Printed output - what should we add?

[Colen]

Hey everyone,

Rob and I have been talking about user requests recently, and our thoughts have turned to printed output. We've made some improvements to this in the last few updates - adding the ability to print a list of memorized spells or spells in your spellbook, as well as some changes to the standard sheet - but there's a lot more we could do.

So it's to you, our users, that we turn. If you could change Hero Lab's printed output, what would you change it to? For example:

* "It'd be awesome if Hero Lab output X as well!"

* "If only there was space for me to write down my Y on the character sheet!"

* "I wish I could print out Z on a separate page!"

What do YOU want to see in the printouts? Anything is fair game - more information, less information, different information? Please let us know! We have a bunch of ideas ourselves, but we want to see what our community wants so we can prioritize things.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

[bodrin]

I would like a column or note page that has the breakdown of how the skill modifiers where arrived at.

E.G. Ability bonus + Ranks + Armour penalty + Encumbrance Penalty + Magic / Feat modifiers.

Just having the modified score without the rest of the information makes it harder to check in game when an effect cancels one or more of them out!

I would also like the program to have a tick option to generate starting gold for a first level character.

[RayPrancer]

My group normally only fills out page one of the PHB style sheets (the one with skills) - an option to print/create as pdf without feats, equipment, special abilities or spells would have the same effect, although the standard hero lab design appears to be superior to this.

In common with bodrin I'd like the breakdown of skill modifiers - although that doesn't mean that has to print for me, just be available to view somewhere .

[DaggerdaleDM]

I would like the option of printing a background page and a journal page.
The spell pages are getting more useful. Mounts, animal companions and familiars would be handy.

[Frodie]

Wound Point and Vitality Points

[chogenkiboy]

I definitely agree that a page with background info would be great as I use the Background Details field to store free form notes (since I haven’t found another place to store free form notes). I’d also like to see the “background” (or “notes”) page include feat descriptions and/or info from the Special Abilities tab.

I like the spell book print out. I recently added a spell from a supplement, and I noticed the “Description Text” information for SRD spells is extremely summarized in the Editor. I’m guessing this was done to keep the spell print outs with “Details Text” useful. I also noticed there is a “Summary Text” field that appears to be unused. I suggest the spell print outs leverage the Summary Text field instead of the Description Text field so that the entire spell text can be stored in the Description Text field.

Also, the naming convention for spell print outs in the Print Portfolio seems a bit counter intuitive. “Descriptions Only” includes all the fields I’d be inclined to classify as details. “Detail Text” includes what is labeled in the Editor as the “Description Text” field, though as I mentioned, I think “Summary Text” would be better. I suggest the Print Portfolio refer to “Details” and “Summaries”.

Another change to consider for the “Details and Summaries” print out is using the Range Tags values instead of Range Text, because I think most spells only include one range tag, and that would leave more room for other details in the print report lines.

[Colen]

chogenkiboy wrote:
>
>
> I definitely agree that a page with background info would be great as I
> use the Background Details field to store free form notes (since I
> haven’t found another place to store free form notes). I’d also like to
> see the “background” (or “notes”) page include feat descriptions and/or
> info from the Special Abilities tab.


We definitely plan on adding a background tab with background details,
gallery images, and so on. I think mixing that and the 'notes' page
would be a bad move (you don't always want them both together) but a
separate page for feat description & special abilities would also be good.


> I like the spell book print out. I recently added a spell from a
> supplement, and I noticed the “Description Text” information for SRD
> spells is extremely summarized in the Editor. I’m guessing this was done
> to keep the spell print outs with “Details Text” useful. I also noticed
> there is a “Summary Text” field that appears to be unused. I suggest the
> spell print outs leverage the Summary Text field instead of the
> Description Text field so that the entire spell text can be stored in
> the Description Text field.


That's a good idea, but it'd require us to import the full spell text
from the SRD. I'll see how much work would be involved in doing that.


> Also, the naming convention for spell print outs in the Print Portfolio
> seems a bit counter intuitive. “Descriptions Only” includes all the
> fields I’d be inclined to classify as details. “Detail Text” includes
> what is labeled in the Editor as the “Description Text” field, though as
> I mentioned, I think “Summary Text” would be better. I suggest the Print
> Portfolio refer to “Details” and “Summaries”.


Ironically we're using the text that the SRD uses to describe them, but
apparently it's as confusing to users as it is to us. How about
"Details" (for components etc) and "Effects" (for the description)?


> Another change to consider for the “Details and Summaries” print out is
> using the Range Tags values instead of Range Text, because I think most
> spells only include one range tag, and that would leave more room for
> other details in the print report lines.


I think that we need to include the full 'range' text, unfortunately,
because without them the spell details are incomplete and not very
useful. One thing I am going to try and do is shrink the text if it
doesn't fit, so you should see less cut off text once that's implemented.


Thanks,


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

[bodrin]

I think an option to print the Feats and their short descriptions would come in handy too!

[chogenkiboy]

Not sure how classify this output option, but a friend recently started an online campaign via a website that hosts games in a forum structure. I'd like to be able to post my character "sheet" to our campgain forum in text format (per the GM's request). One option might be a Save Text File Portfolio (I could copy and paste from the text file). Another option might be the ability to select and copy content directly from a HeroLab window so that it can be pasted elsewhere.

[Adro85]

I want to be able to print out all skills! We have added a lot of skills into the program and the character sheet will only print out so many skills. I would like the skills to carry over to page 2 if you have that many skills. I use the Jack of all trades feat witch makes it so all skills can be used trained or not. It would be nice if I could see all of these skills.