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Welcome to PCGen v6.00.0, the latest stable release of PCGen. In this release we have introduced a new user interface and made substantial changes under the hood including hundreds of new features. The highlights of the changes for PCGen 6.0 are listed below:

Major Changes:
New user interface
-- A faster, more responsive GUI, particularly when using multiple characters.
-- A redesigned interface intended to be friendlier and more informative
-- Support for Java 7 and Open JDK
-- Faster startup time
Improved performance
Install to non admin location on Windows
Full spell descriptions in RSRD and Pathfinder
Command line PDF generation

LST Changes:
Choice tags revamped and rigorously parsed
Choice tags now only provide a choice - a separate tag (e.g. BONUS) is used to apply the choice
All shipped data has been run through the LST converter to bring it up to 6.0 standards

New User Interface:
A major feature of PCGen 6.0 is the new user interface. While the general layout of the program will still be familiar we've made lots of enhancements along the way such as
-- More information on the summary page for a quick view of the character
-- Easier access to new character tasks such as choosing an ability score method
-- Active 'things to do' list - click on a task and you'll be taken to the screen and field.
-- Start your character with class first - alignment is back to an after thought
-- Toggle quick filtering buttons (e.g. Qualified) to quickly focus on relevant items
-- A location based equipping display supporting drag and drop.
-- Thumbnail selection from your character portrait.
-- A campaign history tracker
-- Improved command line use, including PDF generation.
-- Improved printing including an in-program print preview.
-- Easier exporting, including auto open your generated file.
-- An easier to use Temporary Bonuses system

The new user interface does not currently provide random NPC generation or LST editor functionality. These are earmarked for implementation in the future though.

PCGen is an RPG character generator and maintenance program (d20 systems). All datafiles are ASCII text files so they can be modified by users for their own campaigns.

For more information about PCGen, join us at our Yahoo group:
HERE

or visit our website:
HERE

or our wiki:
HERE

Download your free copy:
HERE

You can see all of the changes included in this release by checking out the release notes:
HERE

Trackers (JIRA) bugs:
HERE

Guys, I know it says this several times up there, but this version really is faster. If PCGen's performance kept you away before, this is a good time to give it another spin.

Congrats to the PCGen team for shipping 6.0!

Sounds cool, but I'd like to know what kind of datasets are included.

Is there support for the APG, the "Ultimate" books, the Advanced Race Guide, etc. ? Or is it Core only?

Sounds cool, but I'd like to know what kind of datasets are included.

Is there support for the APG, the "Ultimate" books, the Advanced Race Guide, etc. ? Or is it Core only?

Currently Core, APG, UMagic, UCombat and a number of AP Player's Guides and other supplements. UCombat is the latest big book they've added so it may not be quite complete yet, but Gunslinger, Ninja, and Samurai are there.

Bestiary and Bestiary 2, also.

A bit of the Advanced Race Guide is coded up, but it's not ready for release. We're always looking for more volunteers to help!

Sounds cool, but I'd like to know what kind of datasets are included.

Is there support for the APG, the "Ultimate" books, the Advanced Race Guide, etc. ? Or is it Core only?

Here is a list of all the sources (Note: I'm not sure if it's totally up to date)

Thanks everybody for your answers.
I've had some time this week to try out the software and I have to say that is a great tool!
With just a few more races available for PCs et Familiars, it would be perfect.

Keep up the good work!

Are you loading the Set for players or the one for Gamemasters?

I'm loading the "Pathfinder RPG for Players - Advanced" set.

If you click on the advanced tab and load the bestiary's you'll get some more race options, but all the familiar/companion races look like they are there.

I have tried older versions of PC Gen and I'm enjoying the new one. You really did a wonderful job improving the application, much better performance, much better interface, new shiny features like export to pdf... Thank you very much for your hard work.

You're right Nylanfs, I just had to load the set for GameMasters in order to build my beloved Aasimar :)

I just brought this up on the main PCGen list I've seen several new users posting about not seeing all the books. What would have helped you?

I'm thinking that if we renamed the tabs in the loading to the following it might help

Basic -> Base Books (or perhaps Core Books?

Advanced -> Additional Books

It might be sufficient to just default to opening the Advanced tab (or do away with the Basic tab altogether).

