State of Hero Designer (From the POV of a New-ish HERO Buyer)

[Strongbow]

From sifting through this forum, I've gathered that:

Hero Designer is the brainchild of one Really Nice Guy who Made A Great Program and Worked on it Really Hard for a While, but isn't updating it anymore, so it won't get any better than it already is. Ever.

Hero Designer won't work quickly and easily with 64-bit Windows 7 because the installer is not happy with what's happened to the OS since Hero Designer was last updated (see above).

IN SUMMARY: If I want to use Hero Designer, I'm essentially purchasing a two-year license for software that might not like my OS and that won't be updated to do so ever, because the Really Nice Guy who Made a Great Program has other things on his plate now.Before I plunk down my cash, is this pretty much what I'm getting into here?

Thankya, folks!

SB

[Nolgroth]

From sifting through this forum, I've gathered that:

Hero Designer is the brainchild of one Really Nice Guy who Made A Great Program and Worked on it Really Hard for a While, but isn't updating it anymore, so it won't get any better than it already is. Ever.

I doubt that it will see much improvement. I am not the author, but with the state of Hero Games, I doubt there is a financial impetus to do much with it at this point.

Hero Designer won't work quickly and easily with 64-bit Windows 7 because the installer is not happy with what's happened to the OS since Hero Designer was last updated (see above).

Not quite. It will work fine with 64-bit Windows 7 (using it on 64-bit Windows 7 right now in fact) as long as you understand the Windows permissions thing. Simply changing the install folder during setup is all that needs to happen. This is a common problem with UAC and Java apps. At least the Java apps I've used.

IN SUMMARY: If I want to use Hero Designer, I'm essentially purchasing a two-year license for software that might not like my OS and that won't be updated to do so ever, because the Really Nice Guy who Made a Great Program has other things on his plate now.Before I plunk down my cash, is this pretty much what I'm getting into here?

Thankya, folks!

SB

Again, I would say that you are half-right. Hero Designer works fine as long as it is put into a folder that you have explicit permissions to write files to (C:\Users\YourName\HeroDesigner for example). You are (at least I am guessing) correct in the Dan Simon may not be putting any additional effort into the program. For all I know, he has major plans to release the Ultimate Cool Edition of Hero Designer. I'm not his confidant and therefore am only making a judgment based on the fact that Hero is stumbling right now.

That said, it is one Hell of a useful tool for building characters as is. It is very flexible in that you can define many of the parameters to keep characters within the scope of the campaign. There are some features* I think could have been more friendly/accessible, but for 99% of character creation, it is your friend. I also don't think any of the other commercial character creators deal with Hero characters.

So I suppose you have to decide whether $25 is too much to pay for possibly not having forthcoming updates and requiring a ten second destination folder change. Note that, even when the license expires, you can still use the Hero Designer program beyond that. You just would not be getting any hypothetical updates (were there to be any) after the contract expires.

* Nolgroth's list of missing/desired features:

• The ability to define different starting characteristic values (e.g start at base 8 instead of 10) without a lot of XML editing.
• The ability to define negative values to the Characteristics power in order to build package deals. There is a workaround, but it is not as clean as a straight up package.
• The ability to add or subtract Characteristics, Skills, Perks, Talents, Powers and Complications without a lot of XML editing.

Mind you that Dan has already spoken on these issues so I don't think that, short of learning Java programming and tinkering with the code, I will see those features see the light of day. Luckily I am somewhat proficient in the XML coding part of it.

[Simon]

HD is still under active development. I haven't released an update recently as there simply hasn't been enough in the way of changes/bug fixes to require one. You are not likely to see too much in the way of major changes simply because the rules of the system are going to be relatively static for a while (so there won't be a need to change the way HD operates). That said, should a nifty new feature occur to me (or be suggested), I will certainly add it into HD and release it as an update.

The main criteria that I look to for incorporating new features (or optional/expanded rules) into HD:

1. Overall complexity of the application. The more options you put into HD the more flexible it becomes....but at the expense of simplicity of use. There is a balancing act that needs to be performed to ensure that the application continues to be easy for people to use regardless of what version of the rules (or supplements) they're operating with.

2. Maintainability of the application. When looking to add a new feature of a new construct into HD, a fair amount of consideration is given to how well it will fit into the existing codebase. Adding an ability in from one of the supplements needs to not only co-exist peacefully with the core rules, but also fit into the structure of existing (core) abilities. Doing otherwise results in an increasingly difficult-to-maintain application which effectively signs the death warrant for HD (should it happen).

[Simon]

* Nolgroth's list of missing/desired features:

The ability to define different starting characteristic values (e.g start at base 8 instead of 10) without a lot of XML editing.

