- +25 Improved printing format options (such as printing in the original character sheet format, print formats that take up far less paper and ink, big print option for the visually impaired, the ability to move elements around on the character sheet, removing unwanted elements and/or pages, etc.)
- +24 Simple house rule option: able to add bonus feat
- +21 Custom item creation option (at least rename existing items and editing rarity)
- +21 Simple house rule option: able add bonus skill
- +19 Custom campaign setting creation (Ability to create/save/import/export custom campaign settings where the DM chooses game elements allowed/disallowed and customizations made (including those from this list and via check-boxes for "Inherent Bonuses", "Themes", and "Background"). This way custom options don't have to be re-selected every time a new character is made.)
- +17 Offline "Live" Character Viewer (A small local applet for computers, smart phones, and tablets. This applet would read an exported CB character file and allow for at table character tracking of Hit Points, Surges, Experience, and Encounter/Daily powers used.)
- +17 Complete house-rule support (ability to completely create and apply custom rule elements.)
- +17 Rename any game element option (races, classes, feats, items, backgrounds, etc.)
- +16 Custom portraits (or at the very least, more portrait options)
- +13 Mobile Character Builder (application to use CB on smart phones, iPads, etc.)
- +8 Cancel application of specific errata option.
- +8 CB usability after wotc ceases support (want to be able to still access and edit our characters and such even after the leap to 5e is made.)
- +8 Storing more than 20 characters capability.
- +8 Improved filters for menus in CB (Such as pick a feat, pick a power, etc.)
- +8 Power Card Options (Changeable format, option to see complete attack and damage calculations, choose which are shown and which aren't, choose which weapon or implement is used, etc.)
- +7 Simple house rule option: able add bonus customizable power
- +7 More concise format option for listing power details than as "cards".
- +6 Bonuses to Skill houserule option
- +3 Editable Deity Names (ie. able to add deities not from an existing 4e list)
- +3 Longer fields for "Companions and Allies," "Mannerisms and Appearance," "Personality Traits," and a place for a Background with an appropriately long field.
- Full stat blocks for Beast Companions
I thought I would make a comprehensive list of features that people want in Character Builder
(or back in Character Builder, for the features we lost in the conversion to the new CB).
Every time someone posts a desired feature, I will add it to the list.
Every time someone +1's a feature, I will move the desired feature to the top of the list and put a tally next to the feature. In this way, I hope to keep Steve White appraised of what is most important to the DDI customer base.
I'll start things off with two features I've seen brought up repeatedly that people want back in CB: the ability to print in the original character sheet format (which took up fewer pages), and the ability to add simple house rules like bonus feats and skills.
PS: I know many of you take this all very personally, but please try to resist trolling, posting flames, etc. I will simply ignore such posts.
The Ability to Rename Race, Class, Deity, Background help tailor elements to particular Setting or Homebrew. If i want to play a Half-Ogre Priest of St-Cuthbert in Greyhawk, i want to be able to turn a Goliath Warpriest of Avandra into one just by changing names.
PS +1 to the 4E Original Character Sheet
I also want a printer-friendly version of the character sheet that dispenses with all the borders and edging and wasted color space that is clear and legible in black and white (color ink is expensive, so unless Wizards wants to supply me with printer cartridges along with my subscription...).
I want the ability to use custom rules and items, and I want the distinction between Common/Uncommon/Rare items to be left entirely in the DM's hands, and to unrestrict access to them in CB. I would also like to be able to save these settings as an option that can be applied to characters, much like a Campaign Setting can be.
I want the ability to store more than 20 characters in the DB without having to rely on the export/import feature and .xml tables. I like designing characters for fun and I want to be able to hang on to them for use later. I also like to keep copies of my players' characters around for reference. CB files aren't (or shouldn't be) big; it can't possibly cost that much more to double our storage space to 40 slots.
I want CB to be fast and reliable with maximum uptime (right now it's not).
I want the CB to have an offline mode. Let me explain this one: I want to be able to load CB and bring up a character while connected to the internet. Then I want to be able to leave the program open and disconnect to travel to a game with no wifi. While I'm at the game, I want to be able to keep that character open and active; I want to be able to use and make alterations to the character sheet (tracking encounters, item expenditures, power usage, experience points, etc) while offline. Then, after the game is over, I want to be able to go home and "re-sync" the character to my database, and I want the version saved online to be updated to relfect the changes I made to it.
And finally, I want to be able to control the errata that gets applied. I'm playing a Cleric right now who is an Angelic Avenger. A pure WIS-based build that wouldn't even know which end of the mace to hold, let alone swing. Angelic Avenger fits my theme and idea for the character very well, and I would rather continue to play the older version of the PP rather than be forced to either rebuild my character mid-tier or deal with a PP that is now useless to me.
- Item Editing. I can do without the ability to add to the glut of feats and powers, but creating custom magic items is a must. I would understand if this was not added directly to the CB if an Item Builder is in the works, but please tell us this if this is the plan.
- Campaign Settings. As in the Classic Character Builder. I want to be able to disallow certain content for players in my campaign. The ability to share these setting with my players through "the cloud" should be the ultimate goal, though an exportable setting file would be acceptable as a temporary solution.
- Offline "Live" Character Viewer. A small local applet for computers, smart phones, and tablets. This applet would read an exported CB character file and allow for at table character tracking of Hit Points, Surges, Experience, and Encounter/Daily powers used.
- Longer fields for "Companions and Allies," "Mannerisms and Appearance," "Personality Traits," and a place for a Background with an appropriately long field.
- Custom Portraits. I understand there may be concern over the illegal use of artwork, and the storage of such artwork on WotC servers. There must be a way to make this work. Either have the application use the blank portrait and look in a local directory at print time, or have some sort of legal contract signed by users of the CB putting sole responsibility for custom artwork on the end user.
I don't necessarily want the original charsheet format back (because let's face it; it was the ugliest, most horribly designed character sheet format I've ever seen from a professional company), but I do want to be able to customize and control the look and layout of the character sheet.
I also want a printer-friendly version of the character sheet that dispenses with all the borders and edging and wasted color space that is clear and legible in black and white (color ink is expensive, so unless Wizards wants to supply me with printer cartridges along with my subscription...).
I want the ability to use custom rules and items, and I want the distinction between Common/Uncommon/Rare items to be left entirely in the DM's hands, and to unrestrict access to them in CB. I would also like to be able to save these settings as an option that can be applied to characters, much like a Campaign Setting can be.
I want the ability to store more than 20 characters in the DB without having to rely on the export/import feature and .xml tables. I like designing characters for fun and I want to be able to hang on to them for use later. I also like to keep copies of my players' characters around for reference. CB files aren't (or shouldn't be) big; it can't possibly cost that much more to double our storage space to 40 slots.
I want CB to be fast and reliable with maximum uptime (right now it's not).
I want the CB to have an offline mode. Let me explain this one: I want to be able to load CB and bring up a character while connected to the internet. Then I want to be able to leave the program open and disconnect to travel to a game with no wifi. While I'm at the game, I want to be able to keep that character open and active; I want to be able to use and make alterations to the character sheet (tracking encounters, item expenditures, power usage, experience points, etc) while offline. Then, after the game is over, I want to be able to go home and "re-sync" the character to my database, and I want the version saved online to be updated to relfect the changes I made to it.
And finally, I want to be able to control the errata that gets applied. I'm playing a Cleric right now who is an Angelic Avenger. A pure WIS-based build that wouldn't even know which end of the mace to hold, let alone swing. Angelic Avenger fits my theme and idea for the character very well, and I would rather continue to play the older version of the PP rather than be forced to either rebuild my character mid-tier or deal with a PP that is now useless to me.
+1 to all of this, seriously.
I have used programs like cutepdf in the past to print the character sheets to pdf to give to my players, or have on hand if I didn't want to wait for the CB to open, or now when I don't have access to Wi-Fi. With the old CB, the sheets were pretty small and manageable. Now, using cutepdf with the online CB, creates sheets that are 6-7000 KB. Pretty annoying and a huge resource hog on an older machine (such as my laptop that I use as my DM screen). In essence, smaller file size.
customize and control the look and layout of the character sheet.