Well we don't want to overwhelm new users too much :)

On the subject above, I have always found the basic tab to be more confusing than the advanced one, especially since it's not clear what books you load when you select the default options (and the defaults are never what I want). I think new users will not be overwhelmed as long as the interface itself is not confusing.

Onto other matters:

This version of PCGen is telling me my Cavalier (Order of the Dragon, Emissary archetype) is not proficient in anything except simple weapons. I think I had the right proficiencies until I added the archetype--which is supposed to remove heavy armor proficiency, but not the others.

Also, a smaller matter, but I can't modify a composite shortbow (+0). The separate entry, composite shortbow, I can modify -- and I just used that without adding an additional Strength modifier. But since that works, I am not sure why the other option exists at all (this has been in PC Gen for awhile now).

Hmm, I just set the stats to 12 and made a cavalier and I'm seeing quite a few simple and martial weapons on the character sheet, and heavy armor is showing up in red.

Hmm, I have no idea what the Composite +0 bows are for. I'll ask the data monkeys

Also, a smaller matter, but I can't modify a composite shortbow (+0). The separate entry, composite shortbow, I can modify -- and I just used that without adding an additional Strength modifier. But since that works, I am not sure why the other option exists at all (this has been in PC Gen for awhile now).

Choose the composite bow that does not have the +0 one. Right click and choose custom. You will pick strength rating and choose the one you want. The one that says +0 is a precreated custom bow without strength rating. Not sure why its there

DeathQuaker wrote:

Also, a smaller matter, but I can't modify a composite shortbow (+0). The separate entry, composite shortbow, I can modify -- and I just used that without adding an additional Strength modifier. But since that works, I am not sure why the other option exists at all (this has been in PC Gen for awhile now).

Choose the composite bow that does not have the +0 one. Right click and choose custom. You will pick strength rating and choose the one you want. The one that says +0 is a precreated custom bow without strength rating. Not sure why its there

Yes, maybe my original post was unclear, but I used the other one. The question was as to why the other exists at all, and suggesting perhaps it should be removed if it serves no purpose.

Nylanfs, I'll have to see if I can duplicate what happened. It doesn't affect the character build because I'm equipping a 0 ACP armor to him anyway, but it would be nice to be sure I could avoid it in the future. I know I was swapping some feats around, so I don't know if somehow in the process I somehow deactivated his proficiencies, but I'm not sure how that would happen (and why simple weapons remained when everything else disappeared). The weirdest thing is it doesn't list proficiency in martial weapons but still registers him as proficient in those, but it won't list armor or shield proficiencies and I can't re-add them, and even leather armor shows up in red as nonproficient.

Okay the reason why it is there is because a) composite bows have a different range than regular bows and b) the rules allow for a +0 STR composite bow, but the program HAS to have a positive number to apply the equip modifier against (1000 * 0 causes bad/wrong/things)

I agree this version is mightily more awesome than the last version.

I would definitely volunteer my services to code up some of the ARG (or other things).

Post to http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/pcgen/ and the data guys will get you setup. Here's some light reading :)

http://wiki.pcgen.org/Joining_the_Data_Team

Okay the reason why it is there is because a) composite bows have a different range than regular bows and b) the rules allow for a +0 STR composite bow, but the program HAS to have a positive number to apply the equip modifier against (1000 * 0 causes bad/wrong/things)

That makes a lot of sense now. Didn't think of the program math function standpoint. You would need one hard-wired to a value normally not able to be created without causing trouble.

I have never used PCGEN before. I was interested in making a ninja or gunslinger. Are these available in the current PCGEN? Is there a way to get them? If not, what is the release for these classes? Thanks!

Both the ninja and the gunslinger should be available in the newest release, as long as you load the Ultimate Combat data set.

Post to http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/pcgen/ and the data guys will get you setup. Here's some light reading :)

http://wiki.pcgen.org/Joining_the_Data_Team

Cool just posted up! Thanks!!!

I am interested in adding another template. I don't know if this is possible on the end user side or how much I would need to know to do it on my own.

Not sure how to go about requesting or creating content to use.

