Didn't get any results for kobold???
The way it looks currently is there are no monsters yet. I assume monsters will be in it? WOTC?
I have to say that I like the elegant simplicity of the tabbed search format, but it seems like it will only work if I already know what it is I am looking for. I can't imagine trying to roll up a character using the Compendium, and browsing powers, feats, and skills. Nightmarish. Maybe that's Wizards' intent, though?
Looks like no DMG information, either. That's a bit rough; I find myself referencing the encounter development rules very frequently, just now. Hopefully we will see the Compendium expanded in the near future.
I have to say that I like the elegant simplicity of the tabbed search format, but it seems like it will only work if I already know what it is I am looking for. I can't imagine trying to roll up a character using the Compendium, and browsing powers, feats, and skills. Nightmarish. Maybe that's Wizards' intent, though?
I suspect/hope that more information will be added as time goes on. As it stands right now you can do some basic info looking up powers and stuff based on level, but im hoping there will be more filters (which I suspect from what I have heard that they will be getting pretty crazy with the filters, just not sure when.)
They got new/old builds!!!!
Actually I did and apparently im missing the old builds part.
It looks like at this time its just stuff in the PHB
Type in rogue - someone in ENWorld got an interesting result.
I couldn't find what was found on EnWorld, and didn't see anything odd when I typed it in, what was "interesting"?
They got new/old builds!!!!
Interesting. I wonder if those will stick around. What pogminky means (because it took me a while to figure out) is that there is information in the rogue class description on rolling a "ruthless thug" and a heading (but no text) for "thief-acrobat."
In other news, the inability to search powers by level is crippling. If someone else has figured this out, let me know.
In other news, the inability to search powers by level is crippling. If someone else has figured this out, let me know.
Search for the class that you want and then in the powers area click "level" it will sort them by level, but only in ascending order.
Search for the class that you want and then in the powers area click "level" it will sort them by level, but only in ascending order.
Good. That's a start. And you can search for "*class name* *encounter/daily*" to get just a list of encounter or daily powers for a given class. For some reason, "at-will" doesn't seem to work.
One thing I would like to see is hotlinking. So when say I look up stealth and it mentions it is an opposed roll to perception, it would be nice to be able to simply click perception and go there.
In all, not too bad for two weeks worth of work. :P
I don't think building characters with the compendium. This would stop players from buying the Player's Handbook - and the PHB states that each player should have their own.
Its interesting right now but im gonna hold my opinion on usefulness till we get at least 2 more splat books put in their.
Interesting. I wonder if those will stick around. What pogminky means (because it took me a while to figure out) is that there is information in the rogue class description on rolling a "ruthless thug" and a heading (but no text) for "thief-acrobat."
In other news, the inability to search powers by level is crippling. If someone else has figured this out, let me know.
Note also that the "Ruthless Thug" build references alternative class features, feats, and powers that don't yet exist. One can only assume these will be in Martial Power?
Looks like no DMG information, either. That's a bit rough; I find myself referencing the encounter development rules very frequently, just now. Hopefully we will see the Compendium expanded in the near future.
That was never the intent. It was always intended to be a database of character options rather than a Rules Cyclopedia.
Think 3.5 Consolidated Lists in the web archives rather than 3.5 Rules Compendium.
I'm enjoying the Compendium thus far, and I understand that this will be limited at the start. Well done WOTC. Give us some more hawt stuff.
From the structure you can tell it that (at least currently)...
a) No monster information will be in it, there isn't even a suitable tab.
b) No general rule information will be in it, things like a glossary of terms or what second wind is, etc. Again no tab.
From the out of date, database you can tell...
a) It's from a draft version of the PHB, there are place holders and character builds that were cut from the final PHB. For example: - Search for Warlord then click the Class Tab, and Warlord, scroll down to see the character builds.
b) Dragon information has not been added, no new wizard powers (from Class Acts) or the new paragon path (from The Wolves of Maldeen) or the Warforged article information. It needs this information to be as advertised.
c) Errata hasn't been taken into account.
Conclusions
It will be useful to players more than DM's when the data is up to date. To become useful to DM's it needs a glossary (expanded beyond the one in the MM), rules information and monsters. Even for players it needs the information in the back of the Monster Manual on playing monsters added.
I feel sorry for the person or persons that is responsible for checking the database and updating it as there is a lot of work to do.
Hopefully as they expand the database, they'll include this sort of thing. It would make the Compendium a lot more useful during an online game, since it would alleviate the need for book references that could slow the game down.
Cheers!
im new to 4E, can someone explain to me what paragon paths are?
how many classes are their in 4E?, i have not purchased the books yet, but from looking at all the lists of different powers(696 in the compendium) it listed several classes I have never heard of. Am i seeing the right names and such?, i just cant believe my eyes at the new classes developed since the last few Editions....what i see is...
...
are some of these classes like class kits or something?
Those are paragon and epic paths.
yup its cool
im new to 4E, can someone explain to me what paragon paths are?
As you move up level you have new options that a starting character does not have. Level 11 though 20 are Paragon Levels.
The paths are abilities you can take during those levels.
It should go without saying a player can try to map out the overall path the PC will take.
Search for the class that you want and then in the powers area click "level" it will sort them by level, but only in ascending order.
you can change the sstyle in the address bar to sort by certain columns in descending order. It just seems like the switch code for the sort links is broken atm
Sorting powers by descending level is sstyle=3
sstyle=1 is name descending
sstyle=5 is class descending
sstyle=9 is Action Type descending
sstyle=7 is Source descending(not really applicable atm)
Hope that helps someone.
