July D&D Character Builder Update Brings the Psion

D&D

I barely use my D&D books for creating characters anymore. For better or worse, my group has moved to using the D&D Character Builder almost exclusively, creating, leveling, and maintaining characters digitally.This month’s update brings a bunch of new content to play and test out, not the least of which is the Psion class from the Player’s Handbook 3. Fans have been clamoring for a little bit of Psionics in their 4E since launch, and it looks like Wizards is ready to roll. The update is below, anyone else excited to see how they’re going to handle one of the more controversial bits of D&D?

Data Update

Data from the following published material is new to the D&D Character Builder and D&D Compendium this month:

  • Debut Content from Player’s Handbook 3
  • Psion Class
  • Books
  • Eberron Player’s Guide
  • Online Magazines
  • Dragon Issue 375 – includes Wilden and updated Hybrid rules
  • Dungeon Issue 166
  • Adventures
  • E2 Kingdom of the Ghouls

D&D Character Builder – New Enhancements

Character Sheet UI

  • Customize which weapons are displayed on power cards through a right-click menu.
  • Hide or duplicate power cards through a right-click menu. Restore hidden power cards through the option menu.
  • Power Cards now have bolded headers for better visibility.
  • Choose whether specific items will show up as power cards through the shopping UI.
  • Character sheet now displays default portrait for a new character. You can remove that portrait by right-clicking on the portrait in the character sheet.

Miscellaneous

  • Arrows, bolts, and bullets will now be properly added together when bought as a package.
  • Primary background info is now added to Character summary text.
  • Full bug and enhancement list will be delivered with release notes.

D&D Compendium – New Enhancements

  • Traps and Hazards have been added to the D&D Compendium.
  • Search Name: A check box allows you to search for a word only in each entry’s Name, instead of the whole text.
  • Search: Search strings that include noise words like “of” will now better handle those searches. For example, searching for Angel of Valor will now correctly return all records containing angel or valor.

2 comments

  1. Gary says:

    I’m excited about the new Psion class. I think the biggest potential problem will be using high-augmentation on a single power repeatedly, rather than being limited to a single use of any given encounter power. For instance, letting a Fighter use Rain of Blows twice in an encounter might be somewhat game breaking, but Psions can achieve that by simply spending two augmentation points on a given at-will twice in an encounter. We shall see — maybe I can get someone to run a delve this weekend so I can try it out.

    July 7th, 2009 at 4:27 pm

  2. Bartoneus says:

    @Gary: It’s actually not broken, because the highest level augments cost 6, so if a Psion uses their highest one twice they are down to 3-5 Power Points left, which limits them to 3 augmented powers per combat (which is less than the 4 encounter powers other classes have at epic levels).

    It is balanced, but it also allows the Psion more versatility in the ability to use a higher level power twice instead of just once like other classes.

    July 8th, 2009 at 7:49 am

Leave a reply