Quite frequently, yes.
Every Saturday night.
Yes as it makes the book keeping portion of running a game go a lot smoother. Although there have been times when I forgot a NPC had a certain ability but that was mainly due to the fact that I was overly tired and/or forgot to look in the right spot on HL.
Most certainly. That's the only thing I use it for, in fact.
M
I tried it yesterday. Another try or two and I'll be buying it. And using it alot most likely.
I use it for the PCs, NPCs, monsters, pretty much everything. It really helps with the bookkeeping and I love the tactical console for combat. My players would rather roll their dice for initiative but for some reason a few of them always have initiatives up to and over 20 but those same people only have +2 to +3. I do want to say they are fudging but for some reason Hero Lab has them almost exclusively rolling less than 3. It's not me being vindictive, it really is happening. Very bizarre.
To answer your question, yes I use it for NPCs.
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Anyone? I am just curious? I personally think that Hero Labs has it going on when it comes to creating NPC's and was wondering if anyone else uses it to create NPC's for their game or even for other people's games if they need them?
Yes, I'm using it to update PCs for Legacy of Fire to Pathfinder, as well as updating the non-standard things in Legacy of Fire (all of the non-wizards OGL stuff). Kinda painful in places, but it's working pretty well. I'll also use the Tactical console to run a few combats, see how that flies.
I'm also using it for my PC in my buddy's Council of Thieves, and I'm loving that part...brilliant.
I loves it! For NPC's and monsters. Very easy to mod a monster by changing ability scores, adjusting skills, changing feats if you want, adding templates, adding class levels...
Makes it all very easy and quick. And makes me more prone to make such mods to my monsters. Otherwise I sometimes just default to easier options when I'm statting them out by hand.
Yup, I use it to update NPC's from Curse of the Crimson Throne (3.5) to make them Pathfinder ready and also to give them a little boost soemtimes as well.
HeroLab has paid for itself like a couple of times over with the Pathfinder stuff alone, never mind the M&M 2nd stuff I paly with.
Yes, PCs and NPCs. Awesome tool.
I love this Program couldnt DM anymore with out it
I used to use E-tools for 3.5, then I switched to Herolab. Herolab is so much better, IMO, than E-tools! It is an invaluable tool for GMing (NPC creation and running battles)! Don't know what I would do without it!
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So do I. At the moment I am play testing a gunslinger with it.
Male Human Gunslinger 10
NN Medium Humanoid (Human)
Init +9; Senses Perception +14
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DEFENSE
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AC 24, touch 18, flat-footed 18. . (+5 armor, +6 Dex, +1 natural, +2 deflection)
hp 120 (10d10+10)
Fort +11, Ref +18, Will +7
Defensive Abilities Bravery +3
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OFFENSE
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Spd 30 ft.
Melee Unarmed Strike +11/+6 (1d3+1/20/x2)
Ranged +1 Distance, Seeking Rifle +16/+11 (1d10+14/19-20/x4) and
. . Masterwork Shotgun +16/+11 (1d8+13/20/x2)
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STATISTICS
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Str 12, Dex 22/24, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 10
Base Atk +10; CMB +11; CMD 29
Feats Deadly Aim -3/+6, Far Shot, Gunsmithing, Improved Critical: Rifle, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Quick Draw, Rapid Reload: Rifle, Vital Strike
Traits Deft Dodger, Fast-Talker
Skills Acrobatics +12, Appraise +2, Bluff +1, Climb +5, Heal +6, Intimidate +13, Perception +14, Stealth +17, Survival +7
Languages Common
SQ Covering Shot (Ex), Dead Shot (Ex), Deadeye (Ex), Deeds, Grit (Ex), Gun Training: Rifle (Ex), Gun Training: Shotgun (Ex), Gunslinger Initiative (Ex), Leap for Cover (Ex), Pistol-whip (Ex), Quick Clear (Ex), Startling Shot (Ex), Targeting (Ex), Utility Shot
Combat Gear +1 Distance, Seeking Rifle, +1 Shadow, Improved Mithral Chain Shirt, Masterwork Shotgun; Other Gear Amulet of Natural Armor +1, Belt of Incredible Dexterity, +2, Cloak of Resistance, +3, Handy Haversack (empty), Ring of Protection, +2
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SPECIAL ABILITIES
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Bravery +3 (Ex) +3 Will save vs. Fear
Covering Shot (Ex) At 7th level, as an immediate reaction, when a gunslinger misses with a firearm attack, she can spend 1 grit point to pin down the target of that missed attack. The pinned-down target is treated as if it were entangled for 1 round. A gunslinger canno
Dead Shot (Ex) At 7th level, as a full-round action, the gunslinger can take careful aim and pool all of her attack potential in a single, deadly shot. When she does this, she shoots the firearm at a single target, but makes as many attack rolls as she can, based o
Deadeye (Ex) At 1st level, the gunslinger can resolve an attack against touch AC instead of normal AC when firing beyond her firearm's first range increment. Performing this deed costs 1 grit point per range increment beyond the first. The gunslinger still takes
Deadly Aim -3/+6 Trade a penalty to ranged attacks for a bonus to ranged damage.
