The monthly update for the Character Builder and Compendium is coming on April 28. Here’s a summary of the new data and features for these applications.

Data Update

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

• Books

• Arcane Power

• Online Magazines

• Dragon Issue 373
• Dungeon Issue 164

• Adventure

• E1 Death’s Reach

• Miniatures

• Player’s Handbook Heroes: Series 1

Character Builder – New Features

• Character Summary: the Summary export now provides calculated bonuses for skills.
• Character Summary: the Summary text can now be re-imported into the Character Builder, helping you exchange characters through forums – just copy from someone’s post, and Import from Clipboard on the Summary page.
• XML character sheet: this export now has a new section that is friendlier to third parties, since it does not need to reference the rules engine. This should help modders create their own display options by reading the XML output.
• Gear page: redesigned the Gear page and added the capability to sort by column.
• Character Sheet Viewer: you now have the option to print weapons as separate cards.
• Demo: the Demo version will be updated with all content up through Player’s Handbook 2. For those who haven’t yet subscribed, you will be able to create characters from levels 1 to 3 using all Classes from both Player’s Handbook and Player’s Handbook 2.

Compendium – New Features

• Glossary: added a new Glossary tab to the Compendium. The Glossary provides summary information on combat rules, conditions, weapons properties and type, Monsters and powers keywords, and much more.
• Browsers: if you open the Compendium in Internet Explorer 8, it will automatically run in IE7 compatibility mode.

Remember: you need an active D&D Insider subscription to update your Character Builder with the new data and features. Each account is limited to 5 updates. Every month, when a new data set is released, this limit will be reset.

Check the Character Builder FAQ for additional information.

About the Author

Didier Monin has settled in Seattle, and has been working for Wizards of the Coast for the past 12 years, first in France then in the USA. He has been a world traveler, has lived on a boat, and has been a D&D gamer since 1980 and favors Dungeon Mastering. He also plays as much online strategy and simulation computer games that he can. Above all, he is married and father of two super nice kids, who enjoy gaming too. He is currently the producer for the client applications parts of D&DI, and posts on the forums under WOTC_DM.