PCGen 2.6.7 Available. Faster and with Apprentice Levels!

[Leopold]

More optimizations have been done which should help
lower memory usage and boost performanceand more
optimizations are planned. Apprentice level
characters can now be made, though you'll have
to re-create the character at level 2. All
required fields in the data-files have been
obsoleted - they are all now referenced via
tags (look in Customise.htm for the details),
though support for the formerly-required fields
is retained for backward compatibility.
And many other changes!

You can right-click on an item in the available table
in the Inventory tab to "Customise" it (make a
normal item a magical one or just change its size).
Anyone wanting to use the "print" button will need
the pdf library at
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/pcgen/pdf.zip and
unzip it into your PCGen's lib directory (those are
the 4 files PCGen will indicate are missing if you try
to print without having downloaded that libarary).


Here's the list of everything that has been
addressed in this release. If you reported one
of these, please verify that it is was addressed
properly. PCGen is available at
http://pcgen.sourceforge.net , and the main
discussion group is at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pcgen . Be sure to
download at least the first two parts of PCGen...
pcgen267_part1of3.zip and pcgen267_part2of3.zip.
Please download both of these files!
There's also pcgen267_part3of3.zip which is the
complete documentation - it's been split out due to
its increased size and the fact that it doesn't change
much from release to release. Since some documentation
is included in part1of3.zip, some files will also
be in part3of3.zip, so unzipping one over the other
will require overwriting of files (which is fine
since they're identical).

We've got some OS-specific installs of PCGen to help
those who have trouble installing the generic
version. At
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pcgen/...rnate%20PCGen%
20Releases/

you will find a list of these releases which you can
use if you have trouble with the version you find
here. Please note that there alternate versions are
updated by users, so there may be some time lag
between when an official release comes out and
when the alternate OS-specific release is ready.


Bugs
565617 Equipment set/char. sheet different?
566229 Cannot export character to PDF (Unicode)
565330 Shurikens do not add properly...
533894 New Monte Bard not working right
565159 Part 3of3 has many extra folders inside
516024 PrC treated incorrectly
559907 PROBLEM SOLVED (PC Gen does NOT like Monks?)
565318 Companion Data still vanishing
565381 PREWILL, PREREFLEX adding wrong mods

Features
558506 Control on Cantrips Added from sources
420653 Class-level bonuses with choice
419737 "found" spellbooks with unknown spells
419404 Allow "apprentice level" characters
553789 Star Wars Races
553453 Size
550450 love it ,but........
531700 Allow multiple groups of the same item
547796 Wound/Vitality D&D support
540637 mouse roller scroll not working...
539503 Custom colors for normal text absent
539575 No powerpoints listed in Preview
537614 Multiple Attack types
532689 Sorting of columns staying put
557258 Phase II - scroll weapon prof to top
496642 Increase max skill rank using a feat
533132 Inherent Ability Score Bonus - Forsaker
529300 Psionic Handbook weapon abilities
527630 Psionic PP's (Power Points)
526109 Boots of speed
521152 Rangers and favored Enemy
566348 FEATAUTO:.CLEAR support
566079 ADD:.CLEAR and ADD:.CLEAR.LEVELx
446922 Replace pseudo-random with really random
493266 Dedicated tab for weapon/armour/shield.
470033 support for level/XP loss

PCGenM: Bugs
563645 Vampire&Lich Template skill boni missing
537315 MM:Y Chapter: Skill bonus applied more than one time
541122 Spiked Armor not present in MODLIST
554031 2-wpn fighting is only for melee
565094 Perform showing as Cross-Class for Bard
565632 Wrong GAME tag for sovereign.pcc
562044 Craft Domain Error
563477 Azuth should allow TN
565163 Soverign Stone d20 game type issues.

