I just brought this game for the second time. Having one installer instead of three CD keys is AWESOME! But I want to quickly chirp this link:

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=other.Detail&id=856

I've used this to help preplan a LOT of characters and which I find to be very useful. It looks like its the same one, though its been updated since I last used it loooong ago.

Edit: For those that can't open an excel spreadsheet, this should help.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=1cd6acf9-ce06-4e1c-8dcf-f33f669dbc3a&displaylang=en

Something else that may be of interest is the [url=http://home.comcast.net/~worldofgreyhawk/buildsearch/]Character Build Search Engine[/url]. One of the script gurus on the server I usually play on set this up after the old BioWare forums shut down, just to be sure we still had access to all the builds.

Speaking of character builds, is there a way to create a higher level character to start? For example, starting one of the expansions with a level 10 or so character without importing an old one.

Try the Pretty Good Character Creator, it let's you change level, appearance and equipment of your character:
http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Modules.Detail&id=4215

It is possible to save just your current character and not just the game and load it when you start a new one. (This is how you can continue HotU with your SoU character) I do though recall a module created just for this purpose, but I have to hunt it out. Its been a few years since I played this!

Edit:

Okay, after a search, I found....

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=modules.detail&id=3717
http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Modules.Detail&id=3704

Thanks!

Just one more thing to add: If you create a character with the PGC, make sure you use the export character option to, well, export your character when you've finished to build and equip it. Else it won't be saved to the character list!