Hero Lab Online and Starfinder Q&A

[TemporalVengeance]

Q: If I migrate to Hero Lab Online, can I come back to Hero Lab Classic?
A: You won’t have to leave at all! Even if you migrate to Hero Lab Online, you’ll be able to continue using everything you have in Hero Lab Classic.

So, the FAQ says that you'll still be able to use HLC if you migrated to HLO, but my question is will future dataset purchases on systems available for both apps be cross-platform? For instance, if I migrate and then pick up a bestiary for Pathfinder will I have access to that bestiary in BOTH HLO and HLC or just HLO since I migrated?

 

[ShadowChemosh]

So, the FAQ says that you'll still be able to use HLC if you migrated to HLO, but my question is will future dataset purchases on systems available for both apps be cross-platform? For instance, if I migrate and then pick up a bestiary for Pathfinder will I have access to that bestiary in BOTH HLO and HLC or just HLO since I migrated?

From my understanding the underlying logic of HL is not changing in any major way at all. Only the UI portion of HLO and HLC are different.

In example a "Feat" once scripted does NOT care about UI components of HL so it would work in both HLO and HLC the exact same way. Same for equipment, spells, classes, etc....

Meaning you buy the dataset once and can use it in both HLO and HLC. Well as long as you are paying the subscription fee for HLO of course.

 

[Parody]

So are you guys going a con every weekend or something?

I go to six cons a year and average one store or other location without wifi game night per week. At times I've also had weekly or biweekly campaigns in similar locations, though at the moment I am not in one.

I also occasionally work on my campaigns and characters at a family farm where there is effectively no internet or cellular service. (I'm more of a late person while they're early folks, so there's always time in the evenings when I'm wired and they're conked out. Still, getting away from the electronics while visiting family is nice. :)

 

[Toblakai]

I go to six cons a year and average one store or other location without wifi game night per week. At times I've also had weekly or biweekly campaigns in similar locations, though at the moment I am not in one.

I also occasionally work on my campaigns and characters at a family farm where there is effectively no internet or cellular service. (I'm more of a late person while they're early folks, so there's always time in the evenings when I'm wired and they're conked out. Still, getting away from the electronics while visiting family is nice. :)

Do the six cons or stores all have spotty wifi or cell coverage? It just feels this is a non-issue overall. You know when you are going to a con, so using HLC is perfectly reasonable or printing a sheet before you go. Needing HeroLab online on a farm with no wifi is again a non-issue, it's not like your going to be joining a game in the middle of no-where

HLO in my opinion is good for 2 groups of people, those that play with a group of friends consistently not a random group of people (cons, PFS, pick up groups at stores), and those that want to use a form factor other than iPad or Windows device.

There may end up being a third group, those that prefer the UI, and stop using HLC whenever possible.

 

[EightBitz]

So, the FAQ says that you'll still be able to use HLC if you migrated to HLO, but my question is will future dataset purchases on systems available for both apps be cross-platform? For instance, if I migrate and then pick up a bestiary for Pathfinder will I have access to that bestiary in BOTH HLO and HLC or just HLO since I migrated?

According to the FAQ, yes. Any systems that are currently supported in HLC will continue to be supported and expanded. So if a new bestiary comes out for Pathfinder, and you purchase that bestiary, you will have it available for both HLO and HLC.

New core systems, however, will only be available for HLO. This includes Starfinder.

 

[Parody]

Do the six cons or stores all have spotty wifi or cell coverage? ...

For cons it's a coin flip depending on the convention and the location within the convention. Most stores around here do not offer WiFi; cell coverage is generally OK but not always.

As far as the farm goes: I have to update my Paperwork Society characters sometime. Why not when I know I have downtime? :)

The point is that I always assume network access won't be available at these places for safety. That lowers the utility of an online-only service. While desktop Hero Lab will work fine for now, we already know at least one system won't be available for it.

In any case, you asked a question. Don't dismiss the answers out of hand.

 

[Toblakai]

For cons it's a coin flip depending on the convention and the location within the convention. Most stores around here do not offer WiFi; cell coverage is generally OK but not always.