PCGenM: List File Fixes/New List Files
567137 Additional Logic to Sacred FistotF
567149 FANCC-NBoFeats-Cold Blooded Killer
567140 DMG-Assassineath Attack DC
566494 A lot of Sfarfarer's Handbook fixes
565452 Added the fighter TAG to dragonstar Feat
563808 Star Wars spear is size medium
563785 Removed prealign on Tressym
565086 FRCS -- Bullheaded feat
564690 dragonStar load fix for mod's
564688 Traps/Treachery feats.lst Mech. Apt. Fix
564164 fixed class skill .lst
563802 Fixed Otto's Resistible Dance spell
563790 added bonus will save to bullheaded feat
546483 Clerical Domains - Scarred Lands
563778 OA renamed 3-section staff, imi-bari

PCGenM: Tag Modification Request
567777 DEITY: add new tags
567756 DOMAIN: add DESC tag
564857 Deprecate PREVAR, use PREVARxx instead

The PCGen Development Team

[Jeremy]

You really need to hit the disable smilies in this post option when you post those updates.

On a different subject:

YAY PROGRAMMER GUY! Who ever is cleaning up the code is doing a great job. PC Gen is running much faster now.

BTW, love the thing. Use it constantly.

[zouron]

PC Gen is a okay program, and I check over every release, but it does have a few things against it.

First there seem to be some standard rules here and there it doesn't support (don't know now but remember it at didn't update all HD to D12 for adding templates that had that).

making your own files is not very user friendly.

putting one of three items of the same kind in one place, another in a second and the third in a third place, seem to be impossible.

adding more then 1 level at once seems to be none existing, I mean if I need to make a 14 level wizard lich, I rather NOT be pressing wizard 14 times.

Level adjustment for races, let us be able to adjust it in program manually. I mean they (WotC) first now have a standard system for it aka the ECL (which the beta version from tooth and claw was published in some issue of dragon (293?)).

personally another thing I hate having partial things included.... either products fully implemented or none of them at all. (okay that is me).

better control with what variant or different rules are iun use and what isn't (especially with epic level). I don't think you can make a creature just an abbrevation or outsider etc, without a prober race, but at least outsider with nothing else attached is rather useful for creating dieties ;-)

hmm I think the list goes on a lot longer, but that was a few things.

anyway it might be really good one of these days, so far it is okay ;-)

[Leopold]

Originally posted by zouron
PC Gen is a okay program, and I check over every release, but it does have a few things against it.

thanks for downloading it and trying it out at least!

First there seem to be some standard rules here and there it doesn't support (don't know now but remember it at didn't update all HD to D12 for adding templates that had that).

Like which ones?

making your own files is not very user friendly.

guilty as charged. It's getting easier with more documentation as it comes out. Feedback is key here.

putting one of three items of the same kind in one place, another in a second and the third in a third place, seem to be impossible..

equipment you mean? I don't follow you here.

adding more then 1 level at once seems to be none existing, I mean if I need to make a 14 level wizard lich, I rather NOT be pressing wizard 14 times..

great questions, sent that to the grou.

Level adjustment for races, let us be able to adjust it in program manually. I mean they (WotC) first now have a standard system for it aka the ECL (which the beta version from tooth and claw was published in some issue of dragon (293?))...

Just load dragon mag 293, it updates the ECL's for the monster races. I used it and it does work.

personally another thing I hate having partial things included.... either products fully implemented or none of them at all. (okay that is me)...

remember this is all based on volunteers who are volunteering their time and coding it in. we get in what we can so the basic elements can be used. If we don't get it all in under the wire at least get something in to let people get the basics of it. Overall there are not that many .lst writers out there that can do ALL the files at once. We have small teams setup inside the group to help delegate certain sections, someone's good at races they get them, someone's good at equipment they get them. The work gets done faster that way, IF we all share the same material and works which is not always easiet as we can't afford to buy all the books. We are getting publishers to send us their works, Tyrranny Games was nice enough to send me their new work The End and I will be putting it into pcgen with the help of my team. This support makes it possible for more work to get done, be patient as we are doing this all on our free time, but if you start paying we'll be more than happy to do it faster!

better control with what variant or different rules are in use and what isn't (especially with epic level). I don't think you can make a creature just an abbrevation or outsider etc, without a prober race, but at least outsider with nothing else attached is rather useful for creating dieties ;-)..

did you want to create a god or a monster here? I don't follow.

hmm I think the list goes on a lot longer, but that was a few things...

just enough for me to comment on!


