• Please note: In an effort to ensure that all of our users feel welcome on our forums, we’ve updated our forum rules. You can review the updated rules here: http://forums.wolflair.com/showthread.php?t=5528.

    If a fellow Community member is not following the forum rules, please report the post by clicking the Report button (the red yield sign on the left) located on every post. This will notify the moderators directly. If you have any questions about these new rules, please contact support@wolflair.com.

    - The Lone Wolf Development Team

Printed output - what should we add?

C

Colen

Ex-Staff
Hey everyone,

Rob and I have been talking about user requests recently, and our thoughts have turned to printed output. We've made some improvements to this in the last few updates - adding the ability to print a list of memorized spells or spells in your spellbook, as well as some changes to the standard sheet - but there's a lot more we could do.

So it's to you, our users, that we turn. If you could change Hero Lab's printed output, what would you change it to? For example:

* "It'd be awesome if Hero Lab output X as well!"

* "If only there was space for me to write down my Y on the character sheet!"

* "I wish I could print out Z on a separate page!"

What do YOU want to see in the printouts? Anything is fair game - more information, less information, different information? Please let us know! We have a bunch of ideas ourselves, but we want to see what our community wants so we can prioritize things.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!
 
I would like a column or note page that has the breakdown of how the skill modifiers where arrived at.

E.G. Ability bonus + Ranks + Armour penalty + Encumbrance Penalty + Magic / Feat modifiers.

Just having the modified score without the rest of the information makes it harder to check in game when an effect cancels one or more of them out!

I would also like the program to have a tick option to generate starting gold for a first level character.:D
 
My group normally only fills out page one of the PHB style sheets (the one with skills) - an option to print/create as pdf without feats, equipment, special abilities or spells would have the same effect, although the standard hero lab design appears to be superior to this.

In common with bodrin I'd like the breakdown of skill modifiers - although that doesn't mean that has to print for me, just be available to view somewhere .
 
I would like the option of printing a background page and a journal page.
The spell pages are getting more useful. Mounts, animal companions and familiars would be handy.
 
I definitely agree that a page with background info would be great as I use the Background Details field to store free form notes (since I haven’t found another place to store free form notes). I’d also like to see the “background” (or “notes”) page include feat descriptions and/or info from the Special Abilities tab.

I like the spell book print out. I recently added a spell from a supplement, and I noticed the “Description Text” information for SRD spells is extremely summarized in the Editor. I’m guessing this was done to keep the spell print outs with “Details Text” useful. I also noticed there is a “Summary Text” field that appears to be unused. I suggest the spell print outs leverage the Summary Text field instead of the Description Text field so that the entire spell text can be stored in the Description Text field.

Also, the naming convention for spell print outs in the Print Portfolio seems a bit counter intuitive. “Descriptions Only” includes all the fields I’d be inclined to classify as details. “Detail Text” includes what is labeled in the Editor as the “Description Text” field, though as I mentioned, I think “Summary Text” would be better. I suggest the Print Portfolio refer to “Details” and “Summaries”.

Another change to consider for the “Details and Summaries” print out is using the Range Tags values instead of Range Text, because I think most spells only include one range tag, and that would leave more room for other details in the print report lines.
 
chogenkiboy wrote:
>
>
> I definitely agree that a page with background info would be great as I
> use the Background Details field to store free form notes (since I
> haven’t found another place to store free form notes). I’d also like to
> see the “background” (or “notes”) page include feat descriptions and/or
> info from the Special Abilities tab.


We definitely plan on adding a background tab with background details,
gallery images, and so on. I think mixing that and the 'notes' page
would be a bad move (you don't always want them both together) but a
separate page for feat description & special abilities would also be good.


> I like the spell book print out. I recently added a spell from a
> supplement, and I noticed the “Description Text” information for SRD
> spells is extremely summarized in the Editor. I’m guessing this was done
> to keep the spell print outs with “Details Text” useful. I also noticed
> there is a “Summary Text” field that appears to be unused. I suggest the
> spell print outs leverage the Summary Text field instead of the
> Description Text field so that the entire spell text can be stored in
> the Description Text field.


That's a good idea, but it'd require us to import the full spell text
from the SRD. I'll see how much work would be involved in doing that.


> Also, the naming convention for spell print outs in the Print Portfolio
> seems a bit counter intuitive. “Descriptions Only” includes all the
> fields I’d be inclined to classify as details. “Detail Text” includes
> what is labeled in the Editor as the “Description Text” field, though as
> I mentioned, I think “Summary Text” would be better. I suggest the Print
> Portfolio refer to “Details” and “Summaries”.


Ironically we're using the text that the SRD uses to describe them, but
apparently it's as confusing to users as it is to us. How about
"Details" (for components etc) and "Effects" (for the description)?


> Another change to consider for the “Details and Summaries” print out is
> using the Range Tags values instead of Range Text, because I think most
> spells only include one range tag, and that would leave more room for
> other details in the print report lines.


I think that we need to include the full 'range' text, unfortunately,
because without them the spell details are incomplete and not very
useful. One thing I am going to try and do is shrink the text if it
doesn't fit, so you should see less cut off text once that's implemented.


Thanks,


--
Colen McAlister (colen@wolflair.com)
Chief Engineer, Lone Wolf Development
http://www.wolflair.com/
 
Not sure how classify this output option, but a friend recently started an online campaign via a website that hosts games in a forum structure. I'd like to be able to post my character "sheet" to our campgain forum in text format (per the GM's request). One option might be a Save Text File Portfolio (I could copy and paste from the text file). Another option might be the ability to select and copy content directly from a HeroLab window so that it can be pasted elsewhere.
 
