I’m pretty sure part of the problem is that since they didn’t add Actions to Magic Items originally, they added Short/Long Rest to the Charge refresh section which is technically inaccurate. Part of what they have to do is figure out how to transfer some stuff from Charges with inaccurate refreshes and convert everything over without it causing people’s Character Sheets to break.
I’m pretty sure part of the problem is that since they didn’t add Actions to Magic Items originally, they added Short/Long Rest to the Charge refresh section which is technically inaccurate. Part of what they have to do is figure out how to transfer some stuff from Charges with inaccurate refreshes and convert everything over without it causing people’s Character Sheets to break.
Not quite, but it is complex and it's also about priorities.
I've been championing the need to add the action system to magic items for quite some time - we also need the equipment system to be improved. It's a good chunk of work, but it's something we definitely need to get around to.
I’m pretty sure part of the problem is that since they didn’t add Actions to Magic Items originally, they added Short/Long Rest to the Charge refresh section which is technically inaccurate. Part of what they have to do is figure out how to transfer some stuff from Charges with inaccurate refreshes and convert everything over without it causing people’s Character Sheets to break.
Not quite, but it is complex and it's also about priorities.
I've been championing the need to add the action system to magic items for quite some time - we also need the equipment system to be improved. It's a good chunk of work, but it's something we definitely need to get around to.
While you at it, please don't forget adding the full Options system to feats. Many thanks, a stressed homebrewer.
So DDB is an amazing site, but the development speed of new features is really not good. Sorry to say, I think more could be done. I as a developer with no experience of the system could probable implement this feature over a time span of 1-2 months, where most of the time would be spent on learning the systems and testing the solution. I know that's arrogant of me to say, but I can't help but wonder why things take this long on this site. I guess the real question, to be fair, is how long features take to develop once they have started development on them, and not when they've been included in planning.
So DDB is an amazing site, but the development speed of new features is really not good. Sorry to say, I think more could be done. I as a developer with no experience of the system could probable implement this feature over a time span of 1-2 months, where most of the time would be spent on learning the systems and testing the solution. I know that's arrogant of me to say, but I can't help but wonder why things take this long on this site. I guess the real question, to be fair, is how long features take to develop once they have started development on them, and not when they've been included in planning.
The way the initial system was unfortunately designed, it turned out to be rather immutable, and it was on a Monolith to boot. It took them a little over a year to redesign the entire Character Sheet Framework, and then to untangle the Gordian Knot that had become of things as well. They had to redesign the Sheet Framework ust to make the darned Sheets capable of actually handling any of these changes they are doing, the old one was so rigid in its function that it literally could not have even coped with the next part. The next part was they had to very carefully untangle all of the content (all of the official content, as well as all of the Homebrew) off from the creation engine, and then move it off to a different server. (That’s why there is now a slight lag between updates to homebrew and those updates registering in the character sheet/builder.) And they did it all without crashing a anything more than a handful of homebrews, and as far as I know, without a single drop of rum. They had to do all of that before they could even begin to implement any of these changes, fixes, and additions that you see on the list. Before, everything was so smooshed together that if they had tried to do any of the stuff on their list it would have been somewhere between Nightmare-“Just no.”
At this point, the other major concern for them is that whatever they add or fix, they are trying desperately to make sure that however they do it the process won’t break anyone’s character sheets. They recently had to bite the bullet and implemented a fix for Rangers’ Favored Enemy feature that did in fact make some preexisting characters malfunction, and then they made the biggest announcement they could about the situation with detailed instructions for folks on how to fix their character sheets. I get the impression that in order for them to fix all the things, that they will have to do more like that, and that they really, really don’t want to. Too bad for them their only other option in some cases might be to leave those things broken. 🤷♂️
Additionally, they have a priority list of stuff based (I would guess) on how much complaining they hear about those things. Fixing Favored Enemy was very high on that list. Other major priorities are rejiggering the Extras section so creatures like the Steel Defender actually work properly, Implementing the Life Domain Cleric’s Desciple of Life feature, adding Actions to items, implementing full ”Options” for Feats, implementing containers in the Equipment section.... (It’s a long list.)
Does all of that make things any clearer?
