Integrate DDO Character Planner into the game

[ssgcmwatson]

1) A big thank you +1000 to Ron and everyone who contributes to his character planner!

2) Turbine - you should hire this guy! (Make him an offer he can't refuse).

3) Make an option at character creation to import a build from the planner. Instead of the oh-so-wonderful pre-made builds (*cough cough*) you could automagically level up with something you (or a helpful forumite) planned out.

[Forzah]

It's a nice idea, but I see too many problems with it. How do you take into account tomes? How do you prevent exploiting (by manually adjusting the numbers)? And adding the option for reading and translating .txt files seems complicated as well. You also remove the charm of building the character. To me the idea seems infeasible.

[macubrae]

Don't apply equipment in the progression planner. Have it include class, attributes, enhancements, skills, and feats. Any and all equipment, tomes, etc would be dependant on the player.

Although, a memo tab on the character sheet could serve just as well. It could also be used by players as a 'to do' list or a kills list. Personally, I have around twenty toons spread across four servers, and I sometimes forget what I was doing with them.

The OP has a good idea, but if something were to change, if the toon was locked into a certain path there could be problems. Transcribing it to a memo page and updating it as required might be easier to program and less chance for new bugs. Copy/paste your plan and edit. Seems easy to me.

[BOgre]

1) A big thank you +1000 to Ron and everyone who contributes to his character planner!

2) Turbine - you should hire this guy! (Make him an offer he can't refuse).

3) Make an option at character creation to import a build from the planner. Instead of the oh-so-wonderful pre-made builds (*cough cough*) you could automagically level up with something you (or a helpful forumite) planned out.

I suggested this, and updated 'Paths', in Maj's "one thing you'd like to see" thread. He said that better paths was in the works, and that I think I recall him being Pro character planner import as well, but I'm not 100%.

.txt import is as simple as simple can be, and Turb could easily parse out the parts of the planner's output file that wants, and ignore the rest. Feat selection, Stat and Skill points, Enhancements. New character only, not applicable to TRs. If it works and catches on, upgrade it for TR use as well.

[Hafeal]

I love the character planner (ty Ron).

That being said, I think it borders on criminal that a game as complex as DDO did not come with this type of tool or has not implemented a similar feature in 5 years. Having an 'official' resource would go a long way to helping players get accurate information for their builds. Relying on user created tools at the beginning has lost its luster and excuse. Further, it is unfair to expect users to continually keep these tools accurately up-to-date.

I think the time has long passed for DDO to step-up and give us a character planner as well as a way to get the data printed on paper or into data files. Many players derive enjoyment in reading and analyzing their character sheets.

[Ron]

1) A big thank you +1000 to Ron and everyone who contributes to his character planner!

You are welcome, glad you like it.

2) Turbine - you should hire this guy! (Make him an offer he can't refuse).

It wouldn't take much, I assure you. I am....dissatisfied....with my current job situation right now

Ah, but having to move across the country. There's the sticking point