Mobile Companion 0.8.3 and Future Plans

Hello dear Patrons,

I'm pleased to share some updates about the recent release of Mobile-Companion version 0.8.3 and the future enhancements planned for the module.

Mobile-Companion 0.8.3 Now Available

Version 0.8.3 of Mobile-Companion has just launched out of early access and is now available. This release not only provides a version for our Copper Coin Collectors but also offers a feature-reduced version for free users. The update introduces the new spell tab for Pathfinder 2nd Edition, as seen in the video attached.

Reflecting on Our Journey and Planning Ahead

With this new release, I've hit the last milestone initially envisioned for Mobile-Companion. When I first embarked on developing Mobile-Companion, it was primarily a fusion of my passion for tabletop gaming and my curiosity to explore new technologies. Surprisingly, as primarily an enterprise backend developer, delving into JavaScript, TypeScript, and Svelte was quite a leap—challenging, but genuinely enjoyable.

As the Patreon community began to grow, the amount of positive feedback and support you’ve shown was something I hadn’t anticipated. Reaching over 100 members, nearly half being paying patrons, has been both surprising and incredibly motivating. Your enthusiasm has not only provided the support needed to continue this work, but also shaped the future direction of the module.

Charting the Path for Next Developments

When I started this project, my initial vision for Mobile-Companion was to only cover the nitty-gritty-micro-managy aspecs of the game such as inventory and spell management. However, the enthusiastic feedback and suggestions from many of you have clearly indicated a desire for broader functionality. This inspired me to not merely stop at what was originally planned but to significantly expand the capabilities of Mobile-Companion.

Beginning a Second Development Phase:

First, I am planning a major overhaul of the module’s core, which is crucial to support the upcoming features — I'll share more details below. Following this foundational work, the next step will involve updating the app to be compatible with D&D 5e version 4.x.x. But the updates don't stop there; responding to your most frequent requests, I'm excited to announce future plans to implement complete character sheets, starting with character stats for D&D 5e. I plan to roll out these enhancements gradually, ensuring each new feature is polished and effective.

Core Changes and Strategic Segmentation

In the next major update, a significant shift will be the strategic separation of Mobile Companion into individual versions, specifically tailored to each gaming system: D&D 5e, A5e, and Pathfinder 2e. This change is designed to better support system-specific updates and user preferences.

To illustrate why this separation is crucial, consider the following scenario. Suppose you are using Mobile-Companion for both D&D and Pathfinder. Let's say D&D releases a major update, upgrading from version 3.x.x to 4.x.x, but you prefer to continue using the older version of D&D due to familiarity or content compatibility. At the same time, Pathfinder might release a new update, which you wish to adopt.

Currently, when I update Mobile Companion to accommodate these new versions, you could face a dilemma. If you update the app to take advantage of the new Pathfinder features, you'll lose compatibility with the older D&D version you preferred. Conversely, if you don’t update to maintain compatibility with D&D’s older version, you will miss out on the latest enhancements for Pathfinder.

To resolve this, by creating separate dedicated apps for each system — Mobile-Companion D&D5e, Mobile Companion A5e, and Mobile Companion PF2e — you can choose to update only the relevant ones as per your needs. This approach provides flexibility and ensures that you can stay up-to-date with your preferred systems without compromising others.

Looking Forward

This evolution of Mobile-Companion is only possible because of your continued support. As we move forward, your feedback remains crucial; your ideas guide each step of development. Please keep sharing your thoughts and suggestions.

Thank you once again for being such a vital part of this journey. Here’s to more adventures together with Mobile-Companion!

Best Regards,

Syrious