Community

Hey all,

to begin with, I have to excuse for keeping silence more than a year. The tool was just my hobby and after a certain moment I simply couldn't continue with it due to terrible lack of time.
 
In other words I see that I've already failed twice to make death saving throw for the tool and then... I found that I can't just made the 3rd attempt without asking you my friends.

Should the tool live? Should I keep hosting of the website? Do you still use it? Are you waiting for any update for it or switched to other tools that probably should be way more advanced till now? What's with D&D Next? Would it worth continuing for this edition as well or it won't fit for it? 

Lately I don't have much time for reading D&D news and need some guidence.

So, the ultimate question is: should the tool live or it's time to retire.

Always yours,
Dmitry 

New version 1.0.15.0 is finally released.

It contains:
 - improved battle preparation. Battles can be created without players.
 - start battles directly from battle preparation
 - players and monsters can be added to battle just before battle start
 - improved interface for adding monsters/players during battle
 - player and monster repository improved to load AT/CB file on the fly

As you can see, the release has taken more time than it was expected. With the release I can finally check the todo list with suggestions for next version...

You can suggest your feature in the group forum.

Tough battles, DMs...

Hi All,

Since several months I've been getting many questions asking the same: will the tool be continued or not?

Time to answer it.

Yes, the development will continue.

Next update should be done within next 3-4 weeks.

 

Hi all,

I've started a group which you can join for beta-testing and closer feature discussion.

Anyone welcome to join!

Regards,
Dmitry

Hi all,

as you probably know, the upcoming release of Character Builder will be web-based and it seems to be no longer a normal windows app that can work offline.

Moreover, at least the next release will not have character export functionality at launch. That will mean you won't be able to import your characters to DMBS, at least for a while. 

However, I believe you can influence on that.

Check these posts and post your opinion there:

community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/758...

community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/758...

community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/758...

New version 1.0.14.0 is released (patched to 1.0.14.2).

It contains:

1. Cross-battle effect storing.
2. Fixed monster import from AT.
3. Improved definition of monster powers as defined by the last monster file format.
    Warning! Some elements of powers are simply not exported properly from AT, such as recharge and triggers, and therefore they can't be imported to DMBS yet.
4.  Improved DMBS Monster Repository UI. You can now browse exported AT monster files without explicit import, it happens "on fly" now.

Well, development of this version has taken more time than I expected. I hope next release will not be that slow.

Concerning next release, it will likely be focused on 2 features: improvement of battle preparation screen and in-battle monster power activation console. I'll try to simplify power activation for rolling attack and damage dices.

As usual - have tough battles and good luck!

Edited 10.07.11: Please POST your proposals in the group forum here.
 

DMs, I read again all posts you send recently. Thank you for your feedbacks and suggestions. Since Wizards' blog engine doesn't accept any text formatting in posts after the first one, I opened new blog post just to give you a chance to read it as normal list. First blog post for this subject you can find here.

Hereafter comes the assembled list of wishes I found in your posts. 

1. make quick conditions persistent across battles
2. import monsters from Compendium 
3. extra initiative screen for players 
4. initialize battle from results of prev battle    
    a. import HP and conditions from prev battle, let adjust anything from them before new battle started    
    b. consider used players powers in next batttle    
    c. make Finish button to ask to start next prepared battle 
5. add Delay and Ready actions to context menu 
6. enhance battle preparation    
    a. do not close 'Add monster' dialog    
    b. Filter-as-you-type    
    c. paste monsters as RTF from clipboard (when copied from AT) 
7. import player powers, show in details view    
    a. add track of using the powers
8. surprise round 
9. possibility to change initiative order 
10. traps/hazards 
11. add "until bloodied" and "while bloodied" to condition

If I missed anything, post it here.

What priority order do you see for it?

New version 1.0.13.0 is released.

It contains:
- fixes for importing characters after recent format updates in WotC Character Builder
- few other minor fixes 
- slightly improved monster power activation

I didn't do anything in the tool for 3 months so far. Time to check your posts and define next goals...

New version 1.0.12.0 is released.

The version contains:

• Simple informational Welcome screen
• Condition multiselection for assigning to one trigger
• Context menu for combatant grid with all actions available
• Combatant reordering in the grid (doesn't affect battle initiative).
• Action shotcuts (check hints in combatant grid context menu)
• New expression 's+X' for faster entering healed HPs
• Confirmation dialog for re-importing monsters and players with same names

PMs! I checked your wishes and suggestions and will need some time for organizing myself and picking next candidates for tool improvement. Keep leaving your ideas and proposals. I read them! Don't feel ignored if I don't reply on them - last weeks are quite busy for me.

Concerning DDI Compendium, I see that the most valuable feature would be direct monster import from it. As soon I get access to the compendium, I'll check it.

As usual - have tough battles!

DMs!

I was asked many times to open access to DDI Compendium from DMBS.
Afaik, you should be DDI subscriber to access it fully.

How important is this feature for you? 
Where would you see this feature in DMBS? As hints on effects/conditions?

I can't promise that I add it soon. First I need to feel what is to be done.