Dungeons and Dragons has a terrible pre-determined way of tracking combat order, health, and actions. The best created solutions for this problem exist within virtual table-top systems such as Roll-20 and Foundry. There is no good soultion similar to these that is built for use outside of the aformentioned virtual table-tops.
My collaborator agrred with each of the major points I borught up but also brought to my attention another good combat tracker built into a different virtual table-top called TaleSpire
As a dungeon master, combat is already difficult enough to keep track of so many various moving parts and actions.
My collaborator is not a dungeon master so they did not have thhe same feelings about combat as I do. However, they did bring up how most D&D combat is very slow which they thought may be because of the reasons I mentioned.
I don't think any specific aspect doesn't fit, but I do believe with some of the more ambitious ideas I have may cause potential problems.
My collaborator agreed that some of the more in depth ideas I have may lead to additional problems. They also brought up that allowing for a user to add in their own info and creatures will mean that I way to save the information they add will need to be implemented which may be difficult.
Various DMs I have personally talked to and others I have seen complain online have brought up this problem and wish for the same solution that I want which is why I am making this as my semester project.
My collaborator had no additional insight, but did believe that the idea will be greatly appreciated by many DMs and by extention thier players as combat would likely be faster.
My way of aproaching the problems brought up in the black hat will be to slowly add functionality as I go so as to not cause mental or creative burnout.
My collaborator agreed with my insight and brought up the idea of using some sort of PDF converter to making bringing creatures from the books to the website more efficient. However, I do not know if there is a way to effectively do this.
To create an effective, quality, worthwhile combat tracker for D&D and other table top games without becoming overly complecated or overwhelming will take a slow methodical approach toward the final stage. Leaving out additional features and slowly adding them in later after development will likely be the most effective way to keep the project bloat and burn out to a minimum.
My collaborator echoed my process for management of the project scope as well as bringing up the importance of focusing on the important aspects broung up in the red and yellow hat disscusions.
After conversing with another person who understands and plays table top games such as Dungeons and Dragons, each of ideas and problems I could intially think of were supported and agreed with. Additionaly, further insight into how the project could not only help the DM, but the players as well makes me more motivated to complete my project. Lastly, the addition of another virtual table top I did not know of before being brought to my attention adds more references I can look at and compare to.