Designer or Metacreator?

**Paragon** · Jun 9th, '03, 08:42 AM

I'm interested in what people who've used both of the two Hero 5th capable character creators (Metacreator with one of the 5th Templates and Hero Designer) think of the two of them. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the two?

**Monolith** · Jun 9th, '03, 08:52 AM

The advantage to MetaCreator is that it is quicker. The program loads quicker and does not use anywhere near the same amount of memory as Hero Designer. On my lower memory computers I will actually load MC instead of HD if I need to quickly check something. MC comes up in one or two seconds. Hero designer takes sometimes 10 or 15.

The advantage to Hero Designer is that is official and is constantly being updated and correct. I am not saying that Chris is not updating MetaCreator, but he is just a fan and so things only get done if he feels like doing them or has time to do them; MetaCreator is a fan endeavor. Hero Designer is a professional endeavor, and it shows in the amount of support Dan does give to the product.

If you have a higher memory computer (512+) I would say go with Hero Designer. If you have a lower memory computer (256-) then your best bet is to go with MC; at least until Dan fixes the memory issues in version 2.0.

**TheEmerged** · Jun 9th, '03, 11:32 AM

One important point: Creator doesn't always do its math accurately -- this is most noticeable when you try to put limitations on compound powers or elemental control slots. So for me, there's no contest.

However, take that "slower loading" thing literally: Designer is slower, period.

**zornwil** · Jun 9th, '03, 01:37 PM

Originally posted by TheEmerged
One important point: Creator doesn't always do its math accurately -- this is most noticeable when you try to put limitations on compound powers or elemental control slots. So for me, there's no contest.

However, take that "slower loading" thing literally: Designer is slower, period.

The only math issue I'm aware of is the whole rounding thing, which has been a bit of a debate in any event, although by all means now HD is compliant with Steve's latest rulings and MC is not on that count. Can you please be more specific, with an example?

Anyway, here's some threads in response to the original poster, I highly encourage these - apparently the last time they persuaded somebody to buy it - despite my best efforts!

(just kidding, you'll see I have some negative opinions on HD but I do think it is highly useful for a lot, if not most, of HERO followers)

http://www.herogames.com/forums/sho...s=&threadid=278
http://www.herogames.com/forums/sho...=&threadid=1383

**BlackCobra** · Jun 9th, '03, 03:37 PM

Designer, by a long margin.

I was never happy with Creator -- it's interface is clunky, it's got some strange holes and it doesn't do print-outs very well (although it has been a while since I've used it).

Designer is slow, sure. But the interface is easy to use, and it has lots of print-out options.

**Monolith** · Jun 9th, '03, 04:08 PM

Originally posted by BlackCobra
I was never happy with Creator -- it's interface is clunky, it's got some strange holes and it doesn't do print-outs very well (although it has been a while since I've used it).

Designer is slow, sure. But the interface is easy to use, and it has lots of print-out options.

You must not have used any version of Creator in years then. The character sheets and combat sheets you can print with MC are several times better than the version you get from HD. Printing is the clunkiest aspect of HD, IMO.

**John Desmarais** · Jun 9th, '03, 04:44 PM

Originally posted by BlackCobra
Designer, by a long margin.

I was never happy with Creator -- it's interface is clunky, it's got some strange holes and it doesn't do print-outs very well (although it has been a while since I've used it).

What, specifically, do you not like about the MetaCreator print-outs? I've been pretty happy with the character sheet it produces, but sometimes I'm a little to close to it to see all of the problems.

John D.

**zornwil** · Jun 9th, '03, 05:40 PM

Originally posted by BlackCobra
Designer, by a long margin.

I was never happy with Creator -- it's interface is clunky, it's got some strange holes and it doesn't do print-outs very well (although it has been a while since I've used it).

Designer is slow, sure. But the interface is easy to use, and it has lots of print-out options.

I think you're thinking of HeroMaker - ?

