Update 1.39

[Simon]

Update 1.39 is now available for download.

Among the changes in this version:
<b>Bug Fixes:</b>
<ul><li>Mods locked during edit of Characteristics purchased as Equipment</li>
<li>KS losing input during edit</li>
<li>Vehicle template field names not displaying</li>
<li>Active Points toggle (checkbox) should not be shown on Modifiers</li>
</ul>
<b>Enhancements:</b>
<ul><li>WG formatting enhancements for Powers (Absorption - Energy Blast)</li>
<li>Only On Appropriate Terrain can now go up to -1/4 (per TUV)</li>
<li>Numerous changes and refinements to Charges (including rules changes from TUV and FAQ)</li>
<li>Better handling of +1 surcharge on Autofire for "non-standard" attack Powers, including all clarifications from FAQ</li>
</ul>

[psychoph]

Weaponsmith the skill only adds 1 point to the active cost when you add an area of knowledge like firearms and then energy weapons where as the side states that it should be 2 pts. Which one is correct?

[Simon]

I'm not sure what you mean by "the side states..."

From FREd, pg 53: "The cost for buying Weaponsmith with one category of weapons is 2 points for a (9+(INT/5)) or less roll. Each additional category costs 1 point."

This is how HD does it.

[psychoph]

What is FREd?

And that explains it. To the right of the name HD says 2pts.

So it says
FIrearms 2pt
Energy Weapons 2pt

Which means intially 2pt for one and the fact that everyone after is 1 is not really shown but the program still does it which is understandable.

I am still new to Heros and didn't have the books with me. I would suggest maybe in version 2 some how denoting that the every subsequent skill has a different cost. Not huge issue obviously.

[Simon]

FREd is the Fifth Edition Rule Book (the big black one).

The concept behind the notation in HD is that the categories are still 2 point categories. You're getting a "discount" when you purchase them because you have already purchased a Weapon Smith category at full cost.

[starblaze]

Is there anyway you can come up with something that will keep this damn program from freezing up all the time? I never had this problem with HeroMaker or HeroCreator.

I am getting really frustrated.

[Simon]

Originally posted by starblaze
Is there anyway you can come up with something that will keep this damn program from freezing up all the time? I never had this problem with HeroMaker or HeroCreator.

I am getting really frustrated.

Well...for starters, it would help if you'd actually give me some basic information:

What type of system are you on (OS, processor, RAM, etc).

When do you experience the "lock up"? Is it a particular action that causes it, or does it just seem to happen at random?

To my knowledge, you would be the only one having this problem, so some further information would be quite helpful....

[starblaze]

Well here are the stats on my computer
Dell Dimension DIM 2350
Celeron CPU 1.7GHZ
1.69 GHz
128 MB of RAM

The program tends to have a not responding problem when I am switching between categories and changing templates. Sometimes it will freeze up when closing too.

[Monolith]

Originally posted by starblaze
128 MB of RAM
That is your problem right there. At 128 MB HD will crawl, and when you consider that you might have 50+ MB of memory being used for other systems you realize that most of the time you only have 70-80 MB available for HD (my computer generally uses around 140 MB all the time, even before I start HD). I routinely have characters who run into the 140-150 range when working with HD. The longer you leave a character open, or the more lists or compound powers you use, the more memory Java sucks up.

The easiest way for you to help yourself with this is to make sure no other unnecessary programs are running when you use HD. Close all other windows and only have 1 character being built at a time. Also, about every 4-5 minutes you should minimize the screen. That helps to reset the memory consumption.

The second easiest thing to do is buy more memory for you computer. The program says it needs a minimum of 128 MB, but 256 is more accurate by the time you factor in all the memory you computer uses for non-HD things. HD crawls, gasps, and freezes up on my 128 MB laptop, just crawls and gasps on my 256 MB work computer, and just walks slowly on my 512 MB home system. The more memory you have, the faster the program works.