• Please note: In an effort to ensure that all of our users feel welcome on our forums, we’ve updated our forum rules. You can review the updated rules here: http://forums.wolflair.com/showthread.php?t=5528.

    If a fellow Community member is not following the forum rules, please report the post by clicking the Report button (the red yield sign on the left) located on every post. This will notify the moderators directly. If you have any questions about these new rules, please contact support@wolflair.com.

    - The Lone Wolf Development Team

D&D Next

TaylorBland said:
Very cool. i hope that this gets out soon, i really would like to play D& D5 with HL. no rush, keep up the good work. and for the record, if i were better at computer scripts, i would be helping you. but, i am computer illiterate and i have no freaking clue what half the damn script means anyway. once a playable update is ready, do you think you can give us some sort of link so we can use and tinker with it ourselves?
Click to expand...

As I was asked by several people, here is the current state of affairs:

That "nothing is released yet" from my implementation of D&D 5e for Herolab is NOT due to technical reasons. It is due to legal reasons. I would not want WotC to sue me over infringement of intellectual property.

I did not give up hope though, and am continueing to work on the scripts (I would say their current state is noticably better than the 4e implementation of Hero Lab and asides from some minor issues and the odd feat missing everything is there) in the hope the situation will change in the future, allowing me to release this project.

If WotC will allow 3rd party character editors or at least agree on "not actively pursueing" authors of such programs it could be released. If an official licence would be given to Lone Wolf it could be given to them (this offer to Lone Wolf stands). If WotC would agree on publishing the data files on their webpage (Hey, no licence issue then, right? ^^), this could be done.

As to the "technical" state of things: All major things implemented, some small things still at work (for example some missing stuff with the Tome-Pact of the Warlock). Encounter Builder works too BTW. Tactical Console too.

My main focus is currently on refactoring and making the code "nicer" (it is not small). As well as changing the code to separate houserule-magic-items/playtest-magic-items from magic items from the release version (basically an option if the non-release-version-items should be displayed or not, but this is not yet implemented, current work still ongoing).

Best regards,
MagicSN
 
understandable. i just hope that 5th edition stuff comes out soon. i really like the game and HeroLab has already been a big help on my M&M3e games. but, legality is a reasonable issue. again, i wasn't trying to rush things, just a simple inquiry.

Have fun with it and the best wishes to you.
 
Just listened to the Dev call for WotC's character program. They are so clueless. I could not believe how many times they said a feature that was asked about was unimportant or not needed.

I pray that a herolab version will be allowed, even if it is a user created file.
 
Last edited:
TaylorBland said:
understandable. i just hope that 5th edition stuff comes out soon. i really like the game and HeroLab has already been a big help on my M&M3e games. but, legality is a reasonable issue. again, i wasn't trying to rush things, just a simple inquiry.

Have fun with it and the best wishes to you.
Click to expand...


Sure, don't worry, I understood perfectly. I just have to say, I would like myselves to release it but I can't, and this is quite frustrating.

Actually this weekend I have come so far that *if* there would not be legal issues preventing a release I would have released a Beta version now (some minor issues in classes, and the Tactical Console still needs some work - the Console is usable, but with several little "issues").

MagicSN
 
Let's face it, wizards will not allow their product to be issued to anyone else whilst they are paying a 3rd party company to build their own product. Magic, your work sounds awesome but none of us will ever experience it due to licensing issues which won't change. I love the new 5th edition and am starting a campaign this week with (for the 1st time in a long time) very little digital support. I have spent 3 days building an excel character generator and game tracker. Unfortunately my understanding of the Authoring Kit is minimal, despite reading the 300 page manual (might try a chinese version). So my point is that we can discuss 5th edition for HL as much as we like, it won't happen (well at least not until Wizards need more money and release 6th edition in 2016) :)
 
talsharien said:
Let's face it, wizards will not allow their product to be issued to anyone else whilst they are paying a 3rd party company to build their own product. Magic, your work sounds awesome but none of us will ever experience it due to licensing issues which won't change. I love the new 5th edition and am starting a campaign this week with (for the 1st time in a long time) very little digital support. I have spent 3 days building an excel character generator and game tracker. Unfortunately my understanding of the Authoring Kit is minimal, despite reading the 300 page manual (might try a chinese version). So my point is that we can discuss 5th edition for HL as much as we like, it won't happen (well at least not until Wizards need more money and release 6th edition in 2016) :)
Click to expand...

