That being said, I truly believe that WOTC needs to get the character creator up and running by the beginning of August. Why that date you ask, real simple: Gencon. I feel for the GMs this year. WOTC is launching all 4E events, and I know those poor GMs are going to be flooded with incorrect character designs and a flood of questions on how to fill out their sheets. Not to mention the fact that LFR may have a different point buys and/or restrictions on gear/classes/races. We do not have any concrete info on that yet, so no jumping to conclusions from the peanut gallery.
So, as I said I hope they have it up and running by Gencon so I can hve my sheet prepared correctly and make my GMs life a littel easier at Gencon.
Now that I have said that, I do have a suggestion for future implementation in DDi. Let us assume that everyone on DDi has an RPGA number. Let us also assume that new technology allows the RPGA to give their convention running GMs a bit of new technology. Assuming both of those, I suggest that if you create a character with the character creator and wish to use it in sanctioned RPGA play, the character sheet has a serial number and barcode. The serial number would be used for reporting smaller events such as games days or small conventions. The barcodes could be scanned with hand scanners at Gencon, Origins, DDXP, etc. This would allow any GM to see how long the character has been used, what events her or she has participated in, and if anything seems fishy. Just a thought, and I am sure it could use some more thought, but I am throwing it out there.
We will always look at how to best integrate RPGA OP with these new tools, and have kept that in mind from the start. For example, the Dungeon Builder should be useful to help people generate adventure maps for the RPGA adventures.
We have many things to do though, first and foremost launching working applications that do what they are basically supposed to do well. Once this is established, we can then proceed to deeper integration, especialy like those you mention, using barrcode scanner technology.
I am a big fan of this kind of technology for OP, but we have to get our foundations right first.
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We love you man and the Gods know I respect you especially for putting up with all the crap that gets thrown amongst the forums. But sometimes we wish ya'll would just talk about what we REALLY want you to talk with us about like the 1st paragraph in OP's post.
Is this going to be useful for non RPGA members? I sort of highly dislike the RPGA and all the talk about how great it is for them makes it sounds like it's made with the RPGA in mind and less non-RPGA people?
For better or worse, RPGA character creation now follows PHB rules (as opposed to the past where point buy came from the DMG, what items you could/couldn't have was an extensive list that required a fair bit of homework and research, and etc).
So, really, the difference between an RPGA sheet, and a non-RPGA sheet from the generator should only be whether or not the "RPGA Number" and "RPGA Comments" fields are filled out.
I'd suggest giving the RPGA Character Creation Guidelines a quick read, if you're worried about the RPGA restrictions of the past affecting things like this.
It's a new world with 4E - even Dragon Magazine content is RPGA legal once an issue is fully compiled.
I am running 2 4e events at gen con (1 paragon 1 epic) I was looking forward to useing DDI to make the characters is there ANY chance it will be up by8/5 ????