Does the new MB do anything? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Does the new MB do anything?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Authw8
Aug 01, 2011 9:48:02 Due to life situation, my D&D group and I stopped playing sometime around a year ago, and I ended my D&DI subscription. However, the gang has decided to get back together, so today I logged on and got a new D&DI subsription. The new browser based tools seem convenient, although a bit laggy and slow. I'm happy with the new browser based CB anyway. The MB seems like it doesn't actually do anything though. I can't figure out how to make a new monster from scratch, and as far as I can tell there's no way to create new monster abilities, or even to edit existing ones beyond changing the names.

So my question: Does the new MB actually do anything? I mean I know I can slide the level around and edit the ability names, but is there something I'm missing, or is that really what it does? I did update my old offline one and it works fine, but I'm just perplexed by the browser based tool.

EDIT: So I surfed the forum here for a minute and see that this is indeed the case, and that this post could easily be seen as a troll post. Go ahead and ignore if you want.
#2
kenjoon
Aug 01, 2011 16:56:43 New MB is strictly for VT users (at this time). If you do face to face games, use the old tool (still linked on the same page as "classic builder" or some such).
#3
Damon_Tor
Aug 04, 2011 12:39:19
Does the new MB do anything?

lol, no.
#4
tennyjaden
Aug 05, 2011 7:13:19
New MB is strictly for VT users (at this time). If you do face to face games, use the old tool (still linked on the same page as "classic builder" or some such).

Really? I haven't tracked the situation much, but are you saying Wizards is advertising the VT over real pen and paper? Why even sell books then?...
#5
kenjoon
Aug 06, 2011 13:45:02
New MB is strictly for VT users (at this time). If you do face to face games, use the old tool (still linked on the same page as "classic builder" or some such).

Really? I haven't tracked the situation much, but are you saying Wizards is advertising the VT over real pen and paper? Why even sell books then?...

Not at all. I'm saying that their advertising doesn't match up to reality (as is true of almost ANY advertising IMO).

The "reality" is that the online MB is but a shadow of the offline tool for customization purposes. It lacks anything useful except a print option AND the ability to directly import monsters into the VT. Based on that, IF you plan on playing via the VT then the online MB is the tool for you because it automates "token creation" which is a real time saver.

If on the other hand you play a face to face game and/or use any sort of 3PP software tools (initiative tracker, monster tracker, etc. that are NOT the VT) then the old offline Adventure Tools (MB) is the tool for you to use. I has full monster editing abilities along with export to 3 different formats (RTF, XML, and plain text). The XML format (.monster) is the one to use for integration to other 3PP software tools. I personally use RFT and wordpad on my laptop at the table so I don't have to waste ink/paper.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Authw8 Aug 01, 2011 9:48:02	Due to life situation, my D&D group and I stopped playing sometime around a year ago, and I ended my D&DI subscription. However, the gang has decided to get back together, so today I logged on and got a new D&DI subsription. The new browser based tools seem convenient, although a bit laggy and slow. I'm happy with the new browser based CB anyway. The MB seems like it doesn't actually do anything though. I can't figure out how to make a new monster from scratch, and as far as I can tell there's no way to create new monster abilities, or even to edit existing ones beyond changing the names. So my question: Does the new MB actually do anything? I mean I know I can slide the level around and edit the ability names, but is there something I'm missing, or is that really what it does? I did update my old offline one and it works fine, but I'm just perplexed by the browser based tool. EDIT: So I surfed the forum here for a minute and see that this is indeed the case, and that this post could easily be seen as a troll post. Go ahead and ignore if you want.
#2 kenjoon Aug 01, 2011 16:56:43	New MB is strictly for VT users (at this time). If you do face to face games, use the old tool (still linked on the same page as "classic builder" or some such).
#3 Damon_Tor Aug 04, 2011 12:39:19	Does the new MB do anything? lol, no.
#4 tennyjaden Aug 05, 2011 7:13:19	New MB is strictly for VT users (at this time). If you do face to face games, use the old tool (still linked on the same page as "classic builder" or some such). Really? I haven't tracked the situation much, but are you saying Wizards is advertising the VT over real pen and paper? Why even sell books then?...
#5 kenjoon Aug 06, 2011 13:45:02	New MB is strictly for VT users (at this time). If you do face to face games, use the old tool (still linked on the same page as "classic builder" or some such). Really? I haven't tracked the situation much, but are you saying Wizards is advertising the VT over real pen and paper? Why even sell books then?... Not at all. I'm saying that their advertising doesn't match up to reality (as is true of almost ANY advertising IMO). The "reality" is that the online MB is but a shadow of the offline tool for customization purposes. It lacks anything useful except a print option AND the ability to directly import monsters into the VT. Based on that, IF you plan on playing via the VT then the online MB is the tool for you because it automates "token creation" which is a real time saver. If on the other hand you play a face to face game and/or use any sort of 3PP software tools (initiative tracker, monster tracker, etc. that are NOT the VT) then the old offline Adventure Tools (MB) is the tool for you to use. I has full monster editing abilities along with export to 3 different formats (RTF, XML, and plain text). The XML format (.monster) is the one to use for integration to other 3PP software tools. I personally use RFT and wordpad on my laptop at the table so I don't have to waste ink/paper.