This. Even if it was only the ability to remove unwanted power cards.
This has all been said above, so excuse the repitition, but here is what I'd like to see:
1. Ability to add bonus feat.
2. Ability to add bonus skill.
3. Ability to remane just about anything and have it display that way on your charactersheet. You want a fire wizard? No prob. He's a fire wizard!
4. Offline useable interactive character sheet. Just basic fillable fields for HP, conditions, surges used, action points, milestones, etc.
5. Ability to use DDi tools from my mobile device.
Ability to add custom content would be great. Ability to reorganize character sheet, as well.
One thing I'd love to see would be a more concise format for listing powers. Instead of only showing them as cards, having a page with the main information presented in summary - similar to the old spell lists - could be just as useful while taking up much less space.
Note: when people request something that I feel is similiar enough to an existing request, I just add a + to the request and maybe update the request a bit on the list. This way the list more accurately portrays the collective desirability of each option.
Adding in extra feats/skills is one I definately would like. Being able to add in houserule bonuses to skills would also be great.
A shorter character sheet, that can print off in much fewer pages.
A shorter character sheet, that can print off in much fewer pages.
(2) ability to remove errata that we do not like - for instance, use the old magic missile, old clerics, fighters, etc
(3) allow the character to be used offline without printing in a mobile app like i4e only with all the powers already there.
PS: I know many of you take this all very personally, but please try to resist trolling, posting flames, etc. I will simply ignore such posts.
Edit: It's unlikely they'll raise the 20 character limit. I don't imagine the character files take up that much space on their server, so it's likely a limit engineered in to increase subscriptions. As far as I can tell, they've never even mentioned it as a possibility. Just thoughts.
Flag it with "House rule" or whatever you have to do but please please please allow us to ignore errata as an option at least.
the ability to remove data at errata points. I do not want the new cleric crap sneaking into my game. The trickle down is that if I want to play online I have to use the CB and I have to play by WOTCs rules on the CB.
Flag it with "House rule" or whatever you have to do but please please please allow us to ignore errata as an option at least.
As a programmer I find this to be techinically unlikely. Not because it can't be done, but because the effort required to "make it work" vs. the benefit. For some of the requests I've seen above it is easier just to ask for custom content (previous version of Magic Missile could simple be a "new power" that you add to the builder)
That all said, in my professional opinion these types of requests would be best served being redirected to asking for custom content. User created powers, feats, races, classes, etc.
+8 Improved printing format options (such as printing in the original character sheet format, print formats that take up far less paper and ink, the ability to move elements around on the character sheet, etc.)
+1
the ability to remove data at errata points. I do not want the new cleric crap sneaking into my game. The trickle down is that if I want to play online I have to use the CB and I have to play by WOTCs rules on the CB.
Flag it with "House rule" or whatever you have to do but please please please allow us to ignore errata as an option at least.
As a programmer I find this to be techinically unlikely. Not because it can't be done, but because the effort required to "make it work" vs. the benefit. For some of the requests I've seen above it is easier just to ask for custom content (previous version of Magic Missile could simple be a "new power" that you add to the builder)
That all said, in my professional opinion these types of requests would be best served being redirected to asking for custom content. User created powers, feats, races, classes, etc.
I understand what your saying, but the problem is if the devs are going to continue to make wholesale changes to classes like they did the cleric, it can negatively effect their online tools subscriptions.
It would not really even be too hard, but I am sure they did not start withe the idea of disallowing errata, so there would have to be a programing change. I don't think the company is going to care about doing that at all. I really get the feeling that this is the way they want it.
I support all of these suggested changes.
Adding extra powers and feats are two of my biggest concerns though. (a campaign we were running had a barbarian with Magic Missle due to RP events.)
What I'd want to see in a CB:
1.) Ability to use it offline. I want to be able to update a PC at a game table, even if there is no wireless.
2.) Custom items with at least basic attributes implemented. I want to be able to make a +5 neck item that adds bonuses to defenses. Ideally, I'd like to be able to take an existing item and then alter some text/add text to it. In other words, take a cloak of frogs and add some text that may not be implemented, but have all of the cloak of frogs impacts work as usual.
3.) Allow us to give bonus feats, powers, languages, themes, paragon paths, etc... if we want to do so.
4.) Ability to exclude/hide items from menus. If I know that my ranged ranger with a low strength is never going to use a bunch of melee oriented feats, I'd like to be able to hide them - and if I was wrong be able to unhide them (just like in excel). Also, I'd like to be able to exclude all materials from a given book with just a click.
5.) I want the ability to customize the character sheets.
6.) I want the ability to rewrite the text on powers. If I decide to retool my elven monk into a panther, I'd like the ability rewrite flavor text to match the reskin.
7.) I want pudding. Chocolate. No, make that chocolate mousse.
What we want in (or back in) CB:
- +6 Custom campaign setting creation (able to save options applied and customizations made, including those from this list, so that they don't need to be re-done every time a new character is made, and the ability to easily import/export these custom campaign settings.)
- +6 Simple house rule option: able to add bonus feat
- +6 Simple house rule option: able add bonus skill
- +4 Custom portraits
- +1 Storing more than 20 characters capability.
That's my list of "+1" (Well, actually, excepting custom campaigns, that's my list of basic required functionality that I can't believe is still not implemented)
For the campaign settings, I want what I had in the old one: determine all legal game elements. (Preferably doing renaming there). I'd also like that to support "Inherent Bonuses", "Themes", "Backgrounds" checkboxes
I've not used it since my 1month sub to get the monster builder, but when I last used it it seemed impossible to tell a power card which weapon/implement to use. I'd like that back.
the ability to remove data at errata points. I do not want the new cleric crap sneaking into my game. The trickle down is that if I want to play online I have to use the CB and I have to play by WOTCs rules on the CB.
Flag it with "House rule" or whatever you have to do but please please please allow us to ignore errata as an option at least.
As a programmer I find this to be techinically unlikely. Not because it can't be done, but because the effort required to "make it work" vs. the benefit. For some of the requests I've seen above it is easier just to ask for custom content (previous version of Magic Missile could simple be a "new power" that you add to the builder)
That all said, in my professional opinion these types of requests would be best served being redirected to asking for custom content. User created powers, feats, races, classes, etc.
I understand what your saying, but the problem is if the devs are going to continue to make wholesale changes to classes like they did the cleric, it can negatively effect their online tools subscriptions. It would not really even be too hard, but I am sure they did not start withe the idea of disallowing errata, so there would have to be a programing change. I don't think the company is going to care about doing that at all. I really get the feeling that this is the way they want it.
Let me clarify that I do understand why such a request would be made, but this one feature alone would be MONTHS of development. You're essentially saying "I don't like this rule change so let's get rid of it". The issue is any cascading effect and how granular you want the control to be. For example:
Scenario: Melee Training got errata so that it works with E-classes. You want to let non-E-classes have the original version.
If you want to make just this one change then you need checkboxes for each individual piece of errata (100's? 1000's?). Assuming that each item is easy to do let's go with 1 hour per item and there are 1000 bits of errata then that means we have 1000 man hours or (1000/40) 25 man weeks. Lets further assume they have 3 programmers working on CB, thats (25/3) 8 1/3 weeks or roughly 2 months of dev time with nothing added, no bugs fixed other than this one thing.
If they are going to spend 2 months working on something, let it be the ability to add custom feats, races, powers, etc. and make those work with the builder's math correctly.
the ability to remove data at errata points. I do not want the new cleric crap sneaking into my game. The trickle down is that if I want to play online I have to use the CB and I have to play by WOTCs rules on the CB.
Flag it with "House rule" or whatever you have to do but please please please allow us to ignore errata as an option at least.
As a programmer I find this to be techinically unlikely. Not because it can't be done, but because the effort required to "make it work" vs. the benefit. For some of the requests I've seen above it is easier just to ask for custom content (previous version of Magic Missile could simple be a "new power" that you add to the builder)
That all said, in my professional opinion these types of requests would be best served being redirected to asking for custom content. User created powers, feats, races, classes, etc.
