Monster Classes

[Culhwch]

I haven't tried this in the class editor, but I'm wondering how easy it would be to implement monster classes (as first shown in Savage Species). I think the biggest hurdle would be what kind of eval script I would need to not give a hit die at various levels.

Thanks.

[rob]

At 11:38 PM 5/7/2007, you wrote:

I haven't tried this in the class editor, but I'm wondering how easy it would be to implement monster classes (as first shown in Savage Species). I think the biggest hurdle would be what kind of eval script I would need to not give a hit die at various levels.

Please hold off on trying this one, since it will require some hoop jumping right now. Colen and I just had our first 8-hour pow-wow to discuss how we'll be supporting all the various material from the myriad of d20 supplements out there. Overall, things went extremely well and we've put a few new tasks on the todo list that will make supporting all this material easier for users. This particular topic was one we discussed and Colen said he needs to make an adjustment to how classes work in the core d20 files to easily accommodate this. This is something that ought to appear in the next update, which is targeted for release around the end of the month (plus or minus).

[huntercc]

Has anything changed here? Has there been an update that would allow for the creation of monster classes?

[rob]

> Has anything changed here? Has there been an update that would allow for
> the creation of monster classes?

Unfortunately, this hasn't been added yet. It's absolutely on the todo
list and it's percolating upwards on that list as each new update takes
things off the top. We'd love to do it, but there are a zillion things
people want and only a limited number of hours in each day. Our priorities
are largely driven by the number of people asking for a given feature, and
this is one that is requested less often than a bunch of other features
(and more than some as well). Hang in there and we'll be getting to it.

[pazuzu]

If the priorities on your "to do" list are based on the number of requests for a particualr function, then I'd like to place my vote for monster classes.

I have a cleric who recently became a vampire spawn, and I for the life of me can't figure out how to do the how monster level thing in Hero Lab.

Thank you.

[rob]

> I have a cleric who recently became a vampire spawn, and I for the life of
> me can't figure out how to do the how monster level thing in Hero Lab.

According to the SRD, the Vampire Spawn does NOT possess a template - only
the Vampire does. Consequently, we'd just be taking a wild guess if we
implemented a Vampire Spawn template. Your DM needs to tell you exactly
how the Vampire Spawn will work in his/her game as a template. Armed with
that info, you can create the Vampire Spawn easily via the Editor. Simply
copy the existing Vampire template (under the Race tab) and use it as the
basis for the spawn. Then make the necessary adjustments in accordance
with the decisions set forth by the DM.

Hope this helps....

[pazuzu]

I wasn't planning on using a template. I am looking to use the monster class progression as outlined in Libris Mortis and Savage species. Basically, each level of Vampire gives you certain abilities, base attack mod, saves, etc., just like a regular class. This is used instead of a template and level adjustments.

[Colen]

pazuzu wrote:
>
>
> I wasn't planning on using a template. I am looking to use the monster
> class progression as outlined in Libris Mortis and Savage species.
> Basically, each level of Vampire gives you certain abilities, base
> attack mod, saves, etc., just like a regular class. This is used instead
> of a template and level adjustments.


Ah, so there's a Vampire Spawn monster class in Libris Mortis / Savage
Species?


Unfortunately, we can't legally include that material in the d20 data
files, since we don't have a license from wizards (under the d20
license, we can only include certain material from the SRD). However, we
are going to be adding support for 'monster classes' in the future, so
you'll be able to use the editor to add the Vampire Spawn monster class
yourself.


Thanks,


--
Colen McAlister (colen@wolflair.com)
Chief Engineer, Lone Wolf Development
http://www.wolflair.com/

[pazuzu]

Thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my questions. I'm not expecting you guys to actually put in all the stuff for source books. I'm just trying to figure out how to do it myself with my books. As a knuckle dragger, a lot of this programming stuff is pretty difficult for me.

Can you give us a ballpark estimate on when monster classes will become usable? Also, is there a Hero Lab scripting for dummies document out there? All these tags, rules, bootstraps, etc., etc., descibed in the help tab really make my head hurt. I get lost too quick.

Thanks for your support.

[Colen]

pazuzu wrote:

> Can you give us a ballpark estimate on when monster classes will become
> usable?


Our intent is that they get implemented in the next couple of months.


> Also, is there a Hero Lab scripting for dummies document out
> there? All these tags, rules, bootstraps, etc., etc., descibed in the
> help tab really make my head hurt. I get lost too quick.


The d20 editor manual should answer some of these questions. Having an
specific introductory guide to scripting is a great idea - I'll add it
to the to do list.


Thanks!


--
Colen McAlister (colen@wolflair.com)
Chief Engineer, Lone Wolf Development
http://www.wolflair.com/