For years, RPG players have settled for software tools that simply fall short of what they need. Hero Lab has finally arrived, providing an easy-to-use, intuitive interface atop a versatile engine complete with all the core functionality players have clamored for.
Create characters, experiment with all the choices available under the selected rules, and orchestrate your character's evolution. Hero Lab reduces bookkeeping to just a few clicks of the mouse. It automatically tracks changes and modifiers for every stat, ability, item, spell, and option. At the same time, the automated validation rules confirm that all prerequisites, minimums, and other rules requirements are valid. With the ability to support virtually any game system and genre, Hero Lab is a revolutionary addition to any RPG player's library!
System Requirements:
PC running Windows 7, Vista, XP (with SP3) or 2000 (with SP4) or Mac running OS X 10.5, 10.6 or 10.7
500MHz Pentium III processor or better
128MB RAM memory (256MB recommended)
16-bit color video with minimum 800x600 display resolution
250MB free hard disk space (plus additional space for data files)
Mouse or other pointing device
Internet access (for licensing and to obtain data files)
Note: The media included with this purchase may be Windows-only, but the activation code from this package may be used with latest version of the software for Windows *or* Mac OS, both of which may be downloaded from the publisher's site here. (The free Hero Lab version for the Pathfinder RPG Beginner Box can also be found on the same download page.)
I switched from PC Gen to Hero Lab for my character creation/management a few months ago and am so glad I did. Hero Lab is a pleasure to work with. It's easy to use and makes trying out different character builds a very simple (and quick) process. I've started using the in-game features and am really impressed. I can track in-game HP, spell usage, conditions, buffs, etc. Less math, more fun!
I have to ding the software a star for one thing: price. $30 for the software isn't too bad but it only comes with material from the Core Rulebook. I added APG and Ultimate Equipment at $9.99 each. My Pathfinder addiction will probably cause me to add more content but $10 for a book seems pretty expensive to me.
I've used HeroLab for over two years, and have no complaints. The interface is very intuitive, and everything is organized in a very logical manner.
There is a learning curve for adding custom content, but it is still easier than other programs I've tried and Lone Wolf has tutorials and guides available to walk you through it.
I love being able to track status effects and conditions during play, and I've never seen a better tool for auditing character sheets.
Good character generation, good support but pricey
Dennis Baker
(RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, Contributor)
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This is a great product for building characters and printing them out, it's rules support is excellent and they are quick to release support for new products, the problem is it gets expensive in a hurry. The base product is $26 here on Paizo, but most people are going to want to buy support for at least 2-3 additional hardcovers which adds another $30 to the price. It's easy to run up a $150+ tab.
I know it takes a ton of time to get this stuff into the application which is expensive, but it would be nice to see some subscription pricing options or at least automatically bump people the 'bundle' pricing if they eventually buy everything in the bundles.
In a role-playing game industry flooded with a multitude of time saving tools, Lone Wolf Development has accomplished not only standing out; but setting the standard.
For those of you out there not in the know, Lone Wolf Development is the driving creative force behind several different software based tools, including the one this review will be covering: HERO LAB.
Now officially speaking, Hero Lab is available for several different game systems ranging from various incarnations of D&D (with 3.5 and 4e available), to Pathfinder, Shadowrun, Call of Cthulu, Savage Worlds and 2nd/3rd editions of Mutant’s and Masterminds all being available as core systems one can purchase for use with this program. Why do I point out the officially speaking part? Read on, we’ll get back to that.
At its core, HERO LAB is a character builder, and quite simply one of the best I’ve ever come across. Players can use this tool to find the perfect combination of skills to feat to trait ratio for the best all-around perks. GMs that need to bulk out their encounters for the evening with some fast NPCs find HERO LAB a huge time saver. Publishers populating their newest books with personalities may not wish to spend hours working out statistics for every single character; once again HERO LAB is a life saver.
Read the remainder of this review in the original posting at
http://nerdtrek.com/hero-lab-gm-tool-market/
