Upgraded Character Generator, Updated Generator Based on work from Autarkis and Blakkie Options

[Draco18s]

I am that player (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

And as far as I have determined, there are not rules for either.

[Tyro]

Hence "unique" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

I seem to remember rules for unique enchantments in Street Magic.

[Draco18s]

*Looks around for it. Tomorrow!*

Yeah, the rules are all fluff "go ahead, do whatever you want as a GM, but make it not overpowering" ("A “Turn Spirit to Guacamole” focus, it may be an aspected enchantment that only works when the planets are in a particular alignment—which will happen again in just 127 years or so.")

There's no rules on players creating them or having them commissioned.

[Tyro]

I just created a character in version Beta 9c who ends up with 1.004 Essence worth of implants. The main page rounds it to 1, giving him an Essence score of 5 instead of 4.996.

[De Badd Ass]

Excel posts 'Refresh link to other file' if there is another file linked in a formula, OR if one of the sheets has a space in its name and is referred to by a named range. That is why I have underscores _ in sheet names.

Open Office must have some other condition that causes this prompt accidentally. Probably has to do with named ranges. Ill look into it.

The change that made this version not crash was removing the named range 'Magic' because it shared a name with the Magic sheet.

OO users feel free to use Test 3 for now. I will include this OO fix in the next version.

Actually, there are some external links to some files, It wants:

A sheet called "Ware Lists" in a file called sr4chargenbasebeta7c.xls
A sheet called "Wares_Data" in a file called testing.xls

That last file was located in ".../Temp/Temporary Directory for shadowrun_chargen.zip/"
Not sure, but I think the first file was on your Desktop.

[De Badd Ass]

Hi,

I just tested the sheet under the following environment :
OpenOffice 3.0
Ubuntu 8.0.4
Asus eeePC 901

And the sheet just crashes my OpenOffice, it happens at least with all beta 9x sheet.

By the way, if someone know how to get some log or trace from OpenOffice on ubuntu, it would help me find some more clue.

Yok

I opened the sheet in a VirtualBox PC:

Guest Configuration:
Base Memory 512 MB
Ubuntu 8.10
OpenOffice.org 3.0.1

Host Configuration:
Dual 2.8 GHz Xeon
Base Memory 2.5 GB
CentOS 5.2
VirtualBox 2.1.2

[yokyok]

I opened the sheet in a VirtualBox PC:

Guest Configuration:
Base Memory 512 MB
Ubuntu 8.10
OpenOffice.org 3.0.1

Host Configuration:
Dual 2.8 GHz Xeon
Base Memory 2.5 GB
CentOS 5.2
VirtualBox 2.1.2

I know, I just change the ubuntu distrib yesterday evening (from easypeasy to crunchbang) and it works well with 3.0.1 on my previous configuration it was oo 3, maybe it's the reason or maybe the default install of oo 3 on easy peasy is screwed (it doesn't come with crunchbang, I installed it manually).

anyway, thanks for your efforts.

Now I'll have a copy of my players' sheets with my eee-roleplaying assistant MUWAHWAHWAH (evil laughing).

Yok

[Draco18s]

Oh, I doubt that'll let you do anything so evil as convincing a player he should get hired by a megacorp (aka Deep Cover) to trash their research labs.

Wait. I'm that player.

I am so screwed.

[Draco18s]

Bug in the most recent sheet:

Exceptional Attribute (stat) raises max (stat) by 2, not 1. Core, page 78.

Martial Arts Styles advantages incorrectly gives you 2 advantages per 5 BP quality (you get 1 style quality per 5 BP). Sidebar Arsenel page 156. You've swapped the Maneuvers / Advantages counter boxes, basically.\

Positive Qualities isn't totaling correctly, cell W39 isn't being considered. Actually, AR39 is missing its formula.

FN P93 Praetorr has 1 Recoil Comp noted in the notes, but not in the actual stats.

Cell D12 on Gear sheet ("lifestyle"). The tool-tip note's box is too small.

Lifestyle's sheet, there are two lifestyles: Lifestyle #1 and Lifestyle #1. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Gear listing, category: "Nexus, Pre=Packaged"

Slap Patches -> Stimulant Patch is priced incorrectly at Rating * 125, the correct price is Rating * 25.

[Tyro]

The Prejudiced NQ should be denoted (rc), as it comes from the Runner's Companion.