Deeds Gunslingers spend grit points to accomplish deeds. Most deeds grant the gunslinger some momentary bonus or effect, but there are some that provide longerlasting effects. Some deeds stay in effect as long as a gunslinger has at least 1 grit point. The
Far Shot Halve the range increment penalty for extended range.
Grit (Ex) A gunslinger makes her mark upon the world with daring deeds. Some gunslingers claim they belong to a mystical way of the gun, but it's more likely that the volatile and dangerous nature of firearms simply prunes the unlucky and careless from their r
Gun Training: Rifle (Ex) Starting at 5th level, a gunslinger can select one specific type of firearm (such as an axe musket, blunderbuss, musket, or pistol). She gains a bonus equal to her Dexterity modifier on damage rolls when firing that type of firearm. Furthermore, when
Gun Training: Shotgun (Ex) Starting at 5th level, a gunslinger can select one specific type of firearm (such as an axe musket, blunderbuss, musket, or pistol). She gains a bonus equal to her Dexterity modifier on damage rolls when firing that type of firearm. Furthermore, when
Gunslinger Initiative (Ex) At 3rd level, as long as the gunslinger has at least 1 grit point, she gains the following benefits. First, she gains a +2 bonus on initiative checks. Furthermore, if she has the Quick Draw feat, her hands are free and unrestrained, and the firearm i
Gunsmithing You know the secrets of repairing and restoring firearms.
Benefit: If you have access to a gunsmith kit, you can create and restore firearms, craft bullets, and mix black powder for all types of firearms. You do not need a check to create f
Leap for Cover (Ex) At 1st level, the gunslinger gains an uncanny knack for getting out of the way of ranged attacks. When a ranged attack is made against the gunslinger, she can spend 1 grit point to move 5 feet as an immediate action; doing so grants the gunslinger a
Pistol-whip (Ex) At 3rd level, the gunfighter can make a surprise melee attack with the butt or handle of her firearm as a standard action. When she does, she is considered to be proficient with the firearm as a melee weapon and gains a bonus on the attack and damage
Point Blank Shot +1 to attack and damage rolls with ranged weapons at up to 30 feet.
Precise Shot You don't get -4 to hit when shooting or throwing into combat.
Quick Clear (Ex) At 1st level, as a standard action, the gunslinger can remove the broken condition from a single firearm she is currently wielding, as long as that condition was gained by a firearm misfire. The gunslinger must have at least 1 grit point to perform t
Quick Draw Draw a weapon as a free action. Throw at full rate of attacks.
Rapid Reload: Rifle You can reload fast with one type of Crossbow.
Startling Shot (Ex) At 7th level, when the gunslinger has at least 1 grit point and misses a creature with a firearm attack, the target of the attack becomes flat-footed until the start of its next turn. A gunslinger can aim at but purposely choose to miss a target in o
Targeting (Ex) At 7th level, as a full-round action, the gunslinger can make a firearm attack with greater accuracy and effect. When she makes this attack, she can choose part of the body to target, and gains the following effects depending on the part of the body
Utility Shot At 3rd level, if the gunslinger has at least 1 grit point, she can perform all of the following utility shots. Each utility shot can be applied to any single attack with a firearm, but the gunslinger must declare the utility shot she is using before
Vital Strike Standard action: x2 weapon damage dice.
Created With Hero Lab® - try it for free at http://www.wolflair.com!
took only at max 10 mins.
Played at Gencon without my laptop, but I still used Herolab to print out stat blocks. Still the best RPG software!
Hero Lab. Expensive for a player, invaluable for a DM. It's made preparing games so much easier since I bought the licence.
Can't imagine what I'd do without it anymore really.
Nit-pick though, why does everyone call Hero Lab "Hero Labs"?
