Random Character Generator Saga

[nyakki]

Long time no write.

Ready for a story that will thrill and delight. A story that will enhance your very being. A story like no other told before.

Then you've come to the wrong thread.

This is just an update on what is happening with The Random Character Generator (RCG).

For those who don't know (and for those who do but have forgotten) I made a Champions and Fantasy Hero RCG as well as a Character Combat Rating, Random Dice Generator and Name Generator.

All of those great programs can be found online at http://www.trimira.com/hero_stuff/hero_stuff.html

Now on with the story.

I've been working on the update for the RCG for a few months now (between family life, my job, and this, I've gotten 3 1/2 hours sleep... that's total for the few months)

While making the web version is all fine and good, I've been trying to think of ways to bring it to your computer so you don't need to access the internet everytime you want to generate a character.

I don't really know how to program for computers so I thought "Hey, I'll write it in Javascript and everyone can use their browsers" (direct quote -- did I tell you I only had 3 1/2 hours sleep?)

To make a long post a bit shorter, Javascript ain't easy. Sure, it can do some neat browser stuff, but for database/random/layout it wasn't cutting it. The commands I needed only worked with certain browsers and certain versions. Plus I didn't know Javascript language so I was teaching myself from tutorials from the web and there just wasn't anything on Random Character Generators (there were a lot of having annoying stuff follow your mouse, but I'll save that for another thread).

So, I thought, "Why don't I learn a programming language"

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA (my brain laughing - it has a strange sense of humor)

I opened a few books and had brain freeze.

I gave up on the idea of programming the RCG for use on the computer.

Could that be the end of the story?
Does this mean that the RCG is stuck being a third rate hack on the Internet?
Say it ain't so. Say it ain't so.

Then, one day, I stumbled upon a program that helps you program.

RealBasic.

I've seen some shareware stuff built with it, but the comments to them were always "Learn a real language" and "How good can it be if it was made with RealBasic"

So I thought I'd give it a try.

What a breeze. I got the Demo version 4 days ago. Spent 2 days doing on-line tutorials and made a couple of cool tiny programs.

I then made a test program that was also useful and would use some of the stuff needed for the RCG. And guess what. It worked great.

It also turns out that I'm able to make a program for both Mac and Windows with just a push of the button.

Now for the catch...

I have a Mac and run Virtual PC (program that simulates Windows... mine simulates Windows 98) but I really don't know how it looks/feels on a real Windows computer.

And I don't want to invest a whole lot of time in programming the RCG in RealBasic if it doesn't work (or look good) for all who want it.

So, if you want to try out the program I call HeroHelper*, you can find it here:

http://www.trimira.com/hero_stuff/hero_stuff.html

The Windows version will download an .exe file (don't know if my MacZipIt program will work in Windows). The Mac version is in a StuffIt file and you need to unstuff it.

Leave feedback, comments, critisism, and money. Oh, and let me know what you think.

nyakki

* For those who want to know what the program is. It is a Random Dice Generator and a Random Name Generator. These programs use some of the stuff I need for RCG. Also there's a Disadvantage Generator but I haven't done anything to that yet.

[VictorVonDoom]

nice work..

[Insaniac99]

cool, I use your site all the time...

[C_Zeree]

Snazzy.
You've got a good foundation. :)

[Ndreare]

This is easily the best resorce I have found. Thank you for creating it. I like the character balance system (ER) how I can just go there and get it doen and every thing were do you find the time to do all this work?

[Killer Shrike]

Good start, but before you kill yourself, check out Table Smith: http://www.mythosa.net/Utils.html

It can easily be used to do dice algoritims and random name generators....

[Citizen Keen]

Solid

[BenKimball]

Most excellent. One request, if I may be permitted: I'd love to be able to resize the window (specifically, to a tall, narrow format).

[VictorVonDoom]

if you have to select the skills for the hero, you should have to change as in a interactive character generator . Suppose there is a skill i want from your list it becomes a droplist and you can point it with your mouse and "v" it off or with an "x"
so with powers, talents, ...

[Ben Seeman]

Good stuff... works fine on my Win 2000 Professional system

[nyakki]

Thanks everyone.

A couple of general questions to everyone (who didn't already answer them)

What version of the program did you try (Windows/Mac)?

What did you particularly like/dislike about the look/feel/taste/smell of the program? (remember that this was a test but if people liked the design, then I might go with this look for the RCG)

Now for the personal responses and a Q/A session.

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To: VictorVonDoom, C_Zeree, Citizen Keen and Ben Seeman

Thanks for the nice praise.
-----

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Insaniac99 wrote:
cool, I use your site all the time...

