Cheap Alternative to Online Character Builder - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Cheap Alternative to Online Character Builder

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
wagnert
Nov 03, 2010 11:03:12 There is an easy and cheap alternative to using DDI and the online character builder.

1. Use the current (final) version of the downloadable version of the character builder.
2. Ignore the Essentials line and Dark Sun.
3. Play to your heart's content!

You no longer have to buy any more books, you no longer need a DDI subscription, and your characters will still be legal.    You will have offline access to all CB content.

The only downside, is that you can't use any shiny new feats/powers offered in new books, but since you won't be buying any new books, you won't know to miss them.
#2
MarkAtkinson
Nov 03, 2010 11:09:49 This is exactly what I thought when news of the on-line CB dropped.

My sub has until 6th December so I have a couple of weeks to play with the new one and if I like it. If not then I still have plan B to fall back on.
#3
tiki-snakes
Nov 03, 2010 11:09:59
There is an easy and cheap alternative to using DDI and the online character builder.

1. Use the current (final) version of the downloadable version of the character builder.
2. Ignore the Essentials line and Dark Sun.
3. Play to your heart's content!

You no longer have to buy any more books, you no longer need a DDI subscription, and your characters will still be legal.    You will have offline access to all CB content.

The only downside, is that you can't use any shiny new feats/powers offered in new books, but since you won't be buying any new books, you won't know to miss them.

Except for the number of bugs introduced in recent updates largely devaluing the CB as it stands. For example, I haven't been able to build paladin's for a while now, as the option to select what type no longer appears.
#4
kharmin
Nov 03, 2010 11:11:27 Until they post an "update" to the old CB that removes it from your system or otherwise borks it. Each time you start the CB, it communicates with WotC's servers. Hmmm....
#5
furiousgreg
Nov 03, 2010 11:12:38 Actually the current CB has plenty of areas to write in new information (Notes, Item Notes, Campaign notes etc.) so you can type in (or copy and paste from somewhere) new powers etc. I do this for Dark Sun now. I even do it for DS weapons as you can find a similar one and customize it.

Seriously there are 25 books already, nearly all of them and their errata are in the current CB. What else do you need to play?

~G
#6
xtheth
Nov 03, 2010 11:12:58 Yeah, I even made a back up, just in case WoTC tries to sneak into my computer and tear out the offline suite.

Far fetched? Amazon did it with books on their kindle, so I'm sure WoTC can do it with their programs
#7
drnick
Nov 03, 2010 11:14:25
You could also use a pencil and paper if you were so inclined (I know I know)
#8
cmdluke
Nov 03, 2010 11:14:40

Except for the number of bugs introduced in recent updates largely devaluing the CB as it stands. For example, I haven't been able to build paladin's for a while now, as the option to select what type no longer appears.

makes me glad i didn't get the last update.
#9
kharmin
Nov 03, 2010 11:22:31

You could also use a pencil and paper if you were so inclined (I know I know)

A whosit and a whatsit?
#10
Kalex_the_Omen
Nov 03, 2010 11:24:23

Except for the number of bugs introduced in recent updates largely devaluing the CB as it stands. For example, I haven't been able to build paladin's for a while now, as the option to select what type no longer appears.

Are you talking about builds? That still appears in my updated CB.

#11
wagnert
Nov 03, 2010 11:26:39
Until they post an "update" to the old CB that removes it from your system or otherwise borks it. Each time you start the CB, it communicates with WotC's servers. Hmmm....

There are actually two programs on your system for the CB. One is the updater which checks for an update, and does the update of there is one. It then starts the second program which is the actual character builder. Just start the actual CB program instead of the updater since you won't have (or want) any update.

The updater program is:

CharacterBuilderUpdater.exe" RealCharacterBuilderUpdater.exe app.config

while the actual character builder is just: CharacterBuilder.exe
#12
scarlettlin
Nov 03, 2010 11:27:21

You could also use a pencil and paper if you were so inclined (I know I know)

LOL I have notebooks with all sorts of characters in them that I wrote out by hand - I usually start them on paper, get the idea going, and then flesh them out on the CB...something about a pencil in my hand for getting the ideas goin... ;)
#13
kharmin
Nov 03, 2010 11:31:21
Until they post an "update" to the old CB that removes it from your system or otherwise borks it. Each time you start the CB, it communicates with WotC's servers. Hmmm....

