Senior Member
Lone Wolf Staff
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 8,232
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We just released V1.0e, and this new update includes the ability to
edit classes. It also includes a few bug fixes and a healthy start at complete documentation for data file writing. *** PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING!!! *** Before you go running off to grab this new update, there are a number of important details you need to be aware of, whether you are just a user or are also interested in writing data files. You'll find the complete details in the readme file and the FAQ for the d20 data files, but the following are the most critical items. 1. Due to changes necessitated by the editing enhancements, the user-specified text for certain special abilities will be lost when you load a saved portfolio from V1.0d. The specific abilities are the Archmage and Hierophant spell-like abilities, plus the Rogue Skill Mastery. Consequently, this text will have to be re-entered. Sorry! 2. PDF Output is now operational. You'll need to go to the Updates mechanism and retrieve the PDF Plug-In listed there. Once it is installed, HL should recognized it and start allowing you to print to PDF. [Note: You might need to restart HL in some cases, but not usually.] 3. Due to changes required to the editing of special abilities, any thing previously added as a "Charge" will not appear. One option is to delete any such things in V1.0d and then re-add then in V1.0e. A better option is to open your data files in a text editor (e.g. Notepad) and make a minor change to the files manually. For each thing that has its "compset" attribute assigned as "Charge", change the attribute to "Special". Save your changes and exit the text editor. Now load the data files into Hero Lab and open the editor. On the "Specials" tab, make sure the "Is Charge?" entry is checked. This will convert your special ability over to the new way of handling them. 4. The way that charges and special abilities are marked as 'available' has been changed. The 'xMakeAvail' procedure no longer does anything - instead you can mark things as always available using checkboxes in the editor, or assign tags via scripts to achieve that purpose. 5. In the editor, every type of thing can now have arbitrary 'user' tags assigned to it. This will make it easy to accomplish a variety of objectives that weren't previously possible via the editor. 6. In the editor, we had to change how feats are assigned as bonus feats for different classes. Old feats will continue to work with the new mechanisms, but you may prefer to convert them over to the new method. 7. The class editing is not completed yet, but this release represents a major milestone towards that goal. You are not yet able to create a spellcaster, but all other class types should be fine. We've added some new stuff to the engine that will make spellcasters must easier to add, but it requires we completely re-work all existing spellcasters to use this new stuff. We don't have that finished yet, but you can expect it relatively soon. 8. The way that new classes are added will be going through another round of refinement shortly. When that happens, some of the seemingly redundant tasks will go away and adding the new class will be even easier. In fact, if we can accomplish what we've got planned, it will be downright trivial to do all but the most complex of classes. 9. You'll find a tutorial on how to add your own class in the d20 System data files, as well as some additional new documentation on editing files. This material will be expanded significantly for the next update in which we continue to evolve the editing mechanism. 10. The Authoring Kit documentation has a detailed explanation of many of the fundamental concepts involved in data file editing. This includes an indepth discussion of tags and how to use them. It also includes complete details on writing scripts. As you utilize the editing mechanisms, please offer your suggestions for how to make things even easier. We'll be iteratively refining everything over the next few weeks, so give us your ideas and we'll see if we can incorporate those ideas in an upcoming release. More complex tasks may end up on the todo list for further in the future, but we'd love to hear any ideas you've got. Colen and I will both be monitoring the forums over the next few days in order to answer questions about all this new stuff. So dive in and let us know what you think! Thanks, Rob --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rob Bowes (rob@wolflair.com) (408) 927-9880 Lone Wolf Development www.wolflair.com |
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