Software, Computers, Video Games and D&D UtilitiesGeneral discussion on computer software and hardware, PC and console games, and RPG utilities such as eTools, PC GEN, etc.
I came across this program whilst looking for something other than word that was funtional as a campaign writing tool. They have a collapseable tree structure that's pretty handy.
Of course it costs money (natch). Treepad link. Then some more googling and I found this one more geared towards GM's directly Myinfo. Then I found one that operates like the shareware programs thats free. Keynote, granted it doesnt have all the bells and whistles that the other two have (its free) with Treepad being the "fanciest" however Treepad is the only one I found that has a Linux version without running Wine.
Anyhoo, just thought I'd throw those out. Didn't know if they've been discussed before or not.
__________________ I suffer from chronic apathy, I was going to go see a doctor about it, but I didn't really care.
I was planning on posting a thread just like this. I came across the programs you mentioned and many more and tried them all out. After quite a bit of substantial testing as to which one of these programs would work the best for adventure writing and running I decided on GSNotes (Goldensection Notes) http://www.tgslabs.com/eng/gsnotes/
This seems to be the most solid and versitile of the PIM's (Personal Information Managers) I have tried. I plan on writing up my whole next adventure in gsnotes and running it at the table on my laptop. The beauty of this program is that all your information is highly organized and readily accessible. You can insert hyperlinks to programs, online webpages, to different sections of your gsnotes file. You can also insert pictures that are links. The best part of this program that I am excited about is that I have a bunch of playlists compiled of great RPG music, which I will place links to in my adventure outline. So the party comes accross an area of howling wind tunnels, I click on a link and howling wind sound effects begin to play. If the party walks into a tavern, I quickly jump to my tavern writeup and right at the top is a link to the tavern music.
Here are some preliminary screenshots of how I'm setting up my adventure. I still need to add a lot of folders, for NPC and Monster statblocks and other things.
Last edited by gravyboat; 26th March 2004 at 06:15 PM..
Sweet, I had not found that one. I'll try that one out too. I've been playing around with Treepad and I like that you can build tables and shizzle. Geeking out over here!
__________________ I suffer from chronic apathy, I was going to go see a doctor about it, but I didn't really care.
Thanks Gravyboat, I'm going to have to check that out!
__________________ Mike McConnell, Freelance RPG Writer Currently Working On: Starblazer Adventures: The Planet Killers
Co-Owner of Imagineering Inc, formerly known as BC-Products, and the owner of the original Tact-Tiles.
Follow me and Imagineering Inc on Twitter: Mechalus
Anyone know what happens after 30 days and you don't register?
What I really want is a program for writing adventures. For example, I'd like it to promt me to enter a synopsis, background, flavor text, maps, room descriptions, monster stats and all that. Then, when it's done, you just hit "Format" and it takes all your data and formats it into an adventure that looks like it came straight from Wizards themselves.
That'd be sweet.
__________________ Mike McConnell, Freelance RPG Writer Currently Working On: Starblazer Adventures: The Planet Killers
Co-Owner of Imagineering Inc, formerly known as BC-Products, and the owner of the original Tact-Tiles.
Follow me and Imagineering Inc on Twitter: Mechalus
Anyone know what happens after 30 days and you don't register?
What I really want is a program for writing adventures. For example, I'd like it to promt me to enter a synopsis, background, flavor text, maps, room descriptions, monster stats and all that. Then, when it's done, you just hit "Format" and it takes all your data and formats it into an adventure that looks like it came straight from Wizards themselves.
That'd be sweet.
Yes that would, I remember hoping that was what E-Tools was going to be!
__________________ Signature:
All I need is minions and I would rule the world.
I inserted the entire SRD into a gsnotes file (.gso) (see the screenshot below). So if you want to check it out, you can download the whole thing at the following link
It took me about 40 min. to to do this. That's the beauty of this GSNotes program, you can put documents together pretty quickly.
The gsnotes program also has a useful search feature which allows you to search through the entire gso file or just through specific folders and notes. This makes looking up rules in the SRD very quick.
I love the fact you can lauch any program you have on your computer with links you place in the document. In my adventure I'm writing with GSNotes, I have links that instantly load up Jamis Buck's NPC Generator, a dicerolling program, excel spreadsheets, and numerous rpg pdf's.
By the way, I don't work for the company, I'm just stoked that this program works so well for what I want to do with my upcoming adventure.
