Offline Character Builder

OFFLINE CHARACTER BUILDER(OCB) DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL INSTRUCTIONS

Updated 8/14/2023 for CBLoader 1.4.x

Use the links below to download the files needed to install the offline character builder (OCB) on your machine.
The OCB requires the Windows .NET Framework 3.5 with SP1. Versions of Microsoft (MS) Windows later than WIN8 usually have an internal installation mechanism for the .NET Frameworks. You have to use that method to install .net3.5 on your Operating System (OS). You will have to go to the MS Site to determine the correct method for your OS. If you are working at the speed of glaciers, and still running Windows VISTA, WIN7 or WIN8.x, get with the times MAN! You will need to download the latest version of the framework from the MS Site .net 3.5 with SP1 to make OCB work, if you don't already have .net 3.5 installed on your computer. The link will guide you to the Microsoft page for the .NET Framework. You can download from there or you can find the executable for the .NET framework below. Fair warning - It is a large file. Install the .NET framework using its defaults (i.e., don't change anything).

If you are going to run the OCB on VISTA, Windows 7, Windows 8.x, Windows 10 or 11 the OCB files will attempt to install in the Program Files (x86) folder by default. This folder is closely protected by the Windows OS. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you do not install on the default folder. You will want to install the character builder application into an alternate location, such as c:/WotC/characterbuilder, or whatever you want to call it. Make sure you select an alternate install location and keep that location in mind for the rest of the installation. Note this location as your INSTALLATION LOCATION for any of the following steps. Installing in an alternate folder will prevent the weird file protection that Windows uses from affecting your installation and the use of the character builder application.

Follow these instructions exactly to get OCB to work. Not following the instructions as to when to open particular applications or when to allow an update might create issues with the installation.

NOTE - Some of these files are quite large and will take time to download.

1. Download ALL the files from the links below to a location you can easily find in your computer (for example, c:\temp, c:\vault, c:\whatever). We'll call this the FILE LOCATION.
2. Run the file CharacterBuilder.exe from the FILE LOCATION.
Remember - DO NOT Install to the default location. Install to your INSTALLATION LOCATION.
NOTE: **Do not download any updates and do not launch (start) the Character Builder application.
3. Run the file CharacterBuilderUpdate.exe from the FILE LOCATION..
Remember - DO NOT Install to the default location. Install to your INSTALLATION LOCATION. Allow the character builder to get updates.
NOTE: **Do not start the Character Builder
4. AppData is a hidden folder. Go to c:\users\"youraccountname" and show hidden files. Go to AppData\Roaming and create a folder called CBLoader.
Copy the file CBLoader.zip from the FILE LOCATION to the CBLoader folder you just created. Do not extract its contents.
5. Variation for CBLoader 1.4.6.x - The CBLoader software, starting with v1.4.0, has an installer and no longer requires installation in the same folder as the character builder installation folder. It will not ask for a location to install.
Run the file CBInstaller.exe directly from the FILE LOCATION. NOTE - You might get a Windows Defender message about running untrusted/unknown file. Click the link to get more information and let the file run. This will install CBLoader and all associated files. The OCB should start on its own and you should see a list of files that were loaded. NO CUSTOM (Homebrew) FILES WILL HAVE LOADED AT THIS TIME. Close the OCB Application.
6. Variation starting with CBLoader 1.4.x - Place any custom .part files you have created, or downloaded to your "\Documents\ddi\CBLoader" folder. We will call this the CUSTOMS LOCATION. This replaces the old custom folder from previous versions of CBLoader. You will always place any custom files (.part files) in the CUSTOMS LOCATION.
Extract the contents of the file WotC.zip from the FILE LOCATION to the CUSTOMS LOCATION and overwrite any of the existing files.
7. If you are playing in a Baledar campaign, extract all the files from Baledar.zip to the CUSTOMS LOCATION. Just like you did with any custom .part files before.
8. The CBInstaller should have created a link to CBLoader on your desktop. Start the CBLoader using this link. From now on, you will always start the character builder using this link. If there is a Character Builder link you might want to point it to the same CBLoader file, or delete the character builder link.
9. You are DONE. OCB should be working and your custom files should be loaded. When Character Builder starts you should see a list of all the files that have been loaded, including any custom files.
10. The cleanup.txt file is provided for convenience. Under normal circumstances, you should have no need to run this file if the character builder is working properly. Its purpose is to clear out all the merged files if for some reason you need to start the database merging process again. That is usually not needed if the character builder is working properly.
Download the file and change the extension to .bat. ONLY run the file if it is necessary. If you run this file you will have to start your process again from step 6 above.

Gamers Syndicate

Powered by the Colorless Beyond

OFFLINE CHARACTER BUILDER(OCB) DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL INSTRUCTIONS

Links to files