Starting an encounter is only possible when at least one Party member (Character) has been selected to take part in the Encounter. Add some monsters or select a prepared encounter as well, before your start the encounter.

The monsters you have selected for the encounter are not visible in the Player's Window until the encounter is running (i.e. after you press the start button).

Ensure that you explicitly hide monsters that should not be initially visible to the player's when the encounter starts.

4eTurnTracker will roll initiative for all creatures when the encounter starts. The results are shown in the Initiative Dialog. The values in the input boxes are the result of the initiative dice (1d20) plus the initiative bonus of the creature.

The DM can either accept the result rolled by the program, or enter the result of a manual dice roll in the input boxes (of course, it is most likely that players will want to roll initiative themselves).

4eTurnTracker groups Monsters together for the purpose of initiative. This is in accordance with the rules, and is done to simplify combat management. However, you can elect to roll separate initiative for all monsters, or just for certain groups of monsters.

To roll initiative for all monsters in a specific group, click the arrow next to the name of the group (see the "Orcus Berserker" group in the screenshot below). Here it is also possible to accept the result rolled by the program, or roll the dice yourself (remember to add the initiative bonus to the value you enter).

If you always want to roll separate initiative for all monsters, then click the checkbox "Roll initiative for all monster in a group".

This situation is handled automatically by 4eTurnTracker in accordance with the rules. Creatures with the higher initiative modifier come first. If this value is also identical then the program will pick a winner at random.

When you end the an encounter, all monster will be removed from the Initiative List.

All effects accept those with the end condition "End Special" are removed. Characters that are dying are automatically stabilized.

Use these arrows to move forward and back one step in the Encounter History. You can also click on an item in the Encounter History List (see screenshot below) to move back or forward to a certain point in time.

Warning! If you move back in the History and then execute some action, the history previously beyond that point will be lost.

The Encounter History serves the following purposes:

• Provides a way to undo actions that the DM entered incorrectly.
• Allows you to look back at an earlier point in the combat, if some part of the action is unclear.
• Used to restore the encounter state after restarting the program.

You should periodically clear the Encounter History (use Clear History in the History menu) to prevent it from getting too long. The longer the history becomes the more time required to load the history on program startup.

The best time to clear the Encounter History is at the start of a gaming session, after an Extended Rest.

Note: Clearing the Encounter History resets all values to the default, so it is equivalent to an Extended Rest for all creatures.

4eTurnTracker will automatically make a backup of your old Encounter History in the '4eTurnTracker Data/History' folder, so that you can manually restore the History if necessary.

Advance to the next creature's turn. This will perform "end of turn" actions for the current creature, and "start of turn" actions for the next creature.

If necessary, 4eTurnTracker will present a dialog with a list of saving throws that need to be done at the end of the current creature's turn. The value after d20 is the value rolled automatically by the program (see screenshot below).

If the automatic roll value is 10 or more, then 4eTurnTracker sets the checkbox to "checked", which indicates that the saving throw succeeded.

The dialog will remind the DM of any known adjustments to saving throws, but does not adjust the automatically rolled values.

If you wish to use the automatic roll, then adjust the value after d20 by any saving throw modifiers that apply. Check the checkbox if the total is greater or equal to 10 (i.e. the saving throw succeeded).

If the DM or Player rolls the saving throw, then make the adjustments as usual and check the checkbox, if the saving throw succeeded.

Click this button if a creature chooses to delay it's turn. At this point the program performs "end of turn" actions for any beneficial effects.

The creature can then "jump in" at any time after this point, but initiative order will be permanently changed to the new position.

Note that if a creature does not jump in before it's turn comes around again, the turn is effectively lost.

Use this button if a creature readies an action to be performed before the start of it's next turn.

4eTurnTracker will immediately perform "end of turn" actions for the current creature, and move to the next creatures turn. For this reason you should only click Ready Action, when all other actions of the creatures turn have been completed.

Note: If a creature does not use a readied action (by "jumping in") before it's next turn, the readied action is lost.

