Nub Journal - My Decent Into Dorkness
 

Ok,
I am trying to create a setting for Savage Worlds. Of course I don't have the patience to read the 700+ page manual, so I am going to beat as much out of the editor as I can figure out how to...

I thought it might be useful to other nubs to have this as a resource and learn from my mistakes. I also invite suggestion and ridicule from those who know better and have nothing better to do!

and so it begins...

I started in Hero Lab by doing a "Tools" ==> "Duplicate Game System" using Savage Worlds. Then I went to the Editor "Tools" ==> "Launch editor"

Ok, first thing I learned is you want to approach the data sequentially: What I have figured out so far is start with new powers THEN New Arcane Back grounds THEN New Edges.

Edges reference Arcane Backgrounds, Arcane Backgrounds list Powers that can't be used.

When you make your first new power, when you get down to the "Sources" button, click it (Yes it's kind of scary and foreboding, but it will NOT blow up). Select the "-New Source-" option at the top and click "Ok".

This displays an interface to input the Sources for the material (What book it came from-ish).

This is used throughout the interface. Save everything (Save the Source, Save the Power and then under "File" ==> "Save Data File"). Where I found out about the Source - says there is someplace in Hero Lab to do a "Quick Reload", but I was unable to find it. In the editor Select "Tools" ==> "Compile Data File". Then close everything. When you come back in your Source(s) will be available in the source list.

My journey continues...

Oh and every time I ran into the "Invalid Character Error", it has been a tab.

Found the Quick Reload! Go to "Develop" and activate "Enable Data File Debugging" then it is in that menu!

Well first off you don't really need to duplicate a new game system to make a data file, unless you want it just for test purposes. you just need to go into the editor and start there. Just make sure when you make Unique ID's you start with the letters of your game (Example in my High_space file I start with "HS", Such as my new Arcane Background "Glanding" It's unique ID is "arcHSGland - 1) arc is the tab it's located in. 2) HS is for High-Space, and then 3) Gland stands for the arcane background Glanding.
You will also want to make a new source for your file. Mine is High-Space. Any other help just ask. To get some idea of how to do a file you might look at mine in the editor or any other one to learn and see what we did. That's how I learned a lot.

By the way what game are you trying to make.

I agree with jbear that for a new data file you probably don't want to duplicate the game system. That's useful if you want to truly get in and mess with the core rules themselves (and then ti gets really, really complicated) but for settings the best bet is to use the Editor and just create a new data file.

I would also add that while you can create sources from any entry the way you've noted I've found the the most consistent way to really work with sources is to use a .1st file for it, plus it's consistent with the way official data files are made now, too. I'd also recommend getting an XML editor. I personally like to use Notepad++ (Google it, it's free.) That's the easiest way to copy an existing .1st file, rename it to your setting and then modify it to set up the source you want. This allows for a bit of expansion later, if you like, in the sense that you can add multiple sources to your .1st file and have it group them together when you go to your settings selection list. So if you were doing, for example, Deadlands you could then have checkboxes available for the extra sourcebooks like The Flood and Last Sons so you can have players select or not select those additional rules and settings if you need them.

And definitely feel free to ask here. I'm happy to help and jbear has gotten the editor to do some stuff I would have never thought possible, so he's a great resource here, too.

I am doing Low Life : Re-Dredged - I assumed I got the core rule set by duplicating Savage Worlds - am I mistaken?

I'm sure I will hit you guys up when (not if) I get stuck and I appreciate the offers, but I do why to put some effort in before I grab the life line.

I don't understand what you mean. You do own the Savage Worlds game for Hero Lab correct. If you don't, it won't do you any good to duplicate it, you still will be in demo mode. I do believe. if you own it there is no real reason to duplicate the game system itself. Are you trying to use the authorizing kit to completely rewrite the savage world files from scratch. Please explain, I'm a bit confused on what you are trying to do. If you just want to add it to the savage World game system and you own it in Hero Lab, then all you have to do is work in the editor from the Savage World game system. For us to help we need a little more detail Please, Because sometimes I'm a little slow on catching on to what some one really is asking. LOL