I understand what your saying, but the problem is if the devs are going to continue to make wholesale changes to classes like they did the cleric, it can negatively effect their online tools subscriptions. It would not really even be too hard, but I am sure they did not start withe the idea of disallowing errata, so there would have to be a programing change. I don't think the company is going to care about doing that at all. I really get the feeling that this is the way they want it.
Let me clarify that I do understand why such a request would be made, but this one feature alone would be MONTHS of development. You're essentially saying "I don't like this rule change so let's get rid of it". The issue is any cascading effect and how granular you want the control to be. For example:
Scenario: Melee Training got errata so that it works with E-classes. You want to let non-E-classes have the original version.
If you want to make just this one change then you need checkboxes for each individual piece of errata (100's? 1000's?). Assuming that each item is easy to do let's go with 1 hour per item and there are 1000 bits of errata then that means we have 1000 man hours or (1000/40) 25 man weeks. Lets further assume they have 3 programmers working on CB, thats (25/3) 8 1/3 weeks or roughly 2 months of dev time with nothing added, no bugs fixed other than this one thing.
If they are going to spend 2 months working on something, let it be the ability to add custom feats, races, powers, etc. and make those work with the builder's math correctly.
I say let them work on both. Both of those items would make me resub even with it being online only.
I am not sure the first round needs to be that granular. The first one could be a checkbox for May content and then another one for May errata. I think that would be fine for a lot of people. add the ability for campaign settings where you can change powers and add custom items and elements and the user can add back in the couple of changes that they like.
I think it should be this way because I think it is easier to take away the entire errata and add what you want then to have the entire errata there and change what you don't want, but that is just me. For instance things like the cleric change, I think would be very hard to undo with custom elements.
And yes, I know it is a lot of work and I do not expect this to ever be implemented. I think that at this point, they want you to play the game their way or not use their tools.
Here's some related to cloud storage:
the ability to share characters with other DDI members from the cloud.
the ability to organize characters and tag them or put them into folders
the ability to link to my character sheet directly from the web (even if it's a stripped down version for non DDI subs)
Regarding custom campaigns (a feature requested in the OP):
the ability to store houseruled items (custom weapons, feats and other rules elements) to a campaign setting so that they become available to someone using that campaign setting.
the ability to share campaign settings with other DDI users
For instance things like the cleric change, I think would be very hard to undo with custom elements.
Which Cleric change(s) are you talking about?
I would say that the tools are intended for those playing with all errata. If you want something more than custom content then I'd say you're right in assuming that the tools are not for you. In that vein I'm working on my own tools for my own custom 4e rules with so many changes that I would never expect them to provide tools for it (but enough similarity that I'd prolly get a C&D if I tried to put them online).
OP:
+1 Campaign settings
+1 Custom Items
+1 Custom Rules elements
+1 Printing options
As a programmer I find this to be techinically unlikely. Not because it can't be done, but because the effort required to "make it work" vs. the benefit. For some of the requests I've seen above it is easier just to ask for custom content (previous version of Magic Missile could simple be a "new power" that you add to the builder)
"Technically unlikely" is probably not nearly as accurate as you make it out to be. The functionality was already there. They removed functionality and replaced it with different functionality. It would have been just as easy to add to the functionality initially. If they have actually changed something, then yes, it would be difficult to move backwards. But it is more likely that they have both the old and new in existence and they merely turned the old off and the new on. Being a programmer, you know this would be the best way to implement functionality that is intended to replace another.
If you want to make just this one change then you need checkboxes for each individual piece of errata (100's? 1000's?). Assuming that each item is easy to do let's go with 1 hour per item and there are 1000 bits of errata then that means we have 1000 man hours or (1000/40) 25 man weeks. Lets further assume they have 3 programmers working on CB, thats (25/3) 8 1/3 weeks or roughly 2 months of dev time with nothing added, no bugs fixed other than this one thing.
An "errata preferences" page with a treeview and checkboxes would suffice, stored in its own table, and a wrapper to include/exclude based upon whether it's checked or not. Default values are the latest and greatest errata. If the core data was actually removed or replaced, this would be the part that takes the most considerable amount of time. If they designed it with legacy in mind (which would have been the smart thing to do), they would have kept the data intact and added new data, instructing the software to ignore the old (which would also mean that they already have that wrapper). That's a simplified summary, but hardly the time sink like you described.
But yes, if they basically overwrote everything they did before, just putting in the functionality for house rules would probably be the best solution.
To add to the OP list, I will add a +1 to the need for house rules, as general as that is. Most campaigns have added individual flavor that should be able to be addressed on character sheets.
For instance things like the cleric change, I think would be very hard to undo with custom elements.
Which Cleric change(s) are you talking about?
I would say that the tools are intended for those playing with all errata. If you want something more than custom content then I'd say you're right in assuming that the tools are not for you. In that vein I'm working on my own tools for my own custom 4e rules with so many changes that I would never expect them to provide tools for it (but enough similarity that I'd prolly get a C&D if I tried to put them online).
OP:
+1 Campaign settings
+1 Custom Items
+1 Custom Rules elements
+1 Printing options
I would suggest you read the general forum and the dragon/dungeon forum about the changes when they renamed the cleric to Templar. There are a bunch of people that do not like the changes. If you use the tools, this is a big problem with a change such as this.
I would say that the tools are intended for those playing with all errata. If you want something more than custom content then I'd say you're right in assuming that the tools are not for you. In that vein I'm working on my own tools for my own custom 4e rules with so many changes that I would never expect them to provide tools for it (but enough similarity that I'd prolly get a C&D if I tried to put them online).
OP:
+1 Campaign settings
+1 Custom Items
+1 Custom Rules elements
+1 Printing options
It seems to me that a combination of your first and third items could give "errata optional" capability. Given that everything is held on the servers, why not make all custom rules elements - including "obsolete" versions of "official" elements, available in a "custom elements library"? These would then be selected (or not) using the "Campaign Settings" feature.
I would say that the tools are intended for those playing with all errata. If you want something more than custom content then I'd say you're right in assuming that the tools are not for you. In that vein I'm working on my own tools for my own custom 4e rules with so many changes that I would never expect them to provide tools for it (but enough similarity that I'd prolly get a C&D if I tried to put them online).
OP:
+1 Campaign settings
+1 Custom Items
+1 Custom Rules elements
+1 Printing options
It seems to me that a combination of your first and third items could give "errata optional" capability. Given that everything is held on the servers, why not make all custom rules elements - including "obsolete" versions of "official" elements, available in a "custom elements library"? These would then be selected (or not) using the "Campaign Settings" feature.
The problem I see with this option is making it WotC responsibility to maintain several sets of rules. It makes a lot more sense from just about every perspective I can imagine to put this squarely on the user's shoulders. Don't like the new magic missile? Enter the old one by hand. Don't like what we did with the cleric? Enter the old one by hand.
I think mostly what is being argued here is slight variations on the same opinion. Yes we think the ability to customize is important, we just differ on whose responsibility it should be to provide the data.
I hate that I have to print to .pdf then manually remove repetitive item/power cards from the sheets before I print everything out.
As a programmer I find this to be techinically unlikely. Not because it can't be done, but because the effort required to "make it work" vs. the benefit. For some of the requests I've seen above it is easier just to ask for custom content (previous version of Magic Missile could simple be a "new power" that you add to the builder)
"Technically unlikely" is probably not nearly as accurate as you make it out to be. The functionality was already there. They removed functionality and replaced it with different functionality. It would have been just as easy to add to the functionality initially. If they have actually changed something, then yes, it would be difficult to move backwards. But it is more likely that they have both the old and new in existence and they merely turned the old off and the new on. Being a programmer, you know this would be the best way to implement functionality that is intended to replace another.If you want to make just this one change then you need checkboxes for each individual piece of errata (100's? 1000's?). Assuming that each item is easy to do let's go with 1 hour per item and there are 1000 bits of errata then that means we have 1000 man hours or (1000/40) 25 man weeks. Lets further assume they have 3 programmers working on CB, thats (25/3) 8 1/3 weeks or roughly 2 months of dev time with nothing added, no bugs fixed other than this one thing.
