Anthony Valterra 11/14 clarification on last nights post

[Brown Jenkin]

Mynex, Anthony,

Since you are both here. whats the news on the possibility of getting permission for Non-SRD in PCgen. I am not trying to create a conflict with PCGen and E-Tools, but until e-tools is ever fixed fully, calculations all done corectly and PrC support it will not meet my needs. Same with PCgen, without Non-SRD support it will not meet my needs either. Why do I have to have 2 programs that do not work for me. Please either fix e-tools or give permission to PCgen.

 

[Hollywood]

PrC support

PrC's are all built around rule zero, actually all the classes are. The closet you are going to get to being able to implement the thousands of variations that can happen with rule zero is if you utilize scripting like RPM does to some extent. But to implement many of the PrCs requires actual coding, or scripting as the case may be, and how many DMs can do that for any new PrC or class they create?

But, programming and programs are still in their 'infancy'... one day...

Uh, um... ok.

And I hate the way Java is coded. Period. I don't like the file structure. I don't like it's hive like construction.

Um, herald what are you smoking? Actually, Swing [its Sun's implementation of a GUI api for Java], which is what most people complain about works fairly well for what it was intended to do... be a cross-platform GUI. However, being that it is what it is, it has inherent problems that if not carefully considered can cause extreme slowness in applications. But there are other options than Swing too, such as IBM's SWT which uses less abstraction than Swing and goes after the native GUI apis much sooner. Outside of that, Java works pretty well.

Then again, and I can't tell, perhaps you were just meaning the Java implementation of PCGen.

 

[Mr. Kaze]

Keeping e-Tools Relevant

Heck, if WoTC really wants to pursue eTools, they can make every "Web-Enhancement" for a supplement be a data package for eTools.

Funny, but the same thought crossed my mind as I labored over adding character classes from Oriental Adventures to the MS Access database running the show. (I got stuck on where a character [Shaman] can choose spell domains like a cleric -- if anybody knows, please reply.)

I mean, After you've got your core rulebooks entered, everything else is pretty much just an ADO recordset saved to XML with a point-and-import utility (that somebody has already written). Very rarely should you ever need an actual new rule at this point, and certain "peculiarities" in the software may be acceptable to avoid waiting for patches... (For example, I added NG/N/NE "Kami"s for the Shaman to take as a diety, each with all the OA domains. Would work pretty well if I could figure out how to select a diety; see above.)

Anyway, back on topic, users then download and import the XML file as the "Web Enhancement" for every product as opposed to a few pages that didn't make the editorial cut -- that's product synnergy, that's value-add, and that's how WotC can help keep e-Tools cutting edge without strong-arming other volunteer-based projects. (Worst case scenario is that WotC will at least have their own published standard -- e-Tools -- of acceptability when they go to sit on over-zealous upstarts.)

Or, on a more ambitious note, include .pdf (or somesuch) copies of each book on CD with/instead of the book such that eTools can hyperlink right into the rule descriptions. Adds $1 to the cost of the book but makes e-Tools infinitely more useful by keeping it up-to-date and just maybe allowing it to integrate with a campaign with all the peculiarities therein.

Mr. Kaze (isn't disappointed with what it is, but what it could have been -- especially when he's frantically flipping back and forth through Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil trying to keep track of where his players are and the only good e-Tools is giving him is the best-randomized dice roller he's ever seen.)

 

[Mr. Kaze]

But to implement many of the PrCs requires actual coding, or scripting as the case may be, and how many DMs can do that for any new PrC or class they create?

It's not that difficult. (Hopefully I'm not getting into copyright infringement or DMCA here...)
1) Choose a base attack bonus rate -- +1/+.75/+.5
2) For each saving through, choose a "Fast" growth rate or a "Slow" growth rate.
3) Add new class spells to the big spell list.
4) Create a potential spell list, using (now) existing spells.
5) Mark whether spells are prepared or if there's a maximum # of spells to know.
6) Fill in spells per day table.
X) Should be able to mark domain spells per day, too; -1 for "N/A"
7) Make up new feats as appropriate. (Most feats will either impact something on the character sheet that an existing feat already does, or will be a specific rule to be looked up at time of use -- no scripting required.)
8) Fill in "feats by level" table.
9) For a prestige class, add in any character requirements (Race, Alignment, Skills, Feats) that don't fall under "DM Approval".

Just because e-Tools doesn't have an interface for it doesn't mean it's (entirely) difficult.

Of course, as stated above, I'd be willing to spend more on WotC products if they'd keep my e-Tools updated semi-magically with the rules I just bought a copy of...

Mr. Kaze (added the "Shadow Scout" to e-Tools no problem -- 'cept from carpal tunnel caused by the annoying prerequisites table.)

 

[Brown Jenkin]

Just because e-Tools doesn't have an interface for it doesn't mean it's (entirely) difficult.

From what I had read the +1 to existing spellcasting class issue had not been resolved. Adding classes without spellcasting is doable but the casting PrCs were the problem.

 

[Hollywood]

7) Make up new feats as appropriate. (Most feats will either impact something on the character sheet that an existing feat already does, or will be a specific rule to be looked up at time of use -- no scripting required.)

Yes, that can be true in a lot of cases... probably for the enough of the majority of cases that it will work fine, especially since eTools really doesn't provide any 'play at the table' functionality.

 

[Mr. Kaze]

Spellcasters are generally lacking...

From what I had read the +1 to existing spellcasting class issue had not been resolved.

Quite true; it's bug #24 (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/dx20021115y). I'm also grimly amused by #2 -- "Cleric domains not working properly yet" as it likely means that I wasn't missing something completely obvious when adding some Shamans.

On almost completely unrelated note, I just got a Guild Thief (Forgotten Realms) in my group; does e-Tools track Leadership score, or was that another miss?

Cheers,
Mr. Kaze (takes his lazy arse downstairs to make a character with Leadership and test it for himself.)