Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 chrischampagne Apr 07, 2010 13:10:56	April 2010 Character Builder, Monster Builder & Compendium News We released yesterday, so here’s a summary of the new data and features for Character Builder, Compendium, and Adventure Tools.  Data Update: Data from the following published materials are new this month: Books Player’s Handbook 3 Online Magazines Dragon® Issue 384 Dungeon® Issue 175 Plus we’re doing the normal monthly errata. Remember: you need an active D&D Insider subscription to update your Character Builder with the new data and features. Each account is limited to 5 updates, per application. Every month, when a new data set is released, this limit will be reset for each application. Check the Character Builder FAQ [wizards.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wizards.cfg...] for additional information.  Studio: The past few weeks have been scary busy.  I can safely say, I don't think the studio has ever been busier.  (Except maybe last July when Monster Builder was going out the door and we were prepping for GenCon, and launching this new community platform.)  The nice thing is, we did the hot fix to solve the character sheet error right after last month's launch (Divine characters like my deva cleric/invoker suddenly lost their Turn Undead power card from the sheet, etc.).  And this launch looks hot fix free, which is always the goal.  We're already in Construct for May, and the beat goes on. Community feedback: I don't read these forums near as much as I'd like, but Trevor pings me regularly, and hot topics cross my email regularly.  I appreciate each and every bit of feedback, even when you wonder what the heck we're up to beyond updating content. (I have said this many, many times, but you really need to grock I live in a world where one change suddenly causes Turn Undead to vanish from the power card list on my divine character.  How did that happen? How did it slip through testing?  Well, we investigate, and we fix, and we try to improve. But we are constantly updating an ever-growing system of interdependent complexity. It gets slightly harder every update.)  And yes, we are working on other things than just content updates. So there.  I've said it.  I think 2010 is going to turn out to be a great year for D&DI, so stay tuned...  Game On!  Chris About the Author Chris Champagne is the Studio Director of the D&DI Digital Studio.  He first rolled for initiative in the summer of 1978, and has been a life long fan of D&D ever since.
#2 Corman Apr 07, 2010 13:33:07	Happy to see the update (been wanting the PHB3 stuff for a bit now), but of course there is the inevitable bug or two that crops up each update. I've reported it via the link on the CB, but be aware that for some reason situational damage modifers from items (like Battlecrazed weapons, Vanguard Weapons, etc) is being added to powers as 'bonus damage' all of the time - not just listing it under conditional damage like Quarry, Sneak Attack, etc. Even with bugs, the CB is a fantastic tool, and I am completely spoiled by having it!
#3 lcjunkie Apr 07, 2010 20:15:39	I already submitted it as a bug, but be aware that Runepriests are not getting their +2 class bonus to Will in this version of CB. Hopefully this will be fixed in May.
#4 tenian Apr 09, 2010 12:25:51	From the  uality ontrol epartment: www.wizards.com/dndinsider/compendium/it... www.wizards.com/dndinsider/compendium/it... www.wizards.com/dndinsider/compendium/it... www.wizards.com/dndinsider/compendium/it... www.wizards.com/dndinsider/compendium/it... www.wizards.com/dndinsider/compendium/it... This feat's power is not structured correctly.  It is missing the Feat Power in the  <span class="level">span> www.wizards.com/dndinsider/compendium/fe... See www.wizards.com/dndinsider/compendium/fe... or www.wizards.com/dndinsider/compendium/fe... for examples of how a power granted by a feat normally looks. The Hybrid class entries are very inconsistent.  Sometimes they reference powers from other sources and these powers are included.  The best example is the Hybrid Wizard, who's entry includes the implement powers, but does not include the cantrips. Hybrid Wizard. www.wizards.com/dndinsider/compendium/cl... Also as you can see the Class Features/Talent options are not clear on some Hybrids.  again the hybrid wizard shows nothing under Class Features and everything as a Talent option.  On the other hand they Hybrid Swordmage (www.wizards.com/dndinsider/compendium/cl...) shows the class and talent features correctly. And as an aside, it would be nice to be able to search for classes that are updated in "Power" books.  For example, search for classes in Martial Power 2 and see ONLY the new build options that were presented in this book.  The current method is counterintuitive , as to find the details of a new fighter build presneted in Martial Power 2 you have to search for the Fighter in Player's Handbook.
#5 vanforge Apr 10, 2010 0:02:53	I can't seem to load my old playtest psion character and now when I try to remake him I can't even choose Psion
#6 coppro Apr 10, 2010 2:41:43	The Hybrid class entries are very inconsistent.  Sometimes they reference powers from other sources and these powers are included.  The best example is the Hybrid Wizard, who's entry includes the implement powers, but does not include the cantrips. This is the case for many non-hybrid) classes as well. Many of them reference powers not present in the feat description (Paladin is really bad for this).
#7 chrischampagne Apr 10, 2010 18:44:43	Adding all of the above to the list.  (Knew about the Runepriest issue already, but not worth a mid-week hot fix, so we'll catch it in May.)  Hyrbids are a great concept for play, ... a nightmare for programming.  Just being honest.  The Playtest version that was previewed in Dragon told us how rough it was going to get.  SO many combinations and SO many ways a test case can miss something.  Anyway, I continue to mumble the challenges of adding complexity to an already complex system, and trying to maintain such in an environment where I don't get any more time for coding and deploying,  and its rough adding heads and ramping them up to make any difference.  More time gives me better quality assurance and quality control (two separate things), but no one wants to wait more than a month between updates.  So in the end, we do the best we can, deploy, and bat clean up after.  It drives us nuts here, too,  in our ivory tower. (I actually had a guy tell me I must live in one.  Yeesh.  We all play, and we use the same tools you do.  We don't have some secret squirrel uber Character Builder for internal use only.) At any rate, thanks for the comments and the observations.  Please keep them coming! -Chris
#8 hawke Apr 11, 2010 16:09:55	Woo, with PH3 I've had fun playing this month.  I'm looking forward to another "state of DDI software" article coming up... I'd like to know where you guys plan on going over the next year and what more we can see beyond new information from the books.  Fun times.
#9 theoucrew Apr 12, 2010 11:18:18	I demand a secret squirrel uber Character Builder!  Or at least a secret squirrel.
#10 Fingolfin_Aeros Apr 14, 2010 15:58:54	You guys are doing an awesome job.  My little experience with programming and database management makes me cringe just thinking about how you guys have to do things. Keep up the good work!
#11 Bargle0 Apr 21, 2010 1:55:05	We all play, and we use the same tools you do. Actually, it'd be nice if we had access to the tool(s) you guys use to produce new content for the CB.  For instance, I would like to produce my own houserule equipment, feats, etc.
#12 Shemeska_the_Marauder Apr 22, 2010 23:15:35	At any rate, thanks for the comments and the observations.  Please keep them coming! -Chris So how is work on the Virtual Tabletop progressing?
#13 Dargurd Apr 26, 2010 14:56:01	We all play, and we use the same tools you do. Actually, it'd be nice if we had access to the tool(s) you guys use to produce new content for the CB.  For instance, I would like to produce my own houserule equipment, feats, etc. Seconded, thirded and fourthed - i so want to be able to do this myself !