You can do this currently with a very minimal amount of XML editing.

The ability to define negative values to the Characteristics power in order to build package deals. There is a workaround, but it is not as clean as a straight up package.

Once again (for posterity): A Characteristic Power DOES NOT EQUAL a Characteristic. Period. If you want to create a package deal with a bonus (or negative) to a Characteristic, then do EXACTLY THAT. Do not use a Characteristic Power.

The ability to add or subtract Characteristics, Skills, Perks, Talents, Powers and Complications without a lot of XML editing.

You can already remove (subtract) abilities with a very minimal amount of XML editing. Adding a new ability requires exactly as much XML editing as is required to define the new ability.

[mudpyr8]

Having created a custom set of templates, with inheritance, and custom characteristics and powers I can vouch that it is not that difficult. Would it be nice to have a custom editor for creating templates? Sure, but I don't know how reasonable that is. XML is readable and other than adding a GUI interface I'm not sure what functionality you would accomplish.

HD works fine in Windows 64-bit... and Mac OS... and Linux. Few chargen programs out there can claim that.

I will echo that it is an immensely useful tool that takes a great amount of work out of character and power creation.

Is it worth $25? Absolutely.

[Nolgroth]

You can do this currently with a very minimal amount of XML editing.
Once again (for posterity): A Characteristic Power DOES NOT EQUAL a Characteristic. Period. If you want to create a package deal with a bonus (or negative) to a Characteristic, then do EXACTLY THAT. Do not use a Characteristic Power.
You can already remove (subtract) abilities with a very minimal amount of XML editing. Adding a new ability requires exactly as much XML editing as is required to define the new ability.

Sure I can. I've even done it. I would agree that it is a minimal effort for me. I just think it would be great for the guy out there that would look at the XML code and weep to have a few options. As to the Characteristic thing, your program thus your call. I think it would be very convenient to do everything in one spot and save it as a package, but the other way works too. I'm just glad I have the program.

Speaking if which, thanks for responding. It's really nice to know that HD is still actively being developed.

[Simon]

Sure I can. I've even done it. I would agree that it is a minimal effort for me. I just think it would be great for the guy out there that would look at the XML code and weep to have a few options. As to the Characteristic thing, your program thus your call. I think it would be very convenient to do everything in one spot and save it as a package, but the other way works too. I'm just glad I have the program.

Speaking if which, thanks for responding. It's really nice to know that HD is still actively being developed.

You're not understanding the purpose of HD, which is the implement the HERO System rules. It does that quite well. It also allows you to customize said rules to suit your own (personal) purposes, but that will normally require some effort on your part (e.g. editing of XML).

As for the Package Deals, they're created EXACTLY as they are defined -- if you want a Package Deal to include lowered Characteristics, then you lower the Characteristics. If you want a Package Deal to include Characteristic Powers, then you purchase the appropriate Characteristic Powers.

[Strongbow]

I'm pleased to report that HD6 installed without a single hitch on my Win7 64-bit OS and seems to have updated perfectly with a single click (Build 20110203 is current, yes?).

Thank you for the feedback, and I look forward to tinkering with it--it sure looks like it'll help quite a bit.

/digitalpaintbrushsalute!

[Scott Baker]

Yes, that is the current version. Glad it's working for you.

[Strongbow]

Jinxed myself. When I restart the application, it reverts to V3. Hurm.

[Hyper-Man]

Hero Designer version 3 supports Hero System rules for both 5th edition and 6th edition.

[Simon]

Jinxed myself. When I restart the application, it reverts to V3. Hurm.

Sounds like you ran the "update" file directly, rather than copying it into your installation directory (replacing the existing file of the same name).

The updates are simply full replacements for the application code. HDv3.jar (the update file) contains all of the information needed to run HD. If you saw the new version when you pulled down the update but see the old version (without 6th Edition support) when you run the application from the installation shortcut, then you did not copy the update file into your installation folder.

[Strongbow]

Aaaaaand that fixed it completely.

Man, you HERO people are on the ball. Thanks!

[tiger]

As stated by Simon, updates are released after multiple bugs are located and fixed or additions to the database, such as including material for APG I & APG II. It would be silly to release upadates that fix 1 thing here are there. Simon has been very attentive in the past and I'm sure he will be now.

The program and license are well worth the price, not to mention the time it safes you when working up new characters. The templates and characters in the HD vault that you gain access too are extremely useful as well.

Just my 2 cents

[Gary Miles]

Simon: I was running HD great for about 2 years, but then, all of a sudden, double clicking won't even start it up. I've even tried re-downloading and reinstalling it. Any idea what I can do to fix it?