In addition, if you’re really as good as all of that, I think I remember they may be hiring: https://www.fandom.com/careers, but I don’t know what all for.
I would love to see some kind of a roadmap on when an item like this can find its place. Based on this thread alone you've been championing it for 2 years. I agree that this should defo should be done. It just makes the ease of use in magic items so much simpler. Along with conditions + custom conditions (Which can also be provided through actions used on homebrew items etc.)
Roadmaps are mainly nice as a communication tool if they are being held to, and if something goes wrong that it gets talked about with the community. Along with giving the community some space to actively vote/point out what they would prefer to see from the website.
Adding in actions, custom actions etc on items realistically shouldn't be a troubling difficulty to do. Assuming that the code work behind the scene has been built up in a logical way towards extensibility. If it's a very rigid system, I can understand that it's a hard time to do so.
At this point, the other major concern for them is that whatever they add or fix, they are trying desperately to make sure that however they do it the process won’t break anyone’s character sheets. They recently had to bite the bullet and implemented a fix for Rangers’ Favored Enemy feature that did in fact make some preexisting characters malfunction, and then they made the biggest announcement they could about the situation with detailed instructions for folks on how to fix their character sheets. I get the impression that in order for them to fix all the things, that they will have to do more like that, and that they really, really don’t want to. Too bad for them their only other option in some cases might be to leave those things broken. 🤷♂️
To this I can easily disagree. If they want to take the time to provide fixes to the basis of the system while not breaking existing characters. There is a simple solution, provide a secondary version that includes (nearly) all the same features with the 'fixed' version. It wouldn't be hard to do. Just some consideration on the UI side on how you tell the users this (especially while in development) However, these are both things we have seen them be able to do with for example the encounter builder AND the combat tracker.
I’m pretty sure part of the problem is that since they didn’t add Actions to Magic Items originally, they added Short/Long Rest to the Charge refresh section which is technically inaccurate. Part of what they have to do is figure out how to transfer some stuff from Charges with inaccurate refreshes and convert everything over without it causing people’s Character Sheets to break.
Not quite, but it is complex and it's also about priorities.
I've been championing the need to add the action system to magic items for quite some time - we also need the equipment system to be improved. It's a good chunk of work, but it's something we definitely need to get around to.
Thank you for providing us with some insight. We all understand that there are tons and tons of features. However, as a end user, we are not really seeing a lot of features being added at all. I also understand that you all have a priorities list. There are tons of back end stuff that you all are constantly working on that, unfortunately, makes it seem like nothing for the end user is changing. We are now constantly hearing priorities priorities priorities. But are not really seeing any added needed features coming to light.
I see this, for instance, with how you all are going about implementing say folders on our character page. You all are envisioning something completely different for how "best" to create something "better". A lot of people are saying that we want to sort our NPCs from our characters. Instead of giving us folders on that page, apparently, a new complete system is being created, who knows when it will be released, to have a "different' potentially 'better' option for creating NPC. While that sounds super nice and lovely, And, I am actually all for this, but unfortunately, this leaves us with nothing to use until then. But due to "priorities", things are not even being attempted. We can't even get a starting of a bridge.
Another example, we don't have an area for a DM to even really PROPERLY provide notes/images under a campaign that players can read. A session log. nothing. We do have a text box to put notes in. But, it isn't really functional to add session notes or images to. Handouts. etc. But again, you all have a much larger vision, which again, is great. But, it leaves us with a bad taste in our mouths sucking on a dry bone with no good bits left on it.
I just tried to create an item and really needed to add an action to it. But alas, I am unable to do so. We have been hearing that the hombrew feature needs an overhaul. This would be part of that. Yet, every time it is brought up in the dev updates, weekly watcher here, it is said that the homebrew system is something that you all would like to get to. That it will be lots of work. But, priorities. Which then sounds like work on that is only in the distant future. And at this point, the distant future is years away, if started now. Yet, somethings are not even started.
Don't get me wrong. I am hooked on DDB. I use it multiple times a week. I have now stopped buying physical books and get them all on here. It is a super great product! I love it. Keep up the work please. These are just the ramblings of a user in hopes that these words might mean something. This specific request was originally posted over two years ago. We still don't have this functionality in any capacity. And the word in the updates is, yeah, something we would like to get to. That the homebrew system is something we would like to handle at some point. Just not right now.