There are actually two programs on your system for the CB. One is the updater which checks for an update, and does the update of there is one. It then starts the second program which is the actual character builder. Just start the actual CB program instead of the updater since you won't have (or want) any update.

The updater program is:

CharacterBuilderUpdater.exe" RealCharacterBuilderUpdater.exe app.config

while the actual character builder is just: CharacterBuilder.exe

Thanks. I'm also blocking via firewall.
#14
borogamer
Nov 04, 2010 6:12:35 That's fine for now. But when i get my new computer?
#15
crayne
Nov 04, 2010 9:16:01
That's fine for now. But when i get my new computer?

You could use the vmware converter to "virtualize" your old PC + operating system. I created a virtual pc solely for the CB, so i can use it @home, @work and on friends PCs, without installing the CB everywhere. This way i can also update it at home, while using it @work without needing an internet connection.
#16
Kavannah
Nov 04, 2010 9:29:49
There is an easy and cheap alternative to using DDI and the online character builder.

1. Use the current (final) version of the downloadable version of the character builder.
2. Ignore the Essentials line and Dark Sun.
3. Play to your heart's content!

You no longer have to buy any more books, you no longer need a DDI subscription, and your characters will still be legal.    You will have offline access to all CB content.

The only downside, is that you can't use any shiny new feats/powers offered in new books, but since you won't be buying any new books, you won't know to miss them.

The other downside is that if I take your advice, and my laptop dies, I lose my CB, and wotc won't let me download it again.
#17
therealking
Nov 04, 2010 10:30:41

You could also use a pencil and paper if you were so inclined (I know I know)

Given all the errata these days, it would be hard to build a "legal" character. Which is why so many people are complaining. The CB took care of that for you.
#18
uhf
Nov 04, 2010 10:45:06 I researched what I could for my self, and I found a semi automated character sheet that I liked, and even better I found templates for making my own power cards.
4e.educatedgamer.net/

There are other templates for cards as well here;
www.dungeoncrawl.us/power_cards

I should be able to create characters as slick as before only better... I can now use non-WOTC material in my games.
#19
furiousgreg
Nov 04, 2010 10:54:42

You could also use a pencil and paper if you were so inclined (I know I know)

Given all the errata these days, it would be hard to build a "legal" character. Which is why so many people are complaining. The CB took care of that for you.

Yep, this is the real problem. 4ed is so riddled with errata that it is practically impossible to build a legal character with the books unless you put in many (excessively many) hours somehow updating the hundreds of individual mistakes but more importantly the changes over a dozen books.

CB solved that by doing the updating for you. Which when you think about it, is really something that should be free since the books we bought were already obsolete before they shipped.

WotC and Hasbro aren't loosing money (and it's important that we understand that with a publicly traded company like Hasbro a healthy profit isn't enough, you have to increase that profit every quarter or you are considered failing) because multiple people are using a single copy of CB, but because players have to to keep up with the rules changes and other errata and most aren't willing to buy a book that is out of date before it hits the store. I mean really, why should any of us buy a book that isn't, as far as game mechanics is concerned, worth the paper it is printed on?

You can say this is an exaggeration, but is it really? I've seen a PDF of the PHB1 with all the errata added (you can do this with Acrobat Pro) and almost every page that contains a rule has one or more errata.
#20
blight
Nov 04, 2010 12:59:36
I'm going to be dropping my subscription when the character build goes fully online, no updates, no reason.

