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3 years ago ::
Oct 21, 2010 - 10:30PM
#31
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Date Joined:
Jun 16, 2008
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In all seriousness, I think they did a good job with the Character Builder, for the most part. A lack of planning for expansion is what's kicking them in the butt right now.
If it had been planned correctly, they would be able to drop in expansion or setting modules and everything would work fine. But I see the changes in Essentials and Dark Sun as a big learning experience for them. Maybe, they'll learn from it, but we'll see as new versions are released.
I'd like to be able to just take a Gamma World expansion module and dump it in the correct folder and then *boom*! you have a Gamma World character builder.
But it's simple enough that you could write it in JavaScript (woo, it's already been done! :D) and could export into a common format to include in other projects. For instance, if I had a CSV file of a Gamma World character, I could easily set it up so my character sheets were populated with any character's info. The only problem is that you lose the ability to easily update your character without having to print out another version of the sheet...Waste of ink/toner and paper if you ask me.
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3 years ago ::
Oct 21, 2010 - 11:04PM
#32
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Date Joined:
Jun 14, 2008
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In all seriousness, I think they did a good job with the Character Builder, for the most part. A lack of planning for expansion is what's kicking them in the butt right now.
If it had been planned correctly, they would be able to drop in expansion or setting modules and everything would work fine. But I see the changes in Essentials and Dark Sun as a big learning experience for them. Maybe, they'll learn from it, but we'll see as new versions are released.
I'd like to be able to just take a Gamma World expansion module and dump it in the correct folder and then *boom*! you have a Gamma World character builder.
But it's simple enough that you could write it in JavaScript (woo, it's already been done! :D) and could export into a common format to include in other projects. For instance, if I had a CSV file of a Gamma World character, I could easily set it up so my character sheets were populated with any character's info. The only problem is that you lose the ability to easily update your character without having to print out another version of the sheet...Waste of ink/toner and paper if you ask me.
I'm a programmer, I think WOTC has done a wonderful job. There is a butt load of work going into each release and its very stable. The user interface is quite slick.
The thing that's killing them isn't just the data entry, its changing the code, and testing it. I'm sure the programmers are getting caught with their pants down constantly... "What? Templates? WTF is that? AAAND you're using that in Gamma World for.. lemme see... races! WTF! WTF!"
Never fear... Many spread sheets are on the way.
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3 years ago ::
Oct 21, 2010 - 11:40PM
#33
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Date Joined:
Aug 31, 2010
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Wizards will move on to the next project, and the next, and the next.
The next project was announced at GenCon
Ravenloft the RPG - Play as vampires and werewolves! Fully compatible with 4E!
critical-hits.com/2010/08/07/gen-con-201...
Then in the 4th quarter, there will be a Ravenloft game released, where PCs can play Vampires, Werewolves, and more as well as the usual character options. While keeping most of the information about this hidden for now, they did say there would be some interesting new physical components to the game of some kind. It will be both a standalone game as well as fully useable in core D&D.
Gamma World - Released in Q4.
Ravenloft - To be released in Q4.
Honestly, if they keep doing specialty games like this every year... I'm happy. Side games like this are a blast... but keeping the D&D rules makes it easy to get people playing (Nothing new to learn!)
AlexandraErin: If last season was any indication, I think Encounters is pretty much the elemental opposite of "organized" play!
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3 years ago ::
Oct 22, 2010 - 7:04AM
#34
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I've created a web-based Gamma World Character Generator. It handles everything except for telling you your starting abilities or giving the option of trading in the Explorer's Kit for an additional gear roll.
You can use it at html5.holycow.com/gammaworld/ -- just click "Generate Character"! If you don't like your character you can press it again. 
Thanks for providing this. I think there is a bug though. I just got this character. I'd expect Will to be a lot higher with a 20 charisma.
Mind Breaker / EmpathSTR:8CON:7INT:13DEX:5WIS:7CHA:20Hit Points: 19 +2 to Psi overcharge. Note: Engineered Humans get +2 to all overcharge but they are Secondary origins while the rules say only your Primary affects your overcharge bonus. Checking out what to do so for now I've left it off. Fortitude: 10 Reflex: 12 Will:13
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3 years ago ::
Oct 22, 2010 - 7:26AM
#35
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Date Joined:
Jun 16, 2008
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I've created a web-based Gamma World Character Generator. It handles everything except for telling you your starting abilities or giving the option of trading in the Explorer's Kit for an additional gear roll.
You can use it at html5.holycow.com/gammaworld/ -- just click "Generate Character"! If you don't like your character you can press it again.
Thanks for providing this. I think there is a bug though. I just got this character. I'd expect Will to be a lot higher with a 20 charisma.
Mind Breaker / Empath
STR:8
CON:7
INT:13
DEX:5
WIS:7
CHA:20
Hit Points: 19
+2 to Psi overcharge.
Note: Engineered Humans get +2 to all overcharge but they are Secondary origins while the rules say only your Primary affects your overcharge bonus. Checking out what to do so for now I've left it off.
Fortitude: 10 Reflex: 12 Will:13
Yep, it should be 18 minimum (5 + 1 + 10 + 2 (mind breaker)). Empath doesn't get a defense bonus? *ponder*
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3 years ago ::
Oct 22, 2010 - 7:29AM
#36
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Date Joined:
Jun 16, 2008
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Did some checking in your code and found a typo in this line: if(wis>cha) { defenseWill+=statBonus(wis); } else { defenseWill+-statBonus(cha)}
It should be if(wis>cha) { defenseWill+=statBonus(wis); } else { defenseWill+=statBonus(cha)}
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3 years ago ::
Oct 23, 2010 - 9:43AM
#37
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Anyone working on an excel/open office generation spreadsheet? Maybe one that we can update and modify after the initial generation and doubles as our character sheet?
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3 years ago ::
Oct 23, 2010 - 11:57AM
#38
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Date Joined:
Jun 14, 2008
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Anyone working on an excel/open office generation spreadsheet? Maybe one that we can update and modify after the initial generation and doubles as our character sheet?
PM me and send me a real email address, and I can send you what I have.
I'm still needing to add combat and powers, but almost everything else is in there, like background origins, Defense calculations, etc.
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3 years ago ::
Oct 23, 2010 - 6:41PM
#39
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Date Joined:
Jun 16, 2008
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I think I'm actually going to work with my SVG Encounters-inspired character sheet and JavaScript to provide a "Gamma World Encounters" quick gen sheet. If you use any modern browser (FF works best for SVG, Chrome/Safari/Opera next, and IE last -- with flash) you'll be able to create your character, include an image (probably just a straight image you upload), set the fade colors, and then you'll be able to print your newly generated character.
We'll see if I have the time, but hopefully people will want this option. I can also include origin cards for the character as well.
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3 years ago ::
Oct 23, 2010 - 8:31PM
#40
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Date Joined:
Jul 27, 2001
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I would also like to say thanks to Puckish. I've just created about 20 playable PCs - I only got maybe 3 or 4 non-playable characters* which is a pretty good output for a randomized PC generator. * (By non-playable, I mean that I got a Giant/Mind Coercer with 3 stats at 8 or lower - including both Int and Dex - and gear consisting of 3 keelboats and a 2 laptops. Had his stats not been so bad, I might have considered keeping him around as a pirate NPC!) It doesn't really matter how much work it is. The game is only being supported for 6 months. I mean, unless it frackin' EXPLODES OFF THE SHELVES.
What's sad is that I believe this game WOULD do really well if not for the price point and the packaging/design issues. Based on my current experience, it seems the designers have done a really good job on this game. But thanks to the marketing/design gaffes, I doubt many people are going to experience this game fully.
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