new to editor (and scripting) Custom weapon proficiency

[Ixera]

Hi, I'm new to the editor and to scripting, honestly I'm having a tough time learning so explain this like I'm five please, thanks.

I'm editing the Exotic Weapon proficiency feat to add to a new class. Basically I want the class to be able to pick one weapon to be proficient with at level 1 from a custom group of weapons: ie longsword, mace, dagger etc.

The new feat based on the Exotic weapon prof feat should work pretty much the same the same script wise (minus the +1 BAB requirement) [I think ] except have the list restricted to a select number of things/weapons.

I'm kind of stuck

keep in mind I dont have much experience with hero lab so you may have to walk me through it.

let me know if you need more explanation of what I'm trying to do

 

[EightBitz]

Tools > Show Editor
File > New Data File (or if you want use an existing one, then Open Data File)

At the top tier of tabs, where you see General, Campaign, etc, you should be on "General".

On the tier below that, select the "Feat" tab.

Near the bottom left of the window, click "New (Copy)"

Near the top of the new window, where it says "Type here to search", type the word "exotic".

You'll see a list of exotic weapon proficiencies. If you just want the basic one, select the top one "Exotic Weapon Proficiency (fExoticWep)". Double click it.

Give it a different name and a different Unique Id. Leave the "f" at the beginning to indicate it's a feat.

On the right-hand side of the window, you'll see two columns of blue buttons. In the first column is one labeled "Expr-reqs". Click that.

In the new window, click on the circled x to delete it, and click yes and OK.

Now, in the center part of the window, you'll see a whole bunch of stuff. Keep scrolling down in that area until you see "Select From..."

The current selection will be "Exotic Weapons". Click in that field, and you'll see the full list of categories you can choose from. If those don't suit your needs, you'll have to be more specific about how you want to limit the allowed weapons.

When you're done, click "Save" in the bottom left, then select "Save" from the file menu, and save it as a .user file.

Then close the editor window, and in the main Hero Lab window, click "File", then "Switch Game System", and load Hero Lab back up. This will recompile the files, and your new feat should now be available.

 

[ShadowChemosh]

keep in mind I dont have much experience with hero lab so you may have to walk me through it.

Unlike EightBitz I feel people teaching themselves works way better in the long run. This way next time you don't have to come to the boards and 'beg' someone to give you steps.

With that in mind I would recommend reading the Glossary of Terms for the Editor. Then check out FAQ#2 for all the places to learn about the editor including YouTube videos.

 

[Ixera]

Unlike EightBitz I feel people teaching themselves works way better in the long run. This way next time you don't have to come to the boards and 'beg' someone to give you steps.

With that in mind I would recommend reading the Glossary of Terms for the Editor. Then check out FAQ#2 for all the places to learn about the editor including YouTube videos.

I completely agree with you, I'm not trying to beg for an answer I am genuinely trying to learn hl scripting engine, however I learn better by example and by following other examples. I learn better by actually doing when it comes to these things, and I was frustrated that I could not get results on my own with my limited knowledge and the lack of material on hero lab.

I have watched the videos you have referenced and I have looked through the wiki, though I still have a lot of confusion.

Thank you both for your replies

 

[Ixera]

The current selection will be "Exotic Weapons". Click in that field, and you'll see the full list of categories you can choose from. If those don't suit your needs, you'll have to be more specific about how you want to limit the allowed weapons.

I understand how to edit a feat and how to get it in game, my problem was I don't know how to limit the choices in the list of Exotic weapons to one or two or three choices besides the whole list of exotic weapons.

for example

making a "Peasant weapon proficiency" with ONE choices of either mallet, club, pitchfork, mining pick etc.

so if i add these 'peasant weapons' to the exotic weapon prof list and edit the exotic weapon prof feat to become a new feat "Peasant weapon prof" how do I make the selection limited to 'peasant weapons'.

more directly if I wanted to create a exotic weapon proficiency feat that let you choose from ONLY one or two weapons in the exotic weapon prof category, how would I limit its selection when the player chooses the feat?

or how do I make a new category in the field drop down list in the step above in the quote.

I should have been more specific, my apologies.

 

[ShadowChemosh]

making a "Peasant weapon proficiency" with ONE choices of either mallet, club, pitchfork, mining pick etc.

so if i add these 'peasant weapons' to the exotic weapon prof list and edit the exotic weapon prof feat to become a new feat "Peasant weapon prof" how do I make the selection limited to 'peasant weapons'.

more directly if I wanted to create a exotic weapon proficiency feat that let you choose from ONLY one or two weapons in the exotic weapon prof category, how would I limit its selection when the player chooses the feat?

or how do I make a new category in the field drop down list in the step above in the quote.

I should have been more specific, my apologies.

You need to write a Custom Expression. I put together a post for the 5e guys HERE all about it. Read that over as its for "spells" but the main concept is going to be the same. Especially the part about how to "find" the tags you need to construct it.

Please note 5e is built upon the logic in Pathfinder so the above post will work just as well for Pathfinder as 5e.

 

[ShadowChemosh]

Another way to figure this stuff out is to do a 'New (Copy)' vs an existing feat that does something similar. In this case Rapid Reload feat presents a sub-set of only Crossbows in the dropdown.

 

[EightBitz]

Unlike EightBitz I feel people teaching themselves works way better in the long run. This way next time you don't have to come to the boards and 'beg' someone to give you steps.

With that in mind I would recommend reading the Glossary of Terms for the Editor. Then check out FAQ#2 for all the places to learn about the editor including YouTube videos.

Don't get me wrong here, Shadow ... I have a great deal of respect for your contributions to the community packs and to the forums, but there have been so many times when I've been at that ELI5 level of frustration, and just wanted one, kind person to give me one, simple explanation.

When I saw the ELI5 request, I knew exactly how he felt.

Though, your links to videos and such are great references for further learning. Don't get me wrong on that, either.

 

[ShadowChemosh]

Don't get me wrong here, Shadow ... I have a great deal of respect for your contributions to the community packs and to the forums, but there have been so many times when I've been at that ELI5 level of frustration, and just wanted one, kind person to give me one, simple explanation.

When I saw the ELI5 request, I knew exactly how he felt.

Though, your links to videos and such are great references for further learning. Don't get me wrong on that, either.

Yeah its a little difference is all. I am more happy to help when a person says they have already tried X,Y,Z. Basically a person who just needs a nudge in the right direction. A person posting a script and saying they are getting "error" X please help they don't understand I will happily get them an answer as soon as I can.

But if I see a post that "whines" or "bitches" or just wants to be given the script then my help is pretty much give links to the FAQ and videos. I guess I am getting "jaded" and I have learned those sort of people don't really want help. They just want to complain.

Once Ixera came back and said "hey I used those and still need a little help to get started" then I am more willing to help. But initially I did take his post incorrectly and I just posted the links to the videos.

I am happy to show people "how to fish" but I simply don't have the time or energy to do the fishing. In addition the amount of "help" on the forums, editor help, and videos is 10 times what I had when I started. Can it still be improved of course. But still SO many more examples of script just in this forum. Do a search in this forum and pretty much you can find a script example for ANYTHING.

 

[talsharien]

Just to add my bit to this post, persist with the editor and don't give up. It is very daunting when you first start using it but within a couple of years you will become more than proficient. Looking back through my history of posts I could be accused of 'whining' in the past but it gets easier.

Always try to find an example of what you want to do in an existing class and learn the science behind it