Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.dnd (
More info?)
I really apologize if I came across strongly in my previous post. I
don't mean to, its just that there are already a lot of tools out there
that strive to do what you are doing, and in my opinion they all always
have the same problems, that they are so chaotic and muddled that they
are impossible to use in a real game where I need to look down quickly
and find what I need fast. If I have to stop my game while I pore over
200 buttons to find the one I want, its just not going to work. Things
need to be easy to see and find *quickly*.
Ok, just some thoughts, take them for whatever they are worth:
1) Less buttons per tab, but more tabs. More white space around them,
and block them off with surrounding color coded borders or something.
Maybe include icons on some of the buttons to make them easier to guess
what they do quickly, like on the Light Sources button include an icon
of a torch or lantern or something.
2) Don't link to scanned images. Link to text from the SRD instead so
if someone wants to copy and paste from it into something else they
can.
I see now that there is no 'save' button for the 'Notes', 'Game last
left off...', and 'NPCs have met' boxes because they appear to save
automatically. Thats good I suppose but its not obvious that its going
to work like that.
"Character Information" Tab
Enter in all relevent stats and information about PC's. This includes
roleplaying notes like "Grool loves tall women" so you can refer to
that in game if necessary. This tab could have links to the various PC
related stuff like Classes, Prestige Classes, Equipment, etc. Include
an "Export" button so someone could export all info to a comma
delimited file or something. Maybe an rtf formatted report even.
"Encounters" Tab
This tab would have actual encounter information, a random encounter
roller, a battle tracker that rolls initiative for all characters and
monsters and keeps track of conditions and their durations. Each time
you increment the round counter button it decrements any conditions by
1. For example, Grool has been stunned for 4 rounds. You hit the "Next
Round" button, and Grools Stun condition updates to show only 3 rounds
remaining.
"Generators" Tab
This tab would have a town generator, an NPC (or just a name)
generator, and a Treasure generator. Increase the number of
options/variables in the Town generator. Maybe have the generator
generate a leader (name + basic personality) and some other prominent
NPCs. Or even have it generate a tavern (and name), plus an Inn (and
name), plus a few other major businesses. Random rumors about town
might be nice too. It would be nice if you could hit a button and then
export all generated info to a txt file or something.
"Time" Tab
Have a Calendar type function with an actual calendar in it where you
can enter in events like "Encounter with wolves in evening" or "New
Suns Day Holiday". Maybe even have weather pre-generated a month in
advance on the calendar so you can just look down, see tomorrow is
going to be sunny and warm, but the evening is going to have scattered
showers, or even look a week ahead and know that when they are
entertaining the duke there will be a terrible storm. You could click
in each day to add an encounter or special event. You push a button to
advance the day or something. May be pretty complicated but would
definitely be neat.
Just some ideas.
John
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