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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsAddon Spotlight: Alternatives to Outfitter
by Eliah Hecht 
Mar 24th 2009 at 4:00PM
Every weekend (ish), Addon Spotlight takes a look at the little bits of Lua and XML that make our interfaces special. From bar mods to unit frames and beyond, if it goes in your Addons folder, we'll cover it here.
The addon world is currently abuzz with reactions to Blizzard's new addon policy (briefly: you can't charge for addons or solicit donations for them in-game). I'm not going to go there in this column, since it's been pretty well covered around the blogosphere and in any case I don't want to ignite a flame war.
However, I do want to talk about an issue related to the developments surrounding the new addon policy. The author of Outfitter (and GroupCalendar) has chosen to cease publishing those addons (in protest, asapparently). I rely on Outfitter on all of my characters, and I'll be sad to see it go. But if it isn't going to be updated any more, it's time to start looking for replacements.
There are a few competitors to Outfitter: ItemRack, ClosetGnome, Wardrobe, and in 3.1, Blizzard's official outfit manager. I haven't played with the official version much but as you may have geussed, it's feature-light, but relatively easy to use and very stable, like Blizzard's official implementations of addons generally are (see: floating combat text, in-game calendar).
ItemRack has been around for ages, and I used to use it before I used Outfitter. It tries to display a bar onscreen that you can use to quickly swap through items for your various slots, but it's not hard to dissuade it from that outrageous waste of screen real estate (see right). It lacks Outfitter's facilities for automatically building outfits for things like maximum frost resistance, although such automatically-built outfits usually require extensive manual tweaking. ItemRack also lacks Outfitter's nifty "used by [outfit]" tooltips for items, but we're looking for Outfitter alternatives here, I guess. Edit: Yes, I should mention that ItemRack has lots of facilities for hotkeys, automated swapping, etc. It is the closest to Outfitter in terms of feature parity, for sure.
ClosetGnome is a minimalist item set manager. You can't edit sets, but if you save a set with the same name as an existing set, it overwrites. You can't automatically equip sets under certain conditions, although other mods can interface with ClosetGnome to cause this to happen for you. It is probably the lightest-weight outfit manager, in terms of resources, and it's probably what I'll use whenever Outfitter breaks, because I don't really need a more complete feature set.
Wardrobe-AL also exists. It seems to combine the small feature set of ClosetGnome with the hostile interface of ItemRack, but if the other two don't work for you for some reason, you could give this one a try.
As for the official outfit changer coming in 3.1, I just went and tried it out on the PTR, and the best I can say for it is that it works. It has the absolute minimum feature set possible: you can save a set of items, and load it later. You can't save a partial set (containing only certain slots), as you can with every mod listed above. (Edit: apparently you can by use of the Alt key -- is this ever told to the users?) You can't edit sets. Allegedly you can assign hotkeys to outfits, but I couldn't figure out how. You can't load outfits automatically on certain conditions (like stances or forms). It's nice to see this in the default UI, but it probably isn't going to cut it, at least not for me.
So, in conclusion: Use ItemRack if you need advanced features or for some reason like its abomination of an item switch frame, otherwise use ClosetGnome. If you can't stand to use addons, the Blizzard version will help you a bit (but then, if you can't stand to use addons, you're probably not reading this column). Let me know in the comments if I missed any good outfit mods. And to Mundocani: thanks for all your work. You will be missed in the addon community.
Addons are what we do on Addon Spotlight. Need a bar mod? Want to quickly compare pieces of gear? Covered. And if you have any ideas for mods we should take a look at, drop us a line. Filed under: Items, Add-Ons, Features, AddOn Spotlight
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 4)
armi0022 Mar 24th 2009 4:46PM
I use ClosetGnome, but it's buggy and I have to double check it every time because I don't trust that little gnome to get it right.
actodd Mar 24th 2009 4:57PM
I'm an ItemRack user myself - it's just what I started using and got used to. When I tried out Outfitter, I couldn't get it set up right, but then again, I didn't try hard.
What irks me is the loss of Group Calendar. We tried Blizzard's attempt and did not like it in the least - no professional CD tracking, no account wide tracking, no guild-wide invites (due to 100 person invite limit). Ugh, we went back to GC after a month of frustration.
I'm afraid this will also be Blizzard's attempt at a gear swapping UI, falling far behind the others in terms of features and ease of use.
Hoggersbud Mar 24th 2009 5:02PM
Is Outfitter's code obfuscated in any way? Is the current developer pulling it entirely, and going to sue anybody who continues to update it?
I can understand quitting it, but pulling it entirely would be a tad much.
