I don't know how much this has been discussed, but I'd really like to see the ability to create Companion Characters (DMG2 pp 28-33) added to one of the tools, either the Character Buiilder or Monster Builder. I think it makes more sense in the Monster Builder, since the compact format of the Companion Characters fits better in the Monster Manual format stat block.
I have a small home group (3 PCs plus me as DM.) When I heard about Companion Characters DMG2 became a must have book, and I like how they are presented. However, trying to build one in either tool is a bit of work. What I've been doing is using the CB to get through ability scores and skills, then taking those numbers and manually putting them in a MB build. It would be nice if there were a specific template or CB-style walkthrough available to create these characters.
I really want this dang book! Can you give me some tidbits about companion characters? How are they designed? What sort of powers/skills/items to they get? How do they differ from normal npc's? What different types of companion characters are there? Who normally controls a companion character (DM or players?)
Thanks!
I really want this dang book! Can you give me some tidbits about companion characters? How are they designed? What sort of powers/skills/items to they get? How do they differ from normal npc's? What different types of companion characters are there? Who normally controls a companion character (DM or players?)
Thanks!
Well, the first thing I would say is grab a copy of this book! Just this small section alone made this book worth the purchase for me!
It's 6.5 pages of mostly how-to information. They are basically a cross between a PC build and a NPC. There is a technique to building them where they don't get (and cannot use) magic items, but get decent stats.
There are companion characters for each of the 4 PC roles (though Leader is a tough role to fill.) The rule for these characters is DM-built, player-controlled.
I was able to build a companion character without any problems using the monster builder. Just select a basic monster (for example a human guard) and edit it, using the rules presented in DMG2.
Sure, it's possible to do it manually, which is what I did. However, I'd prefer a step-by-step process that follows along the guidelines in the DMG2 in order, just like the CB does for PCs.
There's always the possibility that a Companion Builder will be one of the 5 Adventure Tools.
There's always the possibility that a Companion Builder will be one of the 5 Adventure Tools.
I'd really rather it wasn't. It shouldn't be an additional tool. There's enough room left for an Encounter Builder, Map Builder, Treasure Builder, and Item Builder. There isn't enough room for a Companion Builder. 
Though I guess they could combine the Treasure Builder and Item Builder into one tool, and then create a Companion/NPC Builder tool. I definitely wouldn't complain about that!
FYI, none of the above has been confirmed, nor even hinted to be actual upcoming tools. Just wanted to note that before anyone freaks out.
I don't know how much this has been discussed, but I'd really like to see the ability to create Companion Characters (DMG2 pp 28-33) added to one of the tools, either the Character Builder or Monster Builder.
This is exactly what I want as well.
As part of this and for NPCs it's be nice if all PC class powers were in the Monster Builder too. A man can dream, can't he?
Chris
I'd really rather it wasn't. It shouldn't be an additional tool. There's enough room left for an Encounter Builder, Map Builder, Treasure Builder, and Item Builder. There isn't enough room for a Companion Builder.
Though I guess they could combine the Treasure Builder and Item Builder into one tool, and then create a Companion/NPC Builder tool. I definitely wouldn't complain about that!
FYI, none of the above has been confirmed, nor even hinted to be actual upcoming tools. Just wanted to note that before anyone freaks out.
Nah. You can combine Treasure Builder and Item Builder to save room, but that room should obviously be used for Wizards to take a stab at making their own combat tracker.
I'd really rather it wasn't. It shouldn't be an additional tool. There's enough room left for an Encounter Builder, Map Builder, Treasure Builder, and Item Builder. There isn't enough room for a Companion Builder.
Though I guess they could combine the Treasure Builder and Item Builder into one tool, and then create a Companion/NPC Builder tool. I definitely wouldn't complain about that!
FYI, none of the above has been confirmed, nor even hinted to be actual upcoming tools. Just wanted to note that before anyone freaks out.
Nah. You can combine Treasure Builder and Item Builder to save room, but that room should obviously be used for Wizards to take a stab at making their own combat tracker.
That would be great. I'd be very happy with that.
What I would like (and I have seen this on other boards, so its not that original) would be a button on the Character Builder where I could output an existing PC as a companion. I my players all have families, and its pretty rare that we are not missing at least one player- whcih means normally one or two players are stuck juggling two character sheets. It really slows down the play, if the Rogue has to figure out all the wizards powers. But if I can have my players print out an updated companion character sheet along with their updated Character sheet, I could keep them all in a folder, and be ready when someone can't make it to a session.
Now companion characters do have more healing surges, and fewer powers then en equivalent PC, but a different player taking over for the session would not know that, so I think its OK- I would rather that the PC is kind of dummy proof if he is not being run by his 'owner'. So more surges, but some of the more elaborate or heavy hitting powers omitted makes sense. The character should always be cooler when he is being run by his owner.
So having their character in the form of a companion for that game session would make everyones life easier, and the game faster and more fun.
I definitely have no problem with it being part of the Character Builder though.
Sure thing. And really what it would be just that if this new Companion Creator is one of the Adventure tools, on launch it asks if you want to base the companion on an existing Monster, or existing PC. If you pick Monster, you grab one form the monster editor, and if it is from a PC, it has you point it to the correct character sheet file.
Looking at the companion character rules, I am not sure you could have a "push a button and make a companion' feature on the character creator- there are a lot of decisions to make, and there is a little bit of fiddleyness to it. So after doing the basic conversion a PC would still need to be tweaked like a monster conversion.
I also had the thought that if you wanted to run a game 'on easy mode' for some new or young players, giving them all companion character versions of their PCs to start with would help ease them into the rules. then after a game session or two you could give them the full character sheet and have them pick the rest of their powers. Companions could be a sort of return of 'Basic D&D'. 
A simple tab to adjust monster hit points and healing surges in line with DMG2 would be sufficient. The rules are quite vague and leave a lot to DM's discretion. It's quite likely that a lot of powers would need to be adjusted in any event.
We played an LG adventure where the PCs rescued a medusa rogue. She tagged along with them while they tried to outwit Scarlet Brotherhood agents and it would have been far better to reduce her hp to pc levels rather than the vast number of hp she did have as an elite 10th level monster and to adjust her petrfying gaze to an instantaneous encounter power something that involved lots of saving throws and recharge rolls.