Thanks.
Which part do you use?
What would you like to see added/deleted?
Would you rather have a desktop version or are you happy with just having it online?
-----

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Ndreare wrote:
This is easily the best resorce I have found. Thank you for creating it. I like the character balance system (ER) how I can just go there and get it doen

Here's the Character Combat Rating page online http://www.trimira.com/hero_stuff/combat_rating.html

This was my one of my first attempts to write Javascript so you can actually download the script and run it on your computer without being hooked up to the internet.

Here's that link: http://www.trimira.com/hero_stuff/combat_rating_text.html

and every thing were do you find the time to do all this work?

I have no social life :(
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Killer Shrike wrote:
Good start, but before you kill yourself, check out Table Smith: http://www.mythosa.net/Utils.html

It can easily be used to do dice algoritims and random name generators....

Thanks for the link.

This mini-test program was just for me to see if I can program cross-platform (and actually program at all).

Having a Mac is great, except that I would only be programming for about 3% of the population.

My ultimate goal is to have the RCG as a program. So I took easy things (dice generator and random name maker) which are elements in the RCG to see if I could do it.

So far so good....

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BenKimball wrote:
Most excellent. One request, if I may be permitted: I'd love to be able to resize the window (specifically, to a tall, narrow format).

Thanks for the idea. I agree. Resizing windows is an excellent idea... um... I'm still trying to figure out how to do it :confused:

The final version, no matter what I do, will have resizable windows.
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VictorVonDoom wrote:
if you have to select the skills for the hero, you should have to change as in a interactive character generator . Suppose there is a skill i want from your list it becomes a droplist and you can point it with your mouse and "v" it off or with an "x"
so with powers, talents, ...

Thanks for the idea.

Your idea also started me thinking about having the "database" for the RCG editable so that you can place Limitations/Special Power Make-ups/Skills to fit your campaign

Let me see if I'm able to do that (with my Computer Programming at 8 or less)
-----

nyakki

[Insaniac99]

Originally posted by nyakki
-----
Insaniac99 wrote:
cool, I use your site all the time...

Thanks.
Which part do you use?
What would you like to see added/deleted?
Would you rather have a desktop version or are you happy with just having it online?
-----

nyakki

mainly the Die roller, and the random name generator, though i use the other parts to get ideas some times.

I can't think of anything to be added right now, but please don't delete anything.

well, my opinion doesn't count that much because i use a cable modem so am almost always online and dont really care much one way or another.

[RadeFox]

I use WinXP pro, and it worked fine. I love the site, though it will be good when you do figure out how to make it downloadable so we can run it on our own PC/laptop away from an 'net hookup. :)
I found the Die roller a bog help, but, could you re-adjust how it prints out the results?? Use the space fully, if I want 100 pre-rolled results for 3d6, Id like it to fit on 1 page, not be 100 lines of one number per line. Other than that, awesome shiznit!

[rayoman]

The program works fine on my Win98 system.

RealBasic. I might have to check it out.

[nyakki]

Glad it's working on Windows. Now I can go ahead and start programming.

I think I could have a Version 0.0.1 of the RCG within the week (no promises)

Now's the time to tell me what you want added, changed, deleted, etc. from the program.

Feedback always welcomed.


Insaniac99 wrote
I can't think of anything to be added right now, but please don't delete anything.

I'll try not to delete anything. :D




RadeFox wrote
I found the Die roller a bog help, but, could you re-adjust how it prints out the results?? Use the space fully, if I want 100 pre-rolled results for 3d6, Id like it to fit on 1 page, not be 100 lines of one number per line. Other than that, awesome shiznit!

I was having trouble with the new line command for windows. I found a tutorial that helped. Problem solved.


Killer Shrike wrote:
Good start, but before you kill yourself, check out Table Smith: http://www.mythosa.net/Utils.html

Downloaded the program but couldn't get it to work on my Virtual PC program. I wish I could look at it because it does look interesting. Do you use it? If so, how is it?


rayoman wrote:
RealBasic. I might have to check it out.

Do it. I think they just came out with a Windows version (it was on the Mac only from what I hear). It's very addictive. You can make a program in about an hour. The dice/name stuff, when all said and done, took about 10 minutes layout and 1 hour programming. This is, of course, not counting the "How the heck do I do THAT?" research on the internet.

nyakki

[DocMan]

Originally posted by nyakki
Having a Mac is great, except that I would only be programming for about 3% of the population.

Depends on how you think about it.

If you program for Windows, you would be lucky to get 3% market recognition of that 97% marketshare you're desiring.

If you program for the Mac, it's fairly easy to get 75% market recognition of that 3% marketshare.

