bluesguy Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 In a typical combat situation in Hero there is a fair amount of bookkeeping to take care of. It seems that this would be a good place for a computer program. Has anyone found or written a program to do this? Also using Hero Designer files as the basis input for the characters would be a helpful starting point, IMO. Basically one would enter in the type of damage, body & stun (normal or killing), if it affected the character's vulnerability, etc. And then the result would let you know if the character was stunned, how much stun & body they had left. I would only use this for tracking NPCs. What do you all think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 Re: Tracking combat Also using Hero Designer files as the basis input for the characters would be a helpful starting point' date=' IMO.[/quote'] I see one problem with that: The files (and in part how it denotes powers, advantages and the like) are not open source. On the other hand reading them out would be surpsingly easy: they are nothing but renamed XML files. Things like inlcuiding powers taht provide characteristics in the stats will be a small problem, as well as things like growth/Density increase. Overall it would be easier if the GM would inser the number himself. I don't have one, but I considered making one. Once i know WPF a little bit better, it should be fairly easiy (but would require .NET 4 or higher). I did at least make a Excel-sheet that helps tracking SPD over the course of 5 turns: [ATTACH]40689[/ATTACH] Just give the Dex, the name and the SPD in the respective columns. You can even sort them by Dex. Just make the current current Segment in a differnt color and replace every formula with a fitting text (aborted, recover fomr STUN) and write thinkgs like the fade-rate at the Post segment 12 recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kraven Kor Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 Re: Tracking combat I had a spreadsheet for it, once, right around the time 5th came out, but it has long since vanished, along with my patience for building spreadsheets I just use scratch paper with BODY / STUN / END and any notes for like drains or something, for each bad guy, and it seems to work fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucius Posted November 24, 2011 Report Share Posted November 24, 2011 Re: Tracking combat Tracking Combat: Detect A Class Of Things: Battles (Mental Group), Tracking cost: 10 points. Lucius Alexander Detect Palindromedary (Touch Group) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesguy Posted November 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2011 Re: Tracking combat Tracking Combat: Detect A Class Of Things: Battles (Mental Group)' date=' Tracking cost: 10 points.[/quote'] Wrong kind of tracking I meant the keeping track of combat ie bookkeeping. BTW: I am almost done with a spreadsheet with two macros that do an adequate job - for me. It handles normal, killing, NND, & AP attacks. It takes into account PD/ED/rPD/rED. It also tracks Stunned, Out Cold, and will do the Recovery math. It is simple and kind of crude as far as UI goes but it works. When I have used it for a few games I will post it to the free area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywind Posted November 25, 2011 Report Share Posted November 25, 2011 Re: Tracking combat Personally, I hate having to look around the backs of laptops to see the players. A pencil and notepad is more than adequate, or using a printed combat form. Those can be filed with the adventure logs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesguy Posted November 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2011 Re: Tracking combat The paper & pencil method works well for small combat situations - a few NPC combatants vs PC (2-4 at the most). But if you want to have the PCs wade through minions (20) and deal with master villain the paper & pencil method tends to bog down with bookkeeping. At least that was/has been my experience when I was GMing back in the late 70's & early 80's using Hero. From what I can see Hero combat is about the same so I would expect it to bog down again with bookkeeping. Computers are very good at bookkeeping - spreadsheets were designed for bookkeeping. So I figured I might as well use the tools at hand to help with bookkeeping. I think I will start a different thread about the whole use of technology during game sessions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Posted November 25, 2011 Report Share Posted November 25, 2011 Re: Tracking combat Computers are very good at bookkeeping - spreadsheets were designed for bookkeeping. So I figured I might as well use the tools at hand to help with bookkeeping. I think I will start a different thread about the whole use of technology during game sessions. We already have one. Just need to find it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Posted November 25, 2011 Report Share Posted November 25, 2011 Re: Tracking combat We already have one. Just need to find it Found it: http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php/84797-What-sort-of-technology-do-you-use-in-yiour-games Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.