Hi guys,
I've been using HL for some years now, and I freely admit I don't get more than about 40% of the functionality out of it. Part of this is the fact my group stick with PnP, and the other part is that I don't get much time to really explore the back end of the system (I have no clue how to code).
I have noticed, over the years, a couple of minor irritating issues with HL, which still hasn't budged my love of the program but can be annoying when I have only a short amount of time to update a handful of NPC's or to update my character.
In particular, using HL with clerics I found can be somewhat vexing, especially with the spell outputs and entering all spell data. I haven't attempted it with a Wizard (not a class I generally play), but I have a handful of suggestions for the input and output for most characters in general:
This is just a bunch of things that I, as both a DM and a player, am particularly interested in seeing. Some may simply be data entry or coding that you guys haven't got around to yet, or perhaps there are difficulties in amending the existing code to deal with it, but I think they are worth pursuing.
I hope this helps!
I've been using HL for some years now, and I freely admit I don't get more than about 40% of the functionality out of it. Part of this is the fact my group stick with PnP, and the other part is that I don't get much time to really explore the back end of the system (I have no clue how to code).
I have noticed, over the years, a couple of minor irritating issues with HL, which still hasn't budged my love of the program but can be annoying when I have only a short amount of time to update a handful of NPC's or to update my character.
In particular, using HL with clerics I found can be somewhat vexing, especially with the spell outputs and entering all spell data. I haven't attempted it with a Wizard (not a class I generally play), but I have a handful of suggestions for the input and output for most characters in general:
- A "Track via PnP" checkbox for memorised spell selection. This would of course remove the error for "no memorised spells", but would more importantly change the spell book output. Each spell level list would have a header containing DC, number of spells available, the two domain spells, etc.
I have a paper sheet like this that I got somewhere (I forget where) and I love it. It would be awesome if HL would just print it all out for me. With clerics, my page is generic, but Wizards have to maintain a spells known list all the time, and a generic list doesn't help. In addition, each spell that has some sort of racial, class or other modifier to the DC or any other part should be highlighted immediately after the spell description in bold text.
- Ability to put all spells of the same level on different pages.
I save paper elsewhere and I make it up by hacking apart the documents generated by HL and putting in Page Breaks just so I can easily flick through to find the correct level, and then the spell from there.
- On the spell selection page, break down spells into levels. "Add 0, 1, 2, 3, 4..." seems a little tedious and unwieldy, it would be better if there were a seperate selector box for each spell level, and the ability to designate metamagic spells from the ORIGINAL spell level box; after which the spell would migrate automatically to the correct spell level. A "greyed out" entry should stay in the original spell selector and can be deleted from either of the entries listed from either selection box.
- A "Delete all" or "Delete all spells of level X" function for known spells would be handy. It wouldn't be used often, so maybe in the menu system? It'd be awesome for creating NPCs.
- Many of the lists within HL have the "Show Everything" or "Only valid items". It would be excellent if you could display from source material, or by requirement, or as a tree where prerequisites are required. The tree would, for example in the Feats list, have the groups similar to the Core Rulebook: Dodge (Dex 13), then Mobility (Dex 13) as a subchoice, then Spring Attack (Dex 13, BAB +4) and then Whirlwind Attack (Combat Expertise (Int 13)). No previously required prerequisite should be re-listed, but any additional prerequisite to obtain a prerequisite (in this case, the Int 13) should be listed to make it obvious. It is also important that anything with more than one prerequisite are nested in BOTH feat trees. (Whirlwind attack should also be listed after Combat Expertise as well, in the previous case).
- Lists can't be sorted by price, size or any other general category. The only option is "everything" and "Only valid". Particularly annoying when you want to easily browse lists of weapons and you want to view, for example, just one handed weapons, or just ranged weapons, or perhaps weapons with reach <5 feet, or maybe Light weapons. At least the ability to sort by the already present categories would be great (damage, type, price).
- Ability to re-order weapons, armor and gear within their lists. Drag 'n' drop is awesome if you can do it. Nothing worse than having three weapons, but the two that you use the least are listed first. In HL, I am looking at "Heavy SHield Bash" listed before the character's main weapon, a "+1 Club".
- Having weapon groups. If I have a fighter that carries a Tardis-like backpack and wants to Quick-Draw to mix and match the weapons he is using just to fit the encounter, he may need to link weapons into groups. For example (and assuming he has supporting feats) he may wish to have a Mace and use a Shield Bash against small undead, or use two Short Swords against small humanoids, and perhaps a Longsword and defensively use his shield (only) against a highly armored opponent. Linking this into three groups makes it easy for him to remember the damage he will do, the modifiers to each of his attack rolls, and the number of attacks he gets (particularly if he has Two Weapon Fighting and Shield Bashes). For obvious reasons, the weapons and shields have to be treated as discrete "kits" to make the modifiers calculate correctly.
- In the Armor tab, split the options for Armour and Shields. There is the option for "Magic/Custom/MW", and then "Other". A more fluid approach would be to split Armour and Shields, as it makes browsing that little bit easier, especially when characters have large inventories (for whatever reason).
- In Magic, it would be far better to set up the lists separately by class, i.e. Wondrous Item, Rod, Staff, Wand, Ring, etc. In the output, there should be an option to include a brief description, the as-per-the-book description, or no description in the outputted character sheet. (Any spells or uses per day must be clearly presented, along with the option for "brief/APTB/no description" also). Extra marks if this can be done on a per-item basis.
- Notes should also be allowed to be easily appended to any object in the characters inventory, which would print out after the description of the item (if any). This would allow for any number of campaign specific or house-rule notation to be made and retained between adventures.
- There should be an additional "Special abilities" option; either on the "Other" tab or in a new tab, which would allow additional feats, spell-like abilities, supernatural abilities, extraordinary abilities, and so on. For example, if a character has been through a traumatic ordeal and has been tainted, they might gain an ability to cast "Inflict Moderate Wounds" 1/day, or, at an explosion in a magical lab, may gain SR 11. There currently is no easy way for any player to simply add this.
- Cleric Granted Powers list a basic description, and not the actual granted power. In the actual description their should be listed the Granted Power, the nine Domain spells, and so on.
This is just a bunch of things that I, as both a DM and a player, am particularly interested in seeing. Some may simply be data entry or coding that you guys haven't got around to yet, or perhaps there are difficulties in amending the existing code to deal with it, but I think they are worth pursuing.
I hope this helps!