Monster Types and Subtypes

[bodrin]

I've started adding the Types and Subtypes from the Srd as i'm inputting templates that add the Fire and Cold Subtypes to the base creature, to save time i've decided to add them all so that any future templates can access the data without duplicating anything.

However both of the current templates that i'm adding have pre requisites.

The Necropyre Template can only be added to any incorporeal undead that does not possess the cold subtype and the Dark ice template can only be added to a Fey without the fire subtype.

How do i check for validity for the Fey, Incorporeal, undead, Fire and Cold types so the template shows valid or invalid when trying to add it to the base creature?

For the Fire Subtype I have stypFire asthe unique id and i've bootstrapped it to the Necropyre template apart from the missing validity messages it works fine.

The Dark Ice Creature template also adds 2 x Claw attacks with damage based upon size according to this list
Fine 1
Diminutive 1d2
Tiny 1d3
Small 1d4
Medium 1d6
Large 1d8
Huge 2d6
Gargantuan 3d6
Colossal 4d6

Or the base creatures claw damage whichever is higher!
How can I program this so the template adds the correct Claw damage to the character once added but to also check whether the Base Claw damage is better than the template claw damage therefore overriding the template claw damage and not showing on the Character.

All the rest of the Subtypes and types i'm adding will be identified with styp??? or typ???? to!

Also i've noticed the Vampire template in the DMG can only be added to Humanoid or Monstrous Humanoid creatures yet HL doesn't check for validity of these conditions.

I made a vampiric Porpoise just to check!
Is this an oversight or is it not available at all?

Addendum:-

I have looked through the Templates available in Hero Lab already, to see if I can glean how to program Claw attacks based upon size,The Skeleton Template pointed me in the right direction and I have managed to assign the NatSizeDmg tag to the wClaw Bootstrap tag field.

However I have noticed that all the templates seem to ignore the pre requisites other than alignment.

A Skeleton Octopus??? (No skeletal system)

I have seen the Monstrous Humanoid type listed on Dromites and Dopplegangers.Fey on Satyr, Aquatic subtype on Ogre (Merrow), Giant Type on Ogre and Outsider (Native) on Tiefling and the aberration type before I started to add them manually.

So there must be something already in the base code that allows validation commands to access these, how can I check the types if I can't see the code? Is there any chance that this can be documented in the help files?

 

[Mathias]

All the types (monstrous humanoid, undead, animal, etc.) are currently only text. They are not currently supported in HL. As you've seen, the existing templates rely on the user to decide where they can and can't be applied.

 

[bodrin]

All the types (monstrous humanoid, undead, animal, etc.) are currently only text. They are not currently supported in HL. As you've seen, the existing templates rely on the user to decide where they can and can't be applied.

So I'll have to add the types and subtypes manually to each race as and when required, daunting but not impossible.