Reason 1) As a rule I don't like staying connected all the time, just to build a character, my router has issues. (Not my case but also a friend has Cell internet so imagine the phone bill after making one 10 level character.
Reason 2) As a princaple they are, doing it because people were sharing, and they are loosing money on books because, picture this, Said typical group of 6 people: 2 without internet, 1 who has a really good job, 2 with average to low income and 1 minor not working. One person buys the books, 2 people buy the DDI subcription, and everybody is playing and bringing revinue as a group to wizards. Now with the online character builder; two people are right out or hand building the character. One person has everything still but he can't use it at two of the other peoples houses(no internet). Oh look new, time to start a new system like catalyst games: shadowrun or to stay in ye ol' fantasy: pathfinder.
Reason 3) I don't like to carry around all my 30ish books, two folders of characters, a overhead marker map, printed erratas, and a huge tackle box of figures. but when I DM, I want it handy, if I'm not at my house. with my laptop I have the folder of characters and some of the support material in the character builder and monster build at least handled; as well as a combat tracker. But when I'm at home I have 7 or eight books spread out on the floor and my laptop going with the character builder just to build my next campiagn
Reason 4) Wizards sue anybody who desides to make a character builder on there own and try to keep it regularly updated, ask Ema's all about it (www.emass-web.com).
Reason 5) I have purchased at least 50 grand in gaming supplies, not sure actually how much, but I started with chainmail and every thing in between. Just recently I traded in my old 3.5 books for 1/4 or 1/5 there purchase value for about $300 in store credit to buy some new books. I'm not one of those Otaku who steal pdf books online. Though I do have some pdfs and the real book to support it, of some, so as to lighten my trip load when traveling to a freinds house.
Reason 6) Gary Gygax, would roll over in his grave if he heard about this. Come on its about the kids having fun, and wanting to share it with there friends. Sure I can get online make my character then print it then take it over to a friends house, but it that much better when I can update it on the fly, at my friends house with no internet and while I'm at it help him make a new character while we wait for everybody to show up. And show him why he should pick up the new darksun book via showing him that he could use This, this, and this, on the character builder to make his favorite class.

THE FIX for boosting book or PDF sales:
1) If they Really want to fix this Keep the character builder off-line put an access code in each book, so when you buy the book you buy the character builder update. I know that pisses off "that guy" who doesn't want to buy the books, but for the sake of sharing with friends limit the code to only work three times(More if a wizards guy resets it for extenuating curcumstances like reinstalling it or install issues.). One for you, one for your second computer, and one to pass to a buddy.(Hey at least I'm honest about it)
2) Sell it as the Book, or PDF, or The Book and PDF, all for a different price, but always include the code to the update for the wizards software with any that include the book.
3) FINISH the all inclusive off-line DM tools, the character builder should be a part of those tools. One code to update it all. I know that Idea was shelved a long time ago. Remember E-Tools. I didn't mind even paying a nominal fee per book update as an allternative to including the code with the book.
4) PDFs sell cheaper because you don't have the printing cost, but we all know the inherrent danger with releasing a PDF, copy copy copy, but to fix this just use digital rights access. They are getting better at stopping copies. You have to also keep in mind every lock build has a 30th level theif ready to break in to that lock, but this does not stop the movie industry, just makes them B#$%*& and moan. The flip side is that if you release the above mentioned update code with the PDF or Book You might increase PDF sales more than Book sales, but that is for the accounting department to figure out.
5) You could use the update code (3 licences) with book and purchased seperate codes(1 licence) together but that would not increase book sales if you go that route, because there always is "That Guy" who will find the cheapest route possible, legal or not.
6) If you go with the "3 licence use" deal it will include "That Guy" who was going to find it on some illegal website. So now he does not go look and if at least 1/5 of the people don't go looking for a way to cheat the system, you have less chance of it being broke in the first 6 months of book sales. Think of it this way, elegal internet cracking follows the same supply and demand system as sales. Less people looking for it means less chance of it already being cracked.

Sorry for ranting But I really hate the Idea of the character builder going to be on line access only, and not being able to save, view and update characters off-line.
#21
v3rlon
Nov 04, 2010 15:44:01 pfft..

write?!

Well, I already wrote a character SHEET system in php/MySQL. It doesn't build characters (you can make a level one with a 100 point build and it won't flinch), but it does handle basic math for advancing levels and stats.