I want to be able to print out all skills! We have added a lot of skills into the program and the character sheet will only print out so many skills. I would like the skills to carry over to page 2 if you have that many skills. I use the Jack of all trades feat witch makes it so all skills can be used trained or not. It would be nice if I could see all of these skills.
 
Just want to make another plug for an option to print background info... I still use the Background Details field to store free form notes, especially information not included in the Standard Character Sheet (I copy and paste it to another document when I print the character sheet to take to a game).

Thanks!
 
Because some skills with more than 5 ranks provide situational synergy bonuses, like the Use Rope synergy bonus to Climb checks made while using ropes, it'd be really handy to have this show up on the character sheet somewhere.

Right now, so far as I can tell, the info is only included in the feat description, which isn't very useful if you're playing off of the character sheet. Maybe just a small box under the list of skills that lists any situational skill synergy bonuses.
 
Equipment bonuses to skills might also be cool, like having Masterwork Thieve's Tools or or a Healer's Kit equipped...
 
chogenkiboy wrote:
>
>
> Not sure how classify this output option, but a friend recently started
> an online campaign via a website that hosts games in a forum structure.
> I'd like to be able to post my character "sheet" to our campgain forum
> in text format (per the GM's request). One option might be a Save Text
> File Portfolio (I could copy and paste from the text file). Another
> option might be the ability to select and copy content directly from a
> HeroLab window so that it can be pasted elsewhere.


This is already possible - go to File menu -> Output Portfolio Summary,
and you'll be able to save a text summary of your hero. You can also
save as a PDF if you want something to just attach to a forum post.

Hope this helps,

--
Colen McAlister, colen@wolflair.com
Chief Engineer, Lone Wolf Development
 
Adro85 wrote:
>
>
> I want to be able to print out all skills! We have added a lot of skills
> into the program and the character sheet will only print out so many
> skills. I would like the skills to carry over to page 2 if you have that
> many skills. I use the Jack of all trades feat witch makes it so all
> skills can be used trained or not. It would be nice if I could see all
> of these skills.


Whoops, that's a bug. I'll get that fixed.


--
Colen McAlister, colen@wolflair.com
Chief Engineer, Lone Wolf Development
 
chogenkiboy wrote:
>
>
> Just want to make another plug for an option to print background info...
> I still use the Background Details field to store free form notes,
> especially information not included in the Standard Character Sheet (I
> copy and paste it to another document when I print the character sheet
> to take to a game).


This is definitely on our list. We just need to add one thing added to
the engine to support it, and then it'll be included. :)


Thanks,

--
Colen McAlister, colen@wolflair.com
Chief Engineer, Lone Wolf Development
 
Ravencloak wrote:
>
>
> Because some skills with more than 5 ranks provide situational synergy
> bonuses, like the Use Rope synergy bonus to Climb checks made while
> using ropes, it'd be really handy to have this show up on the character
> sheet somewhere.
>
> Right now, so far as I can tell, the info is only included in the feat
> description, which isn't very useful if you're playing off of the
> character sheet. Maybe just a small box under the list of skills that
> lists any situational skill synergy bonuses.


Good idea - I'll add this to the list.

Thanks!

--
Colen McAlister, colen@wolflair.com
Chief Engineer, Lone Wolf Development
 
bertg wrote:
>
>
> Equipment bonuses to skills might also be cool, like having Masterwork
> Thieve's Tools or or a Healer's Kit equipped...


There are a whole bunch of things that give you conditional bonuses to
stuff - "+2 to skill X in Y situation", "+4 to AC vs giants", etc. I'd
love to start tracking all that stuff so that we can summarise it in
output and in the mouseover info for stuff, but it's going to be a
reasonable amount of work to add. It's definitely something we want to do.


--
Colen McAlister, colen@wolflair.com
Chief Engineer, Lone Wolf Development
 
> Not sure how classify this output option, but a friend recently started
> an online campaign via a website that hosts games in a forum structure.
> I'd like to be able to post my character "sheet" to our campgain forum
> in text format (per the GM's request). One option might be a Save Text
> File Portfolio (I could copy and paste from the text file). Another
> option might be the ability to select and copy content directly from a
> HeroLab window so that it can be pasted elsewhere.


This is already possible - go to File menu -> Output Portfolio Summary,
and you'll be able to save a text summary of your hero. You can also
save as a PDF if you want something to just attach to a forum post.
Click to expand...

Doh! I had already checked Output Portfolio Summary, but there is no scroll bar, and I didn't notice the rest of the character sheet was available... the visible window looked like a summary card in the style that RPGA folks seem fond of. Works for me, but a scroll bar would be nice.
Thanks!
 
chogenkiboy wrote:

> This is already possible - go to File menu -> Output Portfolio Summary,
> and you'll be able to save a text summary of your hero. You can also
> save as a PDF if you want something to just attach to a forum post.
>
>
>
> Doh! I had already checked Output Portfolio Summary, but there is no
> scroll bar, and I didn't notice the rest of the character sheet was
> available... the visible window looked like a summary card in the style
> that RPGA folks seem fond of. Works for me, but a scroll bar would be nice.
> Thanks!


Scrollbars on long edit controls are definitely on our list of things to
do. Thanks!


--
Colen McAlister, colen@wolflair.com
Chief Engineer, Lone Wolf Development
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top