Forked Thread: What game systems have character generators? (focus slightly changed)

Glyfair · 3rd July 2009, 03:10 PM

Forked from: I have a (somewhat lengthy) confession to make

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheHeretic

- generates characters only beyond 3rd level if you actually pay for a feature that is mostly available as a free utility/tool with most other roleplaying games

Really? Besides d20 games (primarily through PCGen), I am not aware of any RPGs with free character generators. In fact, I even quit playing Hero Games because they decided to stop supporting their old paid character generator to support a different paid character generator (and the way in which they did it).

I would love a free character generator, if a decent quality, for games I might play. A free Hero Games generator, or a free Savage Worlds generator would be great. Especially if they are done by the company who does the RPG, as implied above.

So, which RPGs (besides d20 games through 3rd party generators ike PCGen) have free, decent, character builder software?

Edit: I have decided to redirect this discussion to a list of character generators. Tell me which RPGs have character generators. I want 4 bits of information, if possible. I want the game system, whether it is free or not (or whether a donation is requested), by the publisher, 3rd part or fan created and a link if possible. I will start combining them in a list towards the end of next week.

Imaro · 3rd July 2009, 03:28 PM

Just off the top of my head, I know Greg Stolze's Reign rpg has a free javascript character generator here...

ORE Character Generator | Mapache's Role-Playing Game Stuff

Side Note: It also includes instructions on how to modify and add things to it.

Glyfair · 3rd July 2009, 08:42 PM

Seriously, just one when it's "a feature that is mostly available as a free utility/tool with most other roleplaying games."

While I was pretty certain he was wrong, i did expect there would be at least a handful out there.

darjr · 3rd July 2009, 09:12 PM

GURPS has the 'GURPS Character Sheet' gcs but it isn't from the GURPS publisher... though it is darn good and kept up to date. And I think they have permission from the publisher... I think...

Glyfair · 4th July 2009, 03:42 PM

That's two. Are there any others?

I am quite surprised that such a versatile tool today has been overlooked as a marketing device. I realize that many game systems don't need such a generator (a simple text document is all that is need for Heroquest, for example). I would expect to see more.

So, as a side question - How many non-d20/D&D RPGs have a character generator that can be bought. I know that adds the Hero System to the mix. Any others?

Maggan · 4th July 2009, 03:49 PM

Not sure about commercially available generators. Here's one of the most impressive fan efforts I've seen for any game:

Malleus Maleficarum - Character/NPC Generator

It's billed as an NPC generator, but works just as well for PCs. It is not official though.

So count me in among those going "huh?" in regards to the original claim.

EDIT: To assist the compilation, here's the info requested:

Game system: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, 2nd edition
Use: Free online, no downloadable version
Producer: Fan site Malleus Maleficarum
Link: Malleus Maleficarum - Character/NPC Generator

/M

Jadeite · 4th July 2009, 04:24 PM

There's also the Vault of Darkness für the new World of Darkness games:
http://www.devermore.net/VoD2/
And Byakhee for Call of Cthulhu.
Byakhee CoC Character Generator | Get Byakhee CoC Character Generator at SourceForge.net

Nikosandros · 4th July 2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glyfair

So, as a side question - How many non-d20/D&D RPGs have a character generator that can be bought. I know that adds the Hero System to the mix. Any others?

GURPS has such a program for sale.

jdrakeh · 4th July 2009, 04:45 PM

Principia Malefex has (or had) a free PC gen program. That said, I don't have a link handy at the moment. The Byhakee PC gen prgram for BRP CoC is also free.

[Edit: I see somebody beat me to Byhakee. Oh, and I just remembered Harnmaker for HarnMaster 3rd Edition.]

darjr · 4th July 2009, 05:17 PM

RabSoft Traveller Character Generator

Its a lbb traveller char gen that I just found while looking for another.

jdrakeh · 4th July 2009, 05:24 PM

Much to my amusement, I just discovered that Risus has a character generator.

darjr · 4th July 2009, 05:53 PM

Free GURPS Lite char gen: GURPS Lite Character Creator

Another commercial GURPS one: Downloads

Never used either of them.