At least it doesn't cost me $10 a month.
#22
Nyarlathotep
Nov 04, 2010 16:43:00 Back when 4e first came out (before the current CB), my wife and I were down to only one car and I usually ended up having to wait at my job for 45 minutes to an hour after work for her to get me. I was bored, so I began writing a character generator in RPG (the language I use at my job) largely because I thought it would be amusing to write something for an RPG in RPG.

I never finished it. If I find I don't like the online one, maybe I should find a good AS/400 emulator to use for my computer at home and drag it out. ;)
#23
guest232734764
Nov 04, 2010 17:48:55
There is an easy and cheap alternative to using DDI and the online character builder.

1. Use the current (final) version of the downloadable version of the character builder.
2. Ignore the Essentials line and Dark Sun.
3. Play to your heart's content!

You no longer have to buy any more books, you no longer need a DDI subscription, and your characters will still be legal.    You will have offline access to all CB content.

The only downside, is that you can't use any shiny new feats/powers offered in new books, but since you won't be buying any new books, you won't know to miss them.

The other downside is that if I take your advice, and my laptop dies, I lose my CB, and wotc won't let me download it again.

Download the program onto a thumb-drive, like folks do with their antivirus programs.
#24
crayne
Nov 05, 2010 3:25:33 I think thumb drives are a bit outdated by now. I mean, they are from 1998 right?

As i said earlier, simply convert your PC into a virtual PC with VMWare Converter, if you don't want to lose your old CB (though you might want to clean your system from unecessary software before that).
#25
kharmin
Nov 05, 2010 9:13:09
There is an easy and cheap alternative to using DDI and the online character builder.

1. Use the current (final) version of the downloadable version of the character builder.
2. Ignore the Essentials line and Dark Sun.
3. Play to your heart's content!

You no longer have to buy any more books, you no longer need a DDI subscription, and your characters will still be legal.    You will have offline access to all CB content.

The only downside, is that you can't use any shiny new feats/powers offered in new books, but since you won't be buying any new books, you won't know to miss them.

The other downside is that if I take your advice, and my laptop dies, I lose my CB, and wotc won't let me download it again.

Download the program onto a thumb-drive, like folks do with their antivirus programs.

The off-line CB won't run from a thumb drive as it writes to the system registry. The application download was only an application launcher that connected back to WotC to download the actual program...something I'm sure they'll turn off.

