New to hero, new to the Designer, some questions

[Jorik]

I'm still struggling through the BIG BOOK of the HERO 5th edition. But I'm loving every second of it.

I bought Hero Designer to help me create characters and it did just that! A lot more easily than I expected -- and for someone who even didn't finish reading through the rule book! That's a great accomplishment on the part of the developers, IMHO.

Anyway, the character I built turned out lovely BUT when I wanted to print it, I discovered you can't print it exactly in the character sheet format from the back of HERO 5th edition rulebook. There is something similar (DefaultPrintTemplate.hde), but it is missing the HIT LOCATION CHART and it is slightly different.
Question: Is there an export template out-there with exactly the same format as in the book? With the DAMAGE/CHARGE TRACKER at the bottom and all? (how do you keep a record of damage taken otherwise?).

Second question to the developers: Is it possible to add another column on the Characteristics tab stating the point cost of each Characteristic? I mean the base cost, not the calculated total... it will just help newbies like me who can't remember yet the costs, and don't want to add 1 to every characteristic to find out.
Maybe base costs like these can be added to other tables - I didn't delve enough into the program to find out where they might be.

Since I know a bit of html, I'm preparing an export template to resemble exactly the 5th edition book character sheet. Hoping to contribute something to the community :)
(But if something like this exist, it'll sure save me some time).

[Jorik]

Alrighty then, 33 read and no replies :(

Oh well, I'll revise my questions:
1. The HERO Designer doesn't come with an export template that looks exactly like the character sheet from HERO 5th ed. rulebook (what is the acronym for this? I keep forgetting). How do you keep track of damage etc, without the DAMAGE TRACKER - just write it off next to the Characterisits?

2. Is anyone at all interested in an export template that looks exactly like the original character sheet from FREd? I am halfway through and it acutally turns out quite nice... there is even extra room in there for base costs and a character image, so you get the best of both worlds.

3. Are feature requests for future updates at all legitimate? I'm not talking about HUGE features, but, for instance, the one I mentioned in the previous post (add a column on the characteristics tab that states the BASE cost of each characteristic).

Thanks,
Roy.

[Mavnn]

OK, given no-one else is biting :).

I think one of the reasons there's currently not a template exactly like the one in the back of the book is that most of the people creating the templates commented they weren't that fond of some of it's features - hence the version which does come with HD. I think, specifically, a lot of people did'nt want things like the damage tracker - they take up quite a lot of room on the page, and a lot of the gamers I know keep track of the 'variables' (STUN, END, BODY and charges in HEROs case) on seperate sheets of paper to avoid wear and tear on their character sheets.

Having said all that, if there was a template identical to the one in the back of the book, I'd quite like it for things like one off and con games where it is helpful to have everything on one pre-prepared piece of paper. So you'd have at least one download...

As for feature requests - post them for Dan's attention on this board. Dan developed HD (he is the complete developement team, as far as I know) and while he doesn't implement every suggestion he'll normally add in ones that a) don't require major changes to the code (although he might consider even these for version 2 if they're useful) and b) he can see the use for.

At least that's my understanding of his decision process - I'm sure the man himself will step forward and correct me if I'm wrong :).

Michael

[Simon]

Mavnn's pretty much got it right as to why the Default Character Sheet output doesn't match the book. The damage tracker and such took up too much room and didn't leave room on page one for things which had to be there (like the picture and any Martial Manevuers that were purchased).

The sheet in the back of the book looks fine (IMO) until you actually try to use it....at which point there is not enough room in many areas. And it has no space for a character image....

I had to rework it in many ways in order to make it "usable" for real characters....allowing for the Combat Levels and Combat Maneuvers sections to dynamically increase in height based on the character's abilities....allowing for a character image, etc. That's why certain items had to be eliminated.

The damage tracker was the first to go, as it's about the most useless thing (IMO) that I've seen on a character sheet to date. Unless you relish the idea of going through a LOT of paper and erasers, just use a sheet of scratch paper where you can keep a running tally of your STUN, END, BODY and Charges.....they change all the time (STUN and END especially) and are not well suited to the kind of tally represented by the Damage Tracker.

-----------------------------

As for the feature request, the main reason that I won't insert an additional column showing the cost on the characteristics tab is because of the customization. The cost of Characteristics according to the rules is fixed. However, everyone is very big on customization and it is very easy to change the cost of Characteristics to whatever you want.

This, in itself, is not difficult to account for, the problem comes in when you have formulas for figuring characteristics. Someone could change the template so that their STR was 10+BODY/5+EGO/10+CON/5 -- that doesn't fit too well into a column.

You'll find that you get used to the cost of the various characteristics quite quickly once you build a few characters.....

[Jorik]

Thanks very much for the answers.

I see your points... I guess I have to wait till I play for a while (or at least one session) before I make up my mind regarding, well, everything.

Thanks again... I was feeling left out a bit, waiting for 3 days for a reply - is that like a newbie initiation ceremony or something?! :)

Roy.

[misterdeath]

Hey, I've been busy.

And not even Mighty Monolith can be everywhere at once.

Sorry.

D

[Monolith]

Originally posted by misterdeath
And not even Mighty Monolith can be everywhere at once.
LOL!

It took me longer than I thought it would to work my way through the 440 pages of the Until Superpowers Database! There must be over 3,000 powers listed in the book, and I had to enter each and every one of them into Hero Designer! :)

I am basically done now, so I shall resume my watchful stance and make sure such injustices as waiting 3 days for a reply will no longer continue. :)

[Jorik]

I'll let it slip this time. You guys say you were busy, I believe you.

Just don't let it happen again.:p

I sure appreciate your responses. It's good to know there's someone out there.