[Brazila]

If you use the karma build system the cost for bonding foci seems off. If you mark it as bonded with karma it charges you 2 times, and even if you don't the costs seem off, I got a F2 Reach 1 wpn focus should be (3+1)*2 or 8 but it said 10, I got R 3 sust foci should be 6 it said 12.

[Draco18s]

Conditional formatting for the Contacts area (Earned? slot) looks at the group active skills list to see if the box should be yellow if you try to specialize in a group skill.

This conditional formatting should be in the "specialize skill" column. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Found it because I made a personal note about having "specialized" in negotiation part of the Influence skill group due to a mentor spirit (just so I had a record of the +2 dice in the skills section).

Edit:
Trustworth is two qualities: one 5 pointer, one 20 pointer.

[betterwatchit]

Don't forget to use the errata. For example: Chatty from Unwired is worth 10 points instead of 5.

[Fyndhal]

Bug in the most recent sheet:

Exceptional Attribute (stat) raises max (stat) by 2, not 1. Core, page 78.

This is because it is being calculated in two places. Once in the cell itself, and once in the hidden Attributes sheet. Note that even though it lists it being increased by two, if you try to purchase it at the +2 value, it chokes. I discovered this while trying to add Genetic Optimization to the sheet (I gave up; I didn't have the time needed to reverse engineer all the math being done.)

[Nigel]

I'm not seeing it on the first post - what is current compatibility with OpenOffice? I don't have the cash to buy Excel, and I prefer the UI of OOO.

Great tool, though. I've seen this go through a lot of changes, and I am a big fan.

[Krrayn]

Great work on this! I love it!

Very interested to see how AI works out in future versions. For now, I'm just getting familiar with the sheet by inputting existing characters.

One thing I noticed missing under Cybereyes component selection is the Eye Light System (augmentation p 37). Just a minor thing.

Thanks for all your hard work!

[Nigel]

I downloaded this on a friend's PC (he has Excel 2007) and quite a few qualities from Unwired seem to be missing. Just the ones that I remember off the top of my head are Media Junkie and Virtual Personality. Any chance of adding these in the next version?

EDIT: Also, the new sprites introduced in UW are missing. Tank, Paladin, etc. I haven't noticed anything else, though I haven't looked that far through it.

[Marvelous Marvin]

I am a big fan of the Character Generator spreadsheet created by Autarkis, and updated by blakkie. My SR group started using this sheet, and I began making small revisions. After awhile it turned into a bit of a pet project and the spreadsheet has come a long way. Since releasing the beta to Dumpshock we have reviewed and upgraded this sheet through seven major versions and its looking great!

I use Open office, and every time i atempt to change the true to false the thing crashes.

Best I can figure is that you have links to pages not with in the spread sheet and that is causing the sheet to malfunction.

[InfinityzeN]

Try scrolling all the way over to the right as far as you can. There are check blocks there.

[DamienKnight]

Version 9g is now available.

This version was created to address the excel 2003 issue of maximum styles used. The sheet received a style makeover, removing many borders to reduce unique cell styles, and changing some coloring to compensate for removal of vertical borders.

Also, the borders that do remain are no longer lightweight borders (show up as full weight in Open Office) but instead grey borders, so they translate to Open Office better.

Many requested fixes from the last couple months have been completely ignored in this version. I am simply proposing a new style, and want to get the communities approval of the cosmetic makeover before I continue developing fixes for the sheet.

As always, I look forward to your feedback.

[GreyBrother]

Looks quite good to me, but in my humble opinion: Some borders wouldn't hurt. I really like the colors of the technomancer and magic tab (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) my (and my TMs) favourite color.

[DMFubar]

Personally, I prefer the borders, just makes it easier to notice which line is which quickly. That being said, it is also just as easy for me to go in and add borders myself if I feel they are really needed.

Honestly, I am just glad to see you are still working on this DK, this is my favorite spreadsheet for character creation overall, and I like how it is constantly being improved upon. Do you have any intentions of looking over the anniversary edition of the book to make changes, or leave it at the eariler edition of the books?

Thanks again for all the hard work!

[DamienKnight]

Looks quite good to me, but in my humble opinion: Some borders wouldn't hurt. I really like the colors of the technomancer and magic tab (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) my (and my TMs) favourite color.

While more borders would improve the appearance, it is not possible in Excel.

