Wanted: Module Maker

[thundershot]

IIRC, Master Tools was originally supposed to have a program that made adventure module making easy. Something where you have a place to type the flavor text, DM text, and stat blocks... Linking to encounter area numbers.. Is anyone working on something like this, or is it already done? I realize that connecting it to a map program would be hard, but being able to make numerical keys with descriptions and such shouldn't be hard for those that know how.

Anyone?


Thanks!
Chris

 

[Fast Learner]

I am working on such a tool, but cannot make any promises regarding completion date. It's a little different than you describe, though it will certainly do what you're asking. Note that it's an online, tool, due to some of the other things it will include. More information as I get closer to the alpha release.

 

[thundershot]

Online? Er... The other thing it should do, is when you're done typing it out, you can output it as an rtf, doc, or (yeah right) a pdf.

Can you imagine how many free adventures we'd see online then? It'd be the perfect template.

I thought of this while trying to write an adventure, and realized I hate using Word 2000 when making things LOOK good...


Chris

 

[Fast Learner]

Yup, indeed. Current design (and some programming) includes output as plain text, rtf, hopefully pdf (trying to find a good, reasonably priced library that will run under Win2k), and interactive HTML so you can reference it from a laptop. I also hope to output to something that can be imported into RolePlayingMaster as an adventure, along with anything that CampaignSuite or DM's Familiar are doing/will do, but I'll want their permission first (and I'm far enough away from that programming to wait to ask later).

 

[Luke]

I also hope to output to something that can be imported into RolePlayingMaster as an adventure

By all means! Feel free...

RolePlayingMaster is very advanced in this area.
Click here on the Burning Sage Adventure to see an example report. This is done as an HTML report. From there you could easily convert to RTF or PDF, but I'm thinking about doing that directly myself in a later release. The HTML is very flexible, since you could even put it on your PDA (Palm or PocketPC) and play it from there.
The above adventure was actually entered into RPM, with copy-and-paste, in under 2 hours.

The RPM offering for module building is briefly as follows:
- Create an adventure complete with a tree view breakdown of the adventure parts.
- Create maps using either the TileMapper provided, or import pictures from a package such as DungeonCrafter or CC2.
- Add player and DM detail for basic maps and locations, along with items (treasure, traps etc).
- Create Encounter groups. Generate/create NPCs and monsters quickly ( fully calculated with class levels and equipment), and have the EL calculated for you.
- Create any links you require in notes detail to jump quickly to other areas.

Then, either:
- Produce the (customizable) complete adventure report as a printout for table use. You can also view directly out of the browser at the table, so that you can jump around with the links.

- or; Use your computer to play the adventure in-game. Here you have options to see the all creatures on the map, and even have the computer work out distances, movement, steps, attacks, saves, skill checks etc etc for you!
When you click on craeture or location markers on the map, RPM instantly displays the details for quick reference.

Here's a screenshot showing the adventure details builder:

And a screenshot showing an "all options included" view of playing the module in-game with the computer:

 

[thundershot]

JUMPIN' CATFISH!

That's almost what I'm looking for! The only thing to make it better is for it to output like an actual module!

<goes to download!>


Thanks!
Chris

 

[Luke]

JUMPIN' CATFISH!
That's almost what I'm looking for! The only thing to make it better is for it to output like an actual module!

Clue me in as to what it should look like as an actual module. How does the "Burning Sage" report link measure up? Did you have a look at it?

 

[thundershot]

I looked at Burning Sage, and maybe the format just feels... cluttered. I'd like the output to look like... Dungeon magazine. An rtf or pdf that has the dialogue boxes, stat blocks, etc all right there in one spot. M ore printer friendly, you know? I haven't had a lot of time to play with it yet.. it's a lot to swallow.


Chris

 

[DM]

Online?

Check out kLoOge.Werks. It’s more geared towards online gaming, but it sounds like it could be what you're looking for. Download the demo at http://www.kloogeinc.com/werks/download.htm and check it out.

 

[Luke]

I looked at Burning Sage, and maybe the format just feels... cluttered. I'd like the output to look like... Dungeon magazine. An rtf or pdf that has the dialogue boxes, stat blocks, etc all right there in one spot. M ore printer friendly, you know? I haven't had a lot of time to play with it yet.. it's a lot to swallow.

There's many ways to present an adventure, and the Burning Sage is one example. You don't *have* to use the Burning Sage style if it's not your cup of tea.

- If you check out the Adventure screenshot, you can see that you can create any arbitrary tree of categorized adventure information, and you can put anything you like into that, using something with the wordprocessing capabilities of wordpad.

- If you check out the locations in Burning Sage, you'll see that statblocks are "right there" in many cases. It's a copy-and-paste exercise. What I don't like about copy-and-paste is that it doesn't automatically update when you adjust the creatures with RPM.

- In terms of statblock display, the style of the this particular report is certainly geared towards a compact, crunchy display that works best if you use it through the browser and click on links. Some adventures have statblocks at the end, and some adventures have them dispersed. The former style is suited to adventures with NPCs/creatures that are mobile, whereas the latter is more suited to adventures where creatures are statically located in specific areas.

The bottom line is that the report is written in scripted HTML, and *if* you can deal with that, you can customize your own reports as you require.
It's my hope that as time passes, more variations of reports will become available for RPM...