Which character generator is best-E-tools or PCgen?

[TimSmith]

Maybe this is asking for the works of Shakespeare in a 1 page summary, but can any knowledgable types out there help with the pros and cons of e-tools as it now stands and pcgen?

Basically, I am looking for a reliable 3.5 character generator to simplify D&D character creation. Don't need other systems, don't necessarily need lots of bells and whistles, but would like ease of use without much of a learning curve (as I have no time for this-otherwise I would just do my own character generating the old fashioned way!).

The original freebie generator in the 3ed PHB was right up my street (if it had been more accurate and if it were updated to 3.5) to give you an idea where I stand. Any advice? Please? I'll beg if necessary....

 

[porkrind]

I currently use E-Tools because I prefer its UI to that of PCGen. E-Tools only runs on Windows, so if you're a Linux/OSX geek, you might like PCGen better. E-Tools uses an Access database for game data, while PCGen uses a proprietary text file format for datasets. Because of this, I think PCGen can handle the variety of different D20 games out there a bit better than E-Tools. There are some things you just can't do in E-Tools because it would involve not only database modifications but also code changes.

I think E-Tools is slightly less buggy than PCGen, but PCGen has come a long way in the last couple of years. Oh, and with regards to the dataset thing, if you don't have a ton of extra time and/or don't want to learn Access programming or a proprietary text file format, you're going to be buying datasets from the same company - Code Monkey Publishing. Actually, I don't think its even legal to distribute datasets you create for stuff you've make up yourself, so don't expect to find much on the web anymore.

Aren't monopolies fun?

If you're just creating standard characters and monsters from the main WotC sources, either will probably do. If you want support for D20 Modern or Monte's Arcana Unearthed stuff, and can stomach PCGen's craptacular java UI, you'll probably want it. Neither programs are particularly spectacular, often buggy, and the datasets you'll purchase are frequently incomplete.

If you don't need the more esoteric gaming modes, E-Tools will probably have a less severe learning curve. I can crank out characters much faster in E-Tools than in PCGen.

Software for P&P RPG gaming is a niche market, so unless you want to try out one of the many equally bad 3rd party programs available out there, E-Tools (Windows-only, fairly easy to use) and PCGen (more robust game support, cross-platorm, butt-ugly UI) are what you've got.

Anyway, that's my two cents. :\

 

[dpmcalister]

If all you're looking for is a character generator, I'd choose neither and, instead, pick Shannon Greene's Excel spreadsheet (http://home.san.rr.com/blackbart/). I've been using it for a year or so now and highly recommend it.

 

[Henry]

You might as well as which sports team is better; you'll get vehement support from both sides.

Porkrind has it very well described; I prefer PCGen myself, but that's mainly because it supports other d20 games besides D&D. It's not perfect, but it's good and cheap, which satisfies my requirements. Plus, I have both an investment in quite a few datasets nowadays, and I have much more familiarity customizing the data files with PCGen than I do with E-tools.

If you want something on the line of the old 3E Fluid Entertainment generator, go with E-tools. Its interface was even designed by Fluid, before the project was almost scrapped and sold. Codemonkey Pub. are good guys, and they support the package.

I would also be remiss if I left out Luke Jones' Roleplaying Master software, and Chris (can't remember last names worth a darn) Twin Rose Campaign Suite. Both are excellent D&D/d20 actively supported Char-gens as well as DM tools, but have the disadvantages of not having a D&D license for IP a la Codemonkey.

 

[Joshua Randall]

I used to be a big PCGen supporter, but no longer. Two reasons. (1) Horrible interface. and (2) Lack of focus. In trying to do everything, PCGen does nothing well.

Haven't used E-Tools.

I'm starting to get into DMGenie, which, despite the name, has a character generator. The interface is only so-so: on par with most third-party Windows programs. On the plus side, it's a lot more stable and intuitive than PCGen.

 

[TimSmith]

You might as well as which sports team is better; you'll get vehement support from both sides.

