I'm sorry but,

[Zane_Marlowe]

Isn't the general practice to criticize a tool for not doing what it's supposed to do? How is it fair to criticize the tool for not doing something it didn't advertise that it would do? Honest question.

Also, have you read the product documentation? I poked at the software when I first got it, played with it a little, and realized that I'd need to read up a little to get how the program worked. I have, I now do, and it seems to do what it said it would do very well.

[BoomerET]

I'm actually glad he started this thread, it's actually shook us up and actually got me trying stuff.


BoomerET

[zarlor]

You can put links to things like websites in RealmWorks if you wanted to link to any web-based generators, should you need something like that. However, to me, I don't see that being the biggest thing a GM needs at all. What I find is mostly needed is the ability to annotate, on the fly, that drunken town guard whose name I had to quickly had to make up, and the information he gave the party. That, to me, is where Realm Works really shines. No mare losing the page in a notebook where I had the info written down previously and, once the player version is available, the ability for my players to look all of that up, too. Something particularly tough for us with 2 games a week rotating between 4 different games. And whenever we have to miss a night for some reason that means it could be several weeks between the last time we played someone's campaign and the reminders can be sorely needed.

I'd also add that when it comes to the hierarchical/organizational elements of Realm Works... yeah, it may not be the easiest thing to just jump right into, but like most things you only get out of it what you put into it. I will say having added into Realm Works an entire campaign setting from a published source that I was able to set the structure up almost exactly like it is in the book, but with all the bonuses of linked topics and such that Realm Works brings to the table. So I'm not too sure what the issue is there beyond just a lack of interest in trying to see how flexible Realm Works really is, maybe?

I might agree that it's not necessarily completely intuitive to jump into Realm Works, but that also appears to be a function of its incredible flexibility. Rather like the nature of the beast, if you will. Learning how to use a massively powerful tool like Photoshop isn't necessarily easy or intuitive either, but what can be accomplished once you've taken the time to learn it is simply phenomenal. I think Realm Works is software that falls under the same principle. It will take some work, but I think maybe you should give it a bit more time and effort, and do as others have suggested here and let us know where things don't seem to be working the way you want them to, and you may find it's a very strong application capable of a great deal more than you seem to think it can do now.

[pickin_grinnin]

As mentioned in another thread, I think a basic wizard to help new folks get started putting in the basics of a new realm would be very useful.

[MaxSupernova]

Originally Posted by pickin_grinnin

As mentioned in another thread, I think a basic wizard to help new folks get started putting in the basics of a new realm would be very useful.

But which way? There are multiple ways to do things. Which would the wizard do? How does it decide which way the person thinks might be best?

[BoomerET]

It's a wizard, I'm sure there's must be some spell depending on his level to read the thoughts of the user.
(Yes, this was an attempt at humor)

BoomerET

[Zaphod Beebledoc]

Originally Posted by BoomerET

It's a wizard, I'm sure there's must be some spell depending on his level to read the thoughts of the user.
(Yes, this was an attempt at humor)

BoomerET

Pa-dum-tish!

[Viral Platypus]

Originally Posted by pickin_grinnin

As mentioned in another thread, I think a basic wizard to help new folks get started putting in the basics of a new realm would be very useful.

Once the Marketplace goes up, I'm sure there will be plenty of examples to get people going. I'd even be willing to do up a quick example of a realm with a very short adventure and put it up as a way to do things.

[immotus]

This thing is making me nuts. So ... when you reveal a map isnt it supposed to be viewable in the player preview tab or what? All I see is a blank screen and I have the map revealed in the owning topic so I should be able to see it in the preview? Yes?

[MaxSupernova]

Originally Posted by immotus

This thing is making me nuts. So ... when you reveal a map isnt it supposed to be viewable in the player preview tab or what? All I see is a blank screen and I have the map revealed in the owning topic so I should be able to see it in the preview? Yes?

Click Help->Manual->Realm Works Quickstart Guide, then see pages 27 through 33. They talk you through exactly how to do what you want, with step by step instructions and highlighted screenshots of every step.

I think you really need to take some time to read the documentation.