Deck Building Utilities (Update April 2008)

New versions of the "Anarch Revolt Deck Builder" (ARDB) and the web-based "Secrect Library" have been published in late April 2008. The "ARDB" has added card images for all versions from different VtES expansions, and you can now see the whole software project on "Google Code".The "Secrect Library" has undergone a couple of changes and introduced a number of new features, like a discussion forum or the ability to export decks into additional formats. Here's an update of the basic information.

Anarch Revolt Deck Builder ("ARDB")
Current Version: 2.7.1
Author(s): Graham Smith (current project lead) / Francois Gombault (initial creator)
Description: Layered Filters, multiple export functionality and a tidy interface are the top features of this program, somewhat newer than the FELDB it had a fresh start and gained soon popularity in the VtES community.
Advantages/Disadvantages:

• Card List & Inventory
• complete card list with card texts
• almost complete collection of pictures of actual cards, but not always the latest version of the cards. The card images are only working on Windows.
• great search & filter use, multiple, layered filters
• card inventory can be kept
• Deck Building
• offers the basic functionality of deck builder
• includes some statistical information about the decks as well as card drawing simulation
• ability to store decks in XML format (*.xml), as text (*.txt), HTML file (*.html) or for use with JOL (*.jol) or for posting to internet forums (*.phbBB).
• gives some advice on deck building based on the "Happy Families" theory
• Other Functionality
• can update card database from White Wolf website
• little utility for creating proxy cards

URLs:

• ARDB v2.7.1 for Windows
• ARDB v2.7 for openSUSE
• ARDB v2.6 for Fedora
• VtES Card Images

Cost: free software
OS Platforms: Windows, OpenSuSe, Fedora, Ubuntu, Mac OS X 10.3+(?)
Expansion Updates: about 2 to 4 weeks after an expansion has been released.
Expansions: all VtES expansions.
Latest Posting: 29/Apr/2008

Secret Library
Current Version: 0.7.7
Author(s): Jussi Hattara
Description: A finnish website with similar filter & search functionality as "V:EKN Nu" and "VtES Monger". Nice, fresh web design and the ability to keep one's inventory as well as deck building utility. Definitively the best web-based site. The only "drawback" you need a (free) account to use the deck building and inventory functionality.
Advantages/Disadvantages:

• Complete Card List & Inventory
• elaborate filtering/search functionality, but no layered filters
• card inventory can be kept
• Deck Building
• offers the basic functionality of deck builder
• includes some statistical information about the decks as well as card drawing simulation
• ability to store decks in text format (*.text), HTML file (*.html), ELDB (*.eldb), or for use with JOL (*.jol) or WebTES (*.wtes), or for posting to internet forums (*.phbBB) or the local forum.
• easy way to publish share deck lists
• only limited statistical information
• Other Functionality
• discussion forum
• large deck database; imported from Lasombra's TWD archive

Cost: free service
URL: http://www.secretlibrary.info/
OS Platforms: Does not apply; utility is based on using a web browser (see URL above).
Expansion Updates: ??
Expansions: all VtES expansions.
Latest Posting: 30/Apr/2008
Latest Changes: Change Log