Mad Brew's page

Thanks for the feedback.

I have a player who has a ton of boons, but some of them look a little fishy (think scanned, then Photoshopped, then printed & resigned). In fact, I'm not sure some of these are even official boons. There was at least one called Comic Store Invasion that allowed rolling two d20s, which looked official, but I'd never heard of. Another, which I was less sure of, increased the amount of gold for day job checks a lot (25 became 100 GP) (unfortunately, I forget the name and I lost my notes).

That being said, do we have a resource that lists boons and their text somewhere? Something I can cross reference to ensure there isn't any craziness happening at the table?

The link self-destructed. Oh well.

Goblin Squad here I come!

Mad Brew Labs has the Kickstarter video and excerpts from the initial link if anyone is still interested in look at the details about the premature announcement.

Just wondering if the Stealth Playtest is going to be finalized sometime soon or if this was the extent of it (looking to see if this stuff ends up in the PRD in an official capacity)?

So say if you right power attack in feats and you click on it will load up the core rules feat section page 131.

Doing something like this would require that everyone conforms to the same naming convention and the PDFs existing in the same location & directory structure. Certainly possible, but it would require users to conform to the vision of the developer. Also, there could be different versions of PDFs (different printings) where everything doesn't align to specific pages. If that's not currently the case, it could certainly happen in the future.

Linking to something like the d20PFSRD would be nice, but wouldn't work for offline use (of course they do offer an offline version for download, but you'd need to keep it updated).

...One feature I would request that you consider adding.. the ability to save and import a data file that could reside on a user's computer that way to enable the saving, loading, and re-editing of characters. Or possibly create an on-site account feature for those who donate.

That's an excellent idea.

I actually have a database storage solution I'm planning that will fulfill this need. Making a character persistent is one of my long term goals (listed in the feature roadmap from my original post as Storage Solutions). It would most likely be a premium feature that users can subscribe for, but this feature will be one of the final pieces implemented (due to extra costs for hosting a db).

Looks great, very promising start. Following you on Twitter!

Awesome, I follow everyone back on the @Venture_Captain account. I keep noise to a minimum with it, so your feed shouldn't be inundated with a bunch of trivial tweets.

I was thinking XML for various reasons but I keep wanting to make up a rule system to fit the game and that kept giving me a headache.

I think I would just break things down into component elements. Have separate XML documents for Feats, Spells, Classes, Races, etc. It would definitely take some work to get right, especially a Class XML. Yeah, it gives me shivers just thinking about it.

@Cartigan: I am very familiar with .NET, it's what I do for a living. In fact, Venture Captain actually runs on ASP.NET. I don't think UI is all that easy. Sure, it's simple to throw some controls on a Windows Form (or XAML if going WPF, which would be my choice); the hard part is creating a good workflow, account for different screen resolutions, and be aware of a ton of other minutia. UI is a complicated bit of wizardry to get right.

It would still require an entire application to be built from the ground up, you just can't throw a switch and make an web page into a desktop application. For storage, I'd embed SQL Express and use XML to import/export data.

@Eddie the 'Ed: Thanks and you're welcome!

@Blueluck: Will do, I'll make a new post when I have a significant amount of updates to speak about.

Dot.

Also, I plan on using a chargen tool pretty extensively in the near future...will be very glad to help with testing this platform out

Awesome. Let me know if you find anything that needs improvement.

@Louis IX
If I didn't want criticism I surely would have never posted on a forum. t3hd0n also mentioned the alignment factor, which is a restriction I'm stripping out now (because a character could indeed change her alignment multiple times during her lifetime). Alignment restrictions will continue to apply to things like Channel Energy. Instead, there will be a warning message for at least Paladins and Druids stating that they lose all spells/class features (and the character sheet will reflect that).

I have also fixed the problem with monk feats requiring pre-requisites in the test build already, but I definitely appreciate you bringing it to my attention (monk feats now use the same validation routine as the ranger combat style feats). The build with these fixes (and a half a dozen others) should be live by 1700 EST today.

Other Questions:
- integrate 3.5 material?
If you refer to Wizard's of the Coast non-OGL 3.5 material, then no. Though technically game rules cannot be copyrighted, WotC has a storied history of C&D letters and frivolous litigation, so I don't want to tempt fate.

