Ipad first impressions

[ptinutz]

I have tested for the first time yesterday this app and it was really a pleasure to use. Most of the tiny details I would have change was said before so I will not enumerate it.

The only things that bored me is to update the file between the desktop and the ipad. My portfolio is on dropbox, like that my DM and me have access on it and it could be so nice, if it could all synchronise, non need to go to itunes and make many saves...

But otherwise great work...

 

[mxyzplk]

We're definitely planning to make some improvements to the dice roller, such as critical threats, etc. We may not automate everything to the extent your DM software does, but it's definitely important to show "critical threat" and make sure that people know they need to do whatever manually.

Are any damage dice (from Bane, flaming weapon, sneak attack, etc) multiplied as a result of a critical hit? From what I've read none of them are, but I want to double-check that. If that's the case, that would make it easier to correctly roll crit damage in Hero Lab.

That is correct, extra dice are never, ever multiplied with criticals, but all numerical bonuses (smite, etc.) are.

Do please keep up the "showing your work" in the dice rolling though, it makes it easy for us to work around non-covered cases. (Like, sometimes we use the Paizo Crit Deck instead of using the normal weapon multiplier - but as long as it shows the x1 damage vs the x2, x3, etc. damage it's easy enough to correct.)

 

[ShadowChemosh]

That is correct, extra dice are never, ever multiplied with criticals, but all numerical bonuses (smite, etc.) are.

Do please keep up the "showing your work" in the dice rolling though, it makes it easy for us to work around non-covered cases. (Like, sometimes we use the Paizo Crit Deck instead of using the normal weapon multiplier - but as long as it shows the x1 damage vs the x2, x3, etc. damage it's easy enough to correct.)

Yep agree with both statements 100%.

 

[Lorangriel]

For some reason I can't load any of my portfolios onto the ipad version. It crashes while loading them. I see them in the character select screen but once I try to click on them, I get the "loading for 20-30 seconds" alert and then I'm staring at my ipad backgrouond

 

[Mathias]

For some reason I can't load any of my portfolios onto the ipad version. It crashes while loading them. I see them in the character select screen but once I try to click on them, I get the "loading for 20-30 seconds" alert and then I'm staring at my ipad backgrouond

When this happened to me, I was able to fix it by power cycling my iPad (which clears a lot of things out of memory, freeing up enough memory for Hero Lab to actually store an entire character).

To actually turn an iPad off, rather than just putting it to sleep, hold down the power button for a few seconds, until a "slide to power off" option appears on the screen. Do so, wait a few seconds, and then turn the iPad on again.

 

[Lorangriel]

Thanks Mathias. I tried that already and it didn't help. Though After a couple of abortive attempts I was able to access my portfolio. I didn't do anything differently but it just decided to load it... Don't understand. But I guess understanding is not required (ONLY OBEDIENCE!! )

One thing I noticed about rolling is that critical hits (threats) and misses are not highlighted with weapons. It would be nice to make those more visible. The app knows what the crit modifyer of the weapons are. So the info is there.

 

[Nero Shade]

Played with this app last night. It took a bit for me to familiarize myself with it, but I had a few hours before the game and found everything was easy to read.

A few notes:
- In the Gear and Charges used it lists potions, feed for my mount, alchemical items and a single use magic item called Dweomer's Essence. It isn't listing wands or scrolls. I haven't tried out staffs. It only lists wands if I equip them, but it won't let me equip custom made wands. It would be helpful if it would show wands without equipping them. I don't really need to see scrolls, as those are one use and easy to find.

- When searching spells in the custom scroll screen it froze up and I had to manually shut off and reload the app. It did this a few times to me.

- I can't find the caster level check for over coming SR. I have a few bonuses for it and know what it is but it would be nice to see it somewhere.

- I really like that you put the Concentration check in each of the spells description.

- I like that I can add gear, make journal entries, make adjustments, and add in conditions. It does all this very smoothly.

- When I click on a scroll it doesn't tell me any of the spell information. It would be nice if it did.

- I love how health is handled.

- Nice smooth transition to other characters connected to the portfolio.

 

[Kotawolf]

I like it, but running into a problem... it won't load one of my custom classes.
Spell-Less ranger, keeps on saying source not found. The file is on www.cheeseweasel.net. So I'm not sure how to tell it, or if it is even possible to tell it to allow custom classes.

*Edit: Nevermind.. found the answer in another thread. Working well now.*
This could be fun.

 

[knight2142]

Thanks Mathias. I tried that already and it didn't help. Though After a couple of abortive attempts I was able to access my portfolio. I didn't do anything differently but it just decided to load it... Don't understand. But I guess understanding is not required (ONLY OBEDIENCE!! )

I've been running into the same problem. The other thing that happens is that a portfolio will load, and then i try to switch characters and it sends me back to my iPad home screen.

 

[mirtos]

The other thing that happens is that a portfolio will load, and then i try to switch characters and it sends me back to my iPad home screen.

Same here. (on the switching characters on a portfolio that is loaded) I thought it was because i had some sources that arent working right now. So i didnt post, but it always happens when i pick a second character.

 

[knight2142]

I've been running into the same problem. The other thing that happens is that a portfolio will load, and then i try to switch characters and it sends me back to my iPad home screen.

here is the portfolio that always has the issue...others have it sometimes.

