What if any is the BEST free character generator?


Technology

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saw PCgen on the D20pfsrd site and it said it was free. Is it a decent product? Are there better ones for free?


I downloaded it, but could not get it to cooperate. I have heard it is the best free one though.


Bummer.

Liberty's Edge

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I use http://www.trovetokens.com/pathfinder.html

It's decent. You can use it to generate a pdf on the fly, and it's great for generating a first level character.

If you want to save, and reload multiple characters, you need to pay your $7.00 for an access code.

So try it out, and see if it's what you are looking for. If you like it, you have a best bang for the buck - very reasonable :0)


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Scoreforge


scoreforge eh? might check it out. Just deleted PCgen as it turned out to be a "Suck fest".


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Second Scoreforge. Its Excel based and its great. Only issue is that it can have some bad load times on a slower PC (like my laptop). The creator fixes any issues QUICKLY (as in under 10 days) and will input third party stuff upon request. Currently I THINK he is entering Advanced Races Guide as he is finished with core, advanced players, UC and UM completely (has a BUNCH of other books partly inputted).

Liberty's Edge

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YAPCG - Yet Another Pathfinder Character Generator is good too. I use both that one and sCoreForge, though I like the workings of the YAPCG one a bit better. As said above, bug fixes are responded to quickly on both.


What were your problems with PCGen?


It seems incomplete, didn't let me roll for hp didn't let me pick feats etc.Good name generator is all I can give it.


like it was only 1/3 ready to be released for public use and not fully programmed.


Re PCGen: I'm guessing you downloaded the 5.16 version, and have Java 7. Try one of the later 5.17 versions, and you might be pleasantly surprised.


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Free: PCGen hands down, nothing else even gets close imo.

@OP get latest beta version, make sure you have a proper installation of java that is supported by PCGen and make sure you load the correct sources on start-up.

If you don't mind spending some cash, HeroLab is probably just a bit better and more user-friendly.


PCGen is decent enough but lacks recent material that is on the SRD (including things like alchemist archetypes and other major stuff). It was a bit awkward to get to start (had to try different version and so) and I don't use it for PCs, but to get a quick NPC or monster it's great.


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herolab is very expensive. you have to buy each book, and it is full of bugs. i stopped using it once it screwed up by saves, hp, movement speed, and bonuses to attack.
i will try out pcgen, is it located on D20PFSRD.com?


I third Scoreforge. I used its predecessor when I played 3.5. I used Scoreforge for a time before I saved up to buy Herolab.

I like the character sheet that Scoreforge produces. It looks like a Pathfinder character sheet.

My only complaint (and this is rather minor) is that it is a big Excel file, so it's a little slow. If you uncheck a lot of options that you are not using anyway, it will speed things up a bit, but it still pulls a lot of processor time.

Also, if you are a Mac user, I don't know if it will run on a Mac, even the Mac version of Microsoft office. I know that Heroforge did not run on a Mac (and thus I had to keep my character sheet saved in my email and do all my character updates during breaks on my work computer).

I have not tried out Yet Another Pathfinder Character Generator.

-Aaron


sCoreForge runs on Microsoft for Mac, tried it. But it is reeeallly slow. I used PCGen, but lately I had a little trouble with reopening old characters. And they don't have stuff like Gunslingers yet.


Jeremias wrote:
sCoreForge runs on Microsoft for Mac, tried it. But it is reeeallly slow. I used PCGen, but lately I had a little trouble with reopening old characters. And they don't have stuff like Gunslingers yet.

PCGen does have gunslingers, you just need to know how to add them. When you start up as you are about to select what data you want to load, click the "advanced" button and then select Ultimate Combat and click add. Then click load.

Liberty's Edge

So what's better sCoreForge or PCGen?

PCGen run on Mac too?

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Dudeacles wrote:

So what's better sCoreForge or PCGen?

PCGen run on Mac too?

The great thing abougt PCGen is that given that it runs on Java it's a trivial thing to make it multi-platform, so there are Mac/Windows/Linux versions of it out.

The bad thing about PCGen is that it runs on Java. Fortunately Apple has done the sensible thing and has decoupled Java from it's operating system. Now OSX users will be doing the same thing that Windows folk do... download it from Oracle.


Ganryu wrote:
Jeremias wrote:
sCoreForge runs on Microsoft for Mac, tried it. But it is reeeallly slow. I used PCGen, but lately I had a little trouble with reopening old characters. And they don't have stuff like Gunslingers yet.
PCGen does have gunslingers, you just need to know how to add them. When you start up as you are about to select what data you want to load, click the "advanced" button and then select Ultimate Combat and click add. Then click load.

I can't find that on my install. None of the ultimate books show up at all! The APG is in as is the adventure paths, but not the ultimate books nor bestiary 3+.


stringburka wrote:
I can't find that on my install. None of the ultimate books show up at all! The APG is in as is the adventure paths, but not the ultimate books nor bestiary 3+.

Ultimate Magic and Ultimate Combat should be available in the next release; whether that's the next beta or the big 6.0 release, I'm not quite sure.