An "errata preferences" page with a treeview and checkboxes would suffice, stored in its own table, and a wrapper to include/exclude based upon whether it's checked or not. Default values are the latest and greatest errata. If the core data was actually removed or replaced, this would be the part that takes the most considerable amount of time. If they designed it with legacy in mind (which would have been the smart thing to do), they would have kept the data intact and added new data, instructing the software to ignore the old (which would also mean that they already have that wrapper). That's a simplified summary, but hardly the time sink like you described.
But yes, if they basically overwrote everything they did before, just putting in the functionality for house rules would probably be the best solution.
To add to the OP list, I will add a +1 to the need for house rules, as general as that is. Most campaigns have added individual flavor that should be able to be addressed on character sheets.
I would say that the tools are intended for those playing with all errata. If you want something more than custom content then I'd say you're right in assuming that the tools are not for you. In that vein I'm working on my own tools for my own custom 4e rules with so many changes that I would never expect them to provide tools for it (but enough similarity that I'd prolly get a C&D if I tried to put them online).
OP:
+1 Campaign settings
+1 Custom Items
+1 Custom Rules elements
+1 Printing options
It seems to me that a combination of your first and third items could give "errata optional" capability. Given that everything is held on the servers, why not make all custom rules elements - including "obsolete" versions of "official" elements, available in a "custom elements library"? These would then be selected (or not) using the "Campaign Settings" feature.
My concern is that there are two types of errata. Rules elements (entries in their database) and Rules logic (the code). I'm advocating against Rules LOGIC changes being made optional.
@ Jharii: You seem to be talking more about data than the code. It's one thing to add elements to the DB (relatively easy), but quite another when you consider that you might be changing how different elements interact and such settings can easily lead to an exponential increase in the complexity of the program and dramatically slow down future development/testing due to all the combinations of things that must be tested.
1) The Alertness Feat adds +2 to perception (it even says this next to the feat on the sheet) but only calculates it as a +1.
2) A fighter with Battlerager Vigor recieves a +1 bonus to damage if wearing chainmail or lower, yet this is not included in the calculations.
These are the only two I noticed but there may well be others. While I understand the CB is a programing feat and difficult to get right (heck, banks have a hard time getting this right) but many players simply rely on what the CB spits out without checking anything themselves.
@ Jharii: You seem to be talking more about data than the code. It's one thing to add elements to the DB (relatively easy), but quite another when you consider that you might be changing how different elements interact and such settings can easily lead to an exponential increase in the complexity of the program and dramatically slow down future development/testing due to all the combinations of things that must be tested.
No, I am talking of both.
Also, you were not talking about "future development." Your example was specifically talking about what it would take to get the existing development back into the software. But even changing the goalposts, I still do not believe that you are accurate:
It would not be an "exponential increase of the program and dramatically slow down future development." The cleric does not have to interact with anything but the cleric. The templar does not have to interact with anything but the templar. It's no different than adding any single class in the software at the present time. Not to mention that if the legacy cleric is now set in stone, it never has to be touched in the software ever again. If I put a button that adds 2 + 2, I don't need to test that button each and every time I add anything into the software. It's an oversimplified version, yes, but essentially it is exactly the same concept if everything is designed properly. Any code that is 100% specific to the cleric is encapsulated in its own entity, held in a class that is designed for all character class one-offs. It is 2 + 2. If it is designed any differently, then that is just very poor design.
I will add this caveat, again, because I have to. I do not have access to the code. I make specific assumptions that since they chose Silverlight, they would naturally use WPF (the UI would indicate that they do, and this is not some great insight or stretch), and that they employ some best practices. All bets are off with my assessment, or anyone's assessment, if everything was designed poorly.
So Kenjoon, do you work for a company with a lot of developers on staff or for a company than only has a couple/few?
I will add this caveat, again, because I have to. I do not have access to the code. I make specific assumptions that since they chose Silverlight, they would naturally use WPF (the UI would indicate that they do, and this is not some great insight or stretch), and that they employ some best practices. All bets are off with my assessment, or anyone's assessment, if everything was designed poorly.
From the information I have been able to obtain, previous practice was to simply overwrite the original material with the corrected material; old / incorrect rules were not retained in the data available to the character builder. However, rules interactions are separate from rules content now, as I understand, so it could be somewhat more flexible.
@ Jharii: You seem to be talking more about data than the code. It's one thing to add elements to the DB (relatively easy), but quite another when you consider that you might be changing how different elements interact and such settings can easily lead to an exponential increase in the complexity of the program and dramatically slow down future development/testing due to all the combinations of things that must be tested.
No, I am talking of both.
Also, you were not talking about "future development." Your example was specifically talking about what it would take to get the existing development back into the software. But even changing the goalposts, I still do not believe that you are accurate:
It would not be an "exponential increase of the program and dramatically slow down future development." The cleric does not have to interact with anything but the cleric. The templar does not have to interact with anything but the templar. It's no different than adding any single class in the software at the present time. Not to mention that if the legacy cleric is now set in stone, it never has to be touched in the software ever again. If I put a button that adds 2 + 2, I don't need to test that button each and every time I add anything into the software. It's an oversimplified version, yes, but essentially it is exactly the same concept if everything is designed properly. Any code that is 100% specific to the cleric is encapsulated in its own entity, held in a class that is designed for all character class one-offs. It is 2 + 2. If it is designed any differently, then that is just very poor design.
I will add this caveat, again, because I have to. I do not have access to the code. I make specific assumptions that since they chose Silverlight, they would naturally use WPF (the UI would indicate that they do, and this is not some great insight or stretch), and that they employ some best practices. All bets are off with my assessment, or anyone's assessment, if everything was designed poorly.
So Kenjoon, do you work for a company with a lot of developers on staff or for a company than only has a couple/few?
Depends on your definition of "few". There are 6 counting myself and we don't have any WPF projects. Our stuff is C/C++ and Windows Forms as opposed to WPF as well as the C/C++ being cross platform (Windows, Mac, Linux, and several others). I can think of many "best practices" that we don't follow and should (but I don't have any control over any of that).
That doesn't even matter too much for what I'm talking about. Just go refresh yourself on the math of combinations and permutations. Every time you add an option to change those interaction rules you're multiplying those interactions both with each other and with all the game elements that will be effected by those changes. I apologize for what seems like moving the goalposts, but it is what I had in mind specifically and apparently did not communicate it accurately.
General formulas:
n^r
n!
n!/(n-r)!
(and a link: www.mathsisfun.com/combinatorics/combina...)
Plus there are mechanics I don't know the details of. I made a human fighter (called something else now, is that from Essentials? I have no idea) and it gave him Heroic Effort from some Heroes sourcebook I don't own and have never read.
A character generation that doesn't let me use the rules I actually want to use doesn't do me much good.
Simply put, in about thirty years of DnD I have never seen a table or group that didn't have at least some houserules, which makes the complete inability for the online CB to support houserules (extra/fewer feats, houseruled feats, extra/fewer powers, houseruled powers, etc) completely unacceptable.
-Polaris
Depends on your definition of "few". There are 6 counting myself and we don't have any WPF projects. Our stuff is C/C++ and Windows Forms as opposed to WPF as well as the C/C++ being cross platform (Windows, Mac, Linux, and several others). I can think of many "best practices" that we don't follow and should (but I don't have any control over any of that).
That doesn't even matter too much for what I'm talking about. Just go refresh yourself on the math of combinations and permutations. Every time you add an option to change those interaction rules you're multiplying those interactions both with each other and with all the game elements that will be effected by those changes. I apologize for what seems like moving the goalposts, but it is what I had in mind specifically and apparently did not communicate it accurately.
General formulas:
n^r
n!
n!/(n-r)!
(and a link: www.mathsisfun.com/combinatorics/combina...)