 

[ShadowChemosh]

Superstition gives you situational bonuses, and our prefered method for those is simply to show them as part of the "tap info" for the saving throw. It's likely that a character will often have several conditional bonuses that might apply - isn't it better to show the base score for them and have the user add them up him/herself?

I would think that'd even be quicker than activating an ability from the list, looking at the value, then deactivating it - having to do that also increases the risk that you forget, and end up with a bonus to the save that you shouldn't have.

Let me just do it this way and give an example. Here is a pretty typical 9th level Nagaji barbarian with the Superstition ability. He is currently raging and is being affected by Inspire Courage and Bear's Endurance. He is wearing Cloak of Resistance +2, Ring of Protection +2, Amulet of Natural Armor +1, Torc of Lionheart Fury. I generated the character in a data set with no .user files so this is 100% HL output.

The DM says make a will save vs a Mind-effecting Fear spell. Here is the screen shot of the info you have in HL:

Anyone know what the final bonus is that is added to the will save? I am interested to know how many get this correct when they have plenty of time to think about it. Not including what happens at the game when you have 4 other people staring at you why you try and give a final result of your save.

I agree and have no problems with bonuses that are untyped being listed but when its a "Typed" bonus this is simply not working out in actual play. Having a player be forced to memorize such rules and have to apply it during the game is slowing down play. I have started to re-write these to be activated abilities instead and my players have been relieved that its just a click of a button away to get the right value to add to the d20.

Its not a huge deal for myself as I just re-write the stuff for my Shadow d20 package so its not something that I have to have. But I wanted to provide feedback from my players as I can't believe they are the only ones having issues at higher level with all the "conditional" bonuses and bonuses types.

 

[Lorangriel]

@ShadowChemosh, you get a +6 extra (+4 morale, +2 untyped) to add to your base +7 will save. That gives you a +13 to add to your d20.

However, I agree, the current mechanic is clunky and somewhat obtuse when it comes to bonuses.

Lorangriel.

 

[ShadowChemosh]

@ShadowChemosh, you get a +6 extra (+4 morale, +2 untyped) to add to your base +7 will save. That gives you a +13 to add to your d20.

Thank you very much. I am no way making fun of you here but that was the value I expected and its incorrect. +13 is not correct but is what I think most will come out too...

 

[bodrin]

Thank you very much. I am no way making fun of you here but that was the value I expected and its incorrect. +13 is not correct but is what I think most will come out too...

Expand and explain please. Why is it incorrect?

will save vs a Mind-effecting Fear spell

Highest morale bonus and untyped bonus applies as the modifiers (+4, +2 = +6)

The maths don't lie.

 

[ShadowChemosh]

Expand and explain please. Why is it incorrect?

will save vs a Mind-effecting Fear spell

Highest morale bonus and untyped bonus applies as the modifiers (+4, +2 = +6)

The maths don't lie.

I was waiting just a little bit before answering but I am happy too. The problem in this case is that its a Barbarian under the affects of Rage. "While in rage, a barbarian gains a +4 morale bonus to her Strength and Constitution, as well as a +2 morale bonus on Will saves."

So the problem is that HL has already added in +2 Morale bonus to the save as its ALL the time and not situational. So the final value is really +11 as you don't get +4 from Superstition as we already have +2 so its only increasing the amount by 2 more. We get the +2 from the untyped and get a final answer of +11.

The problem here is that some of the "typed" bonuses are already included in the total with no information for the player to see. So I go back to if you don't have the rules 100% memorized you never would catch the fact that your already getting a morale bonus from Rage.

The issue just increases as you gain levels and get more buff spells and magic items. This why I am arguing that situational "typed" bonuses need a check box so that the final correct value is calculated for the player. That is the power of software to make these kind of detailed decisions for us.

Another option is that the FULL list of "Typed" bonuses be displayed in HL software and then a player could at least make a more informed calculation. Really though for the more casual player that could still be too much.

 

[Globetrotter]

that is super confusing... and a really great example.

I know the rules pretty well, and I even forgot about the stacking moral bonuses... I originally just added them all together... which was a very high value, lol.
All the players at my table do not know the rules that well. If we were all back in high school and that is all we did, that would be one thing. Many of us only review the rules when we have to.

The magic of the program is it remembers the things you do not. We substitute money, in this case, for spending the time to remember.

I wonder if the best way would be to only display the highest bonus. I mean, the calculations already do this, why can't the text parallel what the math is doing.

 

[ShadowChemosh]

A note as this confused the heck out of me for awhile. The new ability for the iPad to delete the characters you have to swipe to the LEFT. Swiping to the RIGHT does NOT WORK. Swipe to the LEFT and it works fine.

 

[Globetrotter]

I finally had a chance to use this app at my gaming table... It worked beautifully.

Regarding my previous concerns of switching weapons... yes, it's a pain, lol.
Why can't use use the check boxes instead of the dropdown box?

We use that with the armor, why not weapons. You can have two boxes, one for one hand and one for both, or off hand, just like the desktop app.

That would speed things up.

I am happy with the app so far and I am glad to know it will just keep getting better

I am really looking forward to the full version so I can run combats from it.

 

[howardb3]

I really like the app. I played at a local con with the initial version, I ran 4 different characters and all went very well.

Last night though, I ran my Kingmaker characters (16th level Bard and his 14th cohort wizard) in a single portfolio with the latest version. I had many crashes.

I've submitted a bug report via e-mail.