HLO Improvements Wishlist (Character mgmt, Inventory, Dice)
 

Our group is making use of HLO for Pathfinder 2E Extinction Curse AP. I have a Patron account and am sharing content with my players. However, we've noticed a few things that would be of great benefit for improvements:

Character Management
- Copy character within campaign: My players would like to be able to make a copy of their characters so they can level up the copy to figure out what choices they would make so they are ready to level during the session. I don't want them to do this on their 'live' character, but if they make a copy of the character using the current tool, it copies the character to their private vault where they don't have content shared from the campaign. There are 2 suggestions to deal with this:
---- Simple: Allow copying characters within the campaign.
---- Cooler: Allow for 'save points' or something on the character. A player could make a 'save point' for "Live", then make edits to the character and roll back to the 'save point' when ready to play again. A single save point would accomplish this, but multiple save points would be nice. In HLC we could simply do this by saving separate files.
- GM add private character to campaign: I don't know if it is a bug or not, but I am unable to add any characters in my private vault to any of the campaigns I created. When I attempt to do so, the list of campaigns is empty.

Dice Rolling
- Dice Roll Log: Maybe I missed it, but I didn't see a roll history/roll log. This is necessary to validate rolls.
- Party Rolls: Especially in Pathfinder 2E there are numerous 'hidden' rolls the GM makes (Perception, Will Saves, etc). It would be nice if there was a feature where I could tell it to roll all player characters' Perception or a save or a skill. It would be better if I could select a subset of player characters for this roll, and I foresee times when I would need to make a global check for all NPC/foes in the Stage.

Inventory Management
With HLO moving to a web interface, I was quite disappointed to see that inventory management hasn't really changed from HLC. It is still a flat list of items. I have various ideas of improvements that range from simpler ideas to really cool:
- Simple: If you click a backpack, the flyout does show the items contained in that backpack... so the data exists for what items are in what containers. A simple solution would be to add a column to the display that shows the parent container... that alone would be a big help with the existing interface. One step more would be to automatically sort first on container then on name so that all items within a container would be at least grouped.
- Better: In addition to sorting the list so that items are grouped together, items in a container should appear following that container and be indented to indicate they are within the container. Essentially, shift from a flat list to a tree view so that containers can be expanded and collapsed. Tree views are versatile enough that they work for both small and large inventories.
- Even Better: Tree view is probably the best option, so here I'll simply add the ability to drag/drop within the tree instead of clicking a flyout to move an item to another container.

Excellent ideas, I agree with all of the above. Especially the inventory management items!

I definitely give the ability to more easily roll hidden checks a +1. As a GM, I feel like I have to roll a million of these, and I'm constantly having to fetch player numbers. I actually made my own spreadsheet to make this easier, but I'd love to throw the thing away and be able to do it in HLO at the click of a button.

For another Character Management improvement, I'd love to be able to move characters between the PC/Players group and the Cast Members group more easily. This has been an issue multiple times for me, as captured characters temporarily control an ally or alternate character, or choose to retire a character for them to become an NPC.

My wish list is either allow us to create custom content with custom descriptions (like making a custom race or class, that has unique abilities, or at least abilities other races have, but you can edit the description for... So my dhampir wouldn't mention being a borai).

And the ability to export/import my characters into Fantasy Grounds.

How about an API so that you can keep HLO open alongside fantasy grounds, and both update in real time?

Lots of great ideas! Some of these are already part of the plan, some are completely new, and some are slightly different takes on things that were in the plan that now need to be reconsidered.

Please keep them coming!

In fact, I'm going to sticky this thread so it can continue growing with new ideas in one central place! Thanks for starting it, @Valdacil!!

Those inventory ideas are killer! And, they do seem like they'd be quite an improvement and help with how I manage/mangle my inventory.

For Shadowrun 6, riggers are unable to utilize their drones and vehicles correctly. They should be able to utilize their own skills and (in some cases) attributes, but the vehicles do not inherit them.

Are there plans for implementing this feature in the near future?

This question belongs on the Shadowrun 6 forums. That's where the expert on SR6 pokes his head in occasionally. I don't know anything about how that stuff works (or is supposed to work) for riggers.

This question also needs to be submitted as a support ticket. That's the best and most reliable way to get an issue on our radar to be corrected.

+1 on all with pref to dice logs. My GM would like to see my to hit and damage rolls.

Bonus if you can target creature to hit and GM can just click Apply Damage link/button.

We used HLO for the Fall of Plaguestone and used it to do all the rolls but motto is "Trust but Verify."

Purchase Log

I love the idea of having my players' rolls pop up on my screen and I just click "hit" or "miss". Theoretically, this can all be done automatically, but the confirmation would help me control flow of the game, account for conditional modifiers and throw a description of the attack in.

