Computerized DM aids

[Vascant]

In my opinion if you are good at learning some scripting, DM genie is unbeatable. Combat management is superb.

And I might add both NPC Designer and DM Genie use the same base scripting foundation as a language, so as you learn to use one tool you can use that same base knowledge for the other. I would also like to add that NPC Designer has an export format so that you can generate NPCs in NPC Designer and then import them into DM Genie.

 

[FilmGuy77]

Good stuff - thanks for the advice.

I've never actually done any scripting. I've never learned programing, and so far I have not been put into a position where I had to script anything.

Looks like that might be changing though. Any good web tutorials or forums for these programs that might help a newbie like me learn the basics? I'm a pretty hands on guy, so I don't mind rolling up my sleeves and learning this stuff.

On a semi related note, I'm looking at linux (ubuntu to be specific) as a potential OS for this laptop I have yet to buy. Has anyone used wine (or any other windows emulator) with any of these programs? This may be biting off more than I can chew - going all open source and learning to script all at the same time, but what the hey

 

[kingpaul]

If you're looking at open source, PCGen is an LGPL program. As long as your operating system can run java, you can run PCGen. The GMGen plug-in of PCGen is used for at-table play.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I personally use Word and Excel.

Two of my friends use DMGenie when they are DM'ing, and have done for a couple of years now, and they swear by it.

The downside is that using stuff outside the base SRD isn't included, so adding useful stuff from other books is a huge chore

(I don't know how other people handle it, if there is some means by which people share copyrighted material, please don't post about it here on ENworld, thanks)

Cheers

 

[Hand of Evil]

older thread on the subject: http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=81852

 

[Salcor]

Software is more about personal taste but here goes..

DM Secretary may be worth taking a look at depending upon your needs.. here is a link
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=694703 They seem to be working pretty hard on this which is always a good sign.

So does DM secretary support D20 Modern, or just DnD?

Salcor

 

[Priest_Sidran]

With Vista out has anyone tried writing software which works in the Sidebar, a Vista Dice Gadget, or Initiative Tracker would be awesome.

 

[Yraen]

Vista and eTools

I've noticed that Vista doesn't like anything beyond the basic installation of eTools either. I've got the original installed with the patches but when I go to install any of the supplements (FRCS, for example) it won't register the fact that I've installed them

 

[Birmy]

Vista's been surprisingly kind to me and mine so far. Mainly using Hero Lab for pretty much all my character needs and DM stuff to boot.

I agree that access to the SRD is *very* handy on a laptop: here's probably the best one.

 

[Asmor]

Thanks to others at ENWorld, I discovered a very nice gem called maptool:

http://rptools.net/doku.php?id=maptool:intro

It's free. It basically replaces the battlemat and minis. What got me is how easy this tool is to use. If find it easier than setting up a real battlemap. You can also download a token creator from the same site.

I'm glad I found it.

Wow! How have I not heard of that before?

The map program looks awesome, but the other ones are what really floored me. The DiceTool is like the dice program I've always been meaning to write (I swear, I'll get around to it one of these days! ) and the TokenTool is so simple and obviously useful that I can't believe it hasn't been done before.