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

Character Builder Platform

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
tpkurilla
Apr 16, 2010 17:36:50 Hello all,

I've just returned from the lauch event for Visual Studio 2010 and Silverlight 4.

The good news is that if WotC software engineers used WPF for their interface, converting the whole Character Builder to run in Silverlight should not be much of an issue. The only places that there are incompatabilities between the two tends to be things that should not really be an issue in the Character Builder.

The even better news...(let me make sure this is easy to read)

Any Silverlight application will run on Windows or Mac!

and just to make it better:

Any Silverlight application can be saved as a desktop application on Windows or Mac!

So, to recap:

1) If the WotC team used WPF (seems reasonable), then they can satisfy nearly all of their customers fairly easily by converting it to Silverlight.

2) If the WotC did not use WPF (unclear why they required the latest .NET libraries if they didn't...) then they pooched it, and the quickest way for them to get the CB out for all would be to convert it to Silverlight.

3) In either case, the fastest way to get the CB to the most customers would be to make it a Silverlight application.

Going with Silverlight also gives WotC way to do lots of cool things with Adventure Tools for all the same reasons. It also opens up a more robust way to develop the cool "bonus tools" stuff that comes along occasionally.

The question is:

Does anyone at WotC know that Silverlight could easily satisfy nearly 100% of their customers, and thus increase their DDI subscriptions, by simply using Silverlight?

If they didn't before, then they should now. Just sayin...

<FlameRetardant>

btw, the above assertions are based upon the CB already having been written in some .NET language. Given that it has already been written in a .NET language using a recent release of the .NET libraries, most of the heavy lifting is done. The shortest path to cross-platform nirvana for the CB and Adventure Tools at this point is clearly via Silverlight.

Please don't turn this into a .NET bash, "Java is the greatest", or "Flex/Air Forever!" war.

</FlameRetardant>

#2
makeshiftwings
Apr 27, 2010 18:59:17 I've been trying to puzzle out what technologies the Character Builder and related software actually use and I get the feeling that it's sort of a mish mash of eight-year-old code and random different C# elements and versions of .NET all jumbled together. WotC has a pretty shoddy track record with software development, and we know they laid off and rehired and laid off and rehired large chunks of their software team, and that they've already scrapped 80% of their original promise, and that they were working on the character builder for at least a year or two before they released 4e. They use XML for some parts but they use it in sort of a weird way if you look at the dnd4e files; and the compendium and character tools seem to pull from different databases (the CB local encrypted file vs the back end of compendium have some random small differences in powers and items). So it seems plausible that the rules data is somewhat modular from the rest of the software and could be ported, but then again, maybe not; it's hard to actually get to any of it for public users.

It would be great if they convert to Silverlight or update the app in some other way, but I wouldn't expect too much. It sounds like they've whittled down their software dev team and have a very, very slow release calendar for new software. Support for Mac is probably lower on the list than the next four Adventure Tools, the Virtual Game Table, the Character Visualizer, and the character builder for 5e. ;)
#3
dibly
May 01, 2010 9:22:11 They did use WPF when they made the Character Builder, so it might just work. Wouldn't get my hopes up, though... I've been doing that for too long already.
#4
mdonais
May 04, 2010 2:55:15 Interesting thread.

WotC did indeed use WPF as you suggest. And Elf and Rich did a great job of coding this one, unlike some of our older works.

#5
tpkurilla
Jun 04, 2010 13:09:52 Hmm, work kind of consumed me right after I posted this. I assumed there would be a bit more traffic on the subject.

I figured that WotC would not post any reply, but I had a small hope.

I'll make sure to mention it in the appropriate sessions at GenCon this year. Hopefully they listen on this. Anything that can help their bottom line increases the chances that they can continue feeding our D&D habit

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 tpkurilla Apr 16, 2010 17:36:50	Hello all, I've just returned from the lauch event for Visual Studio 2010 and Silverlight 4. The good news is that if WotC software engineers used WPF for their interface, converting the whole Character Builder to run in Silverlight should not be much of an issue. The only places that there are incompatabilities between the two tends to be things that should not really be an issue in the Character Builder. The even better news...(let me make sure this is easy to read) Any Silverlight application will run on Windows or Mac! and just to make it better: Any Silverlight application can be saved as a desktop application on Windows or Mac! So, to recap: 1) If the WotC team used WPF (seems reasonable), then they can satisfy nearly all of their customers fairly easily by converting it to Silverlight. 2) If the WotC did not use WPF (unclear why they required the latest .NET libraries if they didn't...) then they pooched it, and the quickest way for them to get the CB out for all would be to convert it to Silverlight. 3) In either case, the fastest way to get the CB to the most customers would be to make it a Silverlight application. Going with Silverlight also gives WotC way to do lots of cool things with Adventure Tools for all the same reasons. It also opens up a more robust way to develop the cool "bonus tools" stuff that comes along occasionally. The question is: Does anyone at WotC know that Silverlight could easily satisfy nearly 100% of their customers, and thus increase their DDI subscriptions, by simply using Silverlight? If they didn't before, then they should now. Just sayin... <FlameRetardant> btw, the above assertions are based upon the CB already having been written in some .NET language. Given that it has already been written in a .NET language using a recent release of the .NET libraries, most of the heavy lifting is done. The shortest path to cross-platform nirvana for the CB and Adventure Tools at this point is clearly via Silverlight. Please don't turn this into a .NET bash, "Java is the greatest", or "Flex/Air Forever!" war. </FlameRetardant>
#2 makeshiftwings Apr 27, 2010 18:59:17	I've been trying to puzzle out what technologies the Character Builder and related software actually use and I get the feeling that it's sort of a mish mash of eight-year-old code and random different C# elements and versions of .NET all jumbled together. WotC has a pretty shoddy track record with software development, and we know they laid off and rehired and laid off and rehired large chunks of their software team, and that they've already scrapped 80% of their original promise, and that they were working on the character builder for at least a year or two before they released 4e. They use XML for some parts but they use it in sort of a weird way if you look at the dnd4e files; and the compendium and character tools seem to pull from different databases (the CB local encrypted file vs the back end of compendium have some random small differences in powers and items). So it seems plausible that the rules data is somewhat modular from the rest of the software and could be ported, but then again, maybe not; it's hard to actually get to any of it for public users. It would be great if they convert to Silverlight or update the app in some other way, but I wouldn't expect too much. It sounds like they've whittled down their software dev team and have a very, very slow release calendar for new software. Support for Mac is probably lower on the list than the next four Adventure Tools, the Virtual Game Table, the Character Visualizer, and the character builder for 5e. ;)
#3 dibly May 01, 2010 9:22:11	They did use WPF when they made the Character Builder, so it might just work. Wouldn't get my hopes up, though... I've been doing that for too long already.
#4 mdonais May 04, 2010 2:55:15	Interesting thread. WotC did indeed use WPF as you suggest. And Elf and Rich did a great job of coding this one, unlike some of our older works.
#5 tpkurilla Jun 04, 2010 13:09:52	Hmm, work kind of consumed me right after I posted this. I assumed there would be a bit more traffic on the subject. I figured that WotC would not post any reply, but I had a small hope. I'll make sure to mention it in the appropriate sessions at GenCon this year. Hopefully they listen on this. Anything that can help their bottom line increases the chances that they can continue feeding our D&D habit