful for finding monsters of a certain theme, role, level or keyword without being connected to the internet as is required to use compendium. What I would like to see in monster builder is a better facility for printing multiple creature cards on sheet. Seems daft that I need to copy and paste into powerpoint or photoshop to save paper. Would also like to see some facility to link in graphic images. and text to make MM like data sheets with the works.
#17 thax Jul 17, 2010 18:39:52	With all that has been said, it still was not worth the price hike that preceded it, one that was imposed because of the "adventure tools" being added. Perhaps they will wait for the next price hike until they release the visualizer.
#18 GhostStepper Jul 17, 2010 23:38:05	They clearly told everyone when the DDI first came out that initial price was a promotional one.
#19 thax Jul 18, 2010 9:58:57	So raising the price without any benifit was alright because of advanced warning? Sorry, but there should have been a lot more available than this, and there was no reason for this price hike, like there will be no reason for the next one.
#20 Marandahir Jul 18, 2010 12:52:23	I dunno about you, but I'm still paying the initial price.
#21 migo Jul 18, 2010 12:56:14	If there's advance warning, you expect it, so yes. You're probably still on the promotional price due to buying a year package or something like that?
#22 Marandahir Jul 18, 2010 14:12:03	If there's advance warning, you expect it, so yes. You're probably still on the promotional price due to buying a year package or something like that? Correct. WotC even made it possible to stay on the original pricing for another year on TOP of what you already were running for D&Di, for the same price. The price jump is legit.
#23 mudbunny Jul 18, 2010 20:35:35	So raising the price without any benifit was alright because of advanced warning? Sorry, but there should have been a lot more available than this, and there was no reason for this price hike, like there will be no reason for the next one. First, they had the Compendium and the two magazines, and there was an introductory price. Then they released the Character Builder, and there was no change in price. Then they announced, almost 2 months ahead of time, that they were going to be increasing the prices, however, you could lock in your current price for up to 2 more years past the end of your current subscription, should you choose to. They then increased the price and, a couple of months after that, they released the monster builder.
#24 Duskweaver Jul 19, 2010 3:44:15	Anyone else not have Monster Manual 3 update in their Monster builder? Since nobody else has answered this... The MM3 monsters (along with the new stat block format) should be in tomorrow's update.
#25 GhostStepper Jul 19, 2010 11:44:47	The MM3 monsters (along with the new stat block format) should be in tomorrow's update. Oooh, really? Did the devs mention if the old monsters will be updated to the new stat block in the builder?
#26 mudbunny Jul 19, 2010 11:56:38	From my understanding (and I have yet to receibve any information otherwise) tomorrow's update is still scheduled, and it is supposed to bring all of the monsters in the compendium and Monster Builder up to the layout in MM3.
#27 Marandahir Jul 21, 2010 13:57:59	From my understanding (and I have yet to receibve any information otherwise) tomorrow's update is still scheduled, and it is supposed to bring all of the monsters in the compendium and Monster Builder up to the layout in MM3. The update added the new monsters; however, it did NOT revise the old creatures in the Compendium to MM3-standard layout.
#28 Fedosu Jul 21, 2010 15:27:41	The update added the new monsters; however, it did NOT revise the old creatures in the Compendium to MM3-standard layout. But, for clarity, they have been updated to the new layout in the Monster Builder.
#29 Marandahir Jul 22, 2010 10:33:59	Which is ridiculous, because some of us can't use the Monster Builder but can use the Compendium. It was announced as a Compendium update, not a Monster Builder update, and yet the Compendium wasn't updated beyond adding new monsters to it.
#30 mudbunny Jul 22, 2010 13:30:33	I have been poking to find out about the compendium monsters not being updated to MM3-style statblocks.
#31 Marandahir Jul 22, 2010 15:45:10	Thanks mudbunny. I leave it to you, then.
#32 Austinwulf Jul 23, 2010 7:33:09	The most I use the compendium for is to look things up when not at my home pc. I also like to use it for adventure prep. Printing out monster pages means I can leave my books at home, and makes me DM booking keeping much easier. I'll have to poke around monster builder right now. Currently, when you print, you only use up one corner of the page. Need to see if you can tile an encounter's worth of monsters on one page to make my life a bit easier.
#33 mudbunny Jul 23, 2010 12:28:35	re: Compendium statblocks See WotC_Microbless' response here.