Looking for Opinions on various RPG Tools

[Ahzad]

Thanks for all the input. I've currently downloaded DM Genie, and the latest PCgen to see what they are like. I've also been looking over Herolab, and RPG Explorer, and will probably take a look at them after i try the other two out for a bit.

I like the fact I can add quite a bit of custom house rules types of things to both (DM Genie & PC Gen), since I'm prone to do that as a game progresses.

 

[Mercule]

Trying not to step on toes, here, sorry, but I hate PCGen. Maybe I don't know how to use it, but all the clicky-clicky-clicky-clicky-clicky-clicky-clicky gets old real fast. Just last week, I tried it (again) on my new computer. 11th level half-orc barbarian. How long can that take to build? At least five times as long as I can do it in a spreadsheet. Want to add that +3 mithral full-plate? How about that +1 adamantine greataxe? sorry, you'll have to fight the living crap out of this program to get it to do what you want.

You're kidding, right? Building custom items is one of the easiest things to do in PCGen. I'd actually consider it an area where it blows away the other tools out there.

Character creation on PCGen is roughly the same for me as it would be in HeroForge (which gets the highest "ease of use", in my book), too. If there's a difference, it's marginal.

Granted, there is a bit of learning to using PCGen, but that's the trade-off you get for the power. Please, show me some other tool that comes anywhere near the ability to run all the source material.

 

[Chris Tavares]

I've played with PCGen, but never invested the time to really figure it out.

I bought a copy of Campaign Suite, and regret it to this day. It crashed constantly and the screens looked like crap under XP. I tried updates, and even shelled out for the psionics update. The installer crashed, and I haven't touched it since.

 

[seans23]

What version are you using? I have 5.11.13 on this computer, and I just right-clicked on greataxe to "create custom item". I then double-clicked on adamantine, and then double-clicked on +1. Hit "OK", and you have your custom weapon.

5.10.1. Perhaps that's my problem.

 

[kingpaul]

5.10.1. Perhaps that's my problem.

Just did it in 5.10.1 as well. Next question is, what version of java are you using?

 

[primarchone]

I'm looking for some opinions on the various RPG Tools that are out there.

The ones that I'm looking at are:

PCGen
Herolab
ETools
Campaign Suite

There maybe others that I'm not aware of so feel free to mention those, but I'm looking for the software in terms of the DM side of things to manage the campaign; to make and track NPCs, allows for custom rulesets or editing of the rulesets, player management, keeping notes, ect..
Not looking neccesarily for in-game applications though that might be a consideration in the near future.
Ideally I would like the equivilant of the AD&D Core Rules for 3rd edition.

thanks.

Hi!

Basically having used everything out there over the last several years, as a DM, DM genie wins hands down. It has all the tools and an intuitive easy to use interphase. The only downside is entering non-SRD material which can be time consuming, but the ability to write scripts is so awesome that its VERY hard to beat.

I pretty much dont DM anymore without this program and can tackle even most complex monsters and NPC's. Its not perfect but it covers most crucial DM tasks.

As mentioned before if you combine this with maptools (which I do) you pretty much covered everything you'll ever need software-wise.

Primarchone

 

[Orryn Emrys]

Basically having used everything out there over the last several years, as a DM, DM genie wins hands down. It has all the tools and an intuitive easy to use interphase. The only downside is entering non-SRD material which can be time consuming, but the ability to write scripts is so awesome that its VERY hard to beat.

I pretty much dont DM anymore without this program and can tackle even most complex monsters and NPC's. Its not perfect but it covers most crucial DM tasks.

Amen, brother! I bought DM GENIE a few years back, after trying demos of about everything I could find at the time... PCGEN, DM'S FAMILIAR, E-TOOLS, and two or three more than aren't jumping to mind. I knew a guy with Campaign Suite and checked it out, too. Several of the utilities were great for character generation, but I needed better usability in-game... and DM GENIE was the one that did it for me. Like any gaming utility, there's a learning curve... but I would highly recommend the program to any D20 GM out there.

 

[Darth K'Trava]

Trying not to step on toes, here, sorry, but I hate PCGen. Maybe I don't know how to use it, but all the clicky-clicky-clicky-clicky-clicky-clicky-clicky gets old real fast. Just last week, I tried it (again) on my new computer. 11th level half-orc barbarian. How long can that take to build? At least five times as long as I can do it in a spreadsheet. Want to add that +3 mithral full-plate? How about that +1 adamantine greataxe? sorry, you'll have to fight the living crap out of this program to get it to do what you want.

But that's my experience, I'm only one person, YMMV, etc. My dislike of PCGen is so strong only because my frustration is so fresh in my mind.

I tried Hero Lab last year, and it looked OK, I guess. I don't remember it much. E-Tools blows dead goats. Never heard of Campaign Suite.

I've given up on all the products out there. Word, Excel, and Access are all I need to run my campaign. Hopefully OpenOffice will live up to those, but I haven't had the chance just yet to try it.

Just make yourself some templates that do what you want them to do. "If you want something done right..."

The copy I had wouldn't let me give a fighter feats.

I mainly use etools and then edit with Frontpage to fix the stuff I need on the sheet.

Edit: I would also like a program that would allow one to combine magic items. And compute the cost of doing so. THAT would also save me lots of editing.

And I'm one of those few fans who like having a pic on the character sheet too.

 

[kingpaul]

The copy I had wouldn't let me give a fighter feats.

The copy of what? I wasn't sure, from your post, which program you were referring to.

Edit: I would also like a program that would allow one to combine magic items. And compute the cost of doing so. THAT would also save me lots of editing.

You can create custom items in PCGen.

And I'm one of those few fans who like having a pic on the character sheet too.

I know that some of the PCGen output sheets support this, but I'm not sure what the process is to do it...I don't have a strong desire to have a picture on my character sheet, so haven't delved into it.

 

[noretoc]

DM Genie hands down. I have been using it for a while, and I know a bit about scripting, so I have customized it to do a lot automatically. There are great scripts out there that can handle all kinds of new things. (I just scripted mantles, so that they apply thier effects to character automatically) There is a learning curve, but once you get it, it is amazing. I dread the day I have to run a game without it.