As far as the farm goes: I have to update my Paperwork Society characters sometime. Why not when I know I have downtime? :)

The point is that I always assume network access won't be available at these places for safety. That lowers the utility of an online-only service. While desktop Hero Lab will work fine for now, we already know at least one system won't be available for it.

In any case, you asked a question. Don't dismiss the answers out of hand.

Wasn't trying to dismiss, as I said I think the audience for HLO is different. If you play PFS, the biggest feature I am looking forward to in HLO, group management, is pointless.

So if you mostly play PFS (or whatever the 5E equivalent is) or at cons, HLO is probably not the tool for you, unless you want to play on a cellphone or android tablet. I play one con a year and wifi/cell coverage is fine, but its a small con.

I agree that HLC should support Starfinder, I'm still hoping they find the time to do that too. But priority wise, I would rather see party loot management and other party based features first.

 

[kbs666]

Do the six cons or stores all have spotty wifi or cell coverage? It just feels this is a non-issue overall. You know when you are going to a con, so using HLC is perfectly reasonable or printing a sheet before you go. Needing HeroLab online on a farm with no wifi is again a non-issue, it's not like your going to be joining a game in the middle of no-where

HLO in my opinion is good for 2 groups of people, those that play with a group of friends consistently not a random group of people (cons, PFS, pick up groups at stores), and those that want to use a form factor other than iPad or Windows device.

There may end up being a third group, those that prefer the UI, and stop using HLC whenever possible.

You dismissing the fact that games like Starfinder will only be available on HLO. People who play that will have zero choice on what they use.

 

[Toblakai]

You dismissing the fact that games like Starfinder will only be available on HLO. People who play that will have zero choice on what they use.

Not totally true, they always have a choice of paper or the other crappy HL clone. But I already said I hope they do a HLC version.

 

[Tarmor]

In a good year I get to a couple of regional cons as well as GenCon plus several gaming nights at game shops. Since those involve a lot of travel and expense having them ruined by something like my character sheet would suck.

I haven't been to a Con for quite a number of years... even so, surely you can still use a paper character sheet, or is an online/digital version the only way to allowed? Or maybe there's a new con-effect where bad wifi now damages pre-printed characters!

 

[MNBlockHead]

Regarding potential wifi issues at conventions and game stores. I find access to convenient places to charge devices to be a much bigger issue. Whether online or off, I ALWAYS bring printouts, just in case.

If no wifi, I have my cell data plan and mobile hotspot functionality.
If no wifi AND no cell network, I have HLC
I carry a backup brick that I've used to charge three iPads and two iPhone with heavy use on US to Taiwan trips, but if it runs out of juice or stops working, or my computer does, then I have paper.

As long as you can PRINT your character sheets, I don't care if it's always online. In my experience power issues or software/hardware failures are a bigger concern.

So while I am a bit dismissive of the issue, still, I *DO* think that there should be a way to make it work offline. I know DnD Beyond is working on offline access and they are 100% browser based. I'm not sure if they are going to develop an app that will cache content to the mobile device or use the technology available in some browser that allows you to work in the web app offline, similar to some Google Apps products.

 

[DeltaMasterMind]

I haven't been to a Con for quite a number of years... even so, surely you can still use a paper character sheet, or is an online/digital version the only way to allowed? Or maybe there's a new con-effect where bad wifi now damages pre-printed characters!

Lel, I mirror this sentiment.

 

[Jamz]

Re "Con" use, I'll give my 2 cents playing at GenCon where Hero Labs has "stations" to use to create characters for PFS play.

So yes, is it possible to use "paper", sure. BUT If I wanted to use paper, why would I need HLO?

And WiFi access at GenCon is NOT a thing. Of course, for a big con, it would be pretty cool if the powers to be brought in some wifi routers for public use "maybe your PFS ticket gets you a wifi password for that day?" Hell, they could even limit rate the internet access to throttle anything NOT going to HLO servers...

ANYhoo, Power is now an issue. Lets say I use my mobile hotspot or have WiFi. I may need 6-10 hours of laptop time (back to back games). That's easy on my surface, I just turn wifi off and it lasts me all day.

NOW, unless I have "offline" access, I need to turn WiFi on my laptop which seriously cramps my battery life...