Cadey Mar 24th 2009 5:12PM
You didn't mention BaudGear (http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/baud-gear.aspx). It's kind of minimalistic, but it's very intuitive to use. The only thing that I don't like about it is that if you enchant a piece of gear with a different enchant or gem a saved item differently, it won't immediately update the set, but that's just a minor inconvience.
Lemons Mar 24th 2009 5:11PM
Luckily I just barely downloaded the newest version of Outfitter just about 2 weeks ago. I'll only stop using it if a future patch breaks it or if blizz's equipment manager can provide the same functionality.
stillsong Mar 24th 2009 5:14PM
To the developer ( Sumitra in these comments?) of Outfitter
I am very grateful for all your work on outfitter. I am a druid and its been a brilliant addon from me. I cannot imagine that any class would use it as much as druids do.
I think a donation button in the notes of an addon, in the same manner its always been, is not in anyway intrusive. A donation button is not a demand, its not payment for services, its just a way to show appreciation if a person wants to.
I think developers almost always make their addons because they see something that is needed, and enjoy crafting the addon, and if a donation can be made to help them, they appreciate it.
I think those people expressing disgust at addon developers because the developers are dismayed, and protesting atg the way they have been treated by Blizzard, really need to turn their thinking upside down and side with the people who have given them so much help for free all these years, instead of attacking them.
Thank you from me.
Sumitra Mar 24th 2009 5:25PM
Hi Stillsong. I'm not the developer of those two addons, but let's just say he's very, very close to me ;)
Again, thanks for the kind words, and I know the developer will see them. You make some good points, too. If users step back and remember that addons get made and supported for the love of the game, even when they require a great amount of work, it puts the discussion in a different light. That goes for the authors who try to make a little money off them, too, even if that doesn't apply to the Outfitter / GroupCalendar author, who doesn't take money. The amount of pay for something that can take upwards of 20, 30, or more hours a week is really low considering what that developer could earn elsewhere.
I think all of this could have been avoided if Blizzard had opened a discussion about their concerns rather than throw down an edict and then sit silent for days. It's not too late to fix it, though.
Aoife Mar 24th 2009 5:15PM
btw, it's GroupCalendar, not GuildCalendar. And yes, some of us still use it. I found it a great tool for planning group and raid makeup.
ivyleaves Mar 25th 2009 11:40AM
I am gonna cry about Group Calendar - it's the only viable way to maintain guild alliance calendars that I know of - create a channel for your calendar and you are gtg. The other indispensible thing was keeping track of my profession cd's - even while logged to a different toon. I'm gonna miss it horribly.
Aoife Mar 25th 2009 1:17PM
ya, our guild is allied with several other guilds and individuals and we do indeed have a shared data channel. the need for this type of addon, with its extensive list of tools and functions, is certainly there. we were all mourning its demise yesterday in guild and inter-guild chat channels. :'(
jfofla Mar 24th 2009 5:38PM
As a Holy Pally I always carry four complete sets if gear. When I first sat down to play the WOTLK Beta, I quickly realized I could not even play without Outfitter.
I don't trust Blizz to develop this correctly (see in game comm), and I will miss Outfitter greatly
Bruce Mar 24th 2009 5:49PM
One thing I really like about Outfitter is how it integrates with Baggins (a bag interface replacement). I've got it set up so that my gear bag window has the items broken out by outfit, with gear that's no in any outfit appearing as 'uncategorized'.
schm0 Mar 24th 2009 5:47PM
In two to four months someone will have developed the next generation of Outfitter under a different name, with some UI improvements, various bug fixes, and interaction with the new Blizzard UI (making it leaner and less memory-hoggish.)
While I will lament the departure of one of my favorite add-ons, I still know how to click and drag.
Morcego Mar 24th 2009 5:48PM
I'm not saying this is the case here, since I don't know the developer or his motivations.
HOWEVER, I have seen cases like this in the past, and sometimes a developer that is sick and tired of what he is doing uses it as an excuse to stop development.
In any case, it is his work so, if he wants to stop it, either because of Blizzard's policy or because he is sick of it, it is his right. For us, what is left is to move on. Maybe, just maybe, this will prompt other developers to improve their work and fill the gap (which is only natural).
Barbasol Mar 24th 2009 6:26PM
I just started using Outfitter a few months ago and I'm absolutely addicted to being able to automagically have it choose an outfit to give max +spell or max +hit. I had dreams of it eventually using a Pawn type scale for complete stat power maxing!
I hope things can be worked out or I'll be crying in my keyboard for quite a while.
tonymcs Mar 24th 2009 8:12PM
If the add-ons are public and the code is not obfuscated, then what's all the fuss about?
If one developer doesn't want to continue, then anyone else can take the code and update it.
I really can't remember paying for mods to other games and some of those were complete rewrites. I've also participated in creating mods for existing games (Ioncross Total War for Freelancer for one) even to the extent of developing backstories and game manuals, but I never expected to get paid.
