Integrated character planner

[Drecas]

The game allows new players to choose a path when they first make a character, and then this path automatically levels you according a set plan, with the player only needing to make a quick visit to a class trainer.

Now there exists third party character planners out there, that help you plan out a build, but how much more convenient would it be if we could integrate a builder as part of DDO?
When you create a character, it would let you plan out your character, and then much like with the paths, would automatically level you according to your designs.

This, I think, would improve the user experience tremendously.
How much effort would it take to make this a reality? Is it at all feasible?

[Chacka_DDO]

The game allows new players to choose a path when they first make a character, and then this path automatically levels you according a set plan, with the player only needing to make a quick visit to a class trainer.

Now there exists third party character planners out there, that help you plan out a build, but how much more convenient would it be if we could integrate a builder as part of DDO?
When you create a character, it would let you plan out your character, and then much like with the paths, would automatically level you according to your designs.

This, I think, would improve the user experience tremendously.
How much effort would it take to make this a reality? Is it at all feasible?

I suggested something similar already too, and in addition, you could maybe even share your build with others.
The information about how the character was made could be saved in a file on your client.
And those who like to play exactly the same build again have then also less work.
I think its indeed a good idea but as often the idea is one thing and to make it real another and when I see how much work seemingly even small UI changes are then I'm unfortunately currently a bit pessimistic.

[Cantor]

Like the preset path option, but locally stored. I like it. Really not a big deal for regular play, you either do it once at the start or you do it as you level. I guess it might help avoid mistakes, that you would catch at the start instead of at level 12.

Where it would really shine is when you do an ER and want the same build.

[droid327]

Rather than make an integrated planner, which would require the devs to continually update and upgrade it...

How about a standardized code for builds, that can encode all your build data into a string of characters that can be cut-and-paste into the game, which would then decode it and save all the choices? Its a relatively small set of actual data - your race/align/class/stats/skills/feats at character creation (you'd still do the appearance part manually), and then your class/skills/stats/feats as you level up. Enhancements are too fluid to be part of a path like that anyway.

If there was a standard encoding, then third-party coders could include an "export to game" feature in their planner software, which would send the coded string to the clipboard. That would let the community do the work to keep things up to date (as its already doing) and then connect it to the game. Having it be text-string based would make it more easy to implement than trying to have the client talk directly to third-party planners, too, or trying to create proprietary file storage for it. Also it would let you easily share builds on the forums.

I agree this would be a HUGE boon for TRing, or LRing, especially with Iconics - you dont have to go through the excruciating level-by-level process manually.

The only snafu might be that you'd still have to know which trainer to talk to - if your build took a level of Sorc, you couldnt go to the FvS trainer for it. So the game might have to add some text string warning you that taking a level at the FvS trainer would knock you off your Path, like it did for the old Paths, and tell you to seek training as a Sorcerer to stay on your path.

[Chacka_DDO]

Rather than make an integrated planner, which would require the devs to continually update and upgrade it...

How about a standardized code for builds, that can encode all your build data into a string of characters that can be cut-and-paste into the game, which would then decode it and save all the choices? Its a relatively small set of actual data - your race/align/class/stats/skills/feats at character creation (you'd still do the appearance part manually), and then your class/skills/stats/feats as you level up. Enhancements are too fluid to be part of a path like that anyway.

If there was a standard encoding, then third-party coders could include an "export to game" feature in their planner software, which would send the coded string to the clipboard. That would let the community do the work to keep things up to date (as its already doing) and then connect it to the game. Having it be text-string based would make it more easy to implement than trying to have the client talk directly to third-party planners, too, or trying to create proprietary file storage for it. Also it would let you easily share builds on the forums.

I agree this would be a HUGE boon for TRing, or LRing, especially with Iconics - you dont have to go through the excruciating level-by-level process manually.

The only snafu might be that you'd still have to know which trainer to talk to - if your build took a level of Sorc, you couldnt go to the FvS trainer for it. So the game might have to add some text string warning you that taking a level at the FvS trainer would knock you off your Path, like it did for the old Paths, and tell you to seek training as a Sorcerer to stay on your path.

Yup, it would be already enough if you could create a file and DDO uses it so you can go to a trainer when you have enough experience for the next level and the trainer automatically take the right feats, skill point, ability points, etc., and maybe even set your enhancements.
I would not wonder if pretty soon we see useful character planer made by players for players then.
And in the next step the DDO developers could maybe take the best player-made character planners to make one that is integrated into DDO.
This is btw very close what I suggested like 1-2 years ago on the suggestion forum if I remember correctly.

And as I said this is not only to make e.g. an ER or OR much easier, this would be maybe also a way to help other players who struggle to create powerful builds.

[axel15810]

When you create a character, it would let you plan out your character, and then much like with the paths, would automatically level you according to your designs.


I love this idea. This would be convenient. I'd love to be able to just input everything at the start and then forget about having my build saved and on hand for the rest of that life.