Character Generator besides ETools?

[tennyson]

Hi Everyone,

I'm in the process of preparing the battle scenarios for tonight's session and I was wondering: does anyone know of a character generator that generates the character's items (armor, weapons, etc.) as well?

I've been using E-Tools, but it applies the same items to the characters every time (ie. a rogue will ALWAYS get potions of Spider Climb). Thanks in advance!

 

[kingpaul]

PCGen's a good program for character creation.

 

[alaric187]

Try Roleplayingmaster, it's tasty. The guy the writes it just released a new version last month which is awesome. It generates characters, monsters, NPC, etc. You can write out your adventures and world specific data in it (spells, PrCs, whatever). It does encounters, combat, trasure generation. Pretty much anything you can think of. Word on the street is that Luke's whipping up a new version for us to play with soon, which means even more goodness. Check out roleplayingmaster.com or the side of ENWorld since it's a hosted site.

BTW, PCGen is nice too if RPM seems a little overwhelming because you just want to roll up some PCs, but it's java-based which is a little slow for my tastes. (Not that it matters once it's loaded, but I'm IT so everything must be faster). OTOH, they have a big annoucement (sp, I know) soon about a deal with WotC for something special. I don't know what, but from what Mynex et al are saying I expect nothing but free money from the skies for everyone


Alaric/Greg

ps. Woo hoo, delurked for my 1st post here

 

[Dinkeldog]

PCGen's a good program for character creation.

PCGen is good if and only if you're creating standard PCs. I tossed it after my druid's awakened dire badger tried to gain levels.

 

[Henry]

Actually, PCGen can handle awakened animal NPC's just fine. you would create them the same manner you would a PC.

 

[Henry]

Hi Everyone,

I'm in the process of preparing the battle scenarios for tonight's session and I was wondering: does anyone know of a character generator that generates the character's items (armor, weapons, etc.) as well?

I've been using E-Tools, but it applies the same items to the characters every time (ie. a rogue will ALWAYS get potions of Spider Climb). Thanks in advance!

Tennyson,

PCGen will allow the building of all sorts of custom items, from swords with any effect imaginable, to wands with any spell loaded in them. downloading the latest beta release (version 4.3.2) will allow you to create a character of any race, any class, and equip them with any item or feat or spell.

Currently, the only things built in are the core rulebooks, the Psionics Handbook, and several d20 publishers' materials (such as Malhavoc Press, bastion press, green ronin, etc.). Any item, class, feat, race, language, etc. not built in is addable through LST editors, which allow you to create custom versions of these things.

However, In defense of Role-Playing Master and Twin ROse Campaign suite, all 3 of these programs carry equivalent features and adaptability, through editors. However, if you are looking for a program that requires a minimum of tweaking and fuss to install, RPM and Twin Rose Campaign Suite are both windows native, and therefore both faster in windows as well as fairly easy to install.

PCGen's main downfall is the need for a Java Virtual Machine to run it (available free through Sun Microsystems web site), and the load speed upon first run. After loading, PCGen is as fast as any character generator where screen changes and using the program is concerned. Another disadvantage is that files created with a previous version are not necessarily compatible with the newer versions - again, the software is constantly under development, and improvement of the way it handles data.

PCGen's advantages are cost (free), and versatility. The exact same version of program runs on ANY Operating system imaginable, as long as it has a Java VM available for it.


PCGen character sheets can be output as either HTML or PDF documents, and I cannot say from experience whether or not RPM and Twin Rose do this.

Hope you find this info useful.

 

[Hardhead]

PCGen is good if and only if you're creating standard PCs. I tossed it after my druid's awakened dire badger tried to gain levels.

What went wrong? PCGen has been able to handle critters like that for ages, and I've never had any problems with it. I'm not a code monkey, but I know the program pretty well. Maybe I could give you a hand.

 

[Velik]

Heya,

I think he means for NPC gen..I have been using Campaign Suite for my game prep and its saves massive amount of time. After about 1/2 hour of prep I designed a Tavern that will generate all the NPCs in it after only about 4 clicks of the mouse.

I attached an .RTF I just made to show you. I used the character generater and the list generate that will generate just about any type of encounter you can think up. So far I have made a list generater for every shop and place in a town. I haven't gotten to encounters yet but that is next on my list or I would have shown you something along those lines.

Regards,

Heath

P.S. you can check out Campaign Suite at http://twinrose.net/

Edit: sorry the RTF didnt get attached...trying again

 

[Velik]

maybe this will work...

 

[Leopold]

Jamis bucks' NPCGen program works like a champ for fast creation of NPC's.


Check out the links in my sig for pcgen.