Those formulae are not directly relevant. If you went with the straight formulae, a character builder would never be complete. The entire purpose of programming is specifically so the software handles those permutations. If a bug is encountered, you troubleshoot it and fix it. The monster/encounter editor I am working on allows you to select any power from the entire list of monster powers (if you so choose) and attach it to any monster/trap/hazard. This does not mean that I have to test each and every power for each and every monster/trap/hazard to see if it attaches and calculates the relevant scores correctly. That's the code's job. Particularly in a database-heavy program such as the character builder. Calculations are minimal and are very basic.
And no, the size of your development staff is not relevant to what you are talking about. But it is relevant to why you are talking about it. A smaller department is more prone to ensuring that people on the outside are kept on the outside. Developers are already notorious for "Scottie" time estimations for project resolutions. Whatever they tell you, divide by two, and that is probably more accurate an estimation of when something should get done. I currently work directly with about a dozen development staffs and only one of them is open and honest about project timelines. All the others try to give a song and dance about how difficult and time consuming the project is, but the honest one is working on the same project and does the same job in a fraction of the time. I am not saying your dev staff is the same way, just that it is very common.
Bottom line, I guess we agree to disagree. And as I have mentioned, it is entirely dependant on the foundation and structure of the program. If they built it right from the ground up, maintaining legacy data should be simple. Considering WotC can reverse errata at any given time, it should already be implemented.
Those formulae are not directly relevant. If you went with the straight formulae, a character builder would never be complete. The entire purpose of programming is specifically so the software handles those permutations. If a bug is encountered, you troubleshoot it and fix it. The monster/encounter editor I am working on allows you to select any power from the entire list of monster powers (if you so choose) and attach it to any monster/trap/hazard. This does not mean that I have to test each and every power for each and every monster/trap/hazard to see if it attaches and calculates the relevant scores correctly. That's the code's job. Particularly in a database-heavy program such as the character builder. Calculations are minimal and are very basic.
No, but you need to test a few AND if you have branches in the code based on which bits of errata you have turned on or off then you have to test a few for each logic branch. I thought I was pretty clear in my previous post that it's the combination of (any) DB elements and logic elements that cause the multiplicative effect. Every branch of the logic needs tested for a group of elements that is effected by that logic branch.
For reference, the monster builder won't run afoul of these issues because it's logic is much more simple and straight forward. I could probably do my own monster builder in a few days if I put some effort into it. Granted it wouldn't be pretty like the WotC one, but it would be functional. At it's most basic there are some simple formulas that drive the MB and those things don't change. Average damage = x+level, average defense is y+level, to hit is z+level vs AC and z+level-2 vs. NADs, HPs are based on creature type (solo, elite, brute, skirmisher, artillery, etc.) and level. None of those formulas change (ever) because the monster has feat X or ability Y like with PCs.
And no, the size of your development staff is not relevant to what you are talking about. But it is relevant to why you are talking about it. A smaller department is more prone to ensuring that people on the outside are kept on the outside. Developers are already notorious for "Scottie" time estimations for project resolutions. Whatever they tell you, divide by two, and that is probably more accurate an estimation of when something should get done. I currently work directly with about a dozen development staffs and only one of them is open and honest about project timelines. All the others try to give a song and dance about how difficult and time consuming the project is, but the honest one is working on the same project and does the same job in a fraction of the time. I am not saying your dev staff is the same way, just that it is very common.
Bottom line, I guess we agree to disagree. And as I have mentioned, it is entirely dependant on the foundation and structure of the program. If they built it right from the ground up, maintaining legacy data should be simple. Considering WotC can reverse errata at any given time, it should already be implemented.
I'm not the project manager and I don't have anything to do with outside contacts so time estimations aren't my thing, other than using my experience of how long it takes us (me) to get things done and extrapolating from that how long I think it should take WotC to do something. I have nothing to gain or lose by "purposely guessing wrong" (other than my own personal credibility). I understand where you're coming from on this, but you can't compare an estimate provided to you by a business partner to something provided here. There are business consequences if one of your development teams "guesses wrong" and in business it is always better to under-promise and over-deliver than to over-promise and under-deliver (although I expect you to accept that as a truism).
I understand where you're coming from on this, but you can't compare an estimate provided to you by a business partner to something provided here. There are business consequences if one of your development teams "guesses wrong" and in business it is always better to under-promise and over-deliver than to over-promise and under-deliver (although I expect you to accept that as a truism).
My comparison is no more or less relevant than your comparison. It is real-world experience and application of a related topic. I already covered the bold part, the difference is that developers tend to take this to extremes. The truth, most assuredly, resides somewhere in between our scenarios.
Simply put, in about thirty years of DnD I have never seen a table or group that didn't have at least some houserules, which makes the complete inability for the online CB to support houserules (extra/fewer feats, houseruled feats, extra/fewer powers, houseruled powers, etc) completely unacceptable.
QFT.
Jharii, I'm also a software developer (although mostly a systems programmer/network server specialist), and my knee jerk suspection matches Kenjoon's. That is, I spect having to support errata toggled on/off ad-hoc WILL cause ripple effects that turn into combinatorial explosion.
Have you looked at the data format? Things are not as isolated as one would prefer
Have you looked at the data format? Things are not as isolated as one would prefer
Like I have said, if everything has been designed poorly, all bets are off. And this being a new product developed with new(er) technology, there really would be no excuse for that. Believe me, I am a jaded customer, and have been for months. I'm a novice programmer, though, and I even know well enough to keep everything very flexible and modular. So maybe I am giving them my last benefit of the doubt on this one, or at least some wishful thinking.
Either way, it's not even relevant unless Wizards makes the decision to support legacy rules in their software.
What we want in (or back in) CB:(More to come as you, the people, post them!)
- +9 Custom item creation option (at least rename existing items and editing rarity)
- +8 Improved printing format options (such as printing in the original character sheet format, print formats that take up far less paper and ink, the ability to move elements around on the character sheet, etc.)
- +6 Custom campaign setting creation (able to save options applied and customizations made, including those from this list, so that they don't need to be re-done every time a new character is made, and the ability to easily import/export these custom campaign settings.)
- +6 Offline "Live" Character Viewer. (A small local applet for computers, smart phones, and tablets. This applet would read an exported CB character file and allow for at table character tracking of Hit Points, Surges, Experience, and Encounter/Daily powers used.)
- +6 Simple house rule option: able to add bonus feat
- +6 Simple house rule option: able add bonus skill
- +5 Rename any game element option (races, classes, feats, items, backgrounds, etc.)
- +4 Custom portraits
- +3 Complete house-rule support (ability to completely create and apply custom rule elements.)
- +2 Cancel application of specific errata option.
- +1 Storing more than 20 characters capability.
- +1 CB usability after wotc ceases support (want to be able to still access and edit our characters and such even after the leap to 5e is made.)
- +1 More consise format option for listing power details than as "cards".
- +1 Bonuses to Skill houserule option
- Longer fields for "Companions and Allies," "Mannerisms and Appearance," "Personality Traits," and a place for a Background with an appropriately long field.
- Mobile CB (Ability to use CB on mobile devices.)
I thought I would make a comprehensive list of features that people want in Character Builder
(or back in Character Builder, for the features we lost in the conversion to the new CB).
Every time someone posts a desired feature, I will add it to the list.
Every time someone +1's a feature, I will move the desired feature to the top of the list and put a tally next to the feature. In this way, I hope to keep Steve White appraised of what is most important to the DDI customer base.
I'll start things off with two features I've seen brought up repeatedly that people want back in CB: the ability to print in the original character sheet format (which took up fewer pages), and the ability to add simple house rules like bonus feats and skills.
PS: I know many of you take this all very personally, but please try to resist trolling, posting flames, etc. I will simply ignore such posts.
iPad app
iPad app
Mobile CB, specially iPad app.
A Mobile Character Sheet Viewer/Editor for in game use would be nice too. Besides the Mobile CB, an "sub-app" that you could use in a game session, with editable fields for Hit Points, surges, items, XP...
