Summary Panel Redesign

[charlieluce]

On first look, I'd put the Specials tab right after the Skills & Feats, since I always have to move it over after I open the character anyway (seriously, class features and the like should be next to Feats, they do many of the same sorts of things). I'd also put the magic items above the mundane gear instead of vice-versa.

I also have a hard time telling the greyed out items from the regular black ones. Maybe lighten it up another shade, or add a touch of color one way or another?

[DarkHerald]

I like the new look and overall it works much better. I am just not fond of the heart and shield token where your HP and AC are displayed. I have never liked seen that type of thing on a character sheet. I prefer cirlces or squares that's just me

[artdude88]

Nice add, makes the info pops and easy to find.

[Xorial]

I love it. I hope this makes it into the Tactical Console. Some of it, anyway.

[RavenX]

Originally Posted by liz

As some of you may have saw, whether in our release notes or after opening Hero Lab, the Summary Panels have been redesigned.

What do you think about the redesign at first glance? How does the redesign affect your game play if you're using a computer with Hero Lab at the table?

We look forward to hearing your feedback!

It's a bit easier on the eyes than it was. I like the extra width and less panels too. I think this will make things easier in the long run. Looks wonderful to me so far.

[Galahan]

In general I liked, bu as a GM I liked to see the class/race and level in the Basics Summary Pannel.

Originally Posted by Jamz

One request, it would be nice to show active "conditions" in a panel (at the bottom, maybe before feats or something). Sometimes you check that "Fatigue" or "sickened" box and forget about it...

I agree. Maybe in the basics bottom.

[tahltwo]

Originally Posted by tahltwo

.
i've got interface design kung-fu. get in touch with me if interested in overhauling look-and-feel. herolabs could use a major update.

following up on my comments from above.

below is a drastic design direction, keeping many good usability considerations in existing interface layout.

some usability considerations in this comp:

• larger type for quick scan and legibility
• tabs are color-coded and clustered into similar contents
• more space around lots of bits of info to reduce visual clutter
• data clustered into blocks of similar info for quick-scan
• additional info (beginning with "skills" to the right of screen) intended to auto-hide on smaller viewing area, or when window is made smaller
• info block is flexible at bottom for any stat section that grows (e.g. feats; weapons; etc)
• secondary info grayed out to reduce distraction while quick-scanning but still available for viewing

feedback expected and welcomed! :-)

[Farling]

tahltwo, the picture should really be in a separate thread if you want comments on it.

I see that your screen is missing the In-Play column which is essential for seeing how many of the per-day uses I have left and the spells I have. I certainly don't need to see the full abilities table or complete table of movement rates in the summary columns.

[tahltwo]

Originally Posted by Farling

tahltwo, the picture should really be in a separate thread if you want comments on it.

as in the whole post, or just the image? as in create a new thread?

Originally Posted by Farling

I see that your screen is missing the In-Play column which is essential for seeing how many of the per-day uses I have left and the spells I have. I certainly don't need to see the full abilities table or complete table of movement rates in the summary columns.

good feedback. also as someone mentioned (which i saw after posting) that the conditions should be up front too.

[Exmortis]

Originally Posted by Jamz

First off, I like the new look of the panels. Even the white boxes (actually love em), so much easier finding what I need. In fact, I'd like the same for Initiative and Speed if possible.

One nit pick, it would be nice if it handled long text better. Long weapon text or when you get 3-4 attacks, the text can be too long and chop off. It can also loose spacing between the to hit numbers and damage dice (ie +11/+61d8+6). Even if I only show 3 panels, it's not enough room for weapon display.

On the weapons tab, It looks like it does a much better job wrapping long text but the "container button" can get pushed in the critical numbers area.

One request, it would be nice to show active "conditions" in a panel (at the bottom, maybe before feats or something). Sometimes you check that "Fatigue" or "sickened" box and forget about it...

Second request would be that HL still doesn't recognize input boxes for soft (or virtual) keyboards in windows 8.1. eg to enter HP damage, I have to click in the box, then click the keyboard button on the task bar, enter damage, close keyboard. It would be nice if it auto popped the soft keyboard straight to number pad and closed if you touch/clicked outside the input box.

Here are some screenshots from my Surface Pro 3. Note, I have modest screen scaling turned on at 150% (vs 200%) as it's a HDPI screen. I supplied another shot without scaling turn on (which causes HL to be way to small to be usable and a lot of wasted space).

As I use a Surface 3 Pro as well I was wondering what you were saying, then when I looked at your screenie's I understood, you really do scale up, I run default noscaling.

However for me I use the panels as "quick glance" only, when it comes time for skill checks, weapons, spells etc. I switch over to that tab, which may be why reading the panels is not such an issue, however I do like the view with it scaling somewhat. Going to play with this a little.