What I primarily need is a vote on 'Pass' or 'Fail' for this style, and if 'Fail', a reason the layout just doesn't do it for you.

If anyone wants to understand the issue and perhaps try and help, read below.

Boring explanation below:

[ Spoiler ]

In excel, rather than having each cell's borders be an attribute of that cell object, instead a number of style objects are created each time a new style is used on a cell, then each cell object is assigned a pointer to a style object. As far as my research has been able to tell, there are three types of style objects, borders+font+backgroundcolor, number/date/text formatting, and conditional formatting. Each of the three types of styles contributes to the maximum of 4000 styles in excel. This means that if one cell has the exact same format as another cell except it has its left border a different shade, it creates an entirely new style object just for that cell. This is compounded by the fact that cells share a border with the cells next to them and the border may or may not be an attribute of each touching cell.

In order to have distinct coloring for data entry/list selection/no entry cells, and to keep all of the information in one workbook, something must be done to reduce styles in the sheet. Removing all vertical borders (except on the formatted charsheet) cut out over 1000 styles. This is dire, because once the 4000 style limit is reached, the cells in a workbook can no longer have its formatting changed. While revising version beta9c I was hit with a style lock-out due to 4000 styles being present. I had to revert all changes, remove every single border, and add back in only certain borders.

Another work around may be to split the sheet apart into multiple workbooks that reference each other, but that seems like some tedious junk to me.

Long story short, consistently using borders throughout the sheet is not an option. The current appearance makeover is not one of choice or preference, but of necessity. If someone has an idea for a style that looks better and does not create so many excess styles in excel 2003, please PM me a link where I can download a sample sheet with your new format and I will consider it. Requirements are:

1. Allows for multiple side by side columns (vertical borders or alternating backgrounds seem like a must for this).
2. Distinct highlighting of data entry points.
3. Must be consistent throughout the workbook.
4. Has to look good.

You can download the demo tool from this website to get a style count. It shows about half of your styles, so its not 100% useful, but is a good measure to compare one format against another. The chargen sheet had roughly 1800 registered styles according to this tool when Excel was hitting the 4000 limit.

http://xlsgenreduction.arstdesign.com/index_en.html

[DamienKnight]

I just created a character in version Beta 9c who ends up with 1.004 Essence worth of implants. The main page rounds it to 1, giving him an Essence score of 5 instead of 4.996.

This is simply the spreadsheets number format for the Essence cell. It is set to '2 decimal places', which forced rounding. I have changed it to 'general' format for the next version (9h), which will show as many decimal places as necessary. Good catch Tyro.

One thing I noticed missing under Cybereyes component selection is the Eye Light System (augmentation p 37).

Excellent observation. Added as a cyereye enhancement and a stand alone enhancement. Look for it in 9h.

Honestly, I am just glad to see you are still working on this DK, this is my favorite spreadsheet for character creation overall, and I like how it is constantly being improved upon. Do you have any intentions of looking over the anniversary edition of the book to make changes, or leave it at the eariler edition of the books?

Yes, I am still alive. I have ignored the sheet for a good while. Mainly I was put off by the style 4000+ issue in excel, and spent a long time trying different formatting changes to resolve the issue. What I ended up with was terrible (looked like a checkers board) and I was frustrated enough to put it aside for awhile.

I finally got a little inspiration and redid the sheet. I dont think its beautiful, but I think it works and I am excited about working on the sheet again. I would love to get it out of Beta and into a stable version that everyone can use.

So... anyone have any ideas for a good Name I could give the sheet once it is out of beta? 'SR4Chargen_Upgraded' is a fine name for a beta, but I want something sexier for the final version.

[Tyro]

This is simply the spreadsheets number format for the Essence cell. It is set to '2 decimal places', which forced rounding. I have upped it to 3 decimal places for the next version (9h).

Many thanks; I hate having to do Essence calculations by hand!

[Edit:] Any word on incorporating the new (and massive!) erratra from the Anniversary Edition?

[Edit 2:] Exceptional Attribute is still adding +2 to the max instead of 1, as of 9g.

[Edit 3:] Availabilities over 12 are getting highlighted as illegal even with Black Market Pipeline: Wares. This did not happen in 9c; I don't have any of the versions between those 2. I'm also not getting the Nuyen cost reduction; the BMP doesn't seem to be working at all (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)