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6/5/11 UPDATE:  I am expecting to be able to release an alpha version of the Monster Builder and Encounter Builder component in roughly 4 weeks.  At this time, you should be able to import monsters and traps from 4EParser files, from a copy/paste from the Compendium entry, create new monsters and traps, and build encounters from your local database of monsters and traps.  Export of the encounters, monsters, and traps will initially be to HTML.

The Athenaeum is an attempt to bring a fully functional and complete campaign management suite to Dungeons and Dragons.

The initial scope of this project was to become a bridge between 4EParser and Fantasy Grounds, giving the ability to create modules "on-demand," with the ability to mix and match individual or groups of items

A contagion has hit the multiverse, spreading from plane to plane. This is the Abyssal Plague. It’s THE D&D event for 2011, WotC’s attempt to do something akin to the mega-events more commonly found in comics. A big, world-shaking event that bridges disparate franchises to tell the fans a larger story.

But is this a good idea? Does their execution work?

The Basics

I’ll leave it to someone paid to sell the event to sell the event:

"The Abyssal Plague is an event that spans the worlds of Dungeons & Dragons. Seven novels and a five-part novella tell its story across three worlds, and its insidious reach extends into roleplaying products such as Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale and future seasons of D&D Encounters."

You can find articles related to the plague

I finally subscribed to DDI since I wanted the new browser-based Character Builder. I'm a long time Mac user and was frustrated by the fact I had to install Parallells just to run Character Builder in WinXP.

While I've got some issues with the web-based character builder - though none that really overshadow being able to run it in OSX - the biggest thing is the loss of the journal that was part of the Windows application.

The long and short of it is that until they add the journal to the web-based version - if they ever do - I think I'll use this blog to jot down my post-session notes in the interim. Unlike my first blog here, which was semi-in-character, it'll just be my quick notes on the session after the fact.

Wrote to customer services today to let them know why they are getting very close to losing me - a life long D&D nut who has been with DDI since day one. Beyond this link is what I wrote.

Angry Emails

Enjoy?

WoTC hires someone(s) to do the following work. Create rough animation for each of the character races, with additional layers for standard equipment for each class. This should not be anything more detailed then a bunch of ovals providing rough dimensions to the characters’ physique. There should be just enough distinction to identify a half-elf from a human or an elf. Tieflings have horns. Bugbears have whatever… Male/female distinctions are probably not a concern at this point.

For equipment, we are not concerned with any distinction beyond the grouping. We can tell a spear from a two-handed sword but not necessarily a trident from a short spear. We can tell leather armor from cloth armor but not one type of leather armor from another type of leather armor.

WoTC will have

So I have to give credit where credit is due. I will do that, I have no problem with that.

Now mind you the new Character Builder has been out roughly 36 days depending on how you look at it. So they had major stability issues, many bugs, lots of missing or broken content (depending on who's view you listen to) and it took 36 days to get a few things fixed.

Onto the praise...

They updated the character builder today and fixed one particular bug that annoyed me to no end. Mage At-Will's, you could not pick from other sources just the first essential book. I wanted my players Pyromancer to have more than just the couple of fire spells available to him. Oh there was a work around thanks to dbmeboy over on the DDI forums but that was a fan work around, not official as much as the imported

WotC recently released the Monster Vault product as part of the D&D Essentials sub-line, a 256 page book of monsters and 10 sheets of monster pogs. The book is a solid re-release of the core monsters, with beasties pulled from all three Monster Manuals. It was designed to include the classic monsters, the most well-known and popular of the game’s creatures.

This book started me thinking on designing a Monster Manual, what such a books needs in 4e and how a book for beginners – like the Monster Vault – might differ from a book for established players.

The Foundation

Monsters in 1e and 2e were fairly static. They came at a certain level and could only do a limited number of things. You had to make an entirely new monster if the one you wanted to use was too high or too

Just gonna bang my own drum here for a minute. 

You never forget your first times. Your first kiss, your first paycheque, your first time behind the wheel, your first love, and others I cannot say on a family blog.

And I'll never forget today because it's the first time I was published by Dragon magazine. Check it out here.  

Bit of a surprise really, as it was supposed to be next week. I spent all morning wondering why I was racking-up so many new followers on Twitter. It's a great way cap-off the day. Everyone should do it.