Would also love it if this kind of feature would automatically apply reductions to incoming damage for the targeted creature, and let me roll defensive rolls like saves with the touch of a button (which could also automatically apply conditional bonuses).

The amount of time I would save in a session would be mind boggling.

PF 2 Export to (and from) Fantasy Grounds Unity
 

Pretty much as noted in the subject. I know we can export from HLC to FGC.

Not being able to do so with HLO and FGU means it is hard to argue with players who don't see a good reason to grab and maintain a HLO account. Especially since they can see all of the stuff I have in FGU.

I prefer - and they prefer - being able to use HeroLab. You are more up-to-date with products (we are a Pathfinder 1 & 2 group) but having to completely re-create the character everytime there is a change makes HLO a very hard sell for me as the GM.

My suggestion with context. :)

All the best

I also like the idea of having save points, or really any mechanism that allows the player to plan future changes to the character without affecting their current character sheet. Our GM right now will typically give us a heads up that we'll be leveling up soon, so I can plan things out, but it's a bit of a nuisance to have to then revert everything back to normal.

Equipment Purchasing: My players are frustrated by the lack of an option to sort by price or to specify a price range.

Speaking of purchasing, id love a sort by level option or level + option like in Starfinder (I believe level restriction purchasing isn't a rule in PF2E, but it makes my job as a GM much easier to find level appropriate loot.

Logging. For both society play and use of the Mnemonic Editor, you can only change selections made one or two levels back. Unless the player is diligent about keeping notes on what upgrades they make to feats, skills, or other choices, it makes this all guess work.

PLEASE let us search descriptions in all things like we can in HL classic!

For instance, I wanted to see Backgrounds granted by purchasing the Fall of Plaguestone. In classic I could pull feats or whatever and type in Giantslayer and see everything added by that AP/Book because it's in the description.

Nope. I had to go third party site to find them and search one by one in HLO.

+1 +1 +1

Journals: It would be very helpful if a GM could add journal entries - especially if that could be shared campaign wise.

For example, as a game master, at the end of a session, i create a journal entry with Karma, Heat, Reputation, dates and a description. I can select the characters in the campaign that get the journal entry and save. As a result the entry gets added to the selected players and the karma etc awarded.

This would be a huge step forward to the current process of "Transfer control to GM", "add entry", "transfer control to player" for every character :/

Split Reputations: The ability to add different kinds of reputations with factions.

I have two things that keep coming up in my games.

Minor: Could we have a way to add wealth directly in the Gear tab? Since I use milestone "No XP to level" eight of the nine players only use the Journal to add wealth. If not, could we please, please, please have some sort of positive indication when the Journal adds wealth? I am so tired of walking players through fixing their cash over voice chat after they click the button two or three times. :(

Major: Not having access to the PCs unless I own them is incredibly cumbersome. I understand that Lone Wolf doesn't want players to get their characters messed up by a bad DM on Roll 20 or something, but seriously, a player can make a copy of their character outside the campaign context before every game, during every break in the game, and while I haven't checked it I wouldn't be surprised if they could make a copy before every round of combat. I just want to access the copy of the character in my Patron campaign, the way I could access the copy of the character in my HLC campaigns. At the very least, could I get access to the Effects tab?

Add my +1

++++1 The lack of this is almost a show stopper for me. At least make some form of edits available to the DM with an 'accept changes' option in some cases (for the player) and not in others. During combat I am extremely used to altering all Npc, mobs, and players HP on the fly, it's painful having to dictate and wait for them to update them.

I would also add the ability for a GM to apply conditions to a PC. It's even less drastic than modifying a PC completely, but it would be handy instead of me having to ask my player four times to put on a condition and hit the check box.

A step away from Roll20
 

I currently half manage combat in Roll20 and half in HLO because my players like to see each others rolls (I suspect some suspicion of cheating ;)).

If, when the stage is actively managing an encounter, any roll performed by the next player to act (at the top of the list), were to pop up on all players (and DM) Stage, exactly as on theirs, would be awesome and help take the first step away from Roll20 and towards HLO.

The biggest step being that HLO isn't a VTT......yet.

A minor thing compared to some of the requests, but when looking at the general feats, it would be really nice to be able to filter out the skill feats, leaving General Feats only on the list.

Shared Dice is the other thing that I would agree on, which has been mentioned here numerous times.

YES - very much agree. My wish list:

1) Shared dice rolls - when a cast member (PC, NPC, monster, etc.) makes a dice roll, it would sure be nice to have a chat window or something so everyone can see the roll (unless the GM marks it as a secret roll).

2) When a character ends their turn, it would be nice if the character window (I have mine pinned to the right) would update to the next character in the initiative. At the moment, the stage updates to the next character. But, I have to click on that character to see their info. Making that happen at the same time as the stage updates would be great.