/me shrugs @'s

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 wagnert Nov 03, 2010 11:03:12	There is an easy and cheap alternative to using DDI and the online character builder. 1. Use the current (final) version of the downloadable version of the character builder. 2. Ignore the Essentials line and Dark Sun. 3. Play to your heart's content! You no longer have to buy any more books, you no longer need a DDI subscription, and your characters will still be legal. You will have offline access to all CB content. The only downside, is that you can't use any shiny new feats/powers offered in new books, but since you won't be buying any new books, you won't know to miss them.
#2 MarkAtkinson Nov 03, 2010 11:09:49	This is exactly what I thought when news of the on-line CB dropped. My sub has until 6th December so I have a couple of weeks to play with the new one and if I like it. If not then I still have plan B to fall back on.
#3 tiki-snakes Nov 03, 2010 11:09:59	There is an easy and cheap alternative to using DDI and the online character builder. 1. Use the current (final) version of the downloadable version of the character builder. 2. Ignore the Essentials line and Dark Sun. 3. Play to your heart's content! You no longer have to buy any more books, you no longer need a DDI subscription, and your characters will still be legal. You will have offline access to all CB content. The only downside, is that you can't use any shiny new feats/powers offered in new books, but since you won't be buying any new books, you won't know to miss them. Except for the number of bugs introduced in recent updates largely devaluing the CB as it stands. For example, I haven't been able to build paladin's for a while now, as the option to select what type no longer appears.
#4 kharmin Nov 03, 2010 11:11:27	Until they post an "update" to the old CB that removes it from your system or otherwise borks it. Each time you start the CB, it communicates with WotC's servers. Hmmm....
#5 furiousgreg Nov 03, 2010 11:12:38	Actually the current CB has plenty of areas to write in new information (Notes, Item Notes, Campaign notes etc.) so you can type in (or copy and paste from somewhere) new powers etc. I do this for Dark Sun now. I even do it for DS weapons as you can find a similar one and customize it. Seriously there are 25 books already, nearly all of them and their errata are in the current CB. What else do you need to play? ~G
#6 xtheth Nov 03, 2010 11:12:58	Yeah, I even made a back up, just in case WoTC tries to sneak into my computer and tear out the offline suite. Far fetched? Amazon did it with books on their kindle, so I'm sure WoTC can do it with their programs
#7 drnick Nov 03, 2010 11:14:25	You could also use a pencil and paper if you were so inclined (I know I know)
#8 cmdluke Nov 03, 2010 11:14:40	Except for the number of bugs introduced in recent updates largely devaluing the CB as it stands. For example, I haven't been able to build paladin's for a while now, as the option to select what type no longer appears. makes me glad i didn't get the last update.
#9 kharmin Nov 03, 2010 11:22:31	You could also use a pencil and paper if you were so inclined (I know I know) A whosit and a whatsit?
#10 Kalex_the_Omen Nov 03, 2010 11:24:23	Except for the number of bugs introduced in recent updates largely devaluing the CB as it stands. For example, I haven't been able to build paladin's for a while now, as the option to select what type no longer appears. Are you talking about builds? That still appears in my updated CB.
#11 wagnert Nov 03, 2010 11:26:39	Until they post an "update" to the old CB that removes it from your system or otherwise borks it. Each time you start the CB, it communicates with WotC's servers. Hmmm.... There are actually two programs on your system for the CB. One is the updater which checks for an update, and does the update of there is one. It then starts the second program which is the actual character builder. Just start the actual CB program instead of the updater since you won't have (or want) any update. The updater program is: CharacterBuilderUpdater.exe" RealCharacterBuilderUpdater.exe app.config while the actual character builder is just: CharacterBuilder.exe
#12 scarlettlin Nov 03, 2010 11:27:21	You could also use a pencil and paper if you were so inclined (I know I know) LOL I have notebooks with all sorts of characters in them that I wrote out by hand - I usually start them on paper, get the idea going, and then flesh them out on the CB...something about a pencil in my hand for getting the ideas goin... ;)
#13 kharmin Nov 03, 2010 11:31:21	Until they post an "update" to the old CB that removes it from your system or otherwise borks it. Each time you start the CB, it communicates with WotC's servers. Hmmm.... There are actually two programs on your system for the CB. One is the updater which checks for an update, and does the update of there is one. It then starts the second program which is the actual character builder. Just start the actual CB program instead of the updater since you won't have (or want) any update. The updater program is: CharacterBuilderUpdater.exe" RealCharacterBuilderUpdater.exe app.config while the actual character builder is just: CharacterBuilder.exe Thanks. I'm also blocking via firewall.
#14 borogamer Nov 04, 2010 6:12:35	That's fine for now. But when i get my new computer?
#15 crayne Nov 04, 2010 9:16:01	That's fine for now. But when i get my new computer? You could use the vmware converter to "virtualize" your old PC + operating system. I created a virtual pc solely for the CB, so i can use it @home, @work and on friends PCs, without installing the CB everywhere. This way i can also update it at home, while using it @work without needing an internet connection.