Use this button to complete a delayed turn or perform a readied action. If more than one creature has delayed or readied, a dialog allows the DM to choose which creature will jump in.

When a creature that has delayed it's turn jumps in, it is placed in the initiative order after the current creature. This also ends the current creatures turn.

It is likely that the players will indicate that they wish to jump in a bit too late, namely: just after the DM has advanced the turn marker. For example, they will say: "But I wanted to jump in before the Big Booger!". In this case, just hit back on the History, and then use the Jump In button.

All this does is place the creature in the initiative order before the current creature. Any effects (damage, etc.) due to the readied action should be entered at this point.

However, in doing this, you may need to manually set the "Attacker/Origin" in the Programmable Powers (or Conditions & Effects) Dialog, because the attacker or origin of the effect is not the current creature!

If the creature uses a power as the readied action then clicking on the power in the creatures Stat Block will automatically set that creature as the Attacker/Origin of the effects.

Use these buttons to move a selected group of creatures up or down in the Initiative List. Currently the rolled initiative value is not adjusted with the new position. This may be changed in future versions of the program.

Be careful when you move the current creature, because it may result in some creatures loosing their turn and others gaining an extra turn in the round.

Click this button to enter the Conditions and Effects Dialog. You can choose between the "Programmable Power" and the "Classic C&E" version of this dialog using the bottom in the dialog's title.

The "Classic C&E" version of the dialog is for DM's that prefer to use the pre-2.0 version of the dialog.

However, the "Programmable Power" version of the dialog, new in 4eTurnTracker 2.0, is superior in every way, and can be used both for programming creature powers on the fly, and for adding ad-hoc condition and effects.

This button is used to hide selected creatures so that it is not shown in the Player's Window.

Hidden creatures continue to take part in the encounter, and can act as usual on its turn as the DM decides. When a hidden creature has its turn, the Player's Display shows the current creature to be the next visible creature, so that players are not aware of hidden creatures if they do not perform any noticeable action.

Here are some reasons for hiding a creature:

• Some Monsters may join an encounter at a later stage but theinitiative order of these creatures is determined at the start of the encounter. In this case, the DM should hide these creatures before the encounter begins.
• If a Monster becomes hidden from the Characters during combat (usually due to a successful Sneak attempt).
  

Use this button to set an "alias" name for one or more selected creatures. Use an alias if your do not want to reveal the real name of a creature to the players. Make sure that you enter alias names before you start the encounter to ensure that players do not see the actual name on the Player's Display, when combat starts.

When an alias has been set, you can remove or change the alias in the header of the creatures Stat Block.

Click on the alias to remove or change the alias. Click the checkbox next to the alias name in order to enable or disable the alias. Note that if you disable the alias, then the real name of the creature is visible to the players.

Click this button to remove the selected creatures from the encounter. The most common use of this button is to remove Monsters from the encounter that have died.

However, this is not required. Dead creatures are automatically skipped on Next Turn. They are also not listed in the Initiative List in the Player's Window (instead they appear on the player's "Kill List").

Used this button to apply damage to the selected Creatures. The amount of damage is determined by the value in the HP Box to the left of this button. The source of the damage is always the current creature.

This button provides a quick alternative to the Conditions and Effects Dialog for applying damage.

Note: There are a number of short-cuts for entering the amount of damage in the HP Box:

• Use the TAB key to change keyboard focus from the Initiative List to the HP Box.
• When selecting the creatures, click (left or right-click) in the Health column (containing the HP progress bar). In this case the HP Box is selected and you can enter a value immediately.
  

Heal the selected creatures by the amount indicated in the HP Box. If "Spend Healing Surge" has been selected (see below) then this amount will be added to the creatures Healing Surge value.

Use this button to indicate whether a Healing Surge should be used, when clicking on the "Apply Healing" button. When activated the button displays a small "x 1" in the top corner.

In this case, the creature will spend a Healing Surge when you click Apply Healing. The amount of Hit Points restored is then the creature's Surge Value plus the amount in the HP Box.

