New Character Builder from WotC!

[Dannyalcatraz]

Totally, totally not flinging poo here, honest question.

Why? What do you use this for?

As a DM, building characters is pointless, since NPC's don't work that way, and how many characters do you actually need?

What garyh said...

A few reasons. Characters I'm currently playing of course. Also, characters I might play, characters I know I'll never play but want to see how they could work, multiple versions of what the characters I'm playing might look like at various levels with different options chosen, 4e-ified versions of characters I've played in previous editions, attempts to model characters from fiction.

I've enjoying making characters I knew I'd never play since I got into D&D with 2e. The CB just makes that a lot easier. For some of us, it's FUN to just create characters.

...plus some others.

It gives me something to do when I don't have a novel or sketchbook or instrument handy. I did this even without an available PDA (and still use actual paper for some)- I have 3-4 folders of D&D PCs dating back to AD&D, 2 folders of HERO PCs dating back to the original version of that game, and a big binder of PCs covering those I liked from GURPS, RIFTS, Ace, Mekton, Mechwarrior, WoD, and many other systems besides.

I sometimes write up PC versions of characters I'm writing about (in HERO, usually) to solidify the way I think they should work.

I'll even write up PCs just to get an idea out of my head so it won't distract me from other things- I have a tendency to have "problems" bouncing around up there until I "solve" them.

Sometimes, fiddling about with a new PC you have an idea that hasn't been played before. A new wrinkle in a PC can sometimes keep a game fresh- I'm eagerly awaiting the opportunity to play another 3.5 Mage-Brute, for instance.

Besides, if someone came to me- in person, or more commonly online, and asked about PC design, I probably have some kind of answer...

 

[tuxgeo]

You people are creepy...

I have a friend like that... For your sakes I hope the "really soon" they indicated for exports pans out.

Making new PCs can also be an intellectual challenge. Part of the challenge I recently faced when designing a Human Warlord was to avoid being bored out of my skull. (Sorry, was that too snarky for this thread?) One of the answers I came up with to address that challenge was to try to give him some quirks of speech, e.g. "Fervency For The Win!" and "I see what you ferved there; ferving is good! A fervor is you." And then declare an "Insightful" build, but actually take "Inspiring Presence." The little quirks add enjoyment to the process. (I'm restraining myself from naming him "Baxtor Rie," because I do possess at least that much taste.)

 

[avin]

Why DMs care about CB?

- I have finally control over my player's sheets. I DM for 3 to 5 groups. Some players make mistakes on their sheets. Some plain cheat. Now I print their sheets.

- With CB I can consult items (shopping), powers and rituals offline.

 

[Scribble]

For my list of personal reasons to be happy about the switch:

My work laptop has Silverlight on it, so that means when I'm sent on business trips, and bored I can make a character. I would have had to bring my own laptop along as well as the work one before. Now I do not.

 

[Sunseeker]

For my list of personal reasons to be happy about the switch:

My work laptop has Silverlight on it, so that means when I'm sent on business trips, and bored I can make a character. I would have had to bring my own laptop along as well as the work one before. Now I do not.

I agree, it's nice to work on things for fun at work when you've got free time without installing junk on company computers.

 

[MrMyth]

Totally, totally not flinging poo here, honest question.

Why? What do you use this for?

As a DM, building characters is pointless, since NPC's don't work that way, and how many characters do you actually need?

Ever run a one-shot? I've got probably a score of characters floating about that I've written up as various pre-gens for different games. Plus a half-dozen of my own characters for the RPGA. I've probably played, since 4E started, 4 or 5 long term characters and another half-dozen in shorter games or adventures. Add in plenty more character ideas I've come up with and fleshed out a bit. Plus reference copies of my player's characters, in games that I have run.

And of the above, often several versions of different characters at different levels.

Now, not all of these are actually CB files. But there seem plenty of reasons, to me, for gamers to have lots of character sheets. WotC failing to provide for that is a pretty genuine lack on their part.

 

[zoroaster100]

I was o.k. with the CB being online until I heard about the 20 character limit. That is a serious utility concern for me, especially without the export function. I have over 20 characters saved now in the off-line CB.

 

[RLBURNSIDE]

They could

easily double it to 40 if they were actually super cereal about retaining us as customers, with a single sql query update probably.

"A bad RPG company touched me once...here let me show you on this outdated character sheet" == heheh

 

[Jack99]

You can still create all the characters you want with the new CB, if it is intellectual stimulation you are looking for. You just cant save them, and if passing time is all you need those extra slots for, well they arent stricly necessary.

 

[garyh]

You can still create all the characters you want with the new CB, if it is intellectual stimulation you are looking for. You just cant save them, and if passing time is all you need those extra slots for, well they arent stricly necessary.

Eh, it's just not the same if it goes "poof" when you close your browser...