**Paragon** · Jun 10th, '03, 09:13 AM

Originally posted by zornwil
T
Anyway, here's some threads in response to the original poster, I highly encourage these - apparently the last time they persuaded somebody to buy it - despite my best efforts! (just kidding, you'll see I have some negative opinions on HD but I do think it is highly useful for a lot, if not most, of HERO followers)

http://www.herogames.com/forums/sho...s=&threadid=278
http://www.herogames.com/forums/sho...=&threadid=1383

I get "not found on this server" errors on both of these.

**Herolover** · Jun 10th, '03, 10:34 AM

Originally posted by Monolith
You must not have used any version of Creator in years then. The character sheets and combat sheets you can print with MC are several times better than the version you get from HD. Printing is the clunkiest aspect of HD, IMO.

I have to point something out here. Yes, I guess HD's print function is clunky in that there is no point to a print button click and Print.

That said, I LOVE HD's print funtion. I print to Word. I then run a quick macro and in seconds I have an output that looks exactly like the output of the books.

I can make any character sheet I would ever want down to exact look using Word instead of having to learn a new language by using Creator.

**Monolith** · Jun 10th, '03, 10:42 AM

Originally posted by Herolover
That said, I LOVE HD's print funtion. I print to Word. I then run a quick macro and in seconds I have an output that looks exactly like the output of the books.

I agree that if you are a "techie" you can do all kinds of cool things. But if you do not have Word, or do not have enough computer knowledge to write macros, then you are pretty much left with the print function supplied by the program, and it is pretty bad. It has poor spacing and poor page breaks.

While I prefer and use Hero Designer, the printing process, the package deal process, and even the ability to print various combat sheets are all much better in MetaCreator, IMO.

**zornwil** · Jun 10th, '03, 11:30 AM

Originally posted by Paragon
I get "not found on this server" errors on both of these.

Sorry, I copied and pasted the text not the links. Here you go...please note they will LOOK the same on the page but the actual underlying URL is in the hyperlink so just click on them...

http://www.herogames.com/forums/show...=&threadid=278

http://www.herogames.com/forums/show...&threadid=1383

**Talon** · Jun 10th, '03, 12:57 PM

Originally posted by Monolith
I agree that if you are a "techie" you can do all kinds of cool things. But if you do not have Word, or do not have enough computer knowledge to write macros, then you are pretty much left with the print function supplied by the program, and it is pretty bad. It has poor spacing and poor page breaks.

Er, I feel obligated to point out that the Updates section has an RTF format template which spits out a book-style character sheet without requiring any macros.

**Paragon** · Jun 10th, '03, 05:53 PM

Originally posted by zornwil
Sorry, I copied and pasted the text not the links. Here you go...please note they will LOOK the same on the page but the actual underlying URL is in the hyperlink so just click on them...

http://www.herogames.com/forums/show...=&threadid=278

http://www.herogames.com/forums/show...&threadid=1383

Thanks. Those worked. And gave me considerably more food for thought on this subject, though I'm going to let this thread taper off before I make a decision.

**starblaze** · Jun 10th, '03, 06:46 PM

I have used Heromaker, HeroCreator and Hero Designer and of the three I like Hero Creator the best. I was able to make 5th Edition character just by playing with program a little. It is alot faster and more flexible IMO than HD. I am somewhat disappointed with HD's slowless and tendency to freeze up alot. It is very frustrating. Although it is nice program other wise I still preferred Creator. In fact if I had not that someone was going to come out with a 5th edition version of Creator I probably would have never gotten HD.

As it is I am using HD because I loaned my Creator disc to another player who then left our group without returning it and I have since then got my new Dell.

Oh well maybe 2.0 will be better.

And BTW Heromaker wasn't all that bad, if anything it was durable, if only they had fixed that printing problem they had I might have kept using it instead of Creator. I tried using some of the printing solutions on the web but it was just too technical.