Unfortunately, no volunteer has decided to code up Bestiary 3 (I did nearly all of Bestiary 2, and am reluctant to do that again). Ultimate Equipment will likely be similar to Bestiary 3, in that is a large chunk of data that will take a long time to build and test.

PCGen's release model can make releases slow; I could have, say, the ninja all coded up and ready to go, but it wouldn't be released until the entire Ultimate Combat book is at least presentable.


Distant Scholar wrote:
Unfortunately, no volunteer has decided to code up Bestiary 3 (I did nearly all of Bestiary 2, and am reluctant to do that again). Ultimate Equipment will likely be similar to Bestiary 3, in that is a large chunk of data that will take a long time to build and test.

Does it require a lot of computer knowledge to do? I'd volunteer as long as it doesn't require loads of programming skills or such.


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stringburka wrote:
Distant Scholar wrote:
Unfortunately, no volunteer has decided to code up Bestiary 3 (I did nearly all of Bestiary 2, and am reluctant to do that again). Ultimate Equipment will likely be similar to Bestiary 3, in that is a large chunk of data that will take a long time to build and test.
Does it require a lot of computer knowledge to do? I'd volunteer as long as it doesn't require loads of programming skills or such.

It requires what I would call "syntax knowledge". Things need to be typed into the text files in the right way to get things to work correctly. The trickier abilities can be a little like programming, but there are people to help you with that kind of thing.


Oh sorry. I forgot to note that I'm using the absolutely latest version of PCGen. Version 51719.

That's probably why it doesn't show up for you, stringburka.


If you don't mind just having core classes for now or don't mind tweaking the info for the rest of them. Pathguys JavaScript creator and VentureCaptain are awesome. Trove Tokens isn't bad once you figure it out. Same with YAPCG and sCoreForge. And PCGen requires more trial and error than mastering Pathfinders system.


@Distant Scholar: PM'd you if you need help with the bestiary.

I don't get any archetypes to show up at all in the v 51720. Can't find a tab for it at all.


I can't even get my copy to display...


stringburka wrote:
@Distant Scholar: PM'd you if you need help with the bestiary.

Response initiated. :-)

Quote:
I don't get any archetypes to show up at all in the v 51720. Can't find a tab for it at all.

Hm. I'm still using 51719, but it shouldn't be that different.

1. Have you taken a level in a class? If not, you won't see the archetype subtab.
2. If you have taken a level in a class, the Feats and Abilities tab should have an Archetype subtab, from which you can choose one or more archetypes.

If the above doesn't help, I'll need more information, and it's certainly something the programmers would want to know about.


Azaelas Fayth wrote:
I can't even get my copy to display...

I'm not sure exactly what you mean.

What operating system are you using? What version of Java do you have installed?

Are you not even getting an icon to click on? Are you launching the program from an icon, but nothing happens? Do you get a window, but nothing shows up in the window? In short, what display problems do you have?


PCGen has been my go to program for 15 years now. New materials are slow to come out (UM and UC are in beta now), but it is community work, so it takes people's free time to finish it.

Make sure you run the Beta or RC and run Java 7.


PCGen used to be my choice, and if you know what you're doing you can keep it up to date and get everything working, but as I got older and started trading my time for other people's money, I eventually realized that I was better off giving that money to someone else in order to get some of my time back. So I bought Hero Lab and a selection of books, and haven't regretted it.

There are aspects of PCGen that I wish Hero Lab would pick up. PCGen is easier to do equipment with, especially custom magic weapons/armor/etc. PCGen's also better at grouping feats (and other things). Hero Lab is more polished overall, has a more responsive UI, and has books out much faster than PCGen does. And neither piece of software tracks which level you get a feat at in order to restrict you to the things you would have qualified for at that level.


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Jupp wrote:

herolab is very expensive. you have to buy each book, and it is full of bugs. i stopped using it once it screwed up by saves, hp, movement speed, and bonuses to attack.

i will try out pcgen, is it located on D20PFSRD.com?

Granted this post is about free tools (and for that, my vote goes to sCoreForge), but I did want to clarify this item. Hero Lab is not actually very expensive. It can be expensive if you want to buy every add-on, but you can very easily use the built-in editor to enter your own stuff for free once you own the base set. I've used it for years now and rarely find any bugs. When such are found, the Hero Lab folks are very responsive for providing a bug fix.


I have to say, I love you guys. =) I've used PCGen, and Hero labs (but not for Pathfinder). As for sCoreForge speed issues, I'm working on it. It is just excel after all. I run it on a old netbook, so I feel your pain.


The Best is Open Office and in a way is compatible with iPad (or any tablet that will use .xls files)

I could not find a character sheet for my monk that supported all the attributes. I took Four Winds Archetype and Drunken Master Archetype but there was nothing to support that. I had to use a spreadsheet to create my own character sheet.

Keeping a laptop at the game table is crowded when you can't see the map, so I got a spreadsheet program for my ipad and it supported .xls and I transferred my character sheet to it.

BRAAIIIINS!!!!!!

Sorry for raising the dead


Here's a test monk that took me 20 minutes in PCGen, although most of that was me getting distracted with the new monk rules under pathfinder.