1. the power cards are in incredably small text and if you have bad eyesight (i dont but one some of my players do) cant read it, this is even a bigger problem with psionic classes, whose power cards have a ton listed on them.
2. the power cards will not list the full name of a power it will insted list the first few letters or word and ... which has been confusing for a few characters.
3. allow you to look at weapons/armor your not proficiant in, this is needed to look at the weapon you may want, it was alot easier with the old builder i think the same flexibility would be a good idea
4. more art for the "other races" only 1 or 2 portraits for some of the races is not cool, more should be made.
the character builder needs a few reworks
1. the power cards are in incredably small text and if you have bad eyesight (i dont but one some of my players do) cant read it, this is even a bigger problem with psionic classes, whose power cards have a ton listed on them.
Thanks undeadpool for bringing that up. I forgot to. I have this problem... I have a very bad eyesight and the text on the power cards "kill"me.
- A character sheet layout which looks like the original CB character sheet. I dislike both options in the current version.
- Ability to customize the character sheet layout.
- Ability to enter the name of a deity not in the list (i.e., if your campaign doesn't use any of the 4E deity lists, AFAICT, you're stuck)
- A character sheet which isn't so enormous when printed. I print to PDF so I can place my character sheets on my iPad, and they currently come in at about 15 MB, or about an order of magnitude larger than the character sheets from the old program.
- Custom character portraits.
I would like to be able to print a single page at a time or odd/even pages for double-sided printing. Right now this does not work and I am forced to print to pdf and then print individual pages from the pdf.
I would like to see complete attack and damage calculations for each power I have.
I would like greater granularity as to which power cards I want to see, including class features and alternate weapons.
I would like to change the look of the power cards and even to have community-submitted designs.
I want to be able to import my own PC image.
Thanks for gathering these, Gadren!
- Useable off-line. You don't always have internet.
- Allow for addition of user-designed content (house rules, custom items, classes, races, etc).
- Allow for 'banning' of specific elements.
- Allow for 'rolling back' the rule-set to a point in time, in terms of both errata/updates and new content.
- Allow the character sheet to be customized, including condensing it down to fewer pages, adjusting font sizes, order and choice of power cards, and using image files for character art.
- Allow the DM to create a 'campaign spec' that can be sent to players so they can create campaign-legal characters that are noted as such on the sheet.
- A character sheet which isn't so enormous when printed. I print to PDF so I can place my character sheets on my iPad, and they currently come in at about 15 MB, or about an order of magnitude larger than the character sheets from the old program.
This is pretty ridiculous. There is absolutely no reason for it.
The old CB produced PDFs measured in kilobytes. The one I am currently using is 131 kb.
Ability to move elements around on the character sheet, I want to be albe to organize powers
Custom campaign setting creation (able to save options applied and customizations made, including those from this list, so that they don't need to be re-done every time a new character is made, and the ability to easily import/export these custom campaign settings.)
Simple house rule option: able to add bonus feat
Simple house rule option: able add bonus skill
Rename any game element option (races, classes, feats, items, backgrounds, etc.)
Complete house-rule support (ability to completely create and apply custom rule elements.)
Cancel application of specific errata option.
Storing more than 20 characters capability.
CB usability after wotc ceases support (want to be able to still access and edit our characters and such even after the leap to 5e is made.
Bonuses to Skill houserule option
a place for a Background with an appropriately long field.
Mobile CB (Ability to use CB on mobile devices.)
But the things I want the most, more characters slots, and houserules for everything, including turning bak the clock on errata.
As a DM I would love to be able to see other party members. So I log into my CB and "Friend" with your account, now I can see your character, and when Im selecting my skills I know that you have most of them, but no one in the party has heal. Also it would let the DM see all of the players characters, and send out house rules from one account to another.
I as a DM could create a homebrew world and when you go to create a character it would be in your worlds list along with Dark Sun and Eberron and the others.
Its a simple concept allowing for a bit of social interaction in a social game!
What we want in (or back in) CB:Custom item creation option (at least rename existing items and editing rarity)
Complete house-rule support (ability to completely create and apply custom rule elements)
Bonuses to Skill houserule option
Add my vote on these two items. I'm playing in a homebrewed campaign with DM created items. The inability to show these items on my character sheet is a complete PITA.
A similar thing would be the ability to edit powers/weapon descriptions to be able to add my own notes about attack and damage bonuses. Having to pencil in a bunch of stuff everytime I update my character and print a new version is annoying.
I would like to be able to print a single page at a time or odd/even pages for double-sided printing. Right now this does not work and I am forced to print to pdf and then print individual pages from the pdf.
I would like to see complete attack and damage calculations for each power I have.
Agreed.
I would like to be able to print a single page at a time or odd/even pages for double-sided printing. Right now this does not work and I am forced to print to pdf and then print individual pages from the pdf.
I can currently do double-sided printing with the OCB just fine right now. With the printer selected hit preference and in my options I can choose manual for print on both sides, this though depends on your printer software I think. Further more, just on the print screen, not going into any options or preferences I can choose to print whatever pages I want.
Great idea this thread but do we have any clue at all if WotC are reading it and more importantly taking any notice of it?
Blakey
I would like to be able to print a single page at a time or odd/even pages for double-sided printing. Right now this does not work and I am forced to print to pdf and then print individual pages from the pdf.
I can currently do double-sided printing with the OCB just fine right now. With the printer selected hit preference and in my options I can choose manual for print on both sides, this though depends on your printer software I think. Further more, just on the print screen, not going into any options or preferences I can choose to print whatever pages I want.
If I print just page 1, that works fine. However, doing this seems to somehow break individual page printing. If I now go and try to print page 3 it seems to spool (the printer icon shows up in the taskbar) but no job is sent and nothing prints. I basically have to reboot to then print an individual page. I checked and others have seen this as well. They recommended printing the entire thing to pdf, then printing the individual pages I want. That's a silly workaround!
I can handle all the other limitations and bugs and quirks and slowness of the program, but what I can't handle is not being able to use my own damn portrait. I have a database on my computer of almost 2,000 images specifically for character portraits because to me, a picture paints a thousand words. I always make a significant effort to find exactly the right picture for my character.
What's worse is that 90% of the portraits in the CB are of really low quality
I'd also like to suggest being able to include an entire page devoted to a character portrait. The small view on the front is nice, but I like to be able to show everyone at the table a nice big picture of what my character looks like so that everyone's minds-eye image is all that much more fun at the table (and vice versa, I like other players to do the same for their characters).
+1 character portraits.
I can handle all the other limitations and bugs and quirks and slowness of the program, but what I can't handle is not being able to use my own damn portrait. I have a database on my computer of almost 2,000 images specifically for character portraits because to me, a picture paints a thousand words. I always make a significant effort to find exactly the right picture for my character.
What's worse is that 90% of the portraits in the CB are of really low quality
I'd also like to suggest being able to include an entire page devoted to a character portrait. The small view on the front is nice, but I like to be able to show everyone at the table a nice big picture of what my character looks like so that everyone's minds-eye image is all that much more fun at the table (and vice versa, I like other players to do the same for their characters).
Set your portrait to the "blank" option and print out whatever picture you want full page separately. There is no particular reason for the built in images to be high quality (think high rez = larger file size) because that will just make loading them that much slower when you want to change/pick yours.
+1 character portraits.
I can handle all the other limitations and bugs and quirks and slowness of the program, but what I can't handle is not being able to use my own damn portrait. I have a database on my computer of almost 2,000 images specifically for character portraits because to me, a picture paints a thousand words. I always make a significant effort to find exactly the right picture for my character.
What's worse is that 90% of the portraits in the CB are of really low quality
I'd also like to suggest being able to include an entire page devoted to a character portrait. The small view on the front is nice, but I like to be able to show everyone at the table a nice big picture of what my character looks like so that everyone's minds-eye image is all that much more fun at the table (and vice versa, I like other players to do the same for their characters).
Set your portrait to the "blank" option and print out whatever picture you want full page separately. There is no particular reason for the built in images to be high quality (think high rez = larger file size) because that will just make loading them that much slower when you want to change/pick yours.
