Forgotten Realms Version 2.2 Release Notes Version 2.2 of the Forgotten Realms data files is now available!
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
The following updates are for the FRCS files covering the core setting.
- Preclusion Changes: Due to requests I have created a set of new sources at the bottom of the FR configuration for "Forgotten Realms Optional Rules". I have set the preclusion for pathfinder races and deities to their own check box under these optional rules. If you want to keep the pathfinder deities and races in your realms, you can now do so, but this comes with a small price. If you are using the original races, you will not have access to the Forgotten Realms regional traits. This is because the regional traits were originally coded with the realms races in mind. If you try to use these traits on a normal race Hero Lab will throw an error message on your character for it. I have no intention of including a fix for this in the data at this time. If you use a normal elf from Pathfinder you will just have to deal with the validation error message for taking traits. These files were coded with the mindset Forgotten Realms players would be creating characters with the races from Faerun, not the Pathfinder campaign setting.
- Language Adjustments: I plan on changing the uniqueids of all languages for Forgotten Realms from lwhatever to lFRwhateve in the coming weeks. This will be a slow process due to the way languages work in the data set. There are a lot of data files to go through and fix. What does this mean for the end user? Once the update is released containing the language fix, you will get errors saying "language 'whatever' has been Orphaned." when loading old portfolios. I wish this could be avoided but I have to make this change to ensure compatibility with 3rd party updates released by others. This is going to take time to implement and will not be a fast process. I appreciate your patience and understanding in this. Before updating, make a backup of any sheets you wish to restore to their previous glory, as these Orphaning errors are unavoidable once you update. Save as PDFs or Print out your characters if you have to. In addition to the adjustments, I am adding an FR Languages header and sorting tags for Forgotten Realms languages, the FR lingos shall appear under this header once the update is released.
Forgotten Realms: Shining South- Thri-Kreen: Psionic Abilities (ART) now correctly adds the bonus psionic power point to the character when selected. Bug fix: +1 to effective level when this ART is applied was not displaying correctly on the Classes tab, changed the phase and priority to get this working correctly. Psionic Abilities were originally done as spell-like abilities, these have been moved to the psionic tab as psi-like abilities now and are displayed under the psionic powers.
Bug Fixes- Smokepowder: This item was overriding the black powder for firearms rather than precluding it. I have fixed this problem. Selecting the FRCS now precludes the black powder ammunition for firearms and enables the smokepowder item.
- Timing Error: Many of you may have noticed a timing error coming from a feat whose unique id was fFRSkilFoD. This issue has been fixed (the feat was deleted and the craft domain bootstrapped feat was rigged to target only Craft skills on the hero). The timing error has been fixed. This update should get rid of that annoying bug.
================================================== =======
Unique ID conflicts and resolution
This has started to become an issue with some of the data files. 3rd party product sometimes uses a unique id that I had already used. My plans are to fix the data files as this comes up. I am adding an FR into the ids to distinguish them from other data sets. Ravenloft will get RV added to the id and Dark Sun will have DS in the names. This may take me some time to get the unique ids fixed. I don't anticipate it being done quickly. If a conflict occurs, please report it in the appropriate bug reporting thread for the system and I will get it added to my to-do list when time permits.
4e Material Conversion Plans
Some of the data from 4e will eventually be converted into the data files. A separate section on the configuration screen will allow you to access these abilities. Currently I am in the process of converting data that I feel would work well in a Forgotten Realms game. Here is the current plan for conversion work. These new options will be made available in a future update.
Spellscars and Powers
The Spellscarred concept is one that my players and I like, as it brings a little new depth to the realms that wasn't present before. To keep the spellscars as versatile as possible without requiring a new character class we are going to convert the spell scar powers that make sense into feats that players can take, which will allow Pathfinder equivalent powers. These converted powers make more sense as feats to us, and they will provide some versatility into how players and dungeon masters implement them.
Themes as Archetypes
Starting with the Renegade Red Wizard, some of the themes presented in the realms books will be made into archetypes after appropriate conversion has been done on class features. This will work the same as an archetype, replacing existing abilities with new ones that the theme would normally provide.