More feedback good or bad allows us to improve on the work and see which way the public wants the software to go. It's written by gamers for gamers so that's why we are here!

[bolen]

any idea on when the Kalamar Player's guide will be included

[Leopold]

Originally posted by bolen
any idea on when the Kalamar Player's guide will be included

i heard it had been worked on and submitted, can't be sure on that..i'll ask and see what they say.

[zouron]

HD update? it was the lich I tried to do :-) I mean wizard to lich gives a huge jump in HD ;-) (remembering all HD also previous ones are updated :-) )

And for the making file, I personally think (wink wink) that there should be a method from within the program to simply make new files type in stuff and then the program types them up in the right format etc...


next on the files... yes I know you can't do all at once, but really would be neat if there were no trace of a product until it was done (error correction is okay, just should contain the files).

epic level rules... this I mean how and which methods are used after level 20 (say I wanna create a level 25 wizard, so I need to make a choice on which rules it uses to picture the level 21 to 25).

as for for dieties (DG&D by WotC), you will note many of them have no race as all, except they have 20 outsider HD, which would mean that the user should be able to pick outsider alone for creating a god (or possibly another being?) etc customized races so to speak based off the catagory they belong to (undead, shapechanger etc).

BTW I download every version of it just to keep track of how it is doing :-)

[doktorstick]

Problems I noticed with 2.6.7.

Running on Linux was _not_ fast. In fact, it seemed like it slowed down quite noticeably. Books loaded = WotC Core I-III

Java VM is Sun's Java 2 Standard v. 1.4.0-b92

Also, creating a Minotaur and trying to point-buy complains that there are no pool points. Switch to human, and point-buy all day long. Switch back to Minotaur and no point-buy (though the stats stay the same so you can get around it).

/ds

[doktorstick]

*** Warning: Explicitives in Post ***

I am hoping that the board filter will swap a lot of the explicitives in this post. This is from a friend that I pointed to PCGen v. 2.6.7.

I personally enjoy PCGen, FYI, but here's an unfettered opinion on trying to use PCGen for the first time. Perhaps it will be informative for helping the "first time user".

---- BEGIN review
OK, You actually use that piece of product to make characters?

IMHO it's FUBAR'd more than any other free piece of S/W I've ever seen.

I downloaded it last night at 12:30. It's 1:30 now and I haven't been able to do the slightest thing with it.

I grabbed the Windoze version that comes in 3 files. I unzipped and tried to run. I discovered I need Java now (didn't before) so I got that. It still would not run. Lucky the troubleshooting told me I can't use PkZip (should have said that on the main page). So I used WinZip. Total time spent to this point about 15 minutes.

I start the program. I load the core rules and try to create a
character. No place/menu option says 'create character/monster'. I somehow pop into the combat screen where I can't do anything cause I have no characters. I waste 15 minutes quitting and restarting (help does not work on PC version) trying to figure out how to create a character.

Finally I see that ONLY in one screen does the 'new' button come alive (isn't that ed to the max) and under new you can create a character. Amazing. These clowns are not GUI people that's for sure.

So I get into the create character screen. I select Human for my Race. I go to the stats screen. I want to use 32 pt buy system. I click on buy points. I try to move the stats (I set them all to 8's which is standard). Whenever I click all I get is message that says I have no pool points? Huh? So I type a number in the pool. It instantly goes back to 0. So I try unlimted points but it only add's 1 per +1 to a stat so it's not adding right. I spend 15-20 minutes ing around with no success. Finally somehow and I still don't know how it starts to work and I spend 32 points.