There was additional open content from the Epic Level Handbook, Deities & Demigods, Expanded Psionics Handbook, and Unearthed Arcana, but I feel that material in particular would require massaging to make it work effectively with the updated rules in Pathfinder. Which just happens to be another can of worms I do not want to open.

However, in the future I do want to add the ability to accept custom entries for classes, feats, and spells.

That being said, once the official Paizo stuff is in, it would be interesting to collaborate with 3PPs to see about adding their Pathfinder compatible material.

- propose a standalone version?
I'm assuming you mean a downloadable desktop version. This is unlikely since a desktop application is a completely different animal from a developing perspective. The core logic would work (and indeed, JavaScript can easily be ported to C#), but the UI would need to be re-written from the ground up (the HTML interface does exactly port easily into something like .NET).

At the moment, there is just too much stuff I need to do with the web app. Once the web app is comfortably mature, I might revisit the possibility of creating a desktop version, but all the Mac and Linux users be warned, I only develop in .NET (though Mono might work).

- offer translations as well?
This is an interesting concept that I will shelf for consideration much later. Since I don't fluently speak languages other than English and various programming languages, it would be difficult for me to accomplish. I would suggest that people take advantage of the Chrome browser which seems to always be able to translate pages for me.

I hope I've answered your question adequately and I definitely appreciate the feedback, it reinforces the changes I'm currently making. I honestly do want to make Venture Captain a tool that meets as many needs/expectations as is reasonably possible.

@Deidre Tiriel:

The additional skills block is unnecessary until you get a skills monkey who wants a ton of craft, perform, or profession. I'll definitely look into placing the option to use Pathfinder Society XP, so the character sheet output conforms to that (I play in non-PFS game that actually makes use of factions, so that's why it's there).

@t3hd0n:

We do have a contact page (under About in the menu bar) where you can fill out a form to report bugs. You do bring up an excellent (and overlooked) point about changing alignments and becoming an ex-member of a class. It's going to the top of the update list, but it will take a while to come up with a decent way to execute it.

I actually plan on supplying PRD summaries of elements that will pop in an draggable overlay, but that's pretty far down the road.

As far as the dice roller, I do have plans for several bits of random generation and a full blown dice utility that will use true random number generation by interfacing with random.org (uses totally random atmospheric noise). I'm actually developing it in parallel with the site now (have a rudimentary working version on my test site). So yes, I actually do have plans for random generation, it's just not a top priority at the moment.

Thanks for the feedback!

@w0nkothesane:

Thanks for the encouragement! I'm definitely want to provide a useful tool, so keep checking back.

@fatouzocat:

Yes, equipment & spells are currently in the works, so those tabs are empty (for now). Should have been able to select domains (if you had selected a level of Cleric at the top of the classes page). If you try again and it's still not working for you, please contact me and let me know what browser/version you were using and what steps to take to replicate the problem.

@azhrei_fje: I'm actually taking advantage of jQuery for much of the heavy lifting for the interface already. It's definitely a difficult task trying to figure out how to display all the information effectively.

Thanks for comments & feedback!

I have opened up the online Pathfinder PRG character generator beta testing to the public. You can find the generator at VentureCaptain.com. I actually plan on expanding the site to host a suite of utilities for use with the Pathfinder RPG including a dice app I’ve been tinkering with that uses true random number generation, courtesy of Random.org. You can also follow Venture Captain on Facebook and on Twitter.

TECHNOLOGY

The character generator is a plain web app. It runs XHTML 1.0 Strict (every page but the contact page validates), CSS2.1, and JavaScript/jQuery. So it should display and render fine on most standards compliant-ish web browsers. The generator exports characters as a small PDF (~40k) file, so whatever platform you are using must support PDFs.

I’ve built the app according to how I plan on using it. I run Chrome on Windows 7 have no issues. Chrome renders JavaScript blazingly fast, but I’ve also tested it on Firefox 3.5/3.6 and it runs fine. On IE 7/8, the generator performs a bit on the sluggish side. I haven’t tested it on mobile devices, because quite frankly, there is just too much information to try to display effectively on such a small screen.

THIS IS BETA

I must stress that the generator is in BETA. There are obvious things missing, as well as ton of undiscovered bugs waiting to be squashed. I am working on tying up loose ends with the current implemented features before slaying the bigger dragons of Equipment and Spells. Oh yeah, and the only guy writing code for this app is me.