For SFS play, I don't see needing all the HLO stuff for GM->Player connectivity or leveling, I *JUST* want to be able to add negative levels, buffs, conditions to my character. The last thing you want to do at level 8+ is do math!

 

[kbs666]

Battery issues, I solved that with a good battery bank. My laptop, just running HLC is good for 5 to 6 hours. My battery bank charges it for 3 to 4 additional hours. Since I'm not one of those guys who sits in the PFS hall All day that's more than enough for me.

If I went to my tablet that same battery bank would probably charge that tablet, depending on how much HLO does transmit and how graphically intense it is for well in excess of 12 hours.

Regarding printed character sheets, printed sheets cannot apply buffs and debuffs from a table full of players and the GM. Further the absolute last thing I want to try to do in the middle of a con is to level up a character on a printed sheet. The entire reason I own HL is to make that sort of thing easy. Pathfinder and D&D have simply gotten too complex to expect people to do that sort of thing by hand and get it right consistently.

From a GM's perspective I had to put my foot down about this. The last 2 players in my game who didn't use HL never had accurate character sheets. Correcting their characters after they tried to level up was taking a significant amount of my time at the table when it should have been a simple matter of them making a few decisions in HL.

I like the tactical console and being able to design/store encounters as a .por file but I could live without that stuff. What matters the most to me is the character management side. Happy players are players who keep coming back and HL makes player's lives easier.

 

[Ualaa]

Our group has the "official" version of their characters built within my Hero Lab; I'm the only one with the entire program.
One of them is on disability, and essentially has zero extra income; another player doesn't even have a computer of his own...

Within classic, I have a portfolio for the Heroes.
Usually 4-6 characters.

I load a portfolio with the bad guys, for a given encounter.

We were using the Tactical Console, and dice.
We are in the transition of using d20Pro's VTT for this (still a Face-to-Face game, with real dice rolls).
The VTT will be the initiative tracker, and a visual representation of the assorted battlemaps (and Realm Works, for handouts -- via Player View, and behind the scenes campaign management).
Dice rolls will still be done.
Characters will still be made and leveled up within HL.
The extra step will be importing them to d20Pro, with relative defenses and hit points being the only really relevant details.



For HLO, can I manage (mechanically track buffs, class features, etc) the entire party and have group buffs applied appropriately, etc?

Another concern is the credit card only; I don't use credit cards, but would a Visa Debit Card work?

 

[DeltaMasterMind]

Another concern is the credit card only; I don't use credit cards, but would a Visa Debit Card work?

I can attest that any card with the Visa or Mastercard attachment can be used for the purchase. So bank cards with one of the logos will be acceptable.

 

[Paragon]

I can attest that any card with the Visa or Mastercard attachment can be used for the purchase. So bank cards with one of the logos will be acceptable.

It is, however, generally a dangerous practice to use debit cards over the Web.

 

[Aaron]

It is, however, generally a dangerous practice to use debit cards over the Web.

Really? I've never heard that. Why is it dangerous?

 

[EightBitz]

Really? I've never heard that. Why is it dangerous?

Some vendors have poor security. Hell, the news just broke that Equifax got hacked. I think debit cards have also historically suffered from a lack of the types of fraud protections that credit cards have had. I think that's been changing, though.

However, there's no guarantee that using a credit card in-store is any safer. Case in point, Target being hacked a while back. I've also heard cases of people getting hit with fraudulent charges after using their cards at restaurants and in cabs.

Unfortunately, we live in a time where "the good guys" have not been serious enough about security (even cars can now be hacked and remotely controlled), and consumers have fewer and fewer choices about opting out.

Keep in mind, I'm offering a general answer here. I'm not putting all of this on LWD. I can't say if LWD is any better off or worse off than any other company. I don't have that level of knowledge.

My bank offers the equivalent of a pre-paid debit card, but with no fees. Whenever I want to make an online purchase, I transfer the amount to that card and make the purchase with that card. If anyone hacks that card, they won't get much. They'll just get the equivalent of pocket change.

What worries me more than anything else right now is the Equifax hack.

 

[daplunk]

To be fair... if someone hacks my debit card they won't get much either