I select Figher, but not before it forces me to select an alignment (a tad ed up). It wants me to select my bonus feat which I refuse and I go to the feats page and do it there (it works, thank god). So I go to the skills page and see I have 12 skill pts (2+0int)*4+4(human). So I go back to the stats page, muck around to get 13 int (for feats) with +1 on my stat. I go to the skills page but I still only got 12 pts. I try Int from 3-18 and still no change in skill points. It's completely ed. In fact I select 3 feats then change my race to Dwarf and I still keep 3 feats. I select a feat and drop my prereq stat and I keep the feat. There is a total disconnect all over the pages. So another 15 minutes go by doing this.

I have to quit and restart to get my Int right. Of course now I have that ing pool problem of buying stats and can't duplicate the magic result of getting points to spend (another 10 minutes)

What a piece of program. I could have easily created 2 by hand during this. Hell the 6th month old program I had was light years better than this piece of crap cause at least you could go back and forth and use point buy.

You wanna install under Winblows at work and show me how this ed up piece of S/W works?

--- END review

Hopefully I can get him on the path to righteousness today.

/ds

[Henry]

As 133t as your friend is, he's got two very good points:

1) Java is NOTORIOUSLY bad at updating fields, apparently. I notice problems of fields updating properly all over the program, especially if the item to be updated in question is on the screen.

2) The GUI for creating the character is problematic for new users, despite the upgrade. The flow works well now after the update, but starting the creation is still cryptic, and alignment needs a better place to be (possibly back on the stat block screen?)

This individual has a real problem with Windows, obviously, but he does need to know that his program will work for ANY operating system - including a Mac - because it is written in Java, and hence why he needs Java.

[The Crimster]

My thoughts on the individual that wrote that review:

* I'd like to see you write a program with the power of PC Gen. Post it where I can download it, and then I'll review YOUR software.

* Learn to communicate without cursing. It immediately tends to cause people to think of you as less intelligent then you might be.

* Some parts of your review make me think you know what you're talking about when it comes to computers - and other parts make you sound like a total newb. Just a comment.

* Spend some time with PC Gen. More time. Time without cursing it. It really does work if you give it time. Is it pretty? No. But it's FREE.

Let me reiterate that. Free. Free? FREE.

Ok, I'm done here.

[Leopold]

well it was his friend doing it late at nite and i can see the frustration but i would like to point him to the part3_3.zip file that IS THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL! It was written mostly by me and the author of pcgen and it is a COMPELTE walkthruogh of the tabs and information. It tells you what to do with pcgen, what all the drop downs mean, and explanation of the GUI.

If your friend would RTM ( ) I think his problems would be solved!

Let me know if I can help any!

[The Crimster]

Leopold, you're a saint. Let me rephrase it for you:

RTFM..!

Now of course, I've lowered myself to using profanity, albeit only with a single letter. Booo hoo.

[doktorstick]

My friend is quite intelligent, but can be a little excitable. He is a professional software engineer for what its worth.

As for the instruction manual, he did install all three zip files. Whenever he tried to bring up the help, the window (the help one) crashed.

You can blame me for his "review". Or, more precisely, rant. It was a personal email to me that I took liberty with in posting. He ranted at me because I told him it was a good program. Unbeknownest to me the point-buy system is broken (which I observed later and posted here about), and the help documentation does not work.

Cheers,
/ds

[Edit on Help Problems]
He pulled down the help menu and tried to access help or search. A DOS box pops up and then goes away, like it tried to run a java command and failed. The tiny help works (i.e., explaining the obvious), but the more detailed help, the one he needed, did not.

His other analogy: The first PCGen was a steel knife--straightforward functionality that worked. The current version is a Swiss Army Knife--but it is made of plastic.

Lastly, he did have good comments. He likes the character sheets that I have produced using it. And it does seem very powerful.

[Leopold]

Originally posted by The Crimster
Leopold, you're a saint. Let me rephrase it for you:

RTFM..!

Now of course, I've lowered myself to using profanity, albeit only with a single letter. Booo hoo.

see that is why i work for the PR side of PCGen..no swearing at the masses..causes many many many bad feelings!

but yes read the manual and all will be clear..