Some things I’m working on now is expanding the class feature information presented on the character sheet (displaying bloodline powers, school powers, etc.) as well as creating an interface for missing elements such as being able to choose what Mercy you get when you take the Extra Mercy feat.

This being said, if you find anything missing, improperly formatted, not compliant with the latest Pathfinder RPG rules, or have a general suggestion please do not hesitate to contact me via Twitter, Facebook, or using the VentureCaptain.com Contact page. I want this tool be the best it can be, so everyone’s feedback is important to me.

FEATURE ROADMAP

Below is how I think feature implementation will roll-out. I’m naming the builds after cities in Golarion, with the first build belonging to capital of the oldest empire.

v1.0 [Sothis] Feature Implementation (bold items are finished; italicized items are in development):

• Ability Scores (point buy, tier points, racial adjustments)
  
• Core Classes (alignment restrictions, favored class bonuses, selectable class features)
  
• Skills (class skill training bonus, skill focus bonus, racial bonuses, ability modifiers)
  
• Calculated Combat Stats (BAB, CMB, CMD, AC, Touch AC, Flat Footed AC, Saves, HPs, Speed, Initiative)
  
• Feats (Racial, class granted feats, full prerequisite validation)
  
• Equipment (calculate wealth, calculate encumbrance, attack/damage bonuses, highlight proficiency, equip to slots)
  
• Spells (select known spells, select memorized spells, calculate DCs, calculate dice/bonuses)
  
• Portraits by 60+ Terrible Portraits
  
• Save to PDF (complete with calculated values, racial & class features, custom landscape layout)
  

v2.0 [Oppara] Feature Roadmap:

• Prestige Classes
  
• Traits
  
• Language Selection
  
• Custom Magic Weapon & Armor
  
• Random Bio Generation (Name, Homeland, Age, Height, Weight, Hair, & Eyes) based on Race & Gender
  
• Aging Affects validation based on Age in Bio
  
• Rules Info (overlays with PRD definitions for class features, feats, etc.)
  
• Pathfinder Society legal character validation
  
• Save to HTML
  

v3.0 [Egorian] Feature Roadmap:

• Advanced Player’s Guide Update
  
• Non-core free entry for class, feats, traits, skills, equipment, & spells.
  
• Pre-calculated Combat Maneuver & Spell sheets
  
• Storage Solutions
  

IT’S FREE!

Did I mention this web app is free? Yeah, creating characters with Venture Captain costs you nothing (except whatever you pay to access the internet already). It will continue to be free for as long as I feel like covering the cost of hosting and development. There may be pay features in the future (storing characters in cloud?), but only for convenience services, never for content.

If you like it, please follow @Venture_Captain on Twitter and spread the word, like Venture Captain on Facebook, or even blog about it.

Venture Captain Online Pathfinder Character Generator

beholder
gauth
carrion crawler
displacer beast
githyanki
githzerai
kuo-toa
mind flayer
slaad
umber hulk
yuan-ti

These are all trademarked by Wizards of the Coast. You could probably spend a few hours and find more trademarks by searching the records of the US Patent & Trademark Office, but they should also be listed under "product identity" in the licensing section of the Monster Manual.

Is the description of the Volunteer Assistant correct?

The volunteer assistants will work closely with me every day of the show from 7 A.M. to 12 P.M.

You only need them until noon? Or is it really supposed to be until midnight, 12 A.M.?

Tho is really a she. But yeah, sailing the Spit in the Eye junk into the Eye of Abendego to salvage ships is bad ass nuttery.

Having just read the Campaign Setting, I was able to quickly dig out some details from it.

Gnomes:

Brastlewark, the capital of the Gnome King, Cheliax
Shay Citadels of Irrere near Holgrim,
Thom in the River Kingdoms,
Katapesh in Katapesh
Quantium in Nex
Kalsgard in Lands of the Linnorm Kings
Verduran Forest (Wispil)

Details of Interest:

Gnomes are often jockeys in Keleshite horse racing
Gnomes are one of the few races allowed in Kyonin

Spriggans & Svirfneblin:

Spriggan inhabiting a monolithic stone city in the Mwangi Expanse
Svirfneblin, deep gnomes, live in harmony in Sekaminan (Darklands)

Source:
Pathfinder Chronicles Campaign Setting
p11,p24,p70,p89,p93,p136,p137,p205