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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Sir Whiskers" data-source="post: 1343770" data-attributes="member: 6941">/Rant alert/I've finally started digging into this program, which is used for creating characters in 5th Edition Hero System. Since someone else asked for feedback a while ago, I thought I'd post my experiences so far.1. The program enforces the rules, period. I tried to create a basic skeleton (from their published book Hero System Bestiary). The skeleton in the book has lowered two figured stats. It can't be done in the program. On the publisher's boards, a number of posters have asked that these hard-coded restrictions be turned into warnings. The response:"Will not happen. Ever. The closest I may come to that is allow some of the "hard-coded" rules to be toggled on and off in a preferences screen."While this is an acceptable position for the publisher to take (it's their product, after all) I'm terribly disappointed. I've yet to play in a Champions campaign that didn't have one or more characters bend/break the rules for effect. It also has the drawback of requiring the user to know the "correct" way to create a particular effect which, to judge by the message board, is by no means obvious to the average user.2. This brings up a problem I have with the company support for the product. I lost count of the number of times a poster on their boards asked how to implement something custom, only to be told they'll have to jump through various hoops in the program to get it to work. Further, the responses are too often (IMO) curt, giving no justification, just saying "That's the way the program works - live with it" (see quote above). The entire program acts more like a straight-jacket than an aid. The Heromaker software from 3rd Edition is far more flexible and useful.3. The documentation is abysmal. I've checked the boards to gain info on creating certain characters/creatures. On more than one occasion, the response from the designers is to toggle such-and-such feature, yet I can't find the toggle. It's not obvious in the program, and not mentioned at all in the docs. This program has a very steep learning curve, and the docs are very little help.While I'm trying to use version 1.48, HeroGames has released a version 2 of the program, which apparently adds a few extra features, but in general does not address the straight-jacket issue at all. If anyone is considering purchasing this product, be sure to get the latest version. Personally, I'm so disappointed in the product, I can't recommend it. In fact, I'm considering using the 3rd Edition rules so I can use Heromaker. Otherwise, I'll just have to do things the old-fashioned way, using pen and paper.If anyone else has had better experiences with the product, please feel free to disagree.</blockquote>

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