Here is the template I was interested in: Clockwork Automaton

I've tried to make a barbarian / Martial artist monk... Couldn't find arctypes, and therefore the alignment didn't suit the monk...

Archetypes have their own tab under Feats and Abilities. You won't see it until you've given the character a level. You'll also need to load the source that includes the archetype you want.

I am interested in adding another template. I don't know if this is possible on the end user side or how much I would need to know to do it on my own.

Not sure how to go about requesting or creating content to use.

Here is the template I was interested in: Clockwork Automaton

Start up PCGen and F1 for the help documentation, and look under list file class for how to create your own files. If/when you get stuck, sign up at the List File Help group (http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/PCGenListFileHelp/) at Yahoo and ask for specifics on how to code something, such as the DR that the template has, etc.

--- david
PCGen Yahoo Group Moderator

Another noob question. I wanted to play a Tiefling as my race, but all I could find were the typical races. What do I need to do to add the extra races?

Also does PCGEN sync up with roll20 in any special ways?

Use the custom tab when loading the data. You can choose the bestiaries, which contain those non-core PC races. Just loaded Bestiary 1 and 2 and tieflings are showing up

When you start PCGen click on the advanced tab and load the Paizo Bestiary

Thanks! Is there a way to get to their Variant Tiefling Heritages? For example I was looking at Kyton-Spawn (Shackleborn), Rakshasa-Spawn (Beastbrood), and Rakshasa-Spawn (Beastbrood).
As all of those effect the bonus scores you receive etc

Someone would need to set up the appropriate book (Blood of Fiends?); then, you would load that book and the various heritages would be available.

As far as I know, no one is working on that particular book. I've been wrong before, though.

Dang. Is their a way to edit and change the racial adjustments for the abilities scores on your own?

Dang. Is their a way to edit and change the racial adjustments for the abilities scores on your own?

Absolutely. It depends a bit on how handy you are with a text editor, though.

I could give it a try. I was going to go with Kyton-Spawn (Shackleborn) and get a Prehensile Tail. How would I fix it through a text editor? Also is their a way to edit in their racial traits you receive, or is there already a spot for that?

I tried the martial artisk monk arctype again, but it isn't in the list... I know the variant alignment may be a problem to code, but is there a chance it will be added??

otherwise a great program :)

Okay, Bacon, what you're trying to do is starting to sink in now. Martial Artist is in PCGen, in the Ultimate Combat source. You'll need to load that source before character creation to get the stuff in UCombat.

I think what you're running up against is the alignment restriction, right? Your non-lawful Barbarian isn't letting you select any Monk levels at all. As a work-around, go into Tools\Preferences, under Character go to House Rules. In there, select Bypass Class Prerequisites. This should allow you to add a Monk level, then you can apply the Archetype. I'd recommend unsetting the Bypass option after that.

Seems like you've found an interesting corner-case. I don't know if there is a practical way to re-code things to avoid the work-around. Corner cases like this are what make character generators difficult to build.

you are right that it's alignment restriction that's the problem... By changing the alignment to lawfull my barbarian levels just becomes ex-barbarians... however, I have the UC source, and several other arctypes to choose between but not martial artist...

I can accept that.

I'll simply use it on other characters, and forget about this1 :)

Right, you won't be able to choose (or even see) Martial Artist until you add a level of Monk (you won't qualify for it until then). You should be able to add a Monk level by using the work-around I posted above. I did it this way and was able to create a multi-class Barb/Monk with the Martial Artist Archetype.

Good luck!

I could give it a try. I was going to go with Kyton-Spawn (Shackleborn) and get a Prehensile Tail. How would I fix it through a text editor? Also is their a way to edit in their racial traits you receive, or is there already a spot for that?

It's a bit complicated to go into in a forum. Going to the PCGen documentation and clicking on "List Files" in the left-hand column will get you started. The "LST File Classes" are helpful.

