Finally! Just got HD!

[Static UK]

Right I've finally bought the Hero Designer. Next I went to the Hero Designer section of Free Stuff to download the Update file. So, erm, what's all the other stuff for?
The Export Templates I get. They're for printing out the charactre, or for transferring to the net, yes?
The Prefabs, are they just customised lists of stuff you can acces when using HD?
The Skins, do they just change the appearance of the program on-screen? Doesn't that just use up more memory?
The Templates? What do they do when loaded in?

Thanks for any help, I really am a newbie with this stuff. Hopefully I'll have HD transfered to my home computer either Friday night, or on Sunday afternoon. Then my family probably won't see me for hours... :D

[Simon]

Export Templates - Define how a character will be exported (for printing, saving as a html page, etc)

Templates - Define pretty much all of the rules by which HD operates....all Powers, Skills, Modifiers, etc. are defined in the template. Loading in a new template will change the lists of available abilities as well as how each of the abilities functions. For example, loading in the Standard Hero template will change the END cost of Powers from 1/10 Active Points to 1/5 Active Points...

Prefabs - The intention of prefabs is to have lists of pre-generated Powers and abilities. You can use Prefabs to define common Powers, to define lists of Skills that characters of a particular profession should take, etc. When you load a Prefab (Prefabs -> Load Prefab), the contents will appear in the Prefab tab of each of the main sections (assuming that the prefab defines abilities for the section in question).

Skins - Define the look of the program. Most of the skins listed on the free stuff page are shipped with the program, but there are a few new ones available as well. The memory usage for "skinning" the app is pretty minimal, so feel free to use whichever one you like best.

[Static UK]

Thanks for the quick response. I'm looking forward to test driving it over the weekend. I sure hope it makes converting my volumes of 4th ed. characters into 5th ed. a lot easier!

Again, thank you. :)

[Simon]

Not a problem....there are also some extremely well done docs included with the app (go to Help -> View Documentation to pull them up). Kudos (once again) to Rod Currie for doing such a great job on them....

[RPMiller]

Did anyone also mention all the packs that you can buy now from the Online Store? :D
There are ones for Martial Arts, Champions, Star Hero... etc.
All good stuff, and inexpensive considering the time=money equation!
I just thought you might want to know. ;)

[Static UK]

Thanks Durnin, but right now I'm concentrating on getting the bloody thing to work on my computer. :D I am currently hating computers, the I use at work died, again, today, and I was going to download the Kandris Seal today too! :(