PCGen 4.1.4 is available

[tetsujin28]

error message

Here's the complete message:

ERROR:C\WINDOWS\Desktop\PCGen\system\schools.lst error
Exception type: java.io.FileNotFoundException

After clicking "ok":

Message: C\WINDOWS\Desktop\PCGen\system\schools.lst (system cannot find path specified)

Unknown error whilst reading options.ini
It MAY be possible to fix this problem by deleting your options.ini file

I was able to find schools.lst, but no file named options.ini or a systems folder.

 

[ruemere]

To tetsujin28:

First of all, don't panic. Installing pcGen is easy once you understand what you are about to do.

Here are the facts:
- pcGen does not come with an installer, i.e. a program which puts the files somewhere and a neat shortcut in your programs. This is a good thing since you have complete control over installation process.
- in order to install pcGen, you have to extract the zips preserving pcGen's directory structure in the zips.

Now, assuming you have Windows:
- doubleclick on your My Computer, doubleclick on C:, rightclick and Create New Folder. Call it 'pcgen' (minus quotes).
- doubleclick first zip. Something should open this zip - Extract all files and folders there to the pcgen folder preserving the folder structure.
- repeat with other zips.
- doubleclick pcgen.bat (pcgen executable) to start the program.

Good luck,
Ruemere

 

[talmar]

Just wondering. Is there any news as to when the Epic Level Rules can be incorporated into PCGen? I know this has to go through WotC and ELH will probably have to be Open Source/SRD. Just curious if anybody at PCGen has any kind of info about this.

Thanks

 

[Leopold]

Just wondering. Is there any news as to when the Epic Level Rules can be incorporated into PCGen? I know this has to go through WotC and ELH will probably have to be Open Source/SRD. Just curious if anybody at PCGen has any kind of info about this.

Thanks

WOTC stuff will trickle in if one of 2 things happen:

1. It becomes available in the SRD

2. WOTC grants us permission to use said material on a case by case or carte blanche basis.

Until then we are still saddled with only the SRD material until further notice.

 

[tetsujin28]

thanks for the help!

Managed to get PCGen to work -- so far, I think it's the most intuitive of all the DM aids I've tried.

However, there are two caveats:

1) All the programs I've tried, including PCGen, can't get the Expert class to work properly, i.e., there doesn't seem to be any way for the program to be able to select the skills individually for each NPC. E.g., PCGen lists all skills for the Expert as cross-class skills.

2) Is there any way to add classes, feats, and skills without learning tons of code? If not, this severely limits the usefulness of the product for the average user. I realize that the programmers only have so much volunteer time, but not being able to easily add classes from, say, Oriental Adventures or Swashbuckling Adventures limits the attractiveness of the product for me.

That having been said, I think that PCGen is the way to go for those of us who don't use a laptop at the gaming table, but need a good PC/NPC manager.

 

[Taluron]

1. I'm not sure when the last time you tried an Expert on PCGen was but all the classes have recently been updated due to a code change. You might try again.

2. Define code. The lst files that PCGen uses are not programming code. Cut and paste from something close to what you want to create a new one at first. They are working on editors. The diety editor is already released. No ETA on the other as yet.

 

[tetsujin28]

Managed to get the expert to work just fine, this time. Who knows what I was doing wrong, before

Unfortunately, I don't know what a lst file is. What with being a classics major, I don't really have much time to learn anything new, which is why I kind of insist that any computer gaming aid spoonfeed me. Not that this means that I think that PCGen is a waste of time -- far from it, along with DMGenie, I think it's the best I've encountered -- but it does limit its usefulness for me, until those kind of features are included.

 

[Leopold]

best bet with PCGen on how to learn the code is easy.

1. Open up the documentation and leave it open.

2. Find a file similar to one you want to create such as opening up the phbclasse.lst file to build a class similar to a monk.

3. copy some of the information from the monk file to your new file and just change the small parts that need to be changed.

4. If the TAGs look strange look at the docs that have nearly 90% of the TAGS in there on what they mean what they do.


I am a sysadmin and DESPISE programming. Hell i hate the stuff, i couldn't build a batch file to save my life. But after monkeying with the code and reading over and over and over the docs and messing around with similar code and seeing how it works, it gets rather simple.

Copy and paste will be your friend. and if you have ANY questions ask on here or the yahoo group..we willl try to answer..