Wow, gee, I hadn't thought of any of that. You're brilliant. Really, your brain should be imaged and pictures put up in a museum for all to admire. I bet women swoon when you walk by. I'm so glad you replied to my post, otherwise I might never have been the benefactor of your wisdom.
My personal want is a Calculations page. I know they said they would do this but just chucking a reminder out there. I want an additional page added to the Character Sheet that displays all bonuses adding up to equal AC, Fort, Melee Attack bonus, Ranged Attack Bonus, Arcana, Bluff, Etc!
- I'd also like the ability to view ALL feats even if I'm not eligable for them, to see what I need to get it.
- I'd like to change my level with a drop down menu similiar to when you start your first character. I don't particularly like the interaction by clicking the botton 5+ times to level up my character to 12 for whatever reason.
- And finally, to add on the the Items thing, I'd love to be able to remove items from my inventory without having to go into the Marketplace.
+6 Custom campaign setting creation (able to save options applied and customizations made, including those from this list, so that they don't need to be re-done every time a new character is made, and the ability to easily import/export these custom campaign settings.) +6 Simple house rule option: able to add bonus feat +6 Simple house rule option: able add bonus skill
+1 to these. (Bonus Feat if I have to pick just one).
Wow, gee, I hadn't thought of any of that. You're brilliant. Really, your brain should be imaged and pictures put up in a museum for all to admire. I bet women swoon when you walk by. I'm so glad you replied to my post, otherwise I might never have been the benefactor of your wisdom.
Or, you could be polite when someone tries to help. Kenjoon is one of the forum posters that consistently tries to offer help to people that are new. You have 8 posts. It would be great if your participation beyond that would contribute to these forums being a better place.
Wow, gee, I hadn't thought of any of that. You're brilliant. Really, your brain should be imaged and pictures put up in a museum for all to admire. I bet women swoon when you walk by. I'm so glad you replied to my post, otherwise I might never have been the benefactor of your wisdom.
Or, you could be polite when someone tries to help. Kenjoon is one of the forum posters that consistently tries to offer help to people that are new. You have 8 posts. It would be great if your participation beyond that would contribute to these forums being a better place.
Thanks for that Alpha. On a side note I can't think of any reason for WotC to "reinvent the wheel". Software tools already exist to print full page pictures so integrating such funtionality into CB seems like a waste of effort.
Thanks for putting this thread together.
Great idea this thread but do we have any clue at all if WotC are reading it and more importantly taking any notice of it?
Yep. We're pointing many people at it. Thanks for all the suggestions.
Steve
+1 character portraits.
I can handle all the other limitations and bugs and quirks and slowness of the program, but what I can't handle is not being able to use my own damn portrait. I have a database on my computer of almost 2,000 images specifically for character portraits because to me, a picture paints a thousand words. I always make a significant effort to find exactly the right picture for my character.
What's worse is that 90% of the portraits in the CB are of really low quality
I'd also like to suggest being able to include an entire page devoted to a character portrait. The small view on the front is nice, but I like to be able to show everyone at the table a nice big picture of what my character looks like so that everyone's minds-eye image is all that much more fun at the table (and vice versa, I like other players to do the same for their characters).
Set your portrait to the "blank" option and print out whatever picture you want full page separately. There is no particular reason for the built in images to be high quality (think high rez = larger file size) because that will just make loading them that much slower when you want to change/pick yours.
Wow, gee, I hadn't thought of any of that. You're brilliant. Really, your brain should be imaged and pictures put up in a museum for all to admire. I bet women swoon when you walk by. I'm so glad you replied to my post, otherwise I might never have been the benefactor of your wisdom.
Hey you're the one complaining about an issue with an incredibly simple workaround. You can't really blame us for assuming you don't know how to do it.
Or, you could be polite when someone tries to help. Kenjoon is one of the forum posters that consistently tries to offer help to people that are new. You have 8 posts. It would be great if your participation beyond that would contribute to these forums being a better place.
Kenjoon wasn't being helpful. He made an entirely redundant comment in a thread that is meant for people to post suggestions for features they want to see implemented. Critiques on those suggestions are what is rude, and furthermore to make a suggestion that is so patently and absurdly obvious is insulting. As far as I'm concerned, he owes me an apology.
Or, you could be polite when someone tries to help. Kenjoon is one of the forum posters that consistently tries to offer help to people that are new. You have 8 posts. It would be great if your participation beyond that would contribute to these forums being a better place.
Kenjoon wasn't being helpful. He made an entirely redundant comment in a thread that is meant for people to post suggestions for features they want to see implemented. Critiques on those suggestions are what is rude, and furthermore to make a suggestion that is so patently and absurdly obvious is insulting. As far as I'm concerned, he owes me an apology.
You are way out of line. Kenjoon did not critique anything. He offered a legitamite suggestion. Grow up a little or a lot. Your choice. And you are the one that owes Kenjoon an apology.
You are way out of line. Kenjoon did not critique anything. He offered a legitamite suggestion. Grow up a little or a lot. Your choice. And you are the one that owes Kenjoon an apology.
If I want the option to put pink polka dots as a border around my character sheet and post that as a suggestion in this thread, then it is a legitimate suggestion. When someone comes in and basically says, "Your suggestion is stupid, do this instead," that's a critique and an insulting one. There are lines; read between them.
Oh, and I've been posting in this community since before WotC owned D&D, this is simply a new nick because of email issues with my previous account.
You are way out of line. Kenjoon did not critique anything. He offered a legitamite suggestion. Grow up a little or a lot. Your choice. And you are the one that owes Kenjoon an apology.
If I want the option to put pink polka dots as a border around my character sheet and post that as a suggestion in this thread, then it is a legitimate suggestion. When someone comes in and basically says, "Your suggestion is stupid, do this instead," that's a critique and an insulting one. There are lines; read between them.
Nowhere did anyone come close to insinuating that your suggestion was stupid. There was no opinion whatsoever on your suggestion. There was only an alternate suggestion. Go ahead. Read it again.
Sometimes when you read between the lines, you read too much into it. This is one such time. Hell, there isn't even an ounce of condescension in Kenjoon's post.
Set your portrait to the "blank" option and print out whatever picture you want full page separately. There is no particular reason for the built in images to be high quality (think high rez = larger file size) because that will just make loading them that much slower when you want to change/pick yours.
I really think you need to reconsider that you may have overreacted on this one.
Please keep your posts polite, respectful, and on-topic, and refrain from making personal attacks.
Thank you.
ORC_Chaos
When someone comes in and basically says, "Your suggestion is stupid, do this instead," that's a critique and an insulting one. There are lines; read between them.
If kenjoon wants to say your suggestion is stupid, believe me he will come right out and say "your suggestion is stupid." He is not someone to mince words in my experience. You are most definitely reading in something that was not there, and overreacting in a big, big way.
When someone comes in and basically says, "Your suggestion is stupid, do this instead," that's a critique and an insulting one. There are lines; read between them.
If kenjoon wants to say your suggestion is stupid, believe me he will come right out and say "your suggestion is stupid." He is not someone to mince words in my experience. You are most definitely reading in something that was not there, and overreacting in a big, big way.
Exactly. Heck, I'll even take that a step further.
I can just about guarantee you that Kenjoon saw the low post count, the new join date, and gave him the benefit of the doubt that it wasn't a troll post and went out of his way to be as polite and helpful as he could be.
I didn't even see a drop of condescension from Kenjoon's post.
- The ability to create custom campaigns that limit races, classes or sub-classes, feats, and other game elements.
- Character sheet customization.
- House rule feature to allow adding new items, bonus feats, etc.
Improved printing format options (such as printing in the original character sheet format, print formats that take up far less paper and ink, the ability to move elements around on the character sheet, etc.)
Simple house rule option: able add bonus skill
Custom item creation option (at least rename existing items and editing rarity)
Rename any game element option (races, classes, feats, items, backgrounds, etc.)
Custom portraits
Storing more than 20 characters capability.