Test monk with Drunken Master and Monk of the Four Winds:

TEST CR 1/2
Male Human Monk 1
LN Medium humanoid (human)
Init +4; Senses Perception +5,
DEFENSE
AC 13, touch 13, flat-footed 11 (+2 Dex, +1 misc, )
hp 9 (1d8)+1
Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +3
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee flurry of blows +0/+0 (1d6+1)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks Flurry of Blows,
STATISTICS
Str 12, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 12
Base Atk +0; CMB +2; CMD 14
Feats Agile Maneuvers, Blind-Fight, Elemental Fist, Improved Unarmed Strike, Scorpion Style
Skills Acrobatics +6, Appraise +1, Bluff +1, Climb +5, Craft (Untrained) +1, Diplomacy +1, Disguise +1, Escape Artist +2, Fly +2, Heal +1, Intimidate +1, Knowledge (History) +5, Perception +5, Perception (Notice unusual stonework/Underground) +1, Perform (Untrained) +1, Ride +2, Sense Motive +6, Stealth +6, Survival +1, Swim +1,
Languages Celestial, Common
Archetypes Drunken Master, Monk of the Four Winds,
Special Qualities AC Bonus, Bonus Feat, Bonus Ki, Skilled,
Possessions flurry of blows;

SPECIAL ABILITIES

AC Bonus (Ex) When unarmored and unencumbered, you add +1 to your AC and your CMD. These bonuses apply even against touch attacks or when you are flat-footed. You lose these bonuses when you are immobilized or helpless, when you wear any armor, when you carry a shield, or when you carry a medium or heavy load.

Bonus Feat Humans select one extra feat at 1st level.

Bonus Ki Add +1/4 to the monk's ki pool.

Flurry of Blows (Ex) You can make a flurry of blows as a full-attack action. When doing so, you may make one additional attack using any combination of unarmed strikes or attack with a special monk weapon (kama, nunchaku, quarterstaff, sai, shuriken, and siangham) as if using the Two-Weapon Fighting feat. For the purpose of these attacks, your base attack bonus is equal to your monk level. For all other purposes, such as qualifying for a feat or a prestige class, you use your normal base attack bonus.

Monk Bonus Feat

Reactionary You were bullied often as a child, but never quite developed an offensive response. Instead, you became adept at anticipating sudden attacks and reacting to danger quickly. You gain a +2 trait bonus on Initiative checks.

Skilled Humans gain an additional skill rank at first level and one additional rank whenever they gain a level.

Suspicious You discovered at an early age that someone you trusted, perhaps an older sibling or a parent, had lied to you, and often, about something you had taken for granted, leaving you quick to question the claims of others. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Sense Motive checks, and Sense Motive is always a class skill for you.

Grand Lodge

Any program that uses a spreadsheet instead of a database is really just a cheap and poor way of designing a program. It's like taking a knife to a gunfight. A bad idea. Sure it can sort of do the job... in the least efficient way possible. That is why they are called spreadsheets and not databases.

The biggest problem with PCGen is that to get the maximum use of it you need to learn how to add custom content. It does in fact, allow you to roll your own hit points and choose your feats and skills and just about everything else.

Any features from any sourcebook from any publisher (even homebrewed content) can be added fairly easily by modifying the proper files... Once you get the hang of the language (assuming you are not already a programer).


Well the same can be said for Herolab (or probably ANY char generator really)

Grand Lodge

Downloaded YAPG to have a look at it. Almost five minutes and it hasn't finished opening. Really?! Sigh...

(and no this is not a slow computer by any means)

RPG Superstar 2015 Top 8

Just wanted to point out to the folks in this thread (since it's been reawakened) that PC Gen version 6 is out and those complaining it felt incomplete may want to try it. It's get a better front page interface and more sources have been loaded into the Pathfinder dataset.

I also really enjoy sCoreForge. I slightly prefer PC Gen over sCoreForge because I can do spells in the same document (sCoreForge has a companion spell document) but I actually use both. PC Gen I like for quick test builds and generating NPCs (also you can generate and customize monsters), sCoreForge I may be more likely to use for actually building a character I plan to play. I guess it comes down to I prefer PC Gen as a GM and sCoreForge as a player. If I only used one it would be PC Gen because of the GM tools.

I'd also note that since all of these things are free so if you want to know how good they are, download them and see for yourself.


V. 6 is where it is at! Now I just need to figure out how to get UM, UC, & UE.


On the Sources dialog at the beginning click on the "Advanced" tab and find them in the Paizo section.


Wow I can't believe I missed that...

Now How can I get it to load the APG using the Advanced screen?

Nevermind.

Any word when the ARG & UE might be available or should I start making my own version?


Well it's in process. of course if you want to help out ... :)


I just have to figure out how to create them...


Azaelas, check these links out to get started.

http://pcgen-test.org/autobuilds/pcgen-docs/index.html
Click on List Files > LST File Class

http://wiki.pcgen.org/Joining_the_Data_Team


Thanks I will!


Says PCGEN is broken


Athear88 wrote:
Says PCGEN is broken

What or who says PCGen is broken? Broken in what way?


If it is the file downloaded saying it is broken, try downloading the 6.00 version instead of the latest version.

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