I understand developers QQing about not getting a reward for their work, but their work only exists because of the WoW interface environment and WoW's subscriber base and WoW has no obligation to support the developer's business. They can always ask for donations when people go to a website to download the add-on and if their add-on is well received then they should have no trouble obtaining some money from an 11 million base. I also notice Curse seems to have more how to donate and donate instructions for each add-on, so if you need or want an add-on - then donate.
Like all free open source mods, there will always be someone willing to carry them on, so I don't really see the add-ons disappearing. Outfitter still works fine and when it stops working, I'm sure someone will take on the task to fix it whether the original developer wants them to or not.
perderedeus Mar 24th 2009 8:12PM
I find it somewhat ironic that the one add-on author protesting so loudly about the new UI policy is also the author of add-ons that have been made effectively unnecessary by Blizzard's new features (Equipment Manager and Calendar).
Oomu Mar 24th 2009 8:41PM
first
thanks for outfitter and groupcalendar. I loved them and past month telling blizzard and whatever blizzard people to buy them and integrate them in base wow. I suppose they simply imitate them.
second, Why the anger ? It can't be about the new policy. the new policy is to stop addons to add noise in the game, it's all about Carbonite.
People could buy carbonite, thinks it was Blizzard who is supposed to maintain it and complain wow is adding micropayment. Yes people are like that.
The author of GC and Outfitter should be angry since months ! Because never blizzard make a public thanks to him. Not about the new policy, never the policy was about him or the right to be paid for the community works on an addon.
When Carbonite appeared, I knew blizzard will react. Can you imagine someone making a commercial business UPON the work of blizzard ? without some kind of authorization before ?
and because blizzard does not want to add micropayment to wow
not letting people pay for feature or items, maybe never they will accept commercial third parties addons.
they only added price to restrict people to make change to their character too often because they think it's bad for the game to change characters, but well, the demand was here.). It does add nothing to the game.
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My point is : it's not simply Outfitter was great, but the whole professionalism behind was impressive. Clear changelog, good source code, good debugging stage, very professional.
So in the end, it's not about the policy, it's about Blizzard never thanking addons authors. Not even a little "community spotlight".
Maybe they fear people using addons and complaining about some bugs to the hotline.
artifex Mar 24th 2009 9:56PM
What kind of advertising are they talking about? Questhelper mentions on startup that it'd be nice to donate, etc., but that's it. Is that now against the rules, too?
Colerejuste Mar 24th 2009 11:23PM
Carbonite has/had several versions which varied in functionality vs payment. i.e. get a free version that had in-game advertising, get a gimped version that had donate prompts, pay for a full version with no advertising. And the two big no-nos as far as the spirit of the TOU are paying for addons, and advertising in game (like gold spammers).
Unfortunately, Blizzards reaction policy , without consultation, impacts quite a few addons directly, or have annoyed the authors to the point where they withdraw their addons from the webspace.
I'll really miss Outfitter. Especially its bank depositing, and tooltips functionality. I'll probably have a look and see how broken it is after 3.1 (cant be bothered with the PTR, I'd rather be playing), and if I can be bothered, try and get it to a point where its usable, for personal use only. I certainly wouldnt distribute it. And should Mundo ever release Outfitter again, I might actually donate, but that any individual donation is going to cover the hours of work that has gone into it.
I'm likely to miss QuestHelper as well. I'm a bit of an altoholic, and only have two 80s so far, and plans for the remaining 8 characters to make it to 80 as well (have 4 at around 70-71, and 4 at around 63-66).
The little donate message in the chat frame is not such a bad thing. I'd really like it if Blizzard gave a little leaway on that. Usually, users would just vote with their feet/clicks/bandwidth and not bother to install it, if it (donate messages) were obtrusive. I'll probably just go back to using wowhead on my second screen. QuestHelper is really handy for leveling, though now that I've done all the Northrend quests twice, I should be able to remember where to go for quite a few, and wowhead is always there if my memory fails me.
Of course, there's a shout out needed for all those addon authors who will look at the policy and shrug, and continue to maintain their addons. Authors of my favourite addons and addon libraries like FuBar, Ace, BT4, Omen, Xperl, Auctioneer, Gatherer, DrDamage, OmniCC, Healbot, all those FuBar plugins, map addons, etc. They've really filled the gap between the standard UI and making the interface something highly customisable. It good of Blizz to provide an API via which this can actually happen, but its the addon authors that have the talent and have made it happen.
I just wish Blizz could come halfway with the donation thing. It would be good if authors were allow to include a simple message about donating, even if the dont provide an actual UI button. Maybe some authors will simply provide a URL to their addons home page, without mentioning the D word in-game, and then have all the info required for donations on that home page.