The End Is Near

[Simon]

Ok...just wanted to post a note for everyone regarding updates:

In about 3 weeks, I'm going to be "freezing" the v1 code so that I can get started on v2.

This means that there won't be anymore enhancements or additions to v1 after that point. I will continue to support v1 in terms of bug fixes and will release updates to it as any bugs are found, but I will not work in any more enhancements (like new export tags or such).

Please feel free to continue to post enhancement requests....they won't go unheeded. Anything that I feel is worthwhile I will endeavor to work into v2.

This code freeze is necessary to prevent me from having to double my work. Once I start on v2, I will need to keep 2 sets of code, one for v1 and one for the developing v2. Any changes to the v1 code base will need to be replicated in the v2 code....oftentimes this won't be straightforward, as I'm planning on some fairly major restructuring in the v2 code base.

Anyway, just wanted to let everyone know....

I'm going to be talking with Steve later today about some of my plans for v2....assuming he approves a few of the ideas, I think folks are going to be blown away ;)

[JmOz]

Don't know where this "fits" but I have some porblems with the print outs, namely I make LONG characters and it is not uncommon for the bottom to get cut off (I don't mind it going to a second page, I just want to bottom to close and for a page two to start). Don't know enough about the exporting to figure out if there is something I can do "As is" or if that is something that can be even added

[Talon]

Cool!

Allow me to emphasize the importance of modular templates...I think doing this feature properly (with few to no limitations, etc.) will have a huge impact on the flexibility of HD.

[Simon]

Originally posted by Geoff Speare
Cool!

Allow me to emphasize the importance of modular templates...I think doing this feature properly (with few to no limitations, etc.) will have a huge impact on the flexibility of HD.

It will definitely have an impact on the flexibility. If done right, it will also have a very beneficial impact on the performance....which is why it's one of the first items on my plate ;)

[Talon]

I really like the idea of being able to load a series of templates containing house rules, sourcebook rules additions, etc., and having some sort of ordering/conflict resolution mechanism, so that if house rule A and house rule B change the cost of the same item, the user can pick which one takes over.

Oh, and will the "read my mind and create the character I'm thinking of" button be working for v2? :)

[Simon]

Originally posted by JmOz
Don't know where this "fits" but I have some porblems with the print outs, namely I make LONG characters and it is not uncommon for the bottom to get cut off (I don't mind it going to a second page, I just want to bottom to close and for a page two to start). Don't know enough about the exporting to figure out if there is something I can do "As is" or if that is something that can be even added

You have the ability to do this currently....but only to a limited extent. You can currently specify what index to start on in any list.....For example: you can say "for Powers 1-20, do this....for Powers 21-40 do this....etc" This allows you to do paging, so long as you don't have multiple lists to worry about.

The default character sheet at the back of FREd is a good example of where this starts to break down, however, as you have a single area for the display of Skills, Perks and Talents. In order to make something like that page properly, you need to be able to create a "generic counter" which you can specify how it increments as well as cutoff points.

It's something that I will be working on for v2, but have no definitive plans/ideas for at this time....basically, I'll do what I can in the time that I have.

[Talon]

Originally posted by JmOz
Don't know where this "fits" but I have some porblems with the print outs, namely I make LONG characters and it is not uncommon for the bottom to get cut off (I don't mind it going to a second page, I just want to bottom to close and for a page two to start). Don't know enough about the exporting to figure out if there is something I can do "As is" or if that is something that can be even added

You can also use the RTF templates which are generally much better about pagination (and purty, too!).

[Simon]

Originally posted by Geoff Speare
I really like the idea of being able to load a series of templates containing house rules, sourcebook rules additions, etc., and having some sort of ordering/conflict resolution mechanism, so that if house rule A and house rule B change the cost of the same item, the user can pick which one takes over.

Oh, and will the "read my mind and create the character I'm thinking of" button be working for v2? :)
I'm not sure that it's going to be quite that modular.

What I'm currently thinking about doing is giving a template the ability to specify a "base template". For instance, there would be a "character template" that would serve as the base for Super Heroes, Heroes, Normals, etc. Then all the individual templates would need to do is define the changes. There would be the ability to "remove' items that are defined in the base template as well as adding in new items or redefining items.

This would take a large amount of the load off of HD in switching templates....unless you switched to a template with a different "base"...which would be about the same as it is now.

By "chaining" templates, you can get the effect that you're looking for. For example:

Geoff's Super Hero Template uses Dan's Super Hero Template as its base.

Dan's Super Hero Template uses Slightly-Tweaked Super Hero Template as its base

Slight-Tweaked Super Hero Template uses Standard Super Hero Template as its base

Standard Super Hero Template uses Character Template as its base.

Each template in the chain could add in new abilities, redefine existing abilities, or remove abilities. Each one is evaluated in turn.

[Talon]

Glad I brought this up!

What I was thinking of was more or less what you describe, except that instead of each template having to chain together, the user could specify templates to add in.

For example:

Geoff's Super Hero Template uses Standard Super Hero Template as its base.

Dan's Super Hero Template uses Slightly-Tweaked Super Hero Template as its base

Slightly-Tweaked Super Hero Template uses Standard Super Hero Template as its base

Standard Super Hero Template uses Character Template as its base.

I could pick "Geoff's SH Template" and "Dan's SH Template" from a list and have them and their dependent templates loaded. If there was a conflict (say, Geoff's Template removed EB and Dan's Template changed the cost), the higher priority template would win.

[Simon]

Originally posted by Geoff Speare
Glad I brought this up!

What I was thinking of was more or less what you describe, except that instead of each template having to chain together, the user could specify templates to add in.

For example:

Geoff's Super Hero Template uses Standard Super Hero Template as its base.

Dan's Super Hero Template uses Slightly-Tweaked Super Hero Template as its base

Slightly-Tweaked Super Hero Template uses Standard Super Hero Template as its base

Standard Super Hero Template uses Character Template as its base.

I could pick "Geoff's SH Template" and "Dan's SH Template" from a list and have them and their dependent templates loaded. If there was a conflict (say, Geoff's Template removed EB and Dan's Template changed the cost), the higher priority template would win.

The problem there is that while your example would work fine, there would be nothing preventing a user from selecting two templates with different bases, which would thoroughly hork the process. While I could have HD check for this and prevent it, I'm not sure that the benefit would be worthwhile.

I'll certainly look into it as I get down to the design phase for v2.....I'll keep you posted as to what I decide.

[Monolith]

I am looking forward to version 2. A couple of things I would like to see added for version 1 before the freeze would be a Star Hero template (an official template that includes all the new skills & rules for Star Hero and Terran Empire games) and a Ultimate Vehicle template (an official template that inludes all the new skills & rules from TUV). This would then be backed up by an official Fantasy Hero template in July (which would include all the new skills & rules from Fantasy Hero). I would also like to see the additional rules from Champions added and the new powers/skills/etc from USPD included after that book is published.

[Simon]

Originally posted by Monolith
I am looking forward to version 2. A couple of things I would like to see added for version 1 before the freeze would be a Star Hero template (an official template that includes all the new skills & rules for Star Hero and Terran Empire games) and a Ultimate Vehicle template (an official template that inludes all the new skills & rules from TUV). This would then be backed up by an official Fantasy Hero template in July (which would include all the new skills & rules from Fantasy Hero). I would also like to see the additional rules from Champions added and the new powers/skills/etc from USPD included after that book is published.
I won't (personally) be making any of those templates (though I will likely incorporate any rules additions and clarifications into v2), but that doesn't stop someone else from making them. Of course, anyone that did should check with Hero Games before releasing it to the general public......