Still learning the software, it is comprehensive.

It comes with a set of tutorials, which teach you the basics of the program. There is a good online FAQ at: http://pub19.bravenet.com/faq/show.php?catid=2776&usernum=1607948311 Just messing around with the program, after running the tutorials a couple of times, is really helpful.

You can add your PCs and Monsters to the software. We're actually running a Gestalt game at the moment, so I've been using the class editor (copy the more complex class, and then edit in the features of the other class) to create Gestalt versions of what my players are using. Monsters can be made as PCs (Villains) but anything in the SRD is included with DM Genie, and you can input your own things too.

Groups is the method of organizing. Each encounter, is a group, which I've added the monsters to. So I can navigate to that group (drop down menu), and then add the PC Party to the mix, and start a battle. You can automate most of it, probably everything... but you can also have player input, where they give you their D20 roll and the system calculates the bonuses for whatever, say initiative. Alternatively, they can give you their modified roll and you can input that instead.

I'm leaning towards the players giving me their D20 roll, having the DM Genie do all of the rolls from my end, and then having it track all the appropriate modifiers.

If your character is encumbered, it will auto adjust everything that extra weight affects. You can add Conditions quite easily... just check boxes, basically... and it adds everything in for you. So, we can go 'Invisible', 'Medium Load', and 'Fatigued' and it add everything up correctly.

I'm still figuring out the software, but it is definitely much faster in play. And prep time is cut down too, as anything that appears in the books (SRD, anyway) can be added with a few clicks.

There are a few Yahoo Groups, with shared content (two of the three I found, have approved my membership... still waiting on the 3rd, which is likely inactive). The files are zipped, with a password that is typically along these lines: 'Four word in column two on page 39', which basically proves you own the book. Quite a few of the non-SRD books have had their details entered into a given users DM Genie, and then exported. You can import what others have exported, as well as exporting your own material.

If I could give it more than five stars, I would. Definitely worth the $25 license; plus you can try it free for a couple of months first.

Well so far I am having trouble with my registration. The code that was given too me will not work. I sent an e-mail to try too fix the problem. On a positive note, I have use the evaluation version an I was very pleased with the program.

This is one of the greatest additions to D&D that I have ever seen. I have barely even started working with it and I am thrilled with exploring all it can do. It saves so much time on organizing a game. You can quickly roll up characters, encounters and treasure without having to flip through all the books or reference pages. The best part to me is how it is customizable. I can add my own monsters, magic items, classes, feats or whatever else, from other supplement source books or of my own invention. They will be added to the character options or in the case of treasure they will be added to the random list. I don't need to flip through books looking up their info, it is all right there. No need to make up new random charts for treasure generation when I want to add new items to the mix. It can pretty much do everything. I will probably continue to roll the physical dice myself because it is such a classic part of the game to me. However I can just leave all my books and dice at home and just take my laptop with DM Genie and run the whole campaign.

Very nice product. I switched to ADnD 3.5 edition and wanted some sort of tool to help with campaign management since wotc isn't going to provide one. I think that, properly used, the computer is an excellent addition to an RPG for management purposes.<br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: Ease of use and completeness. Product was pretty intuitive (to me). And it had everything i could think of. Did exactly what i wanted.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: Cant say i had any dislikes.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>

This is one of the easiest to use software programs I'm found on the market. Makes NPC creation a breeze. Very easy to add custom data for new races, items, and such. I have some issues with the math occassionally being off, however. And some of the spacing when you print the star blocks looks odd.<br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: Easy to use. Easy to add customized data.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: Math doesn't always work out correctly. <br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>

The DMgenie looks like a great peice of software. It is very flexible - all the stats can be changed to suit the DM. All the monsters from the SRD (the Monstrous Manual) are included in the program. You can modify monsters by increasing their HD, giving them class levels or changing their ability scores and more. With the DMgenie you can run the entire game in the program. It even rolls up random treasure for you and the treasure tables can be modified to roll up more or less of a certain type of treasure.