#16 Kavannah Nov 04, 2010 9:29:49	There is an easy and cheap alternative to using DDI and the online character builder. 1. Use the current (final) version of the downloadable version of the character builder. 2. Ignore the Essentials line and Dark Sun. 3. Play to your heart's content! You no longer have to buy any more books, you no longer need a DDI subscription, and your characters will still be legal. You will have offline access to all CB content. The only downside, is that you can't use any shiny new feats/powers offered in new books, but since you won't be buying any new books, you won't know to miss them. The other downside is that if I take your advice, and my laptop dies, I lose my CB, and wotc won't let me download it again.
#17 therealking Nov 04, 2010 10:30:41	You could also use a pencil and paper if you were so inclined (I know I know) Given all the errata these days, it would be hard to build a "legal" character. Which is why so many people are complaining. The CB took care of that for you.
#18 uhf Nov 04, 2010 10:45:06	I researched what I could for my self, and I found a semi automated character sheet that I liked, and even better I found templates for making my own power cards. 4e.educatedgamer.net/ There are other templates for cards as well here; www.dungeoncrawl.us/power_cards I should be able to create characters as slick as before only better... I can now use non-WOTC material in my games.
#19 furiousgreg Nov 04, 2010 10:54:42	You could also use a pencil and paper if you were so inclined (I know I know) Given all the errata these days, it would be hard to build a "legal" character. Which is why so many people are complaining. The CB took care of that for you. Yep, this is the real problem. 4ed is so riddled with errata that it is practically impossible to build a legal character with the books unless you put in many (excessively many) hours somehow updating the hundreds of individual mistakes but more importantly the changes over a dozen books. CB solved that by doing the updating for you. Which when you think about it, is really something that should be free since the books we bought were already obsolete before they shipped. WotC and Hasbro aren't loosing money (and it's important that we understand that with a publicly traded company like Hasbro a healthy profit isn't enough, you have to increase that profit every quarter or you are considered failing) because multiple people are using a single copy of CB, but because players have to to keep up with the rules changes and other errata and most aren't willing to buy a book that is out of date before it hits the store. I mean really, why should any of us buy a book that isn't, as far as game mechanics is concerned, worth the paper it is printed on? You can say this is an exaggeration, but is it really? I've seen a PDF of the PHB1 with all the errata added (you can do this with Acrobat Pro) and almost every page that contains a rule has one or more errata.
#20 blight Nov 04, 2010 12:59:36	I'm going to be dropping my subscription when the character build goes fully online, no updates, no reason. Reason 1) As a rule I don't like staying connected all the time, just to build a character, my router has issues. (Not my case but also a friend has Cell internet so imagine the phone bill after making one 10 level character. Reason 2) As a princaple they are, doing it because people were sharing, and they are loosing money on books because, picture this, Said typical group of 6 people: 2 without internet, 1 who has a really good job, 2 with average to low income and 1 minor not working. One person buys the books, 2 people buy the DDI subcription, and everybody is playing and bringing revinue as a group to wizards. Now with the online character builder; two people are right out or hand building the character. One person has everything still but he can't use it at two of the other peoples houses(no internet). Oh look new, time to start a new system like catalyst games: shadowrun or to stay in ye ol' fantasy: pathfinder. Reason 3) I don't like to carry around all my 30ish books, two folders of characters, a overhead marker map, printed erratas, and a huge tackle box of figures. but when I DM, I want it handy, if I'm not at my house. with my laptop I have the folder of characters and some of the support material in the character builder and monster build at least handled; as well as a combat tracker. But when I'm at home I have 7 or eight books spread out on the floor and my laptop going with the character builder just to build my next campiagn Reason 4) Wizards sue anybody who desides to make a character builder on there own and try to keep it regularly updated, ask Ema's all about it (www.emass-web.com). Reason 5) I have purchased at least 50 grand in gaming supplies, not sure actually how much, but I started with chainmail and every thing in between. Just recently I traded in my old 3.5 books for 1/4 or 1/5 there purchase value for about $300 in store credit to buy some new books. I'm not one of those Otaku who steal pdf books online. Though I do have some pdfs and the real book to support it, of some, so as to lighten my trip load when traveling to a freinds house. Reason 6) Gary Gygax, would roll over in his grave if he heard about this. Come on its about the kids having fun, and wanting to share it with there friends. Sure I can get online make my character then print it then take it over to a friends house, but it that much better when I can update it on the fly, at my friends house with no internet and while I'm at it help him make a new character while we wait for everybody to show up. And show him why he should pick up the new darksun book via showing him that he could use This, this, and this, on the character builder to make his favorite class. THE FIX for boosting book or PDF sales: 1) If they Really want to fix this Keep the character builder off-line put an access code in each book, so when you buy the book you buy the character builder update. I know that pisses off "that guy" who doesn't want to buy the books, but for the sake of sharing with friends limit the code to only work three times(More if a wizards guy resets it for extenuating curcumstances like reinstalling it or install issues.). One for you, one for your second computer, and one to pass to a buddy.