RPG Software Supporting eTools Format

[elrichwizard]

Todd,

I just learned that DMs familiar now supports importing statblocks. I am wondering if the fromat supported allows me to creat a PC/NPC in eTools and import it to DMs Familiar. If it does, I will drop by to purchase right quick!

I was also wondering what other software titles have plans to integrate with eTools. It seems that eTool compatability is a great feature for the consumer.

 

[bitz]

Wow, if DMs Familiar would support the import/export of xml then you could definitely work with eTools .

 

[jmettraux]

Do you have an example (piece of text) of a stat-block generated by eTool ?

 

[DMFTodd]

I am wondering if the fromat supported allows me to creat a PC/NPC in eTools and import it to DMs Familiar

Yes! DM's Familiar will allow you to import a stat blok from E:Tools! You can make a monster/PC/NPC in E:Tools and import it into DM's Familiar with a Cut & Paste.

But not yet. The stat block that comes with E:Tools is not laid out the way it needs to be for DM's Familiar. I have a fan working on a XSL sheet that is in the right format. I received his 1.0 last night that appears to be very close. I'm guessing that within a week you'll be able to do it with E:Tools. I'll announce here when it is ready.


For those of you using PCGen, this is working right now! Grab the cSheet_DMF_StatBlock from the Download section of my website. You can create a monster/PC/NPC in PCGen, output to this format, and then Cut & Paste into DM's Familiar.

So you'll be able to use whichever program you like to make Monsters/PCs/NPCs and then use DM's Familiar to actually run the game.

 

[elrichwizard]

Todd,

This is great news! I can't wait to try this out. Between DM's Familiar, eTools and CC2, I now have all of the features that were originally promised for MasterTools (and more!).

Other users/developers,
Are there any other tools out there that integrate into this combo that I should know about?

 

[jmettraux]

So what do you guys mean with 'stat block' ?

It seems there are people talking about stat blocks (as defined in the DMG) and XML files describing characters or monsters...

I'm currently working for dgsh on a dgsh stat block parser : you go to Jamis Buck web site and generate NPCs with a stat block output and paste this into a file. Then you use my 'raptor' script and the text stat block gets output as a dgsh xml character file.

It will be released with dgsh 6.01. I would be really interested if one of you came with an eTools generated stat block file ! So I could feed it to 'raptor' and use it in dgsh...

Thanks in advance...

 

[MythosaAkira]

I was also wondering what other software titles have plans to integrate with eTools. It seems that eTool compatability is a great feature for the consumer.

I've been considering it for TableSmith, but I'm not sure what purpose it would serve. That is, I don't know exactly what importing eTools data would do for TS.

Perhaps better XML support so you could display NPC or monster stats you generate in a TS random table? (I know you can do random tables in eTools, but I found its implementation very limiting).

Ideas are welcome

 

[DMFTodd]

I'm currently working for dgsh on a dgsh stat block parser :

That's basically what I did with DMF. The problem you'll discover is that no one does there stat blocks the same as anyone else. You end up with 2 options (A) write a different parser for every source or (B) require the sources to create the stat block the way you want.

I went with option (B) since, (1) the tools I am interested in working with supported the ability to create output in different layouts and (2) I'm lazy.

I decided that DMF would require the stat block as defined by the d20 Standard Stat Block Foundation http://www.d20statblock.org/. They actually have a couple different standards, I'm supporting the "Standard" format (as opposed to the Compact or one of the others).

So, for PCGen, I have an output file on my website that outputs PCGen into that layout. A fan is working on an E:Tools layout as well which should be done so.

This way, I only have to write 1 parser. If you went this route, the layouts would be done for you as well.

The drawback is that the parser probably won't work with the Jamis site and since he's not updating the site, you're not likely to get an output format from him to make it work.

 

[DMFTodd]

Ideas are welcome [Tablesmith]

Just some random thoughts on Tablemsith, maybe some of this is already possible:

1) I'd like the output from a result automatically chere was copied to the clipboard. That way, if I need a name for the barkeep, I generate it in TS and then can instantly paste it in whatever I am using to keep my notes.

2) I wish there was some standard with the tables made available with the program. For example, your town generator is great. I wish the tables that make up that table (races, religions, classes, etc) where each seperated into a seperate file for easy updating. I wish other tables would then be using those standard tables. This way, if I don't have Halflings in my world but I do have Hobbits, I can easily update 1 table and have it work with everything.

3) This is the big one that we discussed at GenCon briefly: I'd love Tablesmith to have a OCX or COM setup where TS can be called with parameters from other programs and get results back. In my ideal world, I don't run DMF and Tablesmith. I just run DMF and it can call out to TS and return values strait to DMF.
I'd like to see this with all the "accessory" type tools: Weathermaster, Tablesmith, Experience calculators, etc.

That's my wish list.

 

[dagger]

Here is a stat block example for you:



http://home.austin.rr.com/bloodoath/etools/User/Characters/Zarna(statblock).html