Edit:
http://ww2.wizards.com/dnd/insider/database.aspx?searchterm=Wizard&tab=powers&stype=2&sstyle=3
That is what I have as my wizard powers being sorted by level, descending.
you can change the sstyle in the address bar to sort by certain columns in descending order. It just seems like the switch code for the sort links is broken atm
Sorting powers by descending level is sstyle=3
sstyle=1 is name descending
sstyle=5 is class descending
sstyle=9 is Action Type descending
sstyle=7 is Source descending(not really applicable atm)
Hope that helps someone.
Edit:
http://ww2.wizards.com/dnd/insider/database.aspx?searchterm=Wizard&tab=powers&stype=2&sstyle=3
That is what I have as my wizard powers being sorted by level, descending.
Nice. Thanks.
Seems pretty sweet and useful so far. Totally plan on using this on the computers at work.
It is going to be great to use while working on characters at lunch. Particularly if I don't want to wave my PHB around my desk.
One point I had hoped for was that the Compendium would include the errata for the core books already implemented. Oh well, it's early so maybe errata will come eventually.
When they announced it they said it would. Not only that they said it would contain material from all of the currently published books. ie, when the forgotten realms suppliment comes out they are supposed to add the crunch to the compendium. Then do the same for the Martial book, and the item book and the ... well you get the idea. That means if you have DDI you won't need to buy the new books to have access to the new material.
When they announced it they said it would. Not only that they said it would contain material from all of the currently published books. ie, when the forgotten realms suppliment comes out they are supposed to add the crunch to the compendium. Then do the same for the Martial book, and the item book and the ... well you get the idea. That means if you have DDI you won't need to buy the new books to have access to the new material.
"Rules elements" is all this gives. You cannot play the game without the books. Healing surges are not explained in this thing, nor any other rules.
All you get is similar to the "terms" in the SRD but with definitions.
For example having looked up the Power Attack feat. I should be able to click on a link to report the fact it doesn't mention in the table the increases for using a weapon two handed. If you want to keep a database accurate it's better to allow everyone to error check it for you.
You might want to update it first however to cut down the number of errors there currently are, or alternatively use this faulty database as a test of the error reporting system.
I think this could be very useful for players, though.
I did a few quick tests and found what I was looking for.
- Ale -- costs 2 sp (0.2 gp when you look at it on the detail screen)
- blanket (had to look under bedroll, but still...)
- Battleaxe + 1 (could either look for "battleaxe" or "magical weapon")
- healing potion
Those are all the items I was asked for when I ran the first session of KOTS last week and it took much less time using the compendium than it did for us using the books.
It is great that you can search for terms, but as you say if you don't know what you are looking for then how do you search for it?
Say you want to just search all items with no search terms....
Too bad the thing doesn't have an index and you have to KNOW what you are looking for.
It is great that you can search for terms, but as you say if you don't know what you are looking for then how do you search for it?
Say you want to just search all items with no search terms....
I think there are workarounds for this.
You can put in "price" and do a search and it comes up with nearly all the items. It comes up with 651 out of 712 items. My guess is that the missing elements don't have "price" as part of their description.
I think we should be able to look at the description for a sample result or two and then use that info when deciding what to search for. Then again, if they put the browse feature in before too long, we won't have to come up with any workarounds or tricks.
" and it will bring everything back.
That, combined with sorting by a column should help you find things that you didn't know you were looking for.
I think there are workarounds for this.
You can put in "price" and do a search and it comes up with nearly all the items. It comes up with 651 out of 712 items. My guess is that the missing elements don't have "price" as part of their description.
I think we should be able to look at the description for a sample result or two and then use that info when deciding what to search for. Then again, if they put the browse feature in before too long, we won't have to come up with any workarounds or tricks.
Well that is because so many of those "items" are empty. Just like the 1699 powers, there isn't something there for each one, and some silly security reason probably that they have blank ones.
I guess putting in other terms oculd help, but it needs to be simpler. Click a link and be taken to a page that lists all the items, then use your browser to search for the right one, or just look through the list for something interesting to get more details on.
I just tried something else which I think gives you everything in the system. Since HTML is embedded in each of the descriptions, you can search for "" and it will bring everything back.
That, combined with sorting by a column should help you find things that you didn't know you were looking for.
Now that is just too dang funny! :evillaugh
Since they used .NET to build the search, I'm assuming they paired it with SQL server. SQL should be able to handle that search if they convert it to use FTS (free-text search.)
Here's a link that goes into a lot of the ins and outs
http://www.simple-talk.com/sql/learn-sql-server/sql-server-full-text-search-language-features/
That said, it's not simply up to the developers. They are merely working off a set of project specs and if WOTC didn't explicitly ask for a token search feature, they probably won't get it built unless they request a scope change. Since there'd be a cost associated with adding that feature after-the-fact, it's hard to say whether or not something like that would get approval.
Well, according to the article, they do not list monsters being in there ever. As a DM, that is very disappointing.
Yeah it's a bit of a change from when Scott announced it at the D&D Experience, saying it would have "100% content" of all the books.
The bonus skill from the Eladrin racial ability list is missing.
Wow and I thought missing the erata was bad, but missing actual information for the books is worse.
In all, not too bad for two weeks worth of work. :P
Two weeks?
Planning started 2 years ago.
The books were sent to printer in March 08
So if no work was done until the books were sent, that's about 4 Months.
At this rate the DDi full will be out in 2050.
This was a chance for Wizards to get millions of people using DDi, but they half-assed it.
Then they want to charge for each tile, mini, and thought about D&D.
Lee