If you want something on the line of the old 3E Fluid Entertainment generator, go with E-tools. Its interface was even designed by Fluid, before the project was almost scrapped and sold. Codemonkey Pub. are good guys, and they support the package.

I would also be remiss if I left out Luke Jones' Roleplaying Master software, and Chris (can't remember last names worth a darn) Twin Rose Campaign Suite. Both are excellent D&D/d20 actively supported Char-gens as well as DM tools, but have the disadvantages of not having a D&D license for IP a la Codemonkey.

Just like to say thanks to everyone for the advice. Also, the support and data sets etc that are mentioned. Are these support for the extra books like complete warrior, built into the program? Or are they just a sort of pdf of the salient points from the book? Looking at the code monkey site it wasn't immediately obvious. Am I right in thinking that if I wanted E-tools INCLUDING stuff from Unearthed Arcana etc that I would need to buy an unearthed arcana data set as well, but if I just wanted original PHB stuff then I only need E-tools itself?

 

[Henry]

Just like to say thanks to everyone for the advice. Also, the support and data sets etc that are mentioned. Are these support for the extra books like complete warrior, built into the program? Or are they just a sort of pdf of the salient points from the book? Looking at the code monkey site it wasn't immediately obvious. Am I right in thinking that if I wanted E-tools INCLUDING stuff from Unearthed Arcana etc that I would need to buy an unearthed arcana data set as well, but if I just wanted original PHB stuff then I only need E-tools itself?

OK, here's the rundown:

E-Tools originally supported 3E, not 3.5; I THINK, but am unsure, that the 3.5 core rules are IN E-tools if you update them now. PCGen has the 3.5 SRD (not yet on the new psionics 3.5 rules, they are working on it) built-in, but these are NOT the 3.5 core rules, they are what is in the SRD (which is to say, that's the 99% of the rules stuff that's not considered intellectual property).

If you want anything BUT the core rules, you need to buy data sets from Codemonkey publishing. These data sets are made by CMP, licensed from WotC, and contain the ACTUAL rules stuff (you'll get bigby's hand spells, you'll get yuan-ti, etc.). You can buy data sets for E-tools, you can buy data sets for PCGen, OR you can buy bundles of both. Each data set is reasonably cheap, about $1.50 to $5.00 per book, depending on the book's size, and they do sell bundles for related books. For instance, the old Sword& FIst/Tome & blood/ Defenders of the faith/ etc. 5 splatbooks they sell in a bundle for $10.00.

In BOTH programs, you can customize the data - you COULD enter those splatbooks yourself - but you are paying CMP for the service of buying these things already typed in and done, and they are licensed IP, too, so you get the complete stuff without having bare-bones SRD stripped rules.

Hopefully that makes it clearer. CMP is adding data sets all the time, and they are working If I recall correctly on a NEW version of E-tools, written from the ground up, but that is a long-term project. As of the last patch, E-tools is a pretty awesome program, I hear tell - it's just that you'll want the data sets if you use a lot of extra splat books and supplements.

As for Complete Warrior, Unearthed Arcana, etc. I don't know if they have those data sets released yet, so you would need to check their website catalog to see.

 

[Goobermunch]

I've been using Etools for about 9 months now and I love it. If I had a laptop, I'd love it even more! (it makes generating summoned monsters easy as pie!)

Data sets average about 5 dollars, and have all the crunch right where you can get at it. But, to get 3.5 support, you've got to spring for the updated data (like 5 bucks).

I can't speak to the other programs out there.

--G

 

[jacksluck]

I too find PCGen a bit clunky, but it is not a bad program.

If you want a fairly simple and straight forward character generator....try this one:

http://www.dark-legacy.com/redblade3e/3.5e/

Also, pretty straight forward on customizing weapons, skills, feats, etc....

 

[Allanon]

Another great online character gen is this located on this site www.pathguy.com/cg35.htm.
It's even got specific gameworlds and settings like:

• Ravenloft
• d20 Modern
• d20 Call of Ctulhu
• Eberron
• d20 Dark Sun
• d20 Dragon
• d20 Dragonlance

I quite like it, although I recalculate all the results to be sure they're correct.