Recommend me some software

[farscapesg1]

I think you are pretty much looking at either PC Gen or DM Genie. Both will come with a price tag because you will need to purchase CMP Datasets for the WotC books.

The problem is that DM Genie doesn't have the datasets If it did, all would be good and my DM would be a very happy person. As it is, DM Genie is not at all "user friendly" for a non-programmer to enter data. Sure, if the options are already there you can point-and-click, but if they aren't (say the Glory Domain for example) it is a nightmare. Not to mention the lack of "houserules" options.

Take the Glory domain for example. It isn't in DM Genie, and hasn't been included in the files on the Yahoo groups. Someone did the other feats out of Complete Divine, but not the Domains :\ So, the DM created it in the feats, but then it didn't show up when he tried to create my character. I tinkered with the software and found that you have to add the domain to the rules.txt file. Now the domain can be selected, but what about it's benefits? How does one script it to add +2 to my turn checks and +1d6 to the turning damage???

Now make it more difficult by the fact that we decided to use the variant turning rules from Complete Divine, in that a turning check causes 1d6 points of damage per cleric level to all undead within 30 feet, with a will save for half damage. Now, our rulling with the domain is tha the +2 turning check is applied as a +2 to the save DC and the +1d6 damage is just that, +1d6 above the cleric level (so 2d6 at 1st level). The damage isn't that important to the DM since I would roll the damage on a turning check, but the +2 to the Will DC could be.

I guess I just expect too much

 

[Vascant]

Then I offer you the third choice, I went for this one myself..

I don't need help managing combat or the flow of my game but I did need to find a way to cut down my prep time, developing NPC's was killing me. I waited for the better part of 2 years for one of the other people creating d20 software to finally get it right. No one did..

So I made my own. Now I can see why no one did it and I also do not dare ask anyone to change their program to fit my needs or tweaking to meet every rule varient that comes out. It is hard enough just to get all the core rules right. dealing with data and information is just impossible due to IP laws (Which I do respect) so I do not get into it. I handle the SRD and worry about making sure my program has the functionality to handle varient rules and settings based on user requests but I do not do data.

(Keep in mind I do not use DM Genie or PC Gen, I merely suggested them because I did go over their functionality when designing my own program) Both programs also have pretty decent forums to learn more and how to make the programs do what you need, if it can.

 

[Joshua Randall]

There is no program in existence that can take an exception-driven game as complex as D&D and model it to anyone's satisfaction.

The cream of the crop of the currently available programs have already been mentioned here: DM Genie, DM Familiar, PC Gen / eTools, etc.

The best choice is to pick one and then spend the time to learn its interface, learn how to enter additional data, learn how to use the program. You will get out of the program what you put into it.

 

[farscapesg1]

Thanks for the honest answer

I guess I will sit down with him and find out exactly what he needs (not wants) and go from there. I may whip up a quick initiative program for him that will let him simply click "add creature" or "add PC" to the list and then drag them into order as he needs them. With a couple more options to remove creatures when killed and track rounds it should give him what he needs in that department.

The harder one will be trying to keep track of character info. I've tried working out a character program before and just couldn't bring myself to finish it. I guess I may need to dust off the code and take another crack at it

 

[farscapesg1]

There is no program in existence that can take an exception-driven game as complex as D&D and model it to anyone's satisfaction.

The cream of the crop of the currently available programs have already been mentioned here: DM Genie, DM Familiar, PC Gen / eTools, etc.

The best choice is to pick one and then spend the time to learn its interface, learn how to enter additional data, learn how to use the program. You will get out of the program what you put into it.

As I said, I realize I am asking too much However, I do think that any program released should have a detailed "owner's manual". It shouldn't be that you have to get on the software message boards to do something as simple as add a Domain to the program You also shouldn't have to create the the domain and then go edit some rules file so that it will show up. That is just poor programming and poor documentation.

Take SpellGen for example. Sure, the options may not be the easiest to understand, but the documentation pretty much tells you how to add a spell and is pretty easy to figure out how to make the text format so that it autocalculates in the spell "mini-description" so that if you are 5th level the description for Fireball actually states that it does 5d6 damage.

I have found the documentation for DM Genie and I am going through it. I have some knowledge of Visual Basic so I'm pretty sure I can fumble my way through, but for someone without any programming knowledge, there should be simple walkthrough procedures to autoscript a feat when it is being created.

Edit - I don't want to come off as bashing the program. They have done more than I could ever hope to figure out with DM Genie and it really is a great program. My biggest complaint is that it isn't "user friendly" enough for those who are not familiar with programming.

The Feats section is the biggest issue to me. If they just had a walkthrough process for creating new feats like they do for adding a PC/Creature to the program, along with easy to select options I would be overjoyed

 

[Vascant]

User friendly and handling complex mechanics of d20.. *chuckles*

If someone figures this out please email me

As far as documentation, I can only speak for myself and my own project. It comes down to coding or documenation and most users want more and new features and the program to handle more things. While 5% want documentation, kind of like picking your battles I guess. I attempt to handle the lack of documentation by being more available and in different aspects of communication; email, forum and irc.

 

[DMFTodd]

Tooting my own horn: Did you look at DM's Familiar? It is not a character generator so it doesn't have to deal with those pesky "rules". If you want to enter a creature, you just type in the info - you don't have to build domains, create classes, etc. Just type it up as you want it.

Your turn checks do damage? Just type in a Turn Check as a spell. That way it will track number of uses and roll damage fo ryou.
You get extra turn checks? Just type in how many checks you get a day.
Need to quickly add a creature to the combat board? Open the Creature Reference Library, click New, type in a name, drag and drop to the combat board.
Need to track changes to ability scores, etc. - Just type a modifier on the combat board.

Now DMF does not do character generatior nor does it bring character sheets so it won't help there. But from the things you're looking for, it sounds like DMF is a good fit.

 

[talmar]

Well, I DM with a laptop and there are only 4 things I use.

Microsoft Excel - tracking init, spell durations, hp's etc
The Journal - Adventure/Campaign Organization and notes
eTools - Used for Game Prep and some at the table generation
local copy of the SRD - I use the one from www.d20srd.com with the firefox plug-ins

 

[physicscarp]

The Journal - Adventure/Campaign Organization and notes

Where can I find information on this? I've tried searching for it through Google, but I have failed miserably. I'm starting a campaign soon and I'm looking for an organizational program.

Never mind. I continued my search, and was successful. For anyone else wondering, it can be found at http://www.davidrm.com/thejournal/.

 

[heruca]

FascapeSG1, you might want to tell your DM to look into a virtual tabletop program, like the one in my sig. Mine isn't free, but on my Links page is a pretty extensive list I've compiled of all the VT software I could find, some of which IS free. There's also a list of mapping software there, but not as extensive.