Character Template Question

[Rigel]

I am trying to modify the Std Hero character template to reflect some changes to the Systems Operation skill, per Star Hero. I am adding some specific adders for different systems, and I am running into two problems.

1) Per SH, when you buy System Ops for the base 3 pts, you are entitled to one 2pt systems group for free. After that, each group should cost 2 pts. I cannot duplicate that correctly. Right now, I have a base 3pt skill, but each adder costs 2 pts, and I can't make one adder of the player's choice free.

2) One of the 1pt adders appears under 2 different 2pt groups, "Medical Sensors" to be exact. Can I use HD to make it so that when you buy Medical Sensors under ome group, it checks off the same adder under the other group?

I will include my current System Operations definition here for illustrative purposes.

<SYSTEMS_OPERATION DISPLAY="Systems Operation" MINCOST="1" FAMILIARITYROLL="8" FAMILIARITYCOST="1" EXCLUSIVE="Yes">
<CHARACTERISTIC_CHOICE>
<ITEM CHARACTERISTIC="INT" BASECOST="3" MINCOST="3" LVLCOST="2" LVLVAL="1" />
</CHARACTERISTIC_CHOICE>
<ADDER XMLID="COMMGROUP" DISPLAY="Communications Systems" BASECOST="2" MAXCOST="2" MINCOST="2">
<ADDER XMLID="RADIOCOMM" DISPLAY="Radio" BASECOST="1" />
<ADDER XMLID="BROADCASTCOMM" DISPLAY="Broadcast Communications" BASECOST="1" />
<ADDER XMLID="SATELLITECOMM" DISPLAY="Satellite Communications" BASECOST="1" />
<ADDER XMLID="COMMJAMMING" DISPLAY="Communications Jamming Equipment" BASECOST="1" />
<ADDER XMLID="FTLCOMM" DISPLAY="FTL Communications" BASECOST="1" />
</adder>
<ADDER XMLID="ENVSYST" DISPLAY="Environmental Systems" BASECOST="2" MAXCOST="2" MINCOST="2">
<ADDER XMLID="LIFESUPPSYS" DISPLAY="Life Support Systems" BASECOST="1" />
<ADDER XMLID="PERSUPSYS" DISPLAY="Personnel Support Systems" BASECOST="1" />
<ADDER XMLID="RECSYST" DISPLAY="Recreation Systems" BASECOST="1" />
</ADDER>
<ADDER XMLID="MEDICALSYS" DISPLAY="Medical Systems" BASECOST="2" MAXCOST="2" MINCOST="2">
<ADDER XMLID="MEDSENSORS" DISPLAY="Medical Sensors" BASECOST="1" />
<ADDER XMLID="SURGICAL" DISPLAY="Surgical Equipment" BASECOST="1" />
</ADDER>
<ADDER XMLID="SENSORSYS" DISPLAY="Sensor Systems">
<ADDER XMLID="MEDSENSORS" DISPLAY="Medical Sensors" BASECOST="1" />
<ADDER XMLID="METALDET" DISPLAY="Metal Detectors" BASECOST="1" />
<ADDER XMLID="RADARSONAR" DISPLAY="Radar/Sonar" BASECOST="1" />
<ADDER XMLID="SENSORJAM" DISPLAY="Sensor Jamming Equipment" BASECOST="1" />
<ADDER XMLID="FTLSENSOR" DISPLAY="Starship/FTL Sensors" BASECOST="1" />
<ADDER XMLID="PERSENSOR" DISPLAY="Personal Sensors/Tricorders" BASECOST="1" />
</ADDER>
  <DEFINITION>
  Characters with this Intellect Skill understand how to operate sensing and communication devices properly.
  </DEFINITION>
</SYSTEMS_OPERATION>

Thanks in advance for the help!

[Simon]

1. To make the "free 2-point adder", you'll need to kludge it into place by assigning an OPTION list to the Skill. Put all of the 2-point categories into the option list.

2. To make "Medical Sensors" automatically check both entries off, set the XMLID to be the same on both of them.

It's kludgy and it's not going to work exactly right, since the SH definition of Systems Operations is drastically different from FREd's, but it's the best you'll be able to do.

Another option would be to take one of the other Skills that works similarly to Systems Operation (like, say, Animal Handler) and change it to be Systems Operation. You'll lose whatever skill you select, but you should be able to find one that would not be really appropriate in most SH settings. You'll also want to remove the "real" Systems Operation at that point.

[Rigel]

Thanks for the tips Dan. I think I have the "free" group working now, but I am still able to buy Medical Sensors twice. I understand that SH kinda threw HD for a loop, and it's not a big deal. Any player should know not to do it, but even using the same XMLID didn't seem to do the trick.

Like I said, no biggie. Thanks.