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Which character generator is best-E-tools or PCgen?
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<blockquote data-quote="porkrind" data-source="post: 1712373" data-attributes="member: 17553"><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>Aren't monopolies fun?</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>Anyway, that's my two cents. :\</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="porkrind, post: 1712373, member: 17553"] 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. :\ [/QUOTE]
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