DnCrg SR4 Character Generator (Early Dev), looking for comments, suggestions, help Options

[thewolf]

@deek
If I get enough done tonight, I may release another development version. I like the idea of building the archetypes in the book, with some small adjustments here or there. I noticed on the Troll Bounty Hunter that the math is wrong on skills (in the book; the program calculates everything correctly). We will have to watch out for that and other problems along the way.

[thewolf]

10/30/2006
Early Development Release: Cayman

(Dev Site)

New features in this release:

- Fixed nasty XML serialization problems, should work well now
- Updated DAT files with complete catalog of content (thanks to KeyMasterOfGozer)
- DAT files now have headers with field names and types
- Spells and Adept Powers section now on and cranking
- NumericUpDown controls for attribute purchasing
- Menu bar items either work or are disabled so you can't click on them
- Knowledge skills removed when viewing skills by attribute
- Fixed bug where qualities would double-add
- More error boxes all around. I haven't gotten to everything, but you should see more of them in this version

Progress

Still quite a bit to do, although one or two weeks might bring feature-completeness. Glaring issues include:

- Rest of Magic tab
- Matrix/Technomancer tab
- Gear and Vehicle Customization
- Export/Print functionality

Bug reports are welcome, also I appreciate comments/suggestions for enhancing the application at all times.

Enjoy,

[elendel]

Well, crap.

This looks pretty cool, and is pretty much what I've been putzing at off and on for the last year or so. Suppose I should check these forums more often, might have been able to save you some work.

I've been working (well, mostly not working) on a 4th ed character generator since I got my grubby hands on the first sample characters, mostly as an exercise to learn Java and XML and all that. Since you went and beat me to the punch, I'm throwing my code out there in case you (or anyone else) finds it useful...

See http://svn.wyrdtech.com/

It's all XML based data, and I was working on an XSLT for the character when I last mucked with it... Well, among other things - because it's basically a learning project for me I tend to just jump in and work on whatever. Think the last thing I attempted was to start using XSDs for the data, don't think the current svn source even runs right now.

It has basic functionality, mainly missing Gear, Bio/Cyber, Magic, Contacts, and a decent UI. Ok, it has two UIs (switched APIs halfway through), but neither is complete... far from it. I'm actually pretty jealous of yours.

Anyway, let me know if this is useful. I'll probably continue to plunk away at it, but at this rate it won't be done until 5th ed is out...

Elendel

[craigpierce]

[thewolf]

@elendel
Welcome to Dumpshock. I'm amazed at how similar the programs are, tabbed interface and everything. I wish .Net had cool tabs like that though. If you'd like to contribute, I am looking for help on taking the XML files and applying a stylesheet to them to make a "pretty" character sheet to print out. It looks like you were doing the exact same thing with your project. Anyways, cool Java project, I remember those days. Let me know if you would like to help out.

[KeyMasterOfGozer]

On the Qualities Tab.

I tried to add the Negative Quality "Aspected (Conjourer)" to a character. Selecting the quality and pressing the lower "Add" button produces no results. By selecting the quality above it "Weak Immune System", it adds to the list as expected.

I suspect that I made some mistake in the qualities file. It was the first one I did.

Clicking on the Matrix Tab causes the App to go unresponsive for 5-10 seconds, then die.

Everything else seems to work as expected (knowing that you have not go to several tabs yet).

[KeyMasterOfGozer]

Where are your "Options" going to be stored? Registry or a local file or other option?

I vote for a config file.

[thewolf]

@KeyMasterOfGozer
On the negative qualities, you used parentheses for the aspected ones and several others. If you changed "Aspected (Conjurer)" to "Aspected, Conjurer", you shouldn't have a problem loading them. Either I can make those changes to the DAT files, or you can and just send me the updated ones.

The options will be a config file. I am shooting for XCOPY and run deployment, so that should work out nicely.

I am unable to reproduce your Matrix tab issues. There really aren't any events tied to that tab, so I'm not sure what would be causing it. Any steps or states I'm missing here?

[KeyMasterOfGozer]

[thewolf]

KeyMasterOfGozer
That's not a C# thing. I'm splitting and trimming the text of the selected item off of the first open parentheses character, so putting one in before the +/- BP value will cause it not to match to the internal table of valid qualities later on. I think that last sentence was English, but I'm not sure ;)

The Matrix tab thing is a mystery. I really can't think of a reason why it would do that.