Thanks for reading. And sincerely, thanks for DDB. But please add some feature that we can really use sooner rather than later.
Every time we implement magic items from a new sourcebook, and we aren't able to make them fully functional, I ask about this and when we can get around to it. 😉
That said, there are lots of cool things that the dev teams are working on that are going to be awesome.
I was hoping to find this implemented :C
weren't we all…
oh well, i think it's time for me to give up and unsubscribe from this thread. i haven't used d&d beyond since the pandemic anyway
And here I really hoped digital dice set #87 would bring you back :(
It's 2021 now. Still looking forward to this feature.
The sweet embrace of the dices.
Yeah, this would be great...
I’m pretty sure part of the problem is that since they didn’t add Actions to Magic Items originally, they added Short/Long Rest to the Charge refresh section which is technically inaccurate. Part of what they have to do is figure out how to transfer some stuff from Charges with inaccurate refreshes and convert everything over without it causing people’s Character Sheets to break.
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Epic Boons on DDB
Not quite, but it is complex and it's also about priorities.
I've been championing the need to add the action system to magic items for quite some time - we also need the equipment system to be improved. It's a good chunk of work, but it's something we definitely need to get around to.
Pun-loving nerd | She/Her/Hers | Profile art by Becca Golins
If you need help with homebrew, please post on the homebrew forums, where multiple staff and moderators can read your post and help you!
"We got this, no problem! I'll take the twenty on the left - you guys handle the one on the right!"🔊
While you at it, please don't forget adding the full Options system to feats. Many thanks, a stressed homebrewer.
They have to do that at this point just to make the Eldritch Adept feat work correctly.
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Epic Boons on DDB
So DDB is an amazing site, but the development speed of new features is really not good. Sorry to say, I think more could be done. I as a developer with no experience of the system could probable implement this feature over a time span of 1-2 months, where most of the time would be spent on learning the systems and testing the solution. I know that's arrogant of me to say, but I can't help but wonder why things take this long on this site. I guess the real question, to be fair, is how long features take to develop once they have started development on them, and not when they've been included in planning.
Altrazin Aghanes - Wizard/Fighter
Varpulis Windhowl - Fighter
Skolson Demjon - Cleric/Fighter
The way the initial system was unfortunately designed, it turned out to be rather immutable, and it was on a Monolith to boot. It took them a little over a year to redesign the entire Character Sheet Framework, and then to untangle the Gordian Knot that had become of things as well. They had to redesign the Sheet Framework ust to make the darned Sheets capable of actually handling any of these changes they are doing, the old one was so rigid in its function that it literally could not have even coped with the next part. The next part was they had to very carefully untangle all of the content (all of the official content, as well as all of the Homebrew) off from the creation engine, and then move it off to a different server. (That’s why there is now a slight lag between updates to homebrew and those updates registering in the character sheet/builder.) And they did it all without crashing a anything more than a handful of homebrews, and as far as I know, without a single drop of rum. They had to do all of that before they could even begin to implement any of these changes, fixes, and additions that you see on the list. Before, everything was so smooshed together that if they had tried to do any of the stuff on their list it would have been somewhere between Nightmare-“Just no.”
At this point, the other major concern for them is that whatever they add or fix, they are trying desperately to make sure that however they do it the process won’t break anyone’s character sheets. They recently had to bite the bullet and implemented a fix for Rangers’ Favored Enemy feature that did in fact make some preexisting characters malfunction, and then they made the biggest announcement they could about the situation with detailed instructions for folks on how to fix their character sheets. I get the impression that in order for them to fix all the things, that they will have to do more like that, and that they really, really don’t want to. Too bad for them their only other option in some cases might be to leave those things broken. 🤷♂️
Additionally, they have a priority list of stuff based (I would guess) on how much complaining they hear about those things. Fixing Favored Enemy was very high on that list. Other major priorities are rejiggering the Extras section so creatures like the Steel Defender actually work properly, Implementing the Life Domain Cleric’s Desciple of Life feature, adding Actions to items, implementing full ”Options” for Feats, implementing containers in the Equipment section.... (It’s a long list.)
Does all of that make things any clearer?
