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Hey, all.
I am heading to my first Pathfinder Society event on 11 Oct. Going to make a character or two for DemonFest 2013 and came across HeroForge for Pathfinder online. There are several versions of the software and something called Yet Another Pathfinder Character Generator. What do you guys use among those?
http://www.nzcomputers.net/heroforge/defaultpath.asp
What do you folks use to build PFS characters? There isn't a paizo utility, is there? I'll gladly do it by hand, of course. But I loved HeroForge for the (glory) days of Living Greyhawk.
Happy gaming,
Greyson
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A summation of my design process
well, this and doing all my research in herolab, then checking up on all the math and compatabilities by hand to make sure I did not screw anything up
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I spend a lot of time thinking about the concept and inspiration, looking through books for ideas on how I can make the character more complete mechanically, forgetting half of my ideas along the way. I will sometimes take notes at this stage.
When I get to working on finalizing the character, I usually sit down with Hero Lab. I usually go through several revisions of the character before I actually play it, especially as I do more GMing than playing.
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Pencil, paper, and d20pfsrd.
I don't trust the computer, the computer won't let me fix its errors, and often can't do what I need it to do.
The feats, archetypes, and traits are spread out over so many books that actually using the physical books to comparison shop is getting increasingly difficult: having all the traits in one place, all the archetypes in one place (with a chart), all the equipment in one place etc makes it a lot easier.
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Pad of paper, pencil, PRD, and http://www.jody-white.com/pathfinder-ability-score-calculator.php.
I usually map out the first five or six levels of advancement, sometimes more (if I'm going for a specific prestige class, for instance).
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The local PFS character wiki, all my resource books, Archives of Nethys, and the Trove Tokens character sheet to quick-calculate basic stuff like saves and skill points. I double-check everything I pull from it and usually have someone else look it over as well, though.
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I use HeroLab, my books (in PDF format), and the Additional Resources page to make sure that HeroLab isn't letting me take somethign illegal.
I cross-check the math, and, if it gets too involved, include the numbers and calculation in the personal notes section, especially if it is something (like special calcs for CMB) that is not normally shown in HL.
I tend to avoid D20pfSRD, since it is harder to cross-check the legality of something they have renamed due to no longer being a free site.
I always try to make sure that I know how I got the numbers I show, so I can explain it if the GM asks. When playing online, I will sometimes include the calculation sources in the macros I set up. I have also been known to create a spreadsheet showing base numbers, and how using various feats and situations (archer, PBS, Deadly Aim, Rapid Shot, etc.) affect the to-hit and damage numbers.
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Pen and Paper.
For online resources I really love using www.archivesofnethys.com for making PFS characters. Clear labelling of what is PFS legal and their sources helps me plan out my character and what books to buy.
Use http://tools.digitalightbulb.com/pbcalc.html for quick calculating of ability score pointbuy.
Owner - Enchanted Grounds, President/Owner - Enchanted Grounds
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I'm with Secane: pencil, paper, and archivesofnethys.com. It's easily searchable, tells you what rules source you need to own to use the rule (and what other books it's been published in, if it's in multiple books) and is extremely well organized. Blake did a hell of a job on that site. I recommend it to everyone.
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I use my brain and a pencil. :)That must make it very difficult for you... So how do you pull the pencil out of the brain?... ;)
Or This. It really clears the sinuses...
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I like HeroLab. Partly because I can set it to only use content from books I own, partly because it handles the fiddly bits for me, and mostly because I find its search/filter feature to be faster than a Google search.
In 3.5 I made all my characters by hand. In PFRPG, I feel overwhelmed by some of the options. It's easier just to click a button and see what's affected by that choice. I still "check the math" on everything once I've got my build finalized.
HeroLab. The game just has too many sources now for me to remember them. HeroLab let's me select the ones I have and only that material is used. Building, editing, modifying, all be come very easy. I can also add custom content to the data files. It has an export to fantasy grounds feature, if you use it. I love the HeroLab for iPad, my iPad is now my character sheet and my library for the eighty-five or so PDFs I have.
On the negative. I think you can lose a little bit of investment in each character. it's so much easier to make one that you tend to build more of them. You end up with less time invested in more characters than more time invested a few. That can, not saying does, but can minimize the intimate knowledge of a character and personnel investment in their fate.
I hate going to Taco Bell, or insert anyplace, and being forced to choose between Pepsi products. I remember the days when you could order a Pepsi or a Coke at the same restaurant as your preference dictated. That is an important element of choice to maintain. I don't like the way D&D pulled their whole game back into themselves with 4E. I hope Paizo, whatever shape Pathfinder takes, keeps that in mind and leaves room for people who build tools and sources for their game.
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I want a link. Just because of the name...I use Bad-Ass Bandanna Studios Pathfinder Character Sheet.
Google came up with Bad-Ass Bandanna Studios Character Sheet
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Google came up with Bad-Ass Bandanna Studios Character SheetI want a link. Just because of the name...I use Bad-Ass Bandanna Studios Pathfinder Character Sheet.
Huh, so that's what the one I use is called. Never bothered to look at the big logo in the upper-left corner, haha.
Though for building, I typically use pencil and paper, then input it into this PDF sheet when I've got it done up.
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I really like HeroLab - it's good fun to just mess around with it creating characters, and versions of characters, and just generally playing with builds - during a flight or a dull meeting.
That said, I AM very familiar with the actual game rules, so I can spot errors in Hero lab (they aren't many or often, but they do occur), and then I can tweak files to workaround. Especially when a character gets into high levels, do NOT assume everything is accurate. It's still a very handy tool, though, both for building and running characters.
I usually use HeroLab but have decided i need to start using Pen(cil) and paper. It will help with learning the rules and how the actual build functions as a whole. I may input the character into one of the PDF files for clarity but something about the handwritten form makes me all nostalgic. :)
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RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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Google came up with Bad-Ass Bandanna Studios Character SheetI want a link. Just because of the name...I use Bad-Ass Bandanna Studios Pathfinder Character Sheet.
Thanks for this, going to use it for an online Way of the Wicked game!
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When a Daddy character and a Mummy character love each other very much, they sometimes get together and make a----
More seriously, pencil and paper, pfsrd. One thing I think I do that is different from most people is put some thought into their family and where they came from.
It's the difference between being Marv, half orc alchemist, and Marv the Barbaque king; who has a resturaunt in Absalon when he's not adventuring that specializes in orcish barbaque, has two sisters he's trying to marry off, a code of Orcish barbaque (don't eat anyone you converse with, bad manners), loved his parents who were happily married until the citizens of Kaer Magna burned them at the stake for moral turpitude.