There were actually some interesting bits on Mike Mearls' Twitter recently, where he mentioned about WotC working on
details regarding "licencing". Also when asked about a OGL he did not answer with a "plain no", but with a "first dealing
with licencing". While not knowing what exactly was behind these answers from him, it at least sounded interesting.
 
It was actually fairly similar to the wording they used before the original GSL came out. So I'm not holding my breath. We're waiting over at PCGen on what WotC decides.
 
It will come down to how bad their own product is i suppose. I use HL and RW and am loathe to have to move to another digital product but ......
 
It's definitely NOT time to throw in the towel. There are still a number of things that have not been officially and publicly ruled in or out at Wizards. That means there's still possibilities.

I wholly understand everyone's frustration with a lack of info, but big corporations move slowly. To make it worse, huge corporations (like Hasbro) have vastly different agendas and expectations at different levels, so the top execs (in Rhode Island) won't necessarily have the same priorities as a small business unit (like the tabletop D&D team) - and vice versa. So all that has to be sorted out, which often occurs at seemingly glacial speed.

All we can do is wait and keep our fingers crossed at this point. We might get an amazing OGL. We might get an unworkable GSL. We might get nothing. But there's still a chance we might get something we can all run with. :)
 
Just throwing this out there, but for future reference, you guys and gals do realize you can ask Mike Mearls things directly via Twitter right? I asked him about people building character creation software, waiting for a reply from him.

@mikemearls is his SN on twitter. He goes by No Wifi Mearls up there. Most of the WotC design team is on there. It might be quicker to ask on Twitter rather than their forums too, since they actually do check their twitter pages somewhat regularly.
 
I am actually planning to send Mike an email to ask (I think might be better than Twitter) soon.

BTW, I did definitely NOT throw the towel. In the past 2 weeks:

- over-all refactoring of the code&files
- Adding "Sources" like in the 4e Datafiles (PHB, DMG Preview, Hoard of the Dragon Queen, Playtest items
not in the current printed material as Sources), rework of the starter window (where you now can select
which sources should be used and which not)
- Removed Houserules from the "basic" set of files and moved them into separate files (that was some work) which are optional
- A big update on the Tactical Console (used it first time myselves and did some new features based on this)
 
liz said:
We'd love to, but sadly nothing's changed on our end, even with this news. :(
Click to expand...

Liz, if this ever changes (and you get a licence), remember I have a now nearly fully implemented version (state of the code is much much better than the 4e code, for example no cut off text of feats, no 1[W] for Damage of melee attacks but the actual damage displayed, feats which give you spells of another class actually work, and so on - I took the opportunity to solve some issues I never liked with the 4e datafiles with the 5e ones) which you could have and be able to release something the same day you get the licence ;-)

I expect to have the full 5e PHB implemented in a few weeks.
 
That is really sweet. we are starting our first campaign with D&D 5e on NOV 1st. so hopefully, we can help you 'playtest' it?

Y'know, i really like the new D&D 5e over the 4th edition f--k up. the simplification of character creation has really created a new level of intimacy with the player. i created a human sorcerer with red dragon blood. i hope to multi-class him as a Paladin as well.

and i just want to say that i'm glad someone has come up with the 5e data set. i really like using HL and using it is so easy and fun. my gaming has taken new levels and i thank all of those who are smart enough to work with the codes. (sadly, i'm so far computer illiterate that computers just hate me...)the hepl that HL has created for gamers is beyond badass. thank you so very much for this.
 
Some more Screenshots (recent version) on Enworld.org, the character in the example does not make much sense, only purpose is to show off as many program features as possible (multiclass, magic initiate, bard magic school etc)

Still no good news regarding possibility to give the files to other people/license, currently talking with Mike Mearls on it.
But at least currently do not hope too much.

I am really sorry i cannot give away any files
Without permission from WotC :((((
 
I just finishing building dragonborn for pathfinder using the Advanced Race Guide. Was about 14 RP.
 
MagicSN said:
Some more Screenshots (recent version) on Enworld.org, the character in the example does not make much sense, only purpose is to show off as many program features as possible (multiclass, magic initiate, bard magic school etc)

Still no good news regarding possibility to give the files to other people/license, currently talking with Mike Mearls on it.
But at least currently do not hope too much.

I am really sorry i cannot give away any files
Without permission from WotC :((((
Click to expand...

MagicSN, I saw your screenshots and they look awesome. I'm crossing my fingers that WOTC sees this as a opportunity to license 5E to Lonewolf.

We'll keep championing you and this quest of ours!

EK
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top