<br><br><b>LIKED</b>: It is very flexible<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: Every monster I generated with this program had errors in its stats. I purchased this program to double check my numbers as a d20 writer. The number of bugs makes the product virtually unusable. I have reported the bugs to the program designers and hope for a patch of some kind in the future.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Disappointing<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Disappointed<br><BR>[THIS REVIEW WAS EDITED]<BR>

You can't go wrong with DM Genie, and here's why: You can download the full version and try it out for 60 days. After 5 days, I was hooked and purchased the full version. The program has an intuitive, easy-to-learn interface; I had figured it out after creating a few characters and running a few test combats. Adding new classes, races, etc, is a breeze ... for example, when creating a new class, the interface asks just a few questions, and your BAB and Saves are set (so you don't have to enter the BAB for each level). The PC Levelling Wizard makes adding levels to your PC/NPC/Monster a cinch. Adding a template is also easy. There is even a Campaign Manager, which you can use to keep track of dungeons/adventures (although you'll have to find your own mapping program). The best part of the program, though, is the combat tracker ... it keeps track of every creature involved--initiative, spells, conditions, saves--everything! It cut combat time almost in half. AFter double-checking all the rolls for several combats, I didn't discover any bugs. In fact, on the rare occasions something didn't look right, it was because I didn't enter the right value. If you want a full-scale campaign manager or a flashy character generator, this is not the program. DM Genie has its own niche: a handy combat manager with excellent character, NPC, monster, and adventure tracking. Try this program out--it's free!!! And you'll probably end up buying it too.<br><br><b>LIKED</b>: Great aid to a DM who gets distracted! <br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: Nothing! <br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>

I've yet to find another program as flexible as DM Genie. The learning curve for the program's features can be a bit daunting, but you can learn enough about the program just in fooling around with it for a few hours to make it worthwhile. Great support really puts the program over the top.<br><br><b>LIKED</b>: Flexibility, support<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: Scripting for new feats is beyond most users<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Excellent<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>

It was OK when I first got it, but eventually I realized I didn't need something so complex. It's a great utility though, and if you have the time to really learn it, I'm sure you'll get great use out of it.<br><br><b>LIKED</b>: It was very thorough.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: It was too complex.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>

Don't waste your money on Campaign Suite...get DM Genie instead!!

This has made my life as a DM 100% easier! Sure there is some data entry when preparing a new adventure for your campaign...but there's always preparation needed anyway, right?

The conveniences! Like the Time Keeper! It tracks the duration of light sources, spells, curses (I've a year long curse on a PC that it's tracking), the passages of days, inserts the weather, whatever time condition you need, it can do, all with popup reminders.

The Campaign Tracker! Instantly access your campaign notes, Instantly award XP to the players, instantly generate and assign random treasure!

And combat tracking is easier and faster! Tracks combat conditions and instantly updates the stats according. You can even set expiration rounds for conditions. And it automatically blacks out creatures that are dead or dying...and makes notes on their conditions for you!

And no more delaying the game by flipping through rule books...DM Genie offers instant references of spells, monsters, game rules! How can you beat that?!?

You can instantly insert a monster into an encounter...and NPCs, too (but those you have to have had entered into the Genie prior to the session).

Easy to learn to use, provided you have some basic familiarity with computers, quick to master!

And I run my Genie on an old laptop that's still using Windows 95!!!

Even if you're broke, the DM Genie is well worth spending the $30.00

<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Excellent<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>

This is an excellent product for managing and running your campaigns. I like it so much, I use it for my d20 modern, d20 Future, and two different DnD campaigns. It is too in-depth to use on a one-time basis; you really have to commit to it. However, it is easy to input info, customize the info that comes with the program, and bring it up on the fly, that any ongoing campaign could profit from its use.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>

Great utility! Keeps everything at your fingertips. Lose the binders, books, and screens and get on with your adventure. I highly reccommend DM Genie.

This is a great product.

Want to make a dozen fully detailed NPCs? You can with DM Genie and in a fraction of the TIME!

Need to keep track of movement and weather? DM Genie does it with style!

If you don't have a laptop computer this is still a great product for creating NPCs, encounters, generating treasure, and a lot more.

The learning curve is very gentle on this product and it has made combat flow SO much better in my game sessions!

I love it...it is almost a reason to go out and by a laptop computer all by itself!

Excellent software, especially for laptop GMs. Very good for encounter planning and modifying. Easy to add/change skills, feats, classes, monsters, etc. Good product support. There is a learning curve, and as a non-computer person I had some initial trouble with the documentation, but after working with the program am very pleased with the purchase.

Stunning. The best such product ever made. Nothing else like it in the world.