Tactical Console if players don't use HL?

[bigdamnnerd]

I've mostly used Herolab from the player's side (it's great!), and used Combat Manager when I GM (also great).

However, I'm a Mac guy, and CM seems to have gotten a bit wonky when I run it in VMWare (widgets disappear, etc), so I'd like to switch over to Hero Lab when I start GMing again.

What I'm wondering is: what's the easiest way to set up barebones PCs (names, initiative modifiers, maybe a couple GM-rolled skill values) without recreating their entire characters in Hero Lab? They've all got their own methods of character management, so I can't just import portfolios.

 

[Aaron]

Make 1st level human commoners as placeholders and add a bunch of adjustments to get them just so for whatever values you want to track? I'm not positive that would be significantly simpler than rebuilding them in HL, but it might be (depending on the complexity of their characters and what you want).

 

[Exmortis]

Or campaign that your players all buy HeroLab?

 

[GroundZero86]

I found it was just easier to create the characters in hero lab, and skip the irrelevant bits (memorized spells, non-magical gear, etc). As an added bonus, I noticed a few character creation errors I had missed when looking over their builds manually.

 

[LazarX]

I've mostly used Herolab from the player's side (it's great!), and used Combat Manager when I GM (also great).

However, I'm a Mac guy, and CM seems to have gotten a bit wonky when I run it in VMWare (widgets disappear, etc), so I'd like to switch over to Hero Lab when I start GMing again.

What I'm wondering is: what's the easiest way to set up barebones PCs (names, initiative modifiers, maybe a couple GM-rolled skill values) without recreating their entire characters in Hero Lab? They've all got their own methods of character management, so I can't just import portfolios.

Quite frankly as a GM, I think you should do the work, and rebuild their characters in herolab. I keep copies of all my players character sheets, after all, if for no other reason than to manage things when players miss sessions. Or to keep an eye on what they're capable of.

 

[charlieluce]

Quite frankly as a GM, I think you should do the work, and rebuild their characters in herolab. I keep copies of all my players character sheets, after all, if for no other reason than to manage things when players miss sessions. Or to keep an eye on what they're capable of.

That's what our DMs who use Hero Lab have been doing as well.

 

[bodrin]

I build the characters and NPC's in HL just for bookkeeping. It also allows notes to be added to a generic journal for the whole group.

My players use HL anyway and keep their own version but in the game session it's my laptop which keeps track of initiative values / adjustments ETC.