This button is only enabled if a single creature is selected, and the creature has a Healing Surge available.

Set the Temporary HP value of the selected creatures to the value in the HP Box. If a creature already has Temporary HP greater than the value in the input box, then the Temporary HP value of the creature will not be changed.

Use this button to select the members of the Party. The Pick the Dialog lists all Characters available:

At least one part party member must be selected before an Encounter can begin. Check the checkboxes of the Characters that you want in the party.

When an Encounter is in progress you can only add party members. In this case, the checkboxes of the party members already in the encounter are disabled.

Party members are created using the Character Creator Window (see below). Note: 4eTurnTracker 2.0 allows you to add a Monster as a party member.

Select an Encounter from the list of prepared Encounters. Encounters can be setup in the Monster Manager Window.

There are two ways of reducing the number of items listed. In the input box at the top of the dialog you can filter by some text that appears in the Encounter name. The popup below allows you to select the adventure in which the Encounter occurs.

Use the "Set Hidden" button to add a creatures in the Encounter as hidden (i.e. not visible in the Player's Window).

If an Encounter has already been set then buttons are provided to add the monsters of the new Encounter, or replace the set Encounter with the new Encounter. If the set Encounter is already running, then replacing the Encounter is not possible.

In all cases, new monster can be added hidden.

Note: If you add Monsters from a previous encounter, then the Monsters remain, damaged, dead, etc. In this case, 4eTurnTracker will ask you if you want to "reset" the monsters in the Encounter.

If an Encounter is running, you can only add the monsters of a selected Encounter to the Monsters in the current encounter.

The monsters will be placed in the initiative order after the current creature. The initiative roll for added creatures only serves to determine the initiative order within the groups of the new Monsters.

If necessary you can use the Up/Down Initiative buttons to adjust the position of the added Monsters in the Initiative List.

Use this button to spontaneously add a Monster to the Encounter. This can be done before or while an Encounter is running.

You can reduce the number of Monsters listed by entering a filter text in the top-most input box. Use the "Add Hidden" button to add the Monster as hidden (i.e. not visible in the Player's Window).

All Monsters you add to an Encounter must have a unique name, also know as the Monster ID. You can also specify an alias for the Monster you are adding. In this case, if the Monster is visible, the players will not know the real name of the Monster.

The Add Monster dialog is not suitable for creating Encounters on the fly by adding all the Monsters required to the Initiative List. Instead, use the Monster Manager Window to prepare an Encounter, and then use the Load Encounter button.

After an Encounter all members of the Party can take short rest. Clicking this button brings up the Short Test Dialog.

In this dialog you indicate how many Healing Surges are to be used by each Character. Bonus Hit Points (for example from the Cleric's "Healing Word") can be added to the total Hit Points granted by Healing Surges.

If the Characters have reached a Milestone (every second Encounter), then check the checkbox "Grant Action Point". This will add an Action Point to each Characters Action Point total.

The Extended Rest button sets all statistics tracked for the Characters to initial values.

An Extended Rest does not affect the Monsters that took part in an Encounter. If a Character is suffering from a disease or something else that prevents complete restoration after an Extended Rest, then the Hit Points, Healing Surges, etc. must be removed again after the Extended Rest.

Effects that have the end condition "End Special" are not removed by an Extended Rest. Such effects can only be removed manually by the DM by clicking on the trash can in the Conditions and Effects list of the creature.

This button will show and hide the Player's Window.

The Player's Window should be positioned on a second monitor for the players. It shows the initiative order of the Characters and all Monsters that are not hidden.

The exact Hit Point level can be seen of all Characters. For Monster's the Hit Point level shows 3 states: the Monster has not been hit (100%), the Monster has been hit at least once (less the 100%), the Monster is Bloodied (50% or less). When dead, Monsters and Characters are removed from the list.

Click on this button to open the Monster Manager Window.

