Character Builder Feedback - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Character Builder Feedback

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
exploding_brain
Dec 02, 2008 12:17:07 Just noticed that, when you create a new character, and you actually follow the steps in the order presented by the software, the first page that comes up asks you to pick a race, then we move on to other rules heavy choices, such as class, skills, feats, powers, etc. The very last page asks you for name, gender, physical description, personality, character background, etc. In fact, all those things are on the tab labeled "Finish".

IMHO, that is exactly the wrong place for that tab. I would like it if the software actually asked players to think of their characters as people first, then get into the process of filling out the game statistics. Change the name of that tab to "Biography" or some such, and put it all the way to the left. Either that, or make it part of the "Start" tab.

Admittedly, this is a personal preference, but I think it would be a better if the Character Builder asked you whom you are building, before asking you what you are building. That's the way the paper character sheets are set up, and I think it gives some players a little nudge to create an interesting person who will be fun to play, before working out exactly how that character will lay waste to all who oppose him or her. ;)
#2
WolfStar76
Dec 02, 2008 15:41:43
Just noticed that, when you create a new character, and you actually follow the steps in the order presented by the software, the first page that comes up asks you to pick a race, then we move on to other rules heavy choices, such as class, skills, feats, powers, etc. The very last page asks you for name, gender, physical description, personality, character background, etc. In fact, all those things are on the tab labeled "Finish".

IMHO, that is exactly the wrong place for that tab. I would like it if the software actually asked players to think of their characters as people first, then get into the process of filling out the game statistics. Change the name of that tab to "Biography" or some such, and put it all the way to the left. Either that, or make it part of the "Start" tab.

Admittedly, this is a personal preference, but I think it would be a better if the Character Builder asked you whom you are building, before asking you what you are building. That's the way the paper character sheets are set up, and I think it gives some players a little nudge to create an interesting person who will be fun to play, before working out exactly how that character will lay waste to all who oppose him or her. ;)

I'd think that the main reason for the Builder being designed as it is is simply that - you don't need a builder to help you design "who" your character is. Concepts like a claustrophobic Dwarf who adventures because he just couldn't handle being in the mines anymore are beyond the scope of the builder. That's info you should have in mind before you start making a character.

On the other hand, if your Dwarf wants to contemplate his career as either a Rogue or a Ranger, well - that's where the Builder comes in.

The software's focus is on the mechanics, and as such, that's where it starts.

It's nice that the "details" (background, name, deity, etc) are in the software - but the software can't do anything with that. It's just a big text field.

~shrug~
#3
exploding_brain
Dec 02, 2008 16:16:06 Actually, there are fields for exactly that sort of thing in the builder, on the Finish tab, under Character information.

I guess it's a combination of semantics and personal style, whether how your Dwarf became claustrophobic, or who was the cleric who rescued your Tiefling street urchin from a life of crime, is something that you do before character creation, or if it's the first step of character creation, or if it's something you work out after character creation is done.

There is an unspoken question that we have apparently answered differently.

"Is the character builder a tool that players use to create characters, or is it a tool that players use to work out the game rules details of their characters?"

Obviously, different players are going to use it both ways. Some players will already have all of those details worked out in there heads, or on paper, or in a text document, and just open up the builder to work up their numbers. Some players are going to open the software with no idea of what they're going to build, or at least still deciding among several ideas.

Anyway, the inclusion of this sort of fluff (also known as creativity) on the "Finish" tab at the end of the process seems to send the (probably unintended) message that these are the least important things to think about. Including them at the start sends the message that the player might want to be thinking about the fluff, along with the crunch, right from the start.
#4
jhorred
Dec 03, 2008 11:10:30
Just noticed that, when you create a new character, and you actually follow the steps in the order presented by the software, the first page that comes up asks you to pick a race, then we move on to other rules heavy choices, such as class, skills, feats, powers, etc. The very last page asks you for name, gender, physical description, personality, character background, etc. In fact, all those things are on the tab labeled "Finish".

IMHO, that is exactly the wrong place for that tab. I would like it if the software actually asked players to think of their characters as people first, then get into the process of filling out the game statistics. Change the name of that tab to "Biography" or some such, and put it all the way to the left. Either that, or make it part of the "Start" tab.