In addition, if you’re really as good as all of that, I think I remember they may be hiring: https://www.fandom.com/careers, but I don’t know what all for.
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Epic Boons on DDB
I would love to see some kind of a roadmap on when an item like this can find its place. Based on this thread alone you've been championing it for 2 years.
I agree that this should defo should be done. It just makes the ease of use in magic items so much simpler.
Along with conditions + custom conditions (Which can also be provided through actions used on homebrew items etc.)
Roadmaps are mainly nice as a communication tool if they are being held to, and if something goes wrong that it gets talked about with the community. Along with giving the community some space to actively vote/point out what they would prefer to see from the website.
Adding in actions, custom actions etc on items realistically shouldn't be a troubling difficulty to do. Assuming that the code work behind the scene has been built up in a logical way towards extensibility. If it's a very rigid system, I can understand that it's a hard time to do so.
To this I can easily disagree. If they want to take the time to provide fixes to the basis of the system while not breaking existing characters. There is a simple solution, provide a secondary version that includes (nearly) all the same features with the 'fixed' version. It wouldn't be hard to do. Just some consideration on the UI side on how you tell the users this (especially while in development) However, these are both things we have seen them be able to do with for example the encounter builder AND the combat tracker.
Thank you for providing us with some insight. We all understand that there are tons and tons of features. However, as a end user, we are not really seeing a lot of features being added at all. I also understand that you all have a priorities list. There are tons of back end stuff that you all are constantly working on that, unfortunately, makes it seem like nothing for the end user is changing. We are now constantly hearing priorities priorities priorities. But are not really seeing any added needed features coming to light.
I see this, for instance, with how you all are going about implementing say folders on our character page. You all are envisioning something completely different for how "best" to create something "better". A lot of people are saying that we want to sort our NPCs from our characters. Instead of giving us folders on that page, apparently, a new complete system is being created, who knows when it will be released, to have a "different' potentially 'better' option for creating NPC. While that sounds super nice and lovely, And, I am actually all for this, but unfortunately, this leaves us with nothing to use until then. But due to "priorities", things are not even being attempted. We can't even get a starting of a bridge.
Another example, we don't have an area for a DM to even really PROPERLY provide notes/images under a campaign that players can read. A session log. nothing. We do have a text box to put notes in. But, it isn't really functional to add session notes or images to. Handouts. etc. But again, you all have a much larger vision, which again, is great. But, it leaves us with a bad taste in our mouths sucking on a dry bone with no good bits left on it.
I just tried to create an item and really needed to add an action to it. But alas, I am unable to do so. We have been hearing that the hombrew feature needs an overhaul. This would be part of that. Yet, every time it is brought up in the dev updates, weekly watcher here, it is said that the homebrew system is something that you all would like to get to. That it will be lots of work. But, priorities. Which then sounds like work on that is only in the distant future. And at this point, the distant future is years away, if started now. Yet, somethings are not even started.
Don't get me wrong. I am hooked on DDB. I use it multiple times a week. I have now stopped buying physical books and get them all on here. It is a super great product! I love it. Keep up the work please. These are just the ramblings of a user in hopes that these words might mean something. This specific request was originally posted over two years ago. We still don't have this functionality in any capacity. And the word in the updates is, yeah, something we would like to get to. That the homebrew system is something we would like to handle at some point. Just not right now.
Thanks for reading. And sincerely, thanks for DDB. But please add some feature that we can really use sooner rather than later.
Any update on when this is planning to be implemented?
No, they never update until they can tell us it’s working. 10:1, you’ll know it’s working before they make the update.
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Epic Boons on DDB
Is this still planned?
Yes.
Every time we implement magic items from a new sourcebook, and we aren't able to make them fully functional, I ask about this and when we can get around to it. 😉
That said, there are lots of cool things that the dev teams are working on that are going to be awesome.
Pun-loving nerd | She/Her/Hers | Profile art by Becca Golins
If you need help with homebrew, please post on the homebrew forums, where multiple staff and moderators can read your post and help you!
"We got this, no problem! I'll take the twenty on the left - you guys handle the one on the right!"🔊
Great! I'm really looking forward to this
I just wish we'd get a clear idea of when this is comming. Instead of putting out dice set cash grabs...