L4W Discussion Thread V

[weldon]

I've been looking at a .dnd4e file. This is just a huge .xml file. I'm quite sure there is a way to read it and transform it into a L4W template file. Sure, there will be a few missing information, like power description, but all the math part should be easy to get out of it.

I've had similar thoughts. I think it would be possible to create a web app that will take the XML file as input and then output the wiki template text so that you could cut and paste into the wiki source.

I think there is some work that could be done to clean up the wiki templates too.

 

[stonegod]

Its something I thought of in the past, but didn't have the time. A google search will turn up a few XML parsers for the data (I think Asmor of ENW has one, might want to check).

Does wiki support MediaWiki forms? That might make data entry easier as well.

 

[evilbob]

I think there is some work that could be done to clean up the wiki templates too.

I tried this once, although I am betting this work is now dead. My idea was that if you just use one data entry point for all the data, you wouldn't have to repeat lots of information. So things like your current level would be entered in one place and then that's it: everything else is calculated from that one variable. Effectively, it was one very large template that then produced all the various math tables together.

I got it mostly finished, but not polished. The thing is, it ended up cutting down on data entry significantly but it also made the data entry less user-friendly. It's nice to only have to input stuff like "levelbonus" once, but on the other hand filling out a hundred pieces of information at once is difficult to organize and conceptualize easily. It could probably work, but it would need a lot of effort to be put into the interface to make it friendly.

 

[weldon]

Does wiki support MediaWiki forms? That might make data entry easier as well.

I sent a request the other day to enable SemanticForms. I wanted to try and see how this might work and if it would make it easier for folks. It looks promising.

There is also the visual editor too.

My idea was that if you just use one data entry point for all the data, you wouldn't have to repeat lots of information. Effectively, it was one very large template that then produced all the various math tables together.

I'm looking into different techniques to pass parameters from one template to another. I can do it with DPL but it feels like adding a ton of DPL calls to every character page would slow the site way down. Extension:VariablesExtension would be a lot cleaner, but it is not on the list of available extensions. I've sent a request to wikia.com to see if we can use it.

 

[Velmont]

I've had similar thoughts. I think it would be possible to create a web app that will take the XML file as input and then output the wiki template text so that you could cut and paste into the wiki source.

I think there is some work that could be done to clean up the wiki templates too.

I will probably try it, but I'm not familiar with web app. It will probably be a windows app I will do. Something that could take a .dnd4e as an input, save the result in a file (let's call it a .l4w) and have an interface to add a few things, like power effect that doesn't show in a .dnd4e and that allow to export into a wiki format.

 

[pacdidj]

If anyone has a bit of time, Yimayngurr just needs one more non-judge approval for his character overhaul. I'd really appreciate it, as he's in the middle of an adventure right now, and needs approval before he can receive any more XP. Here's a link to his page: Yimayngurr

 

[Dekana]

Approved.

Yimayngurr's build looks pretty awesome. Dangerous at long and short range, and the half-orc charge bonus synergies nicely. I'm surprised you're not wearing hide armor though. -1 to for some skills seems like a small price to pay for 1 AC, especially with that 10 constitution.

 

[pacdidj]

Thanks Dekana! Yeah, I've got to wait till he gets back to Daunton (hopefully) to upgrade to hide armor. It didn't matter as much in his old build, since I had envisioned him as more of a ranged specialist, but it sure does now. Can't wait to put him through his paces in combat.

 

[Phoenix8008]

Hey all. Just a general notice that I've had some connectivity issues over the last week which has mostly kept me offline. I apologize to all my players and my dm's. I should be able to start catching up tomorrow, beginning with updating 'Redblade's Riches'. It appears that a recent lightning storm here fried some of the nearby lines and impeded our connection greatly. Just wanted to let everyone know.

 

[weldon]

I sent a request the other day to enable SemanticForms.

I'm looking into different techniques to pass parameters from one template to another. Extension:VariablesExtension would be a lot cleaner, but it is not on the list of available extensions.

Just got word back from wikia.com that the SemanticWiki extension (and SemanticForms) have been enabled. The recommendation is to only use one form on each page, so we'll have to think carefully about how to use this.

They also set up VariablesExtension for us, which is awesome. We have to put some thought into how to use variables, but we can use this to define things like ability scores and modifiers, level, etc in one place on the page and then reuse those numbers in other areas (like the math section).

I'm gonna wrap up the namespace changes that I proposed this week before I start in on this in earnest, but I'll open up a new discussion thread to bounce around ideas on how to redesign the character templates using variables (and forms).