Admittedly, this is a personal preference, but I think it would be a better if the Character Builder asked you whom you are building, before asking you what you are building. That's the way the paper character sheets are set up, and I think it gives some players a little nudge to create an interesting person who will be fun to play, before working out exactly how that character will lay waste to all who oppose him or her. ;)

I've made a very similiar comment, because I feel the same way.
#5
arioch445
Dec 03, 2008 17:31:42 Have been building characters for use in the LFR campaign, and have noticed the lack of FR languages being available for choices provided by the character builder program. Am I missing this option some where?
#6
mdonais
Dec 04, 2008 18:27:08 They should be in the full version.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 exploding_brain Dec 02, 2008 12:17:07	Just noticed that, when you create a new character, and you actually follow the steps in the order presented by the software, the first page that comes up asks you to pick a race, then we move on to other rules heavy choices, such as class, skills, feats, powers, etc. The very last page asks you for name, gender, physical description, personality, character background, etc. In fact, all those things are on the tab labeled "Finish". IMHO, that is exactly the wrong place for that tab. I would like it if the software actually asked players to think of their characters as people first, then get into the process of filling out the game statistics. Change the name of that tab to "Biography" or some such, and put it all the way to the left. Either that, or make it part of the "Start" tab. Admittedly, this is a personal preference, but I think it would be a better if the Character Builder asked you whom you are building, before asking you what you are building. That's the way the paper character sheets are set up, and I think it gives some players a little nudge to create an interesting person who will be fun to play, before working out exactly how that character will lay waste to all who oppose him or her. ;)
#2 WolfStar76 Dec 02, 2008 15:41:43	Just noticed that, when you create a new character, and you actually follow the steps in the order presented by the software, the first page that comes up asks you to pick a race, then we move on to other rules heavy choices, such as class, skills, feats, powers, etc. The very last page asks you for name, gender, physical description, personality, character background, etc. In fact, all those things are on the tab labeled "Finish". IMHO, that is exactly the wrong place for that tab. I would like it if the software actually asked players to think of their characters as people first, then get into the process of filling out the game statistics. Change the name of that tab to "Biography" or some such, and put it all the way to the left. Either that, or make it part of the "Start" tab. Admittedly, this is a personal preference, but I think it would be a better if the Character Builder asked you whom you are building, before asking you what you are building. That's the way the paper character sheets are set up, and I think it gives some players a little nudge to create an interesting person who will be fun to play, before working out exactly how that character will lay waste to all who oppose him or her. ;) I'd think that the main reason for the Builder being designed as it is is simply that - you don't need a builder to help you design "who" your character is. Concepts like a claustrophobic Dwarf who adventures because he just couldn't handle being in the mines anymore are beyond the scope of the builder. That's info you should have in mind before you start making a character. On the other hand, if your Dwarf wants to contemplate his career as either a Rogue or a Ranger, well - that's where the Builder comes in. The software's focus is on the mechanics, and as such, that's where it starts. It's nice that the "details" (background, name, deity, etc) are in the software - but the software can't do anything with that. It's just a big text field. ~shrug~
#3 exploding_brain Dec 02, 2008 16:16:06	Actually, there are fields for exactly that sort of thing in the builder, on the Finish tab, under Character information. I guess it's a combination of semantics and personal style, whether how your Dwarf became claustrophobic, or who was the cleric who rescued your Tiefling street urchin from a life of crime, is something that you do before character creation, or if it's the first step of character creation, or if it's something you work out after character creation is done. There is an unspoken question that we have apparently answered differently. "Is the character builder a tool that players use to create characters, or is it a tool that players use to work out the game rules details of their characters?" Obviously, different players are going to use it both ways. Some players will already have all of those details worked out in there heads, or on paper, or in a text document, and just open up the builder to work up their numbers. Some players are going to open the software with no idea of what they're going to build, or at least still deciding among several ideas. Anyway, the inclusion of this sort of fluff (also known as creativity) on the "Finish" tab at the end of the process seems to send the (probably unintended) message that these are the least important things to think about. Including them at the start sends the message that the player might want to be thinking about the fluff, along with the crunch, right from the start.
#4 jhorred Dec 03, 2008 11:10:30	Just noticed that, when you create a new character, and you actually follow the steps in the order presented by the software, the first page that comes up asks you to pick a race, then we move on to other rules heavy choices, such as class, skills, feats, powers, etc. The very last page asks you for name, gender, physical description, personality, character background, etc. In fact, all those things are on the tab labeled "Finish". IMHO, that is exactly the wrong place for that tab. I would like it if the software actually asked players to think of their characters as people first, then get into the process of filling out the game statistics. Change the name of that tab to "Biography" or some such, and put it all the way to the left. Either that, or make it part of the "Start" tab. Admittedly, this is a personal preference, but I think it would be a better if the Character Builder asked you whom you are building, before asking you what you are building. That's the way the paper character sheets are set up, and I think it gives some players a little nudge to create an interesting person who will be fun to play, before working out exactly how that character will lay waste to all who oppose him or her. ;) I've made a very similiar comment, because I feel the same way.
#5 arioch445 Dec 03, 2008 17:31:42	Have been building characters for use in the LFR campaign, and have noticed the lack of FR languages being available for choices provided by the character builder program. Am I missing this option some where?
#6 mdonais Dec 04, 2008 18:27:08	They should be in the full version.