Character Generator [Archive] - Wizards Community

Character Generator [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Dorlon
04-17-07, 08:23 AM When is WOTC going to provide its minions with a real electronic character generator. Each month you release a new book with additional classes/spells/feats etc., but these have become so numerous now, as to become useless. There are too many to keep track of and difficult for every member of a party to have access to them. (surely you don't expect every member of a gaming party to own a copy of every book)

As a result of this rules bloat my group have restricted the game play to the core books only.

If you provided a usable character generator at the price of a new book, I'm sure you would sell heaps. Especially, if with each book you included an update package that could be imported into the program to cover the new classes/spells/feats etc.

To ensure you don't lose book sales, don't include descriptions of the feats/spells, just incorporate their effects.

Until there is a reliable, up-to-date generator created, I for one won't be buying anymore rule books. (yes I use heroforge but it can't keep up with the neverending stream of material from WOTC)
Ranger REG
04-18-07, 01:54 AM Well ... you could always MANUALLY input them. :smirk:
BrotherKane
04-18-07, 10:58 PM I'm not sure if WoTC actively read this forum, but actually your post does make me think that it'd be great if they attached a cd with each book sold.

It'd make a great quick rules reference to have a searchable pdf or database!
Ranger REG
04-19-07, 01:50 AM I'm not sure if WoTC actively read this forum, but actually your post does make me think that it'd be great if they attached a cd with each book sold.
I could take the cd and leave the book on the store shelves. :devil:
ChoKoth
04-25-07, 01:22 PM I think the expectation IS actually that everyone buys every book (or atleast that's their hope). I wouldn't hold my breath on an all inclusive character generator. We were promised one with the 3.0 release (anyone remember the character generator CD that came with the 3.0 players handbook?)

Then again, to call that program lack-luster would be an insult to good lack-luster programs everywhere. I think the best hope is online repositories (like www.myth-weavers.com), or other user created content repositories.

The problem with that is of course copy-right law which I'm sure we will find out prevents non-WOTC groups from releasing the product information since most of the stuff in the various splat books isn't OGL, and enough of the core system isn't OGL so as to make a really usable character manager difficult to produce.

You might check out Myth Weavers, that's where I keep online versions of all my characters, and it seems to be pretty complete.
crackbubba
05-18-07, 02:56 PM I think it's safe to assume they want you to buy as many books as possible, hence they wouldn't be making the game. They need to make money for the products they put out, and compiling them into 1 book would be worthless to them... unless it's priced at about $1000 or more. Plus the book would be a dictionary of sorts, size included. If you want to sort them by classes/races/prestige classes and such you would have an encyclopedia set. There is just too much info for 1 book. Granted some books could be combined (Complete mage and complete Arcana for starters) but they would still need to make up the money in other ways. I have over 30 DnD books (2nd and 3rd editions) and I still find more info each time I go into the gaming store that I would love to have. Sadly, to be a DnD maniac you have to have lots of money to spend. :weep:
trappedslider
05-18-07, 04:26 PM ALong with the new DI theres been discussion of an online character generator that you would pay for with online storeage
Ranger REG
05-18-07, 08:08 PM ALong with the new DI theres been discussion of an online character generator that you would pay for with online storeageSo, in addition to the book, you have to pay monthly to access their online generator tools.

Wise move on WotC's part ... except for ditching print magazines to go digital.
trappedslider
05-19-07, 04:30 PM So, in addition to the book, you have to pay monthly to access their online generator tools.

Wise move on WotC's part ... except for ditching print magazines to go digital.

*shrugs* i know......

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dorlon 04-17-07, 08:23 AM	When is WOTC going to provide its minions with a real electronic character generator. Each month you release a new book with additional classes/spells/feats etc., but these have become so numerous now, as to become useless. There are too many to keep track of and difficult for every member of a party to have access to them. (surely you don't expect every member of a gaming party to own a copy of every book) As a result of this rules bloat my group have restricted the game play to the core books only. If you provided a usable character generator at the price of a new book, I'm sure you would sell heaps. Especially, if with each book you included an update package that could be imported into the program to cover the new classes/spells/feats etc. To ensure you don't lose book sales, don't include descriptions of the feats/spells, just incorporate their effects. Until there is a reliable, up-to-date generator created, I for one won't be buying anymore rule books. (yes I use heroforge but it can't keep up with the neverending stream of material from WOTC)
Ranger REG 04-18-07, 01:54 AM	Well ... you could always MANUALLY input them. :smirk:
BrotherKane 04-18-07, 10:58 PM	I'm not sure if WoTC actively read this forum, but actually your post does make me think that it'd be great if they attached a cd with each book sold. It'd make a great quick rules reference to have a searchable pdf or database!
Ranger REG 04-19-07, 01:50 AM	I'm not sure if WoTC actively read this forum, but actually your post does make me think that it'd be great if they attached a cd with each book sold. I could take the cd and leave the book on the store shelves. :devil:
ChoKoth 04-25-07, 01:22 PM	I think the expectation IS actually that everyone buys every book (or atleast that's their hope). I wouldn't hold my breath on an all inclusive character generator. We were promised one with the 3.0 release (anyone remember the character generator CD that came with the 3.0 players handbook?) Then again, to call that program lack-luster would be an insult to good lack-luster programs everywhere. I think the best hope is online repositories (like www.myth-weavers.com), or other user created content repositories. The problem with that is of course copy-right law which I'm sure we will find out prevents non-WOTC groups from releasing the product information since most of the stuff in the various splat books isn't OGL, and enough of the core system isn't OGL so as to make a really usable character manager difficult to produce. You might check out Myth Weavers, that's where I keep online versions of all my characters, and it seems to be pretty complete.
crackbubba 05-18-07, 02:56 PM	I think it's safe to assume they want you to buy as many books as possible, hence they wouldn't be making the game. They need to make money for the products they put out, and compiling them into 1 book would be worthless to them... unless it's priced at about $1000 or more. Plus the book would be a dictionary of sorts, size included. If you want to sort them by classes/races/prestige classes and such you would have an encyclopedia set. There is just too much info for 1 book. Granted some books could be combined (Complete mage and complete Arcana for starters) but they would still need to make up the money in other ways. I have over 30 DnD books (2nd and 3rd editions) and I still find more info each time I go into the gaming store that I would love to have. Sadly, to be a DnD maniac you have to have lots of money to spend. :weep:
trappedslider 05-18-07, 04:26 PM	ALong with the new DI theres been discussion of an online character generator that you would pay for with online storeage
Ranger REG 05-18-07, 08:08 PM	ALong with the new DI theres been discussion of an online character generator that you would pay for with online storeageSo, in addition to the book, you have to pay monthly to access their online generator tools. Wise move on WotC's part ... except for ditching print magazines to go digital.
trappedslider 05-19-07, 04:30 PM	So, in addition to the book, you have to pay monthly to access their online generator tools. Wise move on WotC's part ... except for ditching print magazines to go digital. shrugs i know......