Idle thoughts....

[Judas]

I was wondering if there would be a real need for a Server/client type of program? I'll use Campaign Suite as an example here. It would be something like CS for the DM, and the CSPE for the players. I could set options for starting gold, items available/not available, and other things relevant to the game. A userid/password setup can be assigned if wanted. The clients connect to either the DM's PC through the internet via IP addressing, or possibly an "Options" server on the internet. The Options server would store all the relavent material info OR, just basic options like (item) available = [true/false] to keep bandwidth down.

Here's an example of how I would envision it working.

[color=white]DM: Billy
Players: Joe, Dave, Mike, Chris

Billy sets up his options like: 
--------------
[Character Creation]

Dwarf = 	Yes
Elf = 		Yes
Gnome = 	No
HalfElf = 	Yes
Halfling = 	Yes
HalfOrc = 	No
Human = 	Yes
Barbarian = 	Yes
Bard = 		Yes
Cleric = 	Yes
Druid = 	No
Fighter = 	Yes
Paladin = 	No
Ranger = 	Yes
Rogue = 	Yes
Sorceror = 	No
Wizard = 	Yes
StartLevel = 	2
MaxHP@1st = 	Yes
LevelUpHP = 	75% (Normal/75%/Max)
--------------
[Skills]

{list of skills like the classes}
{skills allowed would be listed like classes}
{if there was a reason to limit skills, you would be able too}
--------------
[Feats]

{And the list of feats is customizable like classes and skills}
{custom feats could be added from other sources}
--------------
[Equipment]

{Items, Weapons, and Armor are listed and set for availability}
StartGoldLevel = 	2
MasterworkAvail = 	Yes
UsedAvailable = 	Yes {option for used equipment}
UsedDiscount = 		10 {1 to 100% discount off the listed PHB price)
UsedInferior = 		Yes {Option for if you use inferior items that risk breaking 
			when used; mainly a flag for the DM side of the program}
--------------
[Magic Items]

{entire groups or individual items can be allowed/disallowed}
MaxSpendPerItem =	2000 {1 to 999,999,999 GP limit amount spent per item}
IgnoreClassRestrict =	No
--------------[/color]

Now that Billy has setup his options, he has Dave, Joe, Chris and Mike log into his pc with CSPE and start thier characters. When everyone is done, they submit thier characters to Billy's server, and he looks over and makes final changes, or tells which person to alter and resubmit the character. Come game day, they get together at Joe's place for the game. Billy has accidentally left some printed out game material at home. Billy, could then go over to Joe's PC, and log into his options server, and is able to print out the left behind information. Game continues on.

This is just what I envision as a good electroinc tool. I would gladly pay for a tool that could handle that. And if there was a montly maintenance fee for an options server, I'd probably pay for that, depending on the cost, but more then $5 a month would be iffy. Unless of course I started to game almost every day, then it would be well worth more.

Anywho.. Just some idle ramblings I suppose...

 

[Twin Rose]

I was wondering if there would be a real need for a Server/client type of program? I'll use Campaign Suite as an example here. It would be something like CS for the DM, and the CSPE for the players. I could set options for starting gold, items available/not available, and other things relevant to the game. A userid/password setup can be assigned if wanted. The clients connect to either the DM's PC through the internet via IP addressing, or possibly an "Options" server on the internet. The Options server would store all the relavent material info OR, just basic options like (item) available = [true/false] to keep bandwidth down.

We've actually been looking into doing something like this, to be honest with you. Will keep this forum updated on thoughts about it, if that helps?

 

[MJEggertson]

I've considered doing something similar too. But two things stopped me.

1. Time. I don't think I'd get out of grad school before I was thirty if I took on a project that size.

2. For various reasons, I never thought there'd be enough interest. I doubt many people would run their own servers, and running a central server has other issues.

Though, while playing with the idea, I did implement a character sheet sharing tool, which works much like what you described. I thought about what the most useful feature of a program like that would be, and figured character sheet sharing would be top the list. You could prepare characters ahead of time, or post them for online/forum games. Any modifications could be checked by the DM ahead of time. Or if your sheet is forgotten at home, it's available for download. (See the 3EProfiler link in my sig).

I still like the idea of a campaign manager like what you describe, and I'd like to work on one someday. The other thing with me though, is I'm not a fan of software that implements any large amount of rules. In the end, no matter how customizeable, I always find it too restrictive and not nearly as convenient as a pad of paper and the source books. If I were to implement a campaign manager like you mentioned, I'd also go out of the way to make it quite generalized.

Maybe some day.
-Michael

 

[smetzger]

It would be easy with CORBA or DataSnap. It could also be done with J2EE or .Net.

The problem I see is that the easier and robust the server is the more expensive it is. I am not sure if there are any easy to implement solutions that do not have a licensing fee and are as robust as DataSnap. Its would also need to be easy to deploy.