Best Char Gen Utilities?

[Edheldur]

CMP has said that there will be a window of time when you can freely convert your eTools or PCGen datasets over to RPGF datasets. When this window starts and how long has not been declared.

You've made me a happy PCGen user.

 

[dpmcalister]

You've made me a happy PCGen user.

And me

 

[DonTadow]

I'm a bit confused by this statement. You can create characters with both eTools and PCGen.

When I think of the word character generator I think of something that allows me to skip certain aspects and actually generate the charachter. With e-tools and pcgen, its essentially like using a souped up pencil that doesa bit of the math for you. E-tools has a basic character generator that is not very manipulatible. NPC Designer on the other hand is an actual character generator. Just about any character you think of any aspect you can pick out or leave it up to the computer to generator.

Its an amaozing program. their currently working on phase 2 which is an easier way to build your own classes and races. currently you can, and me a novice at basics was able to redo all the iron heroes stuff into the system (w/ permission) .

 

[kingpaul]

When I think of the word character generator I think of something that allows me to skip certain aspects and actually generate the charachter. With e-tools and pcgen, its essentially like using a souped up pencil that doesa bit of the math for you. E-tools has a basic character generator that is not very manipulatible. NPC Designer on the other hand is an actual character generator. Just about any character you think of any aspect you can pick out or leave it up to the computer to generator.

So, your definition revolves around the randomization aspect? Because PCGen and eTools aren't fully randomizable they are not complete?

 

[D'karr]

So, your definition revolves around the randomization aspect? Because PCGen and eTools aren't fully randomizable they are not complete?

I think he is saying that those two tools do no "generate" a character. They require user input at every step to "generate" a character. You can use those tools for character management but not for "generation".

PCGen is very complete. It is the tool I use almost exclusively. I've created several files to handle my campaign. However, I don't create NPCs using PCGen. I use Jamis Bucks generators to handle that part and then I import the character for tweaking into PCGen. If I have to create a 15th level character with multi-classing options, etc. I still have to go and add every single bit of detail instead of having the tool create it.

 

[karianna]

PCGen to expand.....

I think he is saying that those two tools do no "generate" a character. They require user input at every step to "generate" a character. You can use those tools for character management but not for "generation".

PCGen is very complete. It is the tool I use almost exclusively. I've created several files to handle my campaign. However, I don't create NPCs using PCGen. I use Jamis Bucks generators to handle that part and then I import the character for tweaking into PCGen. If I have to create a 15th level character with multi-classing options, etc. I still have to go and add every single bit of detail instead of having the tool create it.

Ah I see now, well to help the original poster, As of 5.10.1 PCGen has one feature currently (called Kits), which allows you to apply standard default stats, feats, equipment etc to a creature or PC at the click of a single button. I find it very helpful to create hordes of Goblins (for example).

There are also rumours that a fully fledged NPC generator (based loosely off Jamis's and Andragor's work) will be integrated into PCGen over the next few Alpha builds for the 5.12 series. There's even a nastier rumour floating around that you'll be able to mix and match between the tons of datasets that PCGen supports, not just the (R)SRD.

But one shouldn't pass on rumours, it's not lady like

 

[LcKedovan]

Thanks for all the replies everyone, as someone who spends more than enough money as it is, it is nice to hear about not having to er-purchase datasets if one goes the route of PcGen. I used PCGen for most of the first incarnations way back when so am very familiar with it so I'll take a look and see what has changed. Looks like I'll have to "retrograde" to the supported FR version until new datasets are available, but if there are no irritatingly major bugs as mentioned by Edheldur then I'll be good with that. I'll check out the others as well.

As for the Generation thing. I agree about the automisation aspect as a busy DM. It really comes down to WotC having been buggers about it. Earlier PCGen had the rolling in it but they were forced to take it out if I recall.

Anyhow... off shopping

-W.

 

[DonTadow]

Ah I see now, well to help the original poster, As of 5.10.1 PCGen has one feature currently (called Kits), which allows you to apply standard default stats, feats, equipment etc to a creature or PC at the click of a single button. I find it very helpful to create hordes of Goblins (for example).

There are also rumours that a fully fledged NPC generator (based loosely off Jamis's and Andragor's work) will be integrated into PCGen over the next few Alpha builds for the 5.12 series. There's even a nastier rumour floating around that you'll be able to mix and match between the tons of datasets that PCGen supports, not just the (R)SRD.

But one shouldn't pass on rumours, it's not lady like

No offensie, but I've been hearing those rumors for a year or two now. I guess I"m thinking right now and adding a new class to NPC Designer from another source is pretty easy . Its also not just limited to the SRD as it also has Arcana Unearthed material licensed for it and the blessing has been given for Iron Heroes stuff.

 

[DonTadow]

Ah I see now, well to help the original poster, As of 5.10.1 PCGen has one feature currently (called Kits), which allows you to apply standard default stats, feats, equipment etc to a creature or PC at the click of a single button. I find it very helpful to create hordes of Goblins (for example).

Also there's a bit of a difference from creating a template monster as you can do in pcgen and actually creating an army of diverse goblins. For instance, I might want all the goblins to have feats a and b and don't care about feats c-f. I might want some to have ranged and some not.With PC Gen, I"m stuck in a template and still have to add whats not there.

Even with Jamie Buck's program, its limited how much you cna actually edit scripts and such. I"ve so far using the program been able to use it in a number of ways from producing entire encounters (there's an encounter generator that comes with it that creates groups of npcs according to your specifications), to really cool npcs to hordes of armies. There's also functionalrity for integration of tablesmith which is pretty useful.

Not dissing PCgen, for character tracking its awesome. But when it comes to full charachter generation for the on the go GM its a ways to go.

 

[kingpaul]

No offensie, but I've been hearing those rumors for a year or two now.

Hunh? Folks have been asking for this for a couple years now. We approached Jamis for permission to utilize his code (but its written in a different language). Where were the rumors that we were actually putting the NPC generator in to effect?