DM's Familiar has a basic tree-view tool in it as well - The Codex Tree. You can use it to write your adventure but you can also use it to drop in D&D specific things - rules, spells, monsters, etc. So you can have a note that has the text for your room, and a link you can click to open the monster that is there, and a link to open up the spell that is the monsters special ability, etc. Andit has a combat manager if you can get a laptop to your game table, et.c
Roleplaying Master has a tree-view tool init as well.
Dunnjinni (or however they spell it) from Fluid is a mapper and writing tool combined. My understanding is that it is the part that was pulled from E:Tools.
GMGen has a tree based notes system that is very capable. GMGen is a part of PCGen that gives the user a quickly broadening set of tools for gming. Also note, PCGen/GMGen are Open Source, and completly free.
Everything you write is stored as HTML, you have most general word processing functions - and if you need better ones, you can edit the file in any other html editor (I had to do this for tables, a feature I will add some time soon)
But it does have undo, redo, cut, copy, paste, font resizing, bold, italics, undeline, color, lists, numbered lists, image embedding, and right-center-left justification.
You can also drag and drop files on a note to store and launch them from gmgen, including pcg (PCGen character files), and gmi (GMGen encounter files). The Notes system is designed for world notes, as well as being a vehicle for creating modules, and using gmgen to run said module.
You can fetch gmgen at PCGen's Website When you do so, be sure to download the 5.6 full version (the partial version does not contain gmgen). Note, you do need Java 1.4 for PCGen/GMGen.
One final thing - if you find a problem with the notes system, or it does nto support a feature you would like, you can always contact me, or submit a bug on pcgen's bug submission/feature request site (on the webpage). And I will do my best to get to it ASAP.
Devon Jones
GMGen Silverback
PCGen Board of Directors
Here are some screen shots:
Last edited by soulcatcher; 27th March 2004 at 06:09 PM..
GMGen has a tree based notes system that is very capable. GMGen is a part of PCGen that gives the user a quickly broadening set of tools for gming. Also note, PCGen/GMGen are Open Source, and completly free.
Here are some screen shots:
And its tabbed. Holy crap!
One feature I noticed about Myinfo that I cant find in any of the others is being able to imbed other programs like Word, Excel etc.
__________________ I suffer from chronic apathy, I was going to go see a doctor about it, but I didn't really care.
I had been using the free version of MyInfo for several years. I upgraded to 1.9, which was the last freeware version, not too long ago but was not happy with the lack of features.
So, compared to what I already had, I am very impressed with Keynote. Formatting, hyperlinks, spell checker; I've got a new toy! It's also free, and only about 3 MB. I carry my campaign info and notes, as well as the MyInfo/Keynote program, on my three-year-old, 32 MB, USB thumb drive, so a smaller program is a plus.
I started using GSNotes to input my campaign. So far I really like it. It has some limitations mostly with importing tables, but otherwise it handles the data very nicely. Links are very easy to set up and stable, I only wish I could drag and drop within GSNotes (maybe I can, just don't know how yet). I would have liked added functions like dice bags and combat matrix but I'm glad it wasn't programed in Java, so I'll keep it.
Anyone know what happens after 30 days and you don't register?
What I really want is a program for writing adventures. For example, I'd like it to promt me to enter a synopsis, background, flavor text, maps, room descriptions, monster stats and all that. Then, when it's done, you just hit "Format" and it takes all your data and formats it into an adventure that looks like it came straight from Wizards themselves.
That'd be sweet.
Is there a list of which of these features would have been included in e-tools anywhere? Or a list of adventure requirements, like the list you've started but I'll assume is incomplete?
It occurs to me that I'd like something like that as well, and it's certainly within my capability to create. I just need a reference for whatever requirements would be necessary.
Is there a list of which of these features would have been included in e-tools anywhere? Or a list of adventure requirements, like the list you've started but I'll assume is incomplete?
It occurs to me that I'd like something like that as well, and it's certainly within my capability to create. I just need a reference for whatever requirements would be necessary.
Thougt I had one of the first promotes for E-Tools but have been unable to find it, too many years ago. But it was to be a module designer, it was to use the game mapper for Arcana (sp) to produce 3d maps for viewing on a PC. It was also to allow you to added notes DM and player, link it to and area, so when you published it was produced in a clean print format, much like what you see by Wizards.
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All I need is minions and I would rule the world.
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