Over the course of several updates the way in which custom elements are added has greatly improved. I hope that WotC continues to develop the ways in which we can add these elements, as they make the game more enjoyable and help to fix certain situations in which a pre-fabbed element simply wouldn't apply. This is good.
The caveat to all of this is of course the limitations on these custom elements. What WotC has so far failed to realize (or if realized has failed to act upon) is the skill and dedication to the game that a significant portion of their subscribers possess. What I mean is this: like many D&D nerds, I am also a tech geek. When I MUDed in the late 90's, I learned the code implemented by my MUD client to create custom elements. When I played WoW I learned the LUA scripting language for the sole purpose of designing custom modifications.
Put simply, what I am requesting is that WotC release the script their designers use to add new content to the CB, the content that properly assigns bonuses to other things, allows feat prerequisites to be determined and enforced correctly, etc.
So, ergo, if I have a custom race that duplicates the effects of the Dual Heritage racial ability of the half-elf, the Character Builder will correctly show eligible feats without the player having to wade through the entire sea of red that is the "Show Illegal Elements" button. If I have a custom feat similar to Spiked Chain Training that modifies the features of a Scythe when used by that character, the character sheet will properly display the 1d10 Heavy Blade/1d8 Staff in that character's power cards.
I understand that the company fears that the release of such code could pose a security risk to their software rights, allowing users to reverse-engineer the code and thus "crack" the program. While this can be a concern without the implementation of proper security protocols, it is far outweighed by the needs of the community. D&D is meant to be customized, but as it stands now the tools severely cripple the ability to do so for anyone who isn't a WotC developer.
Wizards of the Coast: Your playerbase stands ready and willing to help you improve your software without compensation save the ability to improve their experience. Please use the resources at your disposal, ie. US, particularly when such resources are renewable and cost you nothing. If budget is your bottom line, your accountants will agree that you can't get much better than "free".
Thank you for reading,
/Rant
It's interesting because the difficulty in doing custom elements in the CB has sharply changed the house rules and custom elements (races, feats, paths, etc) that I'm willing to create or consider for a campaign.
It's interesting because the difficulty in doing custom elements in the CB has sharply changed the house rules and custom elements (races, feats, paths, etc) that I'm willing to create or consider for a campaign.
Same here. Now I'm reluctant to allow anything that isn't in the CB.
It's interesting because the difficulty in doing custom elements in the CB has sharply changed the house rules and custom elements (races, feats, paths, etc) that I'm willing to create or consider for a campaign.
Same here. Now I'm reluctant to allow anything that isn't in the CB.
This is one of the most depressing things about the CB. I think it is the number one reason to warrant a third party tool set. If WOTC's DDI tools can't allow for easy integration of the works of other publishers then IMO they aren't serving the larger community. I know I'm on a band wagon here but it should be rectified.
I am currently running a campaign in a world I designed in 3rd edition. I would love to port over the rules to the character builder, but I cannot see a way to do it currently. Here are just a few of the snags I run into:
There are a few additional races I added. I will use the Liontaur for my example. The Liontaur is a breed like the centaur, only it has a lower body like a Lion, and a torso of a human. In 4th addtion, I ruled they have +2 str, +2 wisdom; +2 to Religion, +2 to survival; +1 bonus to Will Defense and +5 bonus to save vs fear; Stand your ground (like the dwarf ability); Courageous Roar power (add +1, +2, +3 (dependent on tier) to all allies in range attack rolls for 1 turn).
Similarly, an issue has come in with a few legacy weapons. For instance, there was a specific weapon called the Trick Blade that was loved by a few rogues, and has gained a reputation. I ruled this to be a +4 short sword that when you critically hit allowed you to make an attack vs will against the target. If successful you teleport 5 squares and are hidden. You leave behind a clone of yourself. You control your clone as if he were yourself; your clone deals the attacks and abilities and what not. The effect ends when the clone takes any damage, or an enemy beats your stealth check.
I would love to add these custom elements into the character builder. Perhaps I just don't know the tool well enough. In the meantime, have my group complains because they do not have the pretty character sheet with the power cards.
It seems to me an easy fix would be to add a power/item/race creator/editor in the adventure tools, and have it import into the character builder. Or put the tool in the character builder directly.
However, just playing devil's advocate here for a second...
Adding in a custom elements creator in the CB would result in a great deal morecomplexity in the programming. When they add an new feat/item/race in now, they know how it interacts (or is supposed to interact) with all of the other data in the character builder. They thus have a very limited set of interactions to deal with. Once you open it up, the number of interactions (and thus the number of places where it could go horribly, horribly wrong) increases dramatically.
This is probably not the place for it, but even something like adding the ability to define a weapon type when creating a custom item using the custom element would go a long way for many uses. Perhaps having a check box to allow us to edit the items properties/ powers using text fields.
Or when creating a custom race using the create custom element, allow the options for us to include bonus languages, stat bonuses, skill bonuses, perhaps weapon proficiencies. Maybe allow us to assign powers from the current list of powers.
I find I tell better stories in examples. In my campaign there are a few gods, and they have churches. There are also those who reject that divinity, and instead worship the elements, and they have their own temples.
Specifically, there is a paladin who worships the Fire element. He has been sent on a mission to retrieve Fire chalice which has been stolen by followers of one of the evil gods in the world. To aid him on his quest, the Fire Temple allows him to use The Purifying Flame, which is their version of a holy avenger.
How I currently do this is scratch off radiant damage and replace it with Fire damage on the properties, and also replace the critical hit spend a healing surge with on critical hit, remove one affect that can end on a saving throw. Scratch off the power that adds +5 to fort, will, and reflex to resist 20 elemental for one turn.
And it doesn't need to be right now or tomorrow - the CB is a great tool as it is. But still, in theory I can't see it as being as hard as to be impossible. Just have simple editable/dropdown menus in the righthand tab (where, right now, only the name and description of the houserule go). Then, it would have to work pretty much like the Monster Builder from the Adventure Tools, ie tabs, dropdowns and what-have-you containing all viable options.
Okay, I realize that "all viable options" is a huge thing, esp. for stuff like feats similar to Versatile Master. But still, these are guys who are being paid to do that kinda stuff - and if I can come up with a string of if-then-strings, they should be having a much easier time with it, seeing as I only ever took basic programming in school.
To the OP: Well, strictly speaking, we're not "free", we're even better - we are actually paying for the eventual privilege of doing what you are suggesting.
So, go better Houseruling options!
Having the option to determine what a power's attack is (wisdom vs fortitude or whatever) and it's Hit damage would be nice, and thus showing what it is modified by equiped items would be lovely, but unlikely.