BaneWarrens sets standard/features for computerized adventures

[Luke]

I've decided on using Monte Cook's excellent BaneWarrens mega-adventure as the standard for functionality in adventures created using RolePlayingMaster.

Basically, this excellent, huge adventure incorporates events and chapters, which stretched the capabilities of the adventure building module.

Luckily, I've been able to use my Campaign Encyclopaedia functionality easily in the Adventure module, as below...

This means that the adventure module has unlimited capabilities now with storing and organizing information, along with the following features:
- Full rich-text editing and formatting, including tables and pictures.
- The ability to insert links to either web-pages, or within the adventure, or out to the Campaign Encyclopaedia itself.
- Either print out the full adventure for in-game use, or play it using the computer, with unparalled ability to jump to relevant sections and auto-manage NPCs etc.
- Easily scale adventures by making changes where necessary.
- You can, of course, still incorporate full creatures, maps and locations for in-game BattleMap use, as before.

So, how useful a feature would this be? I'm currently tidying up the beta for the release 1, and didn't want to get trapped into doing any new functionality now.
On the other hand, I think this'll make such a difference that RPM would be selling itself short if it releases initially without this capability.
I've already made the changes so that the information tree will export and import for an adventure module.

... I also have a slightly longer-term plan to let you create quick lookup links to NPCs, monsters, groups, locations etc etc. Not sure if I should delay for including that as well.

... Also thinking about allowing you to specify what formatting to use in printouts for tree nodes (indent, in a table, centre the heading etc).

... As an aside to this, in being able to print out the adventure, I've "accidently" created the ability for you to generate an HTML page (for websites, whatever), from the Campaign Encyclopaedia, or even just print it all out from a selected node. That might be a nice feature to include.

If you have any thoughts about all this (or even just opinions on not delaying the full release 1), feel free to let me know


Regards,

 

[annadobritt]

Cool! I would like to see this feature made part of RPM.

One question, would there be a way to create a link from a point in any adventure to open a map in City Overseer 3D? Say click on a link and the characters can see the interior of a room or inside a sewer?

 

[Luke]

Cool! I would like to see this feature made part of RPM.

One question, would there be a way to create a link from a point in any adventure to open a map in City Overseer 3D? Say click on a link and the characters can see the interior of a room or inside a sewer?

Hi Anna,

That's a good one, and full of issues, but you've given me an idea...

The links have entries such as "http://rpm/adv:502" and " http://rpm/encyc:4255".
Basically, "adv:502" jumps to the 502 entry for the adventure content, whereas "encyc:4255" would jump to the 4255 entry for the Campaign Encyclopaedia.
You don't need to know the numbers, since a searchable popup window appears when you create the link.

I'm already thinking of extending this to include "http://rpm/creature:xxx" for links to important NPCs and monsters, but I could just as easily extend it to accept RPM commands, and even external commands. External commands would probably satisfy the Overseer need.

I suppose that I could generally extend this for any RPM table as well (spells, feats, skills etc), except that it's already pretty easy to bring all that stuff up. Also, you don't really *need* to look this stuff up in-game, since RPM automatically factors them in, and already displays the descriptions behind actions taken.

Sounds like you've created some nice 3D maps using Overseer

 

[gariig]

Could Luke be trying to take over for DMF?

Gariig, avid DMF user

 

[Luke]

Could Luke be trying to take over for DMF?

Gariig, avid DMF user

He he. No. I'm sure that there are those for whom the "DMF way" is just right.

Putting in this capability is only a relatively small part of what RPM is about. I had it in the Campaign Encyclopaedia, but this has come about as a result of needing to do an event and chapter based mega-adventure.

The most important thing in RPM, by far, is bringing 3rd edition game mechanics support to useful RPG utilities.

From what I can gather, DMF is for people who want to do all the game mechanics calculations themselves, without any software support. It's more of a tool for putting in text information, and then being able to view it. RPM, on the other hand, when used in-game, is heavily into building up characters, NPCs, monsters according to the rules, and having their "dynamic statblocks" (attacks, skills, saves, AC etc) change according to the current situation (spells cast, items equipped, conditions such as dazed, stunned, entangled etc).
To me it's quite important to be able to use Monster Manual races and allow for randomized abilities, class levels, different starting equipment such as weapons and armor - yet have everything quickly recalculated for me (down to attacks, damage, saves, skill adjustments etc.). Taking the vanilla monster manual entries, and then doing manual calculations after changing class levels, abilities, feats, or equipment is waaay too much work for me.

Let's just say that in looking at Monte Cook's BaneWarrens, I quickly realized that the Campaign Encyclopaedia capabilities would be very useful for adventures, as above. Call it a vote of confidence in DMF's "Codex" approach to adventure building.


Question for you Gariig:
I assume that DMF also has the capability to store pictures, spreadsheets and other objects amongst the text.
Does it know how to print out an entire report that incorporates the pictures as well? I'm having trouble with the RTF to HTML conversion of pictures, and currently only the maps print out, as opposed to graphics embedded amongst text.
The only component available to do this conversion I can find, is *very* expensive, especially for a free download...

Regards,

 

[Cergorach]

Looks good Luke!

 

[gariig]

Question for you Gariig:
I assume that DMF also has the capability to store pictures, spreadsheets and other objects amongst the text.
Does it know how to print out an entire report that incorporates the pictures as well? I'm having trouble with the RTF to HTML conversion of pictures, and currently only the maps print out, as opposed to graphics embedded amongst text.
The only component available to do this conversion I can find, is *very* expensive, especially for a free download...

Regards,

I believe it is only text, I haven't stuck a picture in there and left it. I will try later and see. I know that DMF uses Crystal Reports to make the conversions, don't know if that helps you. I really need to see if I can't learn to use RPM, seems pretty useful!

gariig

 

[Cergorach]

I really need to see if I can't learn to use RPM, seems pretty useful!

It is extremely usefull! The basic functionality is pretty straigthforward and Luke's tuturial really helps a lot. If you want to go deeper into the tool you can, but that's where the simple stuff ends...

 

[DMFTodd]

From what I can gather, DMF is for...

I suppose I could start a pissing war with Luke for the snide comments but I'm going to try and refrain. My time is better spent programming and improving DM's Familiar rather than responding to such things.

I'll let the quality of my software speak for me. If anyone is considering purchasing DM's Familiar, please, by all means, take a look at Roleplaying Master as well. I'm confident enough in my software that I can encourage potential customers to look at a free competitor.

You can download DM's Familiar right here.

Call it a vote of confidence in DMF's "Codex" approach to adventure building

They say imitiation is the sincerest form of flattery but I'm having trouble swallowing that.

this excellent, huge adventure <Banewarrens>

You got that right at least, Luke. The Banewarrens is excellent.

 

[Cergorach]

I suppose I could start a pissing war with Luke for the snide comments but I'm going to try and refrain. My time is better spent programming and improving DM's Familiar rather than responding to such things.

Shees, take a few ranks in diplomacy man ;-p

Now, don't get me wrong, but want to compare feature lists? Nah... Didn't think so...

Let me make a comparison, you've got your Wordpad and you've got your Word. Few want to use Wordpad for writing long letters, thus they use Word. I think that DM Familiar would be ranked as Word XP. But some of us want more control, more functions, more detail, we go for Quark or Indesign. That's where RPM comes in...

Just because i use Indesign on a regular basis, doesn't mean i diss on Word, i still use it and it has it's place in my toolbox. Same goes for DM Familiar...

Just loossen up Todd, we're all gamers here and don't look behind every line of text for a veiled snide...