DM’s Notes: Character Builder Review

On January 27th, Wizards of the Coast release the full version of the Character Builder, available to those with a D&D Insider subscription. I happen to have such a subscription, and I have tried out both the beta version (that only allowed levels 1-3), and the full version. Here’s my review.

The builder allows a player or DM to create a complete character, without having to do all the math involved with a pen-and-paper sheet. It then displays all the info in a standard character sheet format, with power cards automatically created and calculated. At first glance, the system works flawlessly. You simply tell it what you want, and it does it. But that’s where the major usefulness ends.

Having played with it a bit, and read others’ thoughts on the D&D message boards, I’ve begun to like it less and less. While the build process is fine, the character sheet and power cards leave a lot to be desired. There is, simply put, too much information.

For example: I recently created a Dragonborn Swordmage, level 1. At the beginning of the build, it asks you to pick what you want to base your Dragon Breath power on (Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution). Fine, I pick Strength, making sure to assign that ability a decent score at the appropriate stage. I work my way through the process, and finally display the completed character sheet. Looking at the power card for Dragon Breath, I see the big problem. The power is copied nearly verbatim from the Player’s Handbook. This includes the options for the related abilities that I DIDN’T pick. It even includes the Special text, stating that when I create a Dragonborn character, I need to choose one.

Yes, I knew that. Why aren’t you using the ability I picked at the beginning to calculate the attack bonus? It’s flaws like this that make some power cards nearly unreadable. And do we really need a Second Wind and Action Point power card? Either we’ve used them or we haven’t.

Overall, I now greatly prefer a pencil-and-paper sheet. Not only can I include the information I most often use, but I can edit it at my leisure. With the Character Builder, if anything changes, you have to print out a new sheet.

Here are the pros and cons that I have found with the Character Builder:

PROS:

- Does all the calculations for you

- Includes ALL the rules. No need to jump from book to book, just to make that Bugbear Dark Pact Warlock with magic items from the Adventurer’s Vault

- All things considered, the sheets DO look nice

CONS:

- Too much info in too little space

- Unnecessary info, or  superfluous text

- The sheets use way too much ink if you’re printing

- During the build process, when picking powers, the bonuses and penalties are spelled out for you. Once the sheet is displayed, they aren’t.

- I seem to be unable to toggle the editing portion of the character sheet that allows me to tweak what attacks/powers are displayed in the first page attack workspace

All in all, I am rather disappointed with the builder. I understand, though, that it is a work in progress, and I really hope that WotC takes the time to perfect it, in order to make it the right program for all users. I recommend giving it a try, even if you don’t have the D&DI subscription.

Old habits are hard to break.

I tend to put too many things on my plate these days. Gaming-wise, at least. I dabble in so many games that it just seems impossible to keep track of them all. Plus, I have this thing that I really should update more often. More for my own benefit than anything else. I doubt anyone reads this.

So, what’s new? Well, I did something I never thought I’d do in a million years: I got back into a collectible card game. And not just any CCG. The Pokemon CCG. In fact, I happen to be the league leader at my LGS. Let’s call that one my one guilty pleasure of gaming… that, and Cooking Mama. Ok, two. Shh.

Painting-wise, good lord, if I painted my armies any slower, I’d be taking paint OFF. On the docket to be painted are:

Khador: Man O’ War Shocktroopers (still, I know), Epic Vladimir, Berserker heavy ‘jack, and Assault Kommandos that are still waiting for me to buy them.

Mercs: Gorten Grundback and his entire battlegroup, plus Eiryss, Mage-Hunter of Ios (needed some speed for my Khadorans, plus she’s the only way I can add up to 750 cleanly).

Cryx: Necro-tech, Scrapthrall, Reaper Helljack, Helldiver Bonejack, Pistol Wraith, and a box of Mechani-thralls (those last three haven’t been bought either).

Everblight: EVERYTHING. Except for shredders and the Carnivean. Though they do need a brown ink on their armour plates.

This is what always happens. I buy, and assemble, then buy more and assemble that, and before I know it, I’ve got a pile of stuff that needs painting and no will power to sit down and paint it. Hell, at least half of what I bought when I played Warhammer Fantasy is still unpainted at my parents’ house. At least I wasn’t too bad about painting my Lord of the Rings stuff. Although I do have a random box each of Riders of Rohan and Mordor Orcs that I somehow missed. And the Mumak. Can’t forget the giant elephant.

And to top it all off, I’m going to be ordering more models so I can start up an Inquisitor campaign. Yikes. Talk about biting off more than I can chew.

Mmm, pewter. *nom nom nom*

So… comments… that’s new. Here I am thinking “nah, no one’ll read this, but at least you can keep track of stuff.” But thanks to the two who gave their thoughts on the pricing issue. Good points all around. This sort of pricing inconsistency seems to be happening a few other places; one in particular that I noticed was at Chapters today. But they are taking steps to provide fair pricing by offering discounts, sales, etc.

I heard earlier today that the US dollar is likely to drop even further as, I believe and don’t quote me on this, China is making some changes in the investments it has in the United States. Changing everything over to Euros, I think.