I am not DMing and I make NPCs for fun using Hero Lab.
I use it every time for Mutants and Masterminds but there is no way I'm going to pay the enormous price to use it for PF as well. There are enough free tools and spreadsheets out there that I can get by.
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Umbral Reaver,
I would go through and post that the cost can be spread out over time and that it is not that much if done that way, at least seemingly. If I keep making postings like that I would have carpel tunnel. The thing is... why is it that you think that you have to by it all in one lump sum? If done that way you are right it is costly.
This software blows away any free software on the market. Having used the free software for the most part in it's entirety in doing research before buying HL and I have to say it is sadly lacking. HL is just to good to pass up as a player and as a GM.
That's not a solution by any means.
Anyone? I am just curious? I personally think that Hero Labs has it going on when it comes to creating NPC's and was wondering if anyone else uses it to create NPC's for their game or even for other people's games if they need them?
Constantly.
I do. It makes things a lot faster.
What's the learning curve like on HeroLabs for a newbie? And will it output something close to Paizo house style?
I tried a few programs years ago, but they were enormous pains to deal with and would only give me something that vaguely resembled the format I was used to reading off the page, or were giant fiddly spreadsheets. So I gave up on it.
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Yes. Herolab rocks!
Typically the NPC who travels with the party gets their own full character sheet.
Also any very special NPCS do as well.
A few of my players use my herolab to update their characters with just a few clicks.
I've used herolab for many, many years and it just gets better with time, plus the full on support of Pathfinder RPG makes it the bomb.
-Pax
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What's the learning curve like on HeroLabs for a newbie? And will it output something close to Paizo house style?
I tried a few programs years ago, but they were enormous pains to deal with and would only give me something that vaguely resembled the format I was used to reading off the page, or were giant fiddly spreadsheets. So I gave up on it.
Learning curve is a cake-walk. The system is quite fool-proof. For example, it lights up in red any tabs or topics that have not yet been addressed, making it easy for my players to generate characters quickly, but it has all the Pathfinder RPG detail needed to make one heck of a beautiful character sheet. Some very nice features include importing character pictures into a good sized area, and providng all the detail needed to pick spells without going over alotted limits, but those are just a few.
-Pax
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That's not a solution by any means.
I did not pose it as a solution but as an alternate viewpoint which you completely missed apparently. Which is ok. If you do not like it then I would suggest not buying it meanwhile this is not a thread about buying the software but using it. If you do not use it please do not get in to this and hijack the thread.
Thanks!|
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I use Hero Labs for my Home game by inputting all the NPC's and creatures by encounter. I also use this for Pathfinder Society by inputting everything by encounter as a means to prep the adventure.
It is amazing software, but a good GM should always double check things as much as possible too.. that way there could be things you might miss otherwise in the creature and the like.
My point was this:
I do use it, but not for Pathfinder. When you buy the Mutants and Masterminds package for it, all supplements for M&M are added free of charge. I think this is even the case when new supplements are released. If you have the core package, all additions are free.
That's actually not quite right for M&M--the Supplements addition costs $19.99 and comes with some material from 9-10 books.
Comparatively, the Pathfinder line has 60+ books. In both cases, the supplement cost is usually around $1.50 per book, with the exception being the large Pathfinder additions like the Ultimate and Bestiary series. Since those are all hundreds of pages and have tons of mechanics to add to the program they cost $10.
As for me and NPCs, I use Hero Lab to stat out important folks, but just like with pen and paper I don't stat every single person since there's little value in having the baker's combat values...he just makes delicious cake! I also add custom content as needed (I added all of the Earthdawn races/mechanics for instance, so I could have the Obsidimen and Windlings in a PF game if desired).
Is that 3e? I use 2e.
Edit: Oh, huh. There it is. I bought the supplement package. Core is free (although you cannot save unless you buy the full thing).
The update to the Synthesist is a little buggy but nice to have finally.
The only learning curve as far as I can tell is learning to call it Hero Lab. For some reason it is almost impossible for people to stop calling it "Herolabs". Other then that there is no learning curve at all.
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My point was this:
I do use it, but not for Pathfinder. When you buy the Mutants and Masterminds package for it, all supplements for M&M are added free of charge. I think this is even the case when new supplements are released. If you have the core package, all additions are free.
My point was.. DON"T BUY PATHFINDER than. Again please keep on topic though. It is about whether or not you use the software for creating NPC's and the like for your game??