The Monster Manager Window is used to import Monsters and create Encounters. The list on the left contains all Monsters that have been imported. The list on the right contains the Encounters.

Monster can be imported either by copying a Monster Stat Block from a PDF or Web-page, or by importing a .monster file.

To import by copying a Monster Stat Block, select the entire text of the Stat Block in the PDF file, or Web-page (for example from the online D&D Compendium). Then click on the button "New & Paste".

You can export .monster files from the online D&D Adventure Tools. Save all the .monster files you want to import to a specific folder on your harddrive (for example: Documents/Monsters).

Then click on the Import tab in the Monster Manager window, click "Select Directory..." and navigate to the folder containing the Monsters. Now all you need to do is select the .monster files you wish to import, and click "Import Selection".

If you change the monster in the D&D Adventure Tools, then export the .monster file again. 4eTurnTracker will recognize that the file has changed and mark it with a star in the top right-hand corner: . Click on the file and import again to receive the changes.

Create an Encounter by clicking on the "New Encounter" button. Enter the name of the encounter and select the Adventure or enter the name of the Adventure, if it is new. You can add a description of the Encounter if you like.

Add monster to the Encounter by selecting a Monster on the list on the left-hand side, and pressing the button with the right arrow (next the the "Delete" button). Monster added to an Encounter will automatically be given an "ID", according to the number schema you have selected. You can change the monster IDs as you like.

You can also give the monster an Alias name, which will be used when you run the Encounter. Use an alias to hide the name of the monster from players. The alias can be changed or removed later during combat.

Once you have finished making changes, use the button "Save All" to save all Monsters and Encounters that have changed to disk. You can also use "Revert All" to undo all changes.

Click this button to open the Character Creator Window.

The Character Creator Window is used to create and import party members. There are a number of ways to create new party member:

You can create a new Character by entering all the required Stats manually. Click on the "New" button to create a new Character and switch to the tab called "Edit Details".

The "Edit Details" tab includes the Stats that are most important for tracking the Character during combat, for example: Hit Points, Healing Surges, Actions Points and defense values.

Once you have entered this data the Character is ready to be used in an Encounter.

The most common way to create a Character is to import the data from a .dnd4e file. These files are created when you export a Character from the online D&D Character Builder.

On export, place the .dnd4e file in a location on your harddrive that can be updated later when your character data changes (for example when you level up).

Click on the "Add From File..." button and locate the .dnd4e file. The Character data will be imported and the Character name will appear in the list.

If you make changes to your character in the D&D Character Builder, then export the Character again. If you write the .dnd4e to the same location, then updating the data in 4eTurnTracker is simple. Just go to "Import Changes" tab and click the "Refresh" button, to import the changes.

If the location of the .dnd4e file has changed, use the "Select..." button to locate it.

A .monster file is created when you export Monster data from the online D&D Adventure Tools. Using the "Add From File..." button you can create a party member by importing the data from a .monster file.

In this case, it may make sense to switch to the "Edit Details" tab, and change the name of the Monster. Other details can also be changed which will not be overwritten if you re-import the Monster.

You can also create a party member by copying a Monster Stat Block from the D&D Compendium, or from a PDF file. First click the "New" button to create a new Character. Then switch to the "Stat Block Text" tab, and make sure that the "Stat block writable" checkbox is checked.

Now select all the text in the text area and paste the Stat Block data that you previously copied. The Monster name should immediately appear in the list.

You can now switch to the "Edit Details" tab, add a portrait and make any other changes you like.

If you select a Character and switch to the "Program Powers" tab, you can select a Character power and program the effects of the power. Clicking on a power in the Character Stat Block will also take you to the Program Powers tab.

A power that is "pre-programmed" in this matter can save you a lot of time during combat. It is possible to specify the effects the power has on Hit and Miss, and any additional "side-effects" the power has on creatures that are not targeted (i.e. not attacked).

You can also specify the number and types (Allies, Enemies, Self, etc.) of creatures targeted and effected. The program will then narrow down the list that have to choose from during an encounter.