Hello,
We are proud to announce our first contribution to inkscape : Live Path Effects for groups.
You can already test it from svn trunk.

In a word, you can now add a LPE to a group of paths.
For most LPE, the effect is applied recursively (try sketch, curve stitching or gears) but for Bend Path the result is more powerful : the distortion applies on the whole group.

You can edit original path of the group by double-clicking on the group (as usual).
A path with a LPE can be part of a group with a LPE, this is a sort of of "LPE stacking".
You can make groups of groups, it will work (There is one known bug when using bend path, we will fix it very soon).
You can apply definitively the effect with "Convert Object to path"
We will soon make that when ungrouping, the effect is copied to each item in the group

I will update the ReleaseNotes as soon as possible.

We are currently working on LPE stacking (a simple UI is done, the engine is in a good way) and on an envelope deformation effect (it uses LPE PointParams for control points).

Bye
Steren for the "PI:Inkscape" team of Ecole Centrale de Lyon.