So ask yourself, how hard do you want to work for your level of "success"?

Of course, you still need to deliver a good product anyway...

Doc

[nyakki]

Originally posted by DocMan
If you program for Windows, you would be lucky to get 3% market recognition of that 97% marketshare you're desiring.

If you program for the Mac, it's fairly easy to get 75% market recognition of that 3% marketshare.
That's true. Us Mac users are pretty fanatic about our machines (well, I'm not... you window sucking heathen)

So the scary question is: How many Hero Game Players (who are also fanatics) own a Mac...?

nyakki

[VictorVonDoom]

Can we please continue? Stop rambling on mac users !!

Is Realbasic for internet use or also for under other applications (like in the time quickbasic 3.5)

[nyakki]

Originally posted by VictorVonDoom
Can we please continue? Stop rambling on mac users !!
Sorry... Can't help myself... Mac Fanatic you know...


Is Realbasic for internet use or also for under other applications (like in the time quickbasic 3.5)
Realbasic makes regular programs. So if I ever finish the program, you can have it on your computer without the need for internet.

I don't know QuickBasic but it sounds like the same thing.

nyakki

[VictorVonDoom]

Quickbasic was under dos ...

[McCoy]

bump

[Nightfly]

Excellent Work!
I will definitely be visiting & using your site often from now on (as well as linking to it via my own RPG page)!

Thanks so much (for sharing) :)

[bloomann]

In three seconds I made Mystic Arrow, Techno Queen and War Clash
this could impend on normal good old fashion creativity you know...
good though, gosh!

[Pteryx]

Mac user here. :) I'll look at the Mac version of your program later today. -- Pteryx

[Pteryx]

...only it turns out to be OS X only. Darn it. :( -- Pteryx

[nyakki]

Hero Helper has been updated to version 1.5

What's New: Several little things that make it easier to use (read the User Manual... :) )

I have also made a Mac Classic version but don't have the OS to test it out.

Have fun and let me know what you think.

nyakki

[Alcamtar]

Looks great on WinXP pro. Easy to use. In it's current incarnation I don't know that I'd use it extensively. What would make it a killer app for me:

(1) Add a fantasy hero name generator
(2) Add a "quick npc" version of the idea generator -- instead of hero backgrounds, have it generate interesting backgrounds, personalities and quirks for NPCs. This would make it a lot easier to run a game in a city where characters are constantly bumping into random strangers. (And of course, I'd want a fantasy version).
(3) Add the random character generator. Again I'm interested in the fantasy version.

BTW, the random character generator is very cool (and I expect to use it frequently), but would be even more useful if it produced character stats in a single preformatted block of text, instead of HTML tables. That way I could cut-and-paste into a word processor or text editor.


Mike

[Pteryx]

Originally posted by nyakki
I have also made a Mac Classic version but don't have the OS to test it out.

Whee! :)

I downloaded it and tried it out. I needed to increase the memory requirement to 4096 K, but otherwise it works on OS 8.6. Thank you! :) -- Pteryx

[nyakki]

Originally posted by Alcamtar
Looks great on WinXP pro. Easy to use. In it's current incarnation I don't know that I'd use it extensively. What would make it a killer app for me:

(1) Add a fantasy hero name generator

What exactly did you hve in mind for Fantasy Hero names?

I could make something for town names (there seems to be a hole in that area) but there seems to be many programs that generate Fantasy type names, especially for Windows.



(2) Add a "quick npc" version of the idea generator -- instead of hero backgrounds, have it generate interesting backgrounds, personalities and quirks for NPCs. This would make it a lot easier to run a game in a city where characters are constantly bumping into random strangers. (And of course, I'd want a fantasy version).


Good idea. I like it. Let me see what I can come up with.



(3) Add the random character generator. Again I'm interested in the fantasy version.


This project is still in the works. Can't really say when I'll be done but my goal is to be done within a few months.



BTW, the random character generator is very cool (and I expect to use it frequently), but would be even more useful if it produced character stats in a single preformatted block of text, instead of HTML tables. That way I could cut-and-paste into a word processor or text editor.

I've been putting my energies in trying to learn to program for the computer (and work and family... not necessarily in that order) and kind of put the on-line stuff on the back burner.

It is on my to-do list... just isn't that high up on it :(

I'll take a look at it over the holidays and see what I can do.

nyakki

[nyakki]

Originally posted by Pteryx
Whee! :)

I downloaded it and tried it out. I needed to increase the memory requirement to 4096 K, but otherwise it works on OS 8.6. Thank you! :) -- Pteryx

I'll update the memory requirements on this end. Thanks for letting me know.

nyakki