Custom Character Record Sheets - Page 2

rob · December 9th, 2010, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadowChemosh

From what I got from Rob's and Colen's posts was that these custom sheets can be shared. Just like how .user files and portfolios can be shared. So hopefully a few people who can work with the XML layouts will create custom sheets and then share those with the community at large.

That's EXACTLY our plan.

Everyone has their own preference for character sheets. That's been true since I first started playing RPGs back in 1976 (yes, I've been gaming a LONG time). Whatever we come up with, some people will like it and others will hate it. Too much detail. Not enough detail. Too pedestrian. Too fancy. The best solution is to let gamers design their own sheets and share them. Then there can be an assortment from which people can choose, which means there will usually be something everyone feels is reasonable for their personal tastes.

Kinnakeeter · December 10th, 2010, 03:42 PM

Sounds reasonable to me. Y'all have always been good about listening to our concerns. Thanks for that and for doing what you can. 'Course if you include a tutorial on making them later on that's as good as all your other ones, I won't have too much of a problem on my own.

Ambush · December 13th, 2010, 06:20 AM

As far as the extensions go, how does that work? As I look into the generation of an XSLT file, there are multiple versions that I could use. Would I be able to use 2.0 or would I need to convert the XML using 1.1?

Theocrat · December 22nd, 2010, 10:37 AM

Hi All -
I've posted many times about how I dislike the character sheets as they are as well.
One thing that I'd like to see moved is the stats. After basic Character Creation, you don't use them in game so much - you use the bonuses and such, but to know you have a 15 Str isn't as important as weapon damage, feats or the stacking the one thing with another.
So what I've been doing for a long time now is using FoxIT PDF Editor and editing the PDF printout of the character sheet. Copy and Paste something to a back page, move the name and personal information further to the top of the page and giving more room to fit all my skills on one page (multiclass x4 gives me every single skill!).
Hope the idea of using a PDF editor helps to give you some sort of character sheet that you're looking for.
Theocrat Issak

Frodie · December 22nd, 2010, 12:26 PM

That's cool, sounds like a lot of work. IDK this has been kicking around for years. I would be great if we could do homemade sheets, but I have no xml skills, ( as you can see from some of may user files, lol). What would be cool it there was walk-through on how to edit the sheet in HL.

Dormflyn · January 11th, 2011, 03:51 PM

HL is the best at what it does in the industry. My ONLY concern is the lack of custom character sheets. I change the output into an image file (with some PDF tool) then cut and paste the sheet as needed. I would be very grateful for the ability to (at least) put the sections in an order that I would like. As is, the character sheet to chopped up for my taste. So, here is one more very satisfied customer asking for a more usable output sheet. Thanks!

Kinnakeeter · January 12th, 2011, 02:07 PM

Cutting and pasting from the PDF does not help me - there are too many problems with text and column overlap as well as instances where the entire description does not fit into whatever parameters are set with the default output and gets cut off or shunted to the back page in a catch-all kind of way that only makes sense if you know what it is.

This is really HeroLab's only failing. I find myself recommending it saying "This is an excellent program, but.... " I'm looking forward to the ability to change things myself, but I feel there's still a need for a re-vamp of the current sheet, which is what I've been asking for from the beginning. The pages are actually hard to read - columns really aren't delineated well nor do they convey the information needed in an easily read, itemized, possibly highlighted, and coherent document. Please Rob and everybody, would you consider this possiblity too?

thundershot · February 15th, 2011, 07:03 PM

I posted this in my own thread yesterday. Many racial and class abilities don't show up on the sheet, and several get cut off in mid-sentence. There really needs to be multiple pages for the character sheet...

Kinnakeeter Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The Graveyard of the Atlantic, North Carolina Posts: 86 December 10th, 2010, 03:42 PM	Sounds reasonable to me. Y'all have always been good about listening to our concerns. Thanks for that and for doing what you can. 'Course if you include a tutorial on making them later on that's as good as all your other ones, I won't have too much of a problem on my own.
#12

Ambush Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 121 December 13th, 2010, 06:20 AM	As far as the extensions go, how does that work? As I look into the generation of an XSLT file, there are multiple versions that I could use. Would I be able to use 2.0 or would I need to convert the XML using 1.1?
#13

Frodie Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 1,747 December 22nd, 2010, 12:26 PM	That's cool, sounds like a lot of work. IDK this has been kicking around for years. I would be great if we could do homemade sheets, but I have no xml skills, ( as you can see from some of may user files, lol). What would be cool it there was walk-through on how to edit the sheet in HL.
#15

thundershot Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Warren, OH Posts: 45 February 15th, 2011, 07:03 PM	I posted this in my own thread yesterday. Many racial and class abilities don't show up on the sheet, and several get cut off in mid-sentence. There really needs to be multiple pages for the character sheet...
#18