A quick breakdown of the steps you could use:

• Find the "my_dataset" folder in the PCGen file hierarchy (data/homebrew).
• Open up "my_races.lst".
• Find the "pfb_races_stu.lst" file in the PCGen file hierarchy (data/alpha/paizo/pathfinder_rpg/bestiary).
• Copy the line starting with "Tiefling" from the pfb_ file to the my_races.lst file.
• Make changes as appropriate, including adding and removing special abilities in the ABILITY: tag.
• Find the "Tiefling" section in the "pfb_abilities_races_stu.lst" file in the bestiary directory to use as a template for your new abilities.
• Back in the my_dataset directory, open the "my_abilities.lst" file and define the new abilities you need.
• Open the "my__campaign.pcc" file in the my_dataset directory, and change the GAMEMODE: tag to Pathfinder instead of 35e.

If I haven't forgotten anything :-) , you should be able to load the MyCampaign data set along with the Pathfinder set, and have access to your new race.

Feel free to contact me with more questions.

Man With Known Name wrote:

I could give it a try. I was going to go with Kyton-Spawn (Shackleborn) and get a Prehensile Tail. How would I fix it through a text editor? Also is their a way to edit in their racial traits you receive, or is there already a spot for that?

It's a bit complicated to go into in a forum. Going to the PCGen documentation and clicking on "List Files" in the left-hand column will get you started. The "LST File Classes" are helpful.

A quick breakdown of the steps you could use:

• Find the "my_dataset" folder in the PCGen file hierarchy (data/homebrew).
• Open up "my_races.lst".
• Find the "pfb_races_stu.lst" file in the PCGen file hierarchy (data/alpha/paizo/pathfinder_rpg/bestiary).
• Copy the line starting with "Tiefling" from the pfb_ file to the my_races.lst file.
• Make changes as appropriate, including adding and removing special abilities in the ABILITY: tag.
• Find the "Tiefling" section in the "pfb_abilities_races_stu.lst" file in the bestiary directory to use as a template for your new abilities.
• Back in the my_dataset directory, open the "my_abilities.lst" file and define the new abilities you need.
• Open the "my__campaign.pcc" file in the my_dataset directory, and change the GAMEMODE: tag to Pathfinder instead of 35e.

If I haven't forgotten anything :-) , you should be able to load the MyCampaign data set along with the Pathfinder set, and have access to your new race.

Feel free to contact me with more questions.

Thanks for your help! I gave it a go with no luck. I'm probably just doing something wrong on my end though. I'll have to try again tomorrow and see if I can find my mistake!

There's also a readme file in that homebrew folder that should give you some pointers also and a how_toUse_this file in the actual my_dataset folder.

I would recommend making a copy of the folder and renaming it so you can easily carry it from version to version.

This is now getting to be a really great tool.

Also remember about users being overwhelmed:

You're not being overwhelmed if you KNOW what what you're seeing actually means. For example a list of all books you can load isn't going to overwhelm the user, because the user can be expected to know what this tool does, and thus knows that it uses material from different books.

A large list of things that you know about is BETTER than a small list of things you're not sure exactly what they are!

I also reccomend changing "install data" to something else, because it can be interpreted as meaning "load currently selected". Confusion arises from seeing the "load" button and an "install data" button.

I suggest renaming "install data" to "install data from external source". "load" can be renamed to "load selected books" or "load selected set"

These are just suggestions, though, but I'm very interested in user interaction related problems, and this is clearly one :P

Found another small issue - if I use the Organised Play source, the Alchemist does not exchange Brew Potion for Extra Bombs. I tried hacking the gtpop_classes.lst file, but couldn't figure out how to make it work.

The change to the Cavalier from the same file also does not seem to work.

So, this was partly user-error - the Cavalier change is just fine, silly me forgot it didn't kick in until 4th level...

I also managed to get the Alchemist change working by changing the line to the following.

1 ABILITY:Special Ability|AUTOMATIC|.CLEAR.Brew Potion ~ Alchemist AUTO:FEAT|Extra Bombs

Grr, I was looking at this at work and couldn't post the answer till now.

Another weird little thing -- creating a ranger. For Ranger combat feats, took Rapid Shot and Point Blank Mastery (I qualified for both).

After I selected Rapid Shot under Ranger Bonus feats, it correctly showed up also as a virtual (magenta) feat in my main feat list. But Point Blank Mastery did not -- it was listed under my Ranger bonus feats but didn't behave the same way as when I selected Rapid shot. On my character sheet, it doesn't list Point Blank Mastery as one of my feats.