Question about Hero Designer Capabilities

[Sterling]

I was thinking about purchasing Hero Designer, but I wanted to know if it could do some of the things I was interested in. I was hoping that current users, an expert in the tool, or a designer would be able to help. Please note that I am not heavily interested in solutions requiring heavy coding on my part.

Can you set it up so that a CHAR cost is changed? (i.e. changing the cost of Str to x2 instead of x1)

Can you add CHAR? (i.e. Mana)

It sounds like from the descriptions it will let you change what information is printed and in what format, is that correct?

Will it let me create a blank character, then create the print format, thereby allowing me to create a new blank character sheet with my specifications?

Thanks,
Sterling

[Simon]

I'll answer these as best I can...

1. Changing the cost of a Characteristic is pretty easy...you just edit the template in question and change the LVLCOST attribute. For instance, changing STR to be 2 points per +1 would simply require that you change LVLCOST from 1 to 2 for the STR Characteristic in the template. You can edit the templates with any text editor.

2. Inserting new Characteristics gets a bit trickier, but you can do it. The best bet is to insert one of the "unused" characteristics that are defined in other templates. For example, inserting DEF into your character template, copying it from the Base template (Base.hdt).

3. You can change what information appears on the final character sheet, but this assumes that you edit the export template that you want to use. The export templates can be any format that is text-based (HTML, text, RTF, PDF, etc). Assuming you know how to write whatever format you're looking to create an export template for, creating an export template from scratch isn't that difficult (IMO). Alternately, you can find an export template that comes close to what you want and then ask the folks on these boards to help you edit it to be exactly what you're looking for.

4. I'm not sure if you're understanding how the export templates work....there is no "in-program" character sheet formatter....the export templates are just text files which HD reads in. The files have "tags" inserted into them which instruct HD as to where to place the various components of the character and how to format them.

So, you _can_ start with a blank character and a blank export template and build everything from scratch, but this will likely be more work than you really want to do.....you're far more likely to find an export template that works for you and use it on each of the characters that you create.

Hope this helps!

[Sterling]

Yep, that helps!

I think I understand what you are saying about the Templates, but since I don't have the tool I am flying a little blind :). I got the gist of what what you are saying and thank you very much!

Sterling