Moving right along to some recent progress of mine on the Warmachine front. I’ve since finished a good chunk of what I have, plus some new:

Cryx Battle Box

Khador Battle Box

Khador Kodiak

The rest is in-progress.  Here’s the list of what’s remaining:

Man-O-War Shocktroopers

Widowmakers (50% done)

Berserker (Worst. Feet. Ever.)

And now I have a Necrotech with a Scrap Thrall as well as my new Khadoran warcaster, Vladimir Tzepesci, Dark Prince of Umbrey.

On a very unrelated note, I’ve begun an minor unhealthy obsession with Nerf blasters. I picked up the Longshot, Maverick, Firefly and Pocket Blaster all within the last week or two. I think I might have a problem.

Either way, they are AWESOME toys. Minor gripes, of course: Longshot’s scope doesn’t help you aim for shit and falls off a bit easily, Firefly’s a bit awkward to hold. Nothing special. But I do so love ambushing my little brother with the Longshot when he walks through the door after school, having left the Maverick on the front hall carpet for him to fight back with. An epic battle, to be sure.

Coming soon: Game reviews. A few video games, but, in order to better study some of the games at the Gameshop, I’ll also be reviewing the board games they carry. Hopefully the store will let me use the open copies they have to try out.

I’m a Capitalist’s wet dream

I buy far too much stuff. I’m not even CLOSE to finishing my Empire models, and what do I do? I buy the Warmachine rulebook and four boxes of figures. Now, don’t get me wrong, Warmachine is a damned awesome game. But I just need to control my impulses. I don’t even like shopping. I just like buying.

And now for the interesting part of this post: what I bought!

A year and a half ago or so, a gaming friend and classmate of mine wanted to try out Warmachine. So he bought himself a Cryx battlegroup box. But he also wanted an opponent, so he bought me (most of, I chipped in a bit) a Khador starter set. So I have Sorscha, a Juggernaut and a Destroyer ‘jack already. Yesterday, I bought:

- Widowmakers

- Man O’ War Shocktroopers

- Kodiak ‘jack

- Berserker ‘jack

All of which are awesome sculpts.

My only gripe is putting them together. The models are completely pewter, so I had to use super-glue, which I already have a bad history with. Makes my fingertips feel like I’ve been working construction all my life. I’m impatient, though, so I add Green Stuff (two-part modeling putty) to the mix for extra assembling power. Now, small bits of Green Stuff plus excess super-glue equals green finger tips. Such a pain in the ass.

As for painting, Khador warjacks have lots of big armour plates on them, so it’s pretty quick to paint. Slap on a coat of Mechrite Red, highlight a bit with Blood Red, paint the details silver and gold, and BAM! Herpes. I mean done.

Props to the Gameshop, who, with their new membership deal and anniversary special, gives me 20% off EVERYTHING. Mmmm.

Pictures later!

Canada’s dollar: GW’s prices don’t make “cents”

Heh, see what I did there? Damn I’m witty.

As you may (or may not, if you live under a rock) know, Canada’s dollar is now at par (and slightly above, in fact) the American dollar. This means I get that Transformers necklace I bought on eBay for slightly cheaper than I originally thought I would. This SHOULD mean that Games Workshop would lower their Canadian prices or raise their American prices. BUT! Here’s an e-mail I just sent to Mail Order:

With the Canadian dollar at par with the US dollar, I was curious to see if adjustments had been made to Canadian Games Workshop prices. I was then shocked to see that nothing changed. Take the Empire Wizard box. In the US, that box would be $17. However, here in Canada, that same box is $25! With the exchange rate, if we base the actual retail value on the US prices, that means that Canadians are charged $8 more than Americans, when it should only be $16 for the box!

Will there be adjustments made to either country’s prices to take into account the economic improvement to Canada’s dollar?

My guess is I’ll get back a “too bad, so sad” answer. Large evil corporations like Games Workshop tend to do that. But really, how lame is that? Even if they raise US prices, I’ll be happy, since it’ll be fair. I don’t want to have to start ordering off the US online store, instead of purchasing in retail stores up here. If other Canadian gamers take that approach, then independent game stores, like the one I go to here in Aurora, The Gameshop (link on the side bar) are kind of boned for GW sales. (Granted, The Gameshop carries TONS of products other than GW, but it’s an example. So sue me.)

If you are Canadian (and happen to read this blog, but then, who does?), write to GW, complain about the disgusting differences in price, make some noise about the whole thing. We might not get price reductions, but damn if we can’t make it fairly priced for everyone.

As for painting updates, I’m still working on those Halberdiers. I am ridiculously slow when it comes to painting. Just can’t seem to tear myself away from the computer. All that’s left on the troops is the flesh, hair, and a few details.

Note to self: Don’t buy the Tau Hunter Cadre until I’ve finished my Empire army!

Update: Got an e-mail back:

Hello

                Games Workshop USA does not base their prices on the global GW economy.  We are all separate companies world wide.  The USA has already tried to correct the price gaps on some of their products.  We are aware of this problem and we are looking into possible solution.  We thank you for your patients during this transition period. 

Figures. He spelled “patience” wrong.