E-Tools Limitations

[Vrylakos]

Hello: I've been trying to generate a 10th level monk in E-Tools.

I've user-entered the stats. I then go look at his skills, and I wanted to trade a few ranks around (he's supposed to be 55 years old and blind, so I wanted to increase his 'listen' skill ranks). I figure I'll take some out of Hide. Well, ET lets me take two ranks out, and no more. At some level, the ranks are 'locked in'. Is there a way around this?

Second problem: I'm making a Medusa Bard 5.
I note that she has "Weapon Focus: Longsword" in her Medusa stats. However, I've got her using a rapier in her Bard stats. I would have thought that I could edit the Medusa's feats a bit more, but they also seem to be 'locked in': I can't trade the WF: Lsword for WF: Rapier, or even WF: Snakes. Is there a way around this?

And if not, shouldn't there be? It just seems to me that the E-Tools program is very inflexible in places. It might be my unfamiliarity with the program, however.

I want to like E-Tools, but it seems less useful to me after tinkering with it a bit. I want more customisation than what it currently provides. Is anyone else finding this? Is there a chance that Fluid will address this "locked stats" issue (if indeed it is an issue and I'm not just missing a way around it)?

VRYLAKOS

 

[Therigwin]

Vrylakos -
It sounds like you are using the random generator to create your characters. When you do this, these things are fixed in as they are based off the NPC tables in the DMG.

What you need to do is one from scratch.

that is the First Icon with a helmet on it with no dice next to it.

Click that, click the race, add levels class.

You then go in and select roll. Do the user Method and look all the way to the right and use those controls to bumb up your stats.

Then go to your stats and feats and assign them they way you choose.

Go purchase your equipment, then go and equip it.

Have fun!

 

[Fast Learner]

Yup, no question, you started with a random PC (NPC) rather than starting one from scratch: everything you mentioned is what happens when you do that.

I know, because that's precisely what I did the first time I used eTools.

Tooltips on those icons would have gone a long way.

 

[Vrylakos]

Cool. When I get home I'll give this a whirl. The difference between the various buttons would be well served by some sort of mouse-over help. Yeesh, and I even spent time reading the 'online help' feature; guess I skipped the basics and went for more technical stuff.

Well, I hope as I learn more that E-Tools becomes more and more useful.

Thank you all!

Vrylakos

 

[Vrylakos]

By the way, will the Medusa's WF feat be modifiable if the character is built this way?

Thank you!

Vrylakos

 

[Drew]

For what it's worth, everything in E-Tools graphically can be changes. The opening (splash) screen, the background (the athatch or whatever its called) and the icons. Perhaps the community will create some icons that are just a little more clear as to what they do?

 

[thalmin]

For what it's worth, everything in E-Tools graphically can be changes. The opening (splash) screen, the background (the athatch or whatever its called) and the icons. Perhaps the community will create some icons that are just a little more clear as to what they do?

While the icons aren't too clear, you can find out what they do by clicking on "Files" which gives a drop-down of all the icons WITH LABLES (except the lightbulb, which is "Help")