CB usability after wotc ceases support (want to be able to still access and edit our characters and such even after the leap to 5e is made.)
More consise format option for listing power details than as "cards".
Like so many of the above, I want the ability to add additonal options to characters. Like an extra feat (such as giving the math fix feats free) or skill or even an extra power.
As someone who strongly supports and uses reflavouring, it would be excellent to be able to rename powers and/or rewrite the flavour text on the cards.
iPad support would be awesome. Even if it was limited to a "Character Sheet Viewer".
I think I'd like a promise of this as well. If 5e is good people will want to play, they shouldn't have to discourage people from using the old content. And even if you love the inevitable 5e, sometimes you want to take a trip down memory lane: playing a familiar character, finishing an unfinished campaign, or toying with a beloved ruleset.
As someone who strongly supports and uses reflavouring, it would be excellent to be able to rename powers and/or rewrite the flavour text on the cards.
iPad support would be awesome. Even if it was limited to a "Character Sheet Viewer".
"usability after wotc ceases support (want to be able to still access and edit our characters and such even after the leap to 5e is made.)"
I think I'd like a promise of this as well. If 5e is good people will want to play, they shouldn't have to discourage people from using the old content. And even if you love the inevitable 5e, sometimes you want to take a trip down memory lane: playing a familiar character, finishing an unfinished campaign, or toying with a beloved ruleset.
Well, I want Character builder to have the alternate stats they wrote about
in dragon a BILLION YEARS AGO. WHERE THE *BLANK* ARE THEY?
(yes, I am well aware it was earlier this year.)
But hey, since I am not getting anything player side anymore,
and I never really got anything DM side out of Dungeons since they got
rid of the steal this hook.
Who cares? Players only make up (roughly) 1/4th of any game D&D.
My DDI is over now anyway.
Put more DM stuff in Dragon. That will keep all of my friends from ending their subscriptions...
Stock is going up in indie magazines & podcasts, since they do this stuff for free.
Also, I don't have to put up with this................................................................
Oh sorry fixed
iPad support would be awesome. Even if it was limited to a "Character Sheet Viewer".
www.cmswire.com/cms/enterprise-20/silver...
That... will be awesome!
(I just have to go the radiologist again tomorrow and will probably be mostly unavailable for a couple days but come the weekend I should be on this.)
Updated the list. Please keep the input coming!
Also, please keep on-topic!
(Note: I think it's WolfStar76 who had started a directed discussion thread in the CB forum, but the duplication is good.)
One thing I liked about CBC was
1) the ability to customize your character sheet into something wonferfully compact (2 pages, then powers) and
2) the ability to use a custom protrait
Updated the list. Please keep the input coming!
Also, please keep on-topic!
Were my requested features not worth mentioning? :p
- Houseruled feats
- Custom item creation, editting, renaming (I imported my old sheet from the old CB and there are items in there that I cannot even delete)
- Ability to print single pages
- Ability to hide cards
- Full companion stat blocks
- Attack cards for summoned creatures
- Custom portaits
- Offline character viewer and/or mobile character viewer
- Ability for power swap powers (from feat, Adept Power) to stay in character sheet after character is saved. Currently, if I take Adept Power swap with my invoker to swap out my Level 5 Blade of Vengeance (or any other Level 5 daily) to Druid Level 1 Summon Giant Toad, it shows up in the character sheet when I initially do it, but reverts back to Blade of Vengeance after I save.
- Longer fields for fluff boxes (Companions and Allies, etc)
- Bigger text box for journaling the accounts of the campaign sessions and adventure (I think someone else mentioned this, but I couldn't find it again)
To anyone with complaints that I didn't add your suggestion. I most likely added a +1 to a suggestion that was already on the list that included what you requested.
Not exactly... I had two requests that were expressed in lengthy prose. Reexpressing more succinctly:
- Campaign settings to support "Inherent Bonuses", "Themes", and "Background" checkboxes.
- Ability to choose which weapon/implement is used for any given power card.
("Harper" and "themes" are differences in kind, and should be treated differently. They are not in the off-line builder, so this is new functionality I'm requesting, to be integrated in with the existing old functionality that needs to be resurfaced.
Choosing which implement/weapon is something that could be listed in "customizing cards", and is just resurfaced old functionality)
To anyone with complaints that I didn't add your suggestion. I most likely added a +1 to a suggestion that was already on the list that included what you requested.
Not exactly... I had two requests that were expressed in lengthy prose. Reexpressing more succinctly:Neither was included except via "and etc."
- Campaign settings to support "Inherent Bonuses", "Themes", and "Background" checkboxes.
- Ability to choose which weapon/implement is used for any given power card.
("Harper" and "themes" are differences in kind, and should be treated differently. They are not in the off-line builder, so this is new functionality I'm requesting, to be integrated in with the existing old functionality that needs to be resurfaced.
Choosing which implement/weapon is something that could be listed in "customizing cards", and is just resurfaced old functionality)
Since you were kind enough to reword it succinctly for me, I made sure that these are more clearly expressed in the list.
- Ability to print single pages
You should already be able to do this in your print dialog.
- Offline character viewer and/or mobile character viewer
google iPlay4e. With stuff like this, similar apps being produced by WotC will probably be very low priority.
- Print first page. It prints.
- Now try to print just page 3. It seems to start some process, but nothing ever reaches the printer.
Not sure if we still have the issue of the overall file size for printing. I've seen that also mentioned as an issue for some.
As I've written before (and it isn't on the main list), printing single pages does not work beyond page one or a first iteration. I experience this consistently:I asked on Twitter and others had this problem. The workaround was to print the entire file to pdf, then print selected pages from the pdf to my printer. That's something that needs to be fixed.
- Print first page. It prints.
- Now try to print just page 3. It seems to start some process, but nothing ever reaches the printer.
Not sure if we still have the issue of the overall file size for printing. I've seen that also mentioned as an issue for some.
I haven't seen this before Alpha...I'll have to check it out.
As I've written before (and it isn't on the main list), printing single pages does not work beyond page one or a first iteration. I experience this consistently:I asked on Twitter and others had this problem. The workaround was to print the entire file to pdf, then print selected pages from the pdf to my printer. That's something that needs to be fixed.
- Print first page. It prints.
- Now try to print just page 3. It seems to start some process, but nothing ever reaches the printer.
Not sure if we still have the issue of the overall file size for printing. I've seen that also mentioned as an issue for some.
Yes, exactly this. I didn't spell it out because I felt like I was +1'ing another's comment. Sorry for the confusion.
google iPlay4e. With stuff like this, similar apps being produced by WotC will probably be very low priority.
This is cool, but if I understand correctly it only works with the old character builder, correct?
- +3 Editable Deity Names (ie. able to add deities not from an existing 4e list
I want to expand on this point a little. I would like to be able to select multiple deities for worship. RAW in both PHB1 an Divine Power you can do this, even if LFR does not allow it. But neither CB has ever allowed you to pick more than 1. This matters because deities and domains cover a lot of prereqs for items, feats, paragon paths and epic destinies.
And If you allowing customizable deities with their names, players should be allowed to add their domains as well.
google iPlay4e. With stuff like this, similar apps being produced by WotC will probably be very low priority.
This is cool, but if I understand correctly it only works with the old character builder, correct?
Nope. Used it today just before I replied. If you go to where you "Load" in the online CB you can hightlight one of your characters and use the "Export" button at the bottom. Makes an XML .d&d4e file just like the offline did/does.
google iPlay4e. With stuff like this, similar apps being produced by WotC will probably be very low priority.
This is cool, but if I understand correctly it only works with the old character builder, correct?
Nope. Used it today just before I replied. If you go to where you "Load" in the online CB you can hightlight one of your characters and use the "Export" button at the bottom. Makes an XML .d&d4e file just like the offline did/does.
Thanks! I was just coming back to say that I found that very thing. Missed it the first time when I was looking for it. Very cool!
printer frindly caracter sheet
custom iteams
Gamaworld CB
ability to add extra feet
Sorry, I know it is just a typo, but this made me smile. Especially in combination with the following . . .
Gamaworld CB