Great web based GURPS NPC Generator: GURPS NPC Generator: online version

Source for Megatraveller generators... have not tried them. http://seegras.discordia.ch/Roleplay...ller/Software/

Another classic traveller char gen, this a web site. SignalGK: Online Traveller Resource

Almost forgot about the javascript 3.5 D&D and D20 character generators: Javascript D&D 3.5 Character Generator

There is a 4th ed one though I think it is on hiatus Javascript Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition Character Generator

The javascript generator guy has a couple more at his site The Pathology Guy go to his 'Fun' section of the web site. Looks like a d20 Cthulhu, Star Wars, and a list of AD&D 2e settings specific character generators.

All of those use a ton of javascript and may take a bit to load... it may seem like it has ganked your browser... just give it a sec.

There is this Third Edition (3.5) D&D Character Generator from Free Character Generators | D&D Nerd.com

There is a Call of Cthulhu char gen free for windows, never tried it: Cthulhu Character Generator 1.00 - Call of Cthulhu 1920s Character Generator

Don't get me wrong, I think the CB is wonderful. I'm a happy paying customer.

Nifft · 4th July 2009, 05:55 PM

When did games become so complex that character generators became necessary?

My guess would be the year 2000 (thanks to 3.0e), but I'm not very familiar with White Wolf games of & before that era.

Cheers, -- N

darjr · 4th July 2009, 05:59 PM

I'm not sure I'd put Classic Traveller or Call of Cthulhu in the 3.5 or 3.0 level of complexity... but they do have character builders.

A CB can be a great tool. Cheap printing, copious amounts of storage and 'idle' hands are the things I'd put down as the big motivators for character builders.

Glyfair · 4th July 2009, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nifft

When did games become so complex that character generators became necessary?

My guess would be the year 2000 (thanks to 3.0e), but I'm not very familiar with White Wolf games of & before that era.

Cheers, -- N

"Necessary" is such a loaded word. I know that even the most complex systems have people who say they can easily do characters without computers. The key is when they started to make things simple.

When did they become "desirable"? I remember a few systems in the early 80's where they were desirable. I would have loved one for Chivarly & Sorcery (pre-1980), Space Opera (early 80's) and Powers & Perils (mid-80s). I know many who would have liked one for Champions (1981), but I never wanted one until the 90's.

Personally, I love them now because my handwriting is horrible. A good character sheet that's editable is nice, but once there are a number of a laundry list of choices a character generator becomes more useful.

Maggan · 4th July 2009, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nifft

When did games become so complex that character generators became necessary?

I wrote one for Traveller in 1987, using some variant of BASIC, so for me, 1987. I would have loved to have one when we were playing Rolemaster heavily.

/M

Nifft · 4th July 2009, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glyfair

I would have loved one for Chivarly & Sorcery (pre-1980), Space Opera (early 80's) and Powers & Perils (mid-80s). I know many who would have liked one for Champions (1981), but I never wanted one until the 90's.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggan

I wrote one for Traveller in 1987, using some variant of BASIC, so for me, 1987.

That's significantly earlier than I'd expected!

Thanks, -- N

coyote6 · 4th July 2009, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nifft

When did games become so complex that character generators became necessary?

My guess would be the year 2000 (thanks to 3.0e), but I'm not very familiar with White Wolf games of & before that era.

They aren't necessary today; what they are is convenient. You can email characters, copy PDFs to flash drives, update them, and do it all legibly.

Didn't AD&D 2e have a CD-ROM that included a character generator?

HeroLab has official modules for Mutants & Masterminds, Savage Worlds, World of Darkness, and 3.5e. There's an authoring kit, too, so users can add systems.

Hero Games has Hero Designer. SJGames sells GURPS Character Assistant.

Glyfair · 4th July 2009, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggan

I wrote one for Traveller in 1987, using some variant of BASIC, so for me, 1987. I would have loved to have one when we were playing Rolemaster heavily.

/M

Thinking back, I wrote an NPC generator using BASIC for Top Secret (the original version).

Mustrum_Ridcully · 4th July 2009, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nifft

When did games become so complex that character generators became necessary?

My guess would be the year 2000 (thanks to 3.0e), but I'm not very familiar with White Wolf games of & before that era.

Cheers, -- N

I'd say Shadowrun and The Dark Eye also benefit a lot from character generators.

A Shadowrun character builder would help managing character generation points (if you use the system), money (that's even an issue if you the priority system of 3E) essence, bioindex, Ki Adept Powers, and it might be helpful for spell management or Karma management (Reputation, Total Karma, Karma Rolls - 4E might simplify this in some areas.)