(Hey at least I'm honest about it) 2) Sell it as the Book, or PDF, or The Book and PDF, all for a different price, but always include the code to the update for the wizards software with any that include the book. 3) FINISH the all inclusive off-line DM tools, the character builder should be a part of those tools. One code to update it all. I know that Idea was shelved a long time ago. Remember E-Tools. I didn't mind even paying a nominal fee per book update as an allternative to including the code with the book. 4) PDFs sell cheaper because you don't have the printing cost, but we all know the inherrent danger with releasing a PDF, copy copy copy, but to fix this just use digital rights access. They are getting better at stopping copies. You have to also keep in mind every lock build has a 30th level theif ready to break in to that lock, but this does not stop the movie industry, just makes them B#$%*& and moan. The flip side is that if you release the above mentioned update code with the PDF or Book You might increase PDF sales more than Book sales, but that is for the accounting department to figure out. 5) You could use the update code (3 licences) with book and purchased seperate codes(1 licence) together but that would not increase book sales if you go that route, because there always is "That Guy" who will find the cheapest route possible, legal or not. 6) If you go with the "3 licence use" deal it will include "That Guy" who was going to find it on some illegal website. So now he does not go look and if at least 1/5 of the people don't go looking for a way to cheat the system, you have less chance of it being broke in the first 6 months of book sales. Think of it this way, elegal internet cracking follows the same supply and demand system as sales. Less people looking for it means less chance of it already being cracked. Sorry for ranting But I really hate the Idea of the character builder going to be on line access only, and not being able to save, view and update characters off-line.
#21 v3rlon Nov 04, 2010 15:44:01	pfft.. write?! Well, I already wrote a character SHEET system in php/MySQL. It doesn't build characters (you can make a level one with a 100 point build and it won't flinch), but it does handle basic math for advancing levels and stats. At least it doesn't cost me $10 a month.
#22 Nyarlathotep Nov 04, 2010 16:43:00	Back when 4e first came out (before the current CB), my wife and I were down to only one car and I usually ended up having to wait at my job for 45 minutes to an hour after work for her to get me. I was bored, so I began writing a character generator in RPG (the language I use at my job) largely because I thought it would be amusing to write something for an RPG in RPG. I never finished it. If I find I don't like the online one, maybe I should find a good AS/400 emulator to use for my computer at home and drag it out. ;)
#23 guest232734764 Nov 04, 2010 17:48:55	There is an easy and cheap alternative to using DDI and the online character builder. 1. Use the current (final) version of the downloadable version of the character builder. 2. Ignore the Essentials line and Dark Sun. 3. Play to your heart's content! You no longer have to buy any more books, you no longer need a DDI subscription, and your characters will still be legal. You will have offline access to all CB content. The only downside, is that you can't use any shiny new feats/powers offered in new books, but since you won't be buying any new books, you won't know to miss them. The other downside is that if I take your advice, and my laptop dies, I lose my CB, and wotc won't let me download it again. Download the program onto a thumb-drive, like folks do with their antivirus programs.
#24 crayne Nov 05, 2010 3:25:33	I think thumb drives are a bit outdated by now. I mean, they are from 1998 right? As i said earlier, simply convert your PC into a virtual PC with VMWare Converter, if you don't want to lose your old CB (though you might want to clean your system from unecessary software before that).
#25 kharmin Nov 05, 2010 9:13:09	There is an easy and cheap alternative to using DDI and the online character builder. 1. Use the current (final) version of the downloadable version of the character builder. 2. Ignore the Essentials line and Dark Sun. 3. Play to your heart's content! You no longer have to buy any more books, you no longer need a DDI subscription, and your characters will still be legal. You will have offline access to all CB content. The only downside, is that you can't use any shiny new feats/powers offered in new books, but since you won't be buying any new books, you won't know to miss them. The other downside is that if I take your advice, and my laptop dies, I lose my CB, and wotc won't let me download it again. Download the program onto a thumb-drive, like folks do with their antivirus programs. The off-line CB won't run from a thumb drive as it writes to the system registry. The application download was only an application launcher that connected back to WotC to download the actual program...something I'm sure they'll turn off. /me shrugs @'s