We need the ability to purchase Boons without Fame cost. Sometimes you can get them for free.

Edit: Never mind found the option to do so.

YES THIS!

I seriously don't understand how this isn't a thing, since it's fairly simple to implement.

In addition, allowing the journal to be sorted by date or title would be helpful; I've had to use pre-gens for a few games of Starfinder Society, and thus held the chronicle until my character was the correct level. Since the date sorting is actually functioning now, my journal is not in the correct order.

For society play, either put all the factions in the drop-down in the journal by default, and if it's not on the profile page automatically add it. If you wish them to only be added from the profile page, have them all added, already and allow the player to simply select their primary faction during creation.

After the Patron/Standard/Apprentice stuff was added, someone said that a way to allow multiple people to use the purchased content (families) was going to be added soon. Any updates on when this will be available would be awesome.

When hovering over something after a short delay a brief description of that option in hover text would be useful.

The Delay is important here, nothing annoys me more then instantaneous hover text.

OK so after playing a Ranger in Fall of Plaguestone for a few weeks now, here are a few things that are "bugging" me...

And let me preface this with, I really like using HLO to manage my character but since this threads goal is to make it "better" please read the following as just that, my perspective as a "user" and things I think would help make it a better product for all!

1. To many clicks. Just in general, it takes so many clicks to get to things, especially around weapons.
   
   1. Precision damage, Having to click the Ability to only open a window to click a checkbox is REALLY starting to annoy me. If there is only 1 checkbox, the "lightning" bolt icon should just mirror it and change it on click. Or at least give us a new icon(s) then like we have for Raise Shield.
      Imagine this: Action 1: Hunt Prey, Action 2: Shoot and kill target, Action 3: Target and shoot new creature that isn't my prey. Guess how many clicks it takes to remove Hunt Prey and get back to Attack #2 to roll for proper damage...6 clicks.
      
   2. Deleting items. OMG, can we please get a delete option? There are SO many clicks involved to remove an item. Lets say I throw a dagger and loose it. I have to "sell" it, and if I'm not paying attention, I just got Silver for it... We're finding lots of alchemical bombs as well and managing those is becoming painful. (Like using the last 1 Alchemists Fire removes it from play area, but it's still on my Weapons sheet, but there is no delete OR sell menu option, just a move to option...) I just want to remove it altogether... #weapons-locker
      
   3. Weapons locker, ya, now that we found some "bombs" I quickly filled my weapons locker as a Ranger. Ug. so many clicks to get to the center of a tootsie roll...but we've discussed this already...
2. Encumbrance. Since it is tracking decimal values of Bulk, could we please show the decimal value? I'm constantly at 6 bulk with my Ranger and I'm encumbered at 7 (str bonus +1) so the difference of 10 arrows can put me in Encumbered condition, yet I barely notice it unless I notice my AC changes.
   1. Could we add Encumbered to the Misc section on the main page? And/or color code things like AC that are changed because of Encumbered? Or just some noticeable "Flag"? Sometimes I feel like a detective trying to figure out why my numbers are different from just a minute ago.
   2. This may be a bug? But the gear tab says Encumbered 6 but really, you are not encumbered until > 6 (for a +1 str character). Shouldn't this really show 6+str mod (you are encumbered when bulk is > 5+str mod)
3. Talismans... could we PLEASE get an icon or something on the weapon/armor for this? When you add a Talisman 3 weeks ago, you sort of forget you even have one attached to the weapon. Besides the fact of needing clicks to see this, I don't even remember I should click the weapon to look.
   
   1. Suggestion, like the "backpack" icon for equipment, another icon for talismans (and runes?) would be useful reminders. Bonus if I could just hover over it to see what the talisman does (see #1)

- The Ability to add files to the Journal (PDFs, JPGs, etc.)
-- The Idea is to help map out your character journey, by uploading Art of characters/NPC met, Handouts found.
-- This would also work well for Org play which would allow you to upload the scneario sheet for that scenario.

We need a dedicated initiative roll for PF2 with the ability to change what skill you use.

Everything above x2, please.

As I understand the technical design of HLO, the software still runs on .por files on the server side. We just can't download them to our own PCs to use that data elsewhere.

Please fix this. We need the access to our ,por files! Just a download link is all we ask.

Well, we'll need an "Upload" link, too.

However the data is stored internally (and I seriously doubt it is .por files), there would be no benefit in downloading that file, since you wouldn't be able to make use of the data offline.

Being able to download and upload HLO character files could be immensely beneficial. Just the ability to start building up a community resource of custom NPCs and monsters would be worthwhile.

Of course, Lone Wolf could theoretically do this by making a community shared server space available, but that would involve greater expense and liability issues for them, so I don't think they'll go that direction.

My brother and I like to collaborate and share our builds. That is a piece of cake with HLC. It's impossible with HLO.