Best Char Gen Utilities?

[kingpaul]

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.

Have you looked at the kit feature that was added a bit ago?

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.

Once again you're using "full character generation". PCGen can generate characters. You're looking for automated character generation.

 

[Mercule]

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.

And... they have just said "psych". Not really a voluntary take-back, but it looks like it isn't going to happen, now. Something about the licensor having that call and not going to okay it.

 

[Edheldur]

Ah I see now, well to help the original poster, As of 5.10.1 PCGen has one feature currently (called Kits)...

I was under the impression that 5.8.1 supported kits... (never tried to use them, but they do sound useful).

 

[kingpaul]

I was under the impression that 5.8.1 supported kits... (never tried to use them, but they do sound useful).

Kits have been in existence for some time. However, the code got an overhaul in the 5.9.x series to better support the use of kits for default monsters.

 

[kingpaul]

And... they have just said "psych". Not really a voluntary take-back, but it looks like it isn't going to happen, now. Something about the licensor having that call and not going to okay it.

Ouch...that hurts.

 

[Vascant]

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.

I personally would rather see you spent time on the interface..

The problem with the generator you are basing your work on, they are completely random.. meaning results that do not make sense. This may or may not be a big deal to you guys but if it were me, I would make sure that anything I spent my time coding was an improvement upon what exists already.

There is an old saying, Rather get 1 thing right then a bunch of things wrong. Software in the RPG Industry is a reflection of this, those that have specialized applications may only cover a small aspect but they tend to get it right while the larger suites tend to be so generalized that they become a waste of time to deal with. PCGen has done wonders with the speed issues over the last few versions, why not make it a pleasure to work with as well?

This is just my opinion though

 

[Vascant]

Kits have been in existence for some time. However, the code got an overhaul in the 5.9.x series to better support the use of kits for default monsters.

Yeah, I do like them to..it was a great idea

 

[kingpaul]

I personally would rather see you spent time on the interface..

On that note, let me comment. We have, over the past several years, had people volunteer to work on the interface, but have then disappeared.

 

[DMFTodd]

Is NPC Designer for sale again? I thought Vascant wasn't selling it anymore.

Does NPC Designer let you customize an NPC once it has been created, it doesn't seem so from the demo. (I create the 5th level fighter. Can I then swap out his +1 half plate and falchion for a mitrhal shirt and a +2 dire flail? Can I swap out the improved init for weapon focus and have all the numbers update?)

 

[Vascant]

Available: Yes and No.. I have pretty much stopped roaming a lot of forums in effort to cut down on the amount of distractions. But it is available on the rpgattitude.com and I work with current users for testing Evolution.

You can customize some things *AFTER* the NPC has been created, I have not done weapons yet but armor is already done. You can even import the results from Item Designer over to NPC Designer as well.