[elendel]

[thewolf]

@elendel
The program output is all I really have at this point. An XML schema would be nice to have to standardize everything. I really expect many XSL designs to come out for the base XML data, so that would be good. I don't imagine huge changes will happen in the XML format outside of the sections that remain to be implemented in the program.

PS - Your username reminds me of Elendil from LOTR. Any connection?

[elendel]

[KeyMasterOfGozer]

[deek]

Just grabbed the new build...I'll put a few hours into it over the next few days...based on reading the thread, I am thinking we should be looking at a pretty clean build.

First thing, my saved XML's load and save fine, so that is awesome.

I reloaded Bounty Hunter, and BPs looked good. As mentioned, the listed costs in the book are off, but it does build out to 400 BPs. Same with the Covert Ops and Enforcer...all seem to balance at 400 BPs, so that is good.

Generally speaking, there a handfuls of knowledge skills missing, and I would recommend allowing some free form entry of them, so if something isn't on the list, we can just type them in. I am not going to touch magic, matrix or get too picky on the gear just yet, as I know you are still working on that stuff.

I did notice the options menu and that will be really nice once that is working.

@thewolf
I do have one issue found so far:

1) Native languages (not sure if this was already brought up or not, I seem to think it has). If you buy your native language when you still have free knowledge BPs, everything is cool. If you wait until you are out of them, such as how the Enforcer is built (assuming you build top to bottom), the native language ends up costing a point. From my understanding, a native language is free, so once that checkbox is checked, it should never cost a point, regardless if you are in your free points or not. I would also suggest locking native languages down to just one per character. And I do remember someone mentioning this, that it would be nice to have an "N" indicator or something, to show it is a native language.

Overall, things are looking really good. Of the three templates I have entered, they all came out to 400 BPs. Attributes were solid and that is including the cyberware augmentations, so that is great. No problems with the Contacts page.

@KMoG (KeyMasterOfGozer)
Would it be too much trouble to ask adding the rest of the knowledge skills found in the character templates? Its nice to have them there, in case other people want to use them. Same with Languages...as I know Sioux is currently missing.

I suppose if we get some free-form text for this kind of stuff, then it doesn't really matter...

@Any Other Testers
I plan on running through some more template builds then some random testing. Looks like the Face, Smuggler, Sprawl Ganger and Weapons Specialist can be built without having to worry about magic or the matrix (minus the commlink, of course).

[thewolf]

@deek
Yay, glad you are not having many issues. The native language is a total hack, I know I need to firm up those rules and fix a few things. It's always problematic when you want a rating to be a character value in one instance, and a numeric one in another.

You should be able to test the magical sample characters too. Only magical items and mentor spirits/traditions doesn't work, which none of the archetypes should need.

[deek]

Ok, with the magic working, there are some more options to build...cool.

Not sure if you are interested or not, but I threw together a quick bug reporting page on my site: http://www.deeksworld.com/DnCrg/display.php

There is some test data in there (which I plan on deleting), but I put it together with simplicity and the minimum required needs in mind. Not sure if you or other testers would find it useful, but if anyone does, please feel free to use it.

I was thinking that would be a fairly easy way to track stuff and have an idea of what you might need to work on...anyways, I figured I would share.

[thewolf]

@deek
Holy unstyled HTML Batman! Have you heard of CSS? :P Looks cool. I don't mind using it, I thought about doing something like that but wasn't sure if enough there would be enough bugs and testers to make it worthwhile. I'll certainly check it from time to time though.

[dog_xinu]

[deek]

[KeyMasterOfGozer]

[deek]

Ok, I will commit to it, then. I'll start working on putting in the rest of the knowledge skills from the character templates in the core rulebook. I should probably have that done by Monday, as I have a busy schedule to keep in mind this weekend. So, nobody else work on that stuff!

@thewolf
I entered issues 7 & 8 (on my bug tracking tool), both concerning native languages. These are currently my only current issues to report.

[KeyMasterOfGozer]

[Eleazar]

I should have time this weekend to take a look at cayman. I have downloaded it but haven't had time to take a thorough look yet.

[thewolf]

Cool, glad everything is rolling for everyone. I should get a chance this weekend to put some more functionality in, but probably not enough for a release until the 12th or so.