I'm not sure if this has been mentioned yet (if so, it ain't on page one), but I see that the X-Wing game has just got itself a free, online scenario-builder. Write your text, lay out your map, then publish it and even export it to (wait for it...) pdf.

Could something similar be coming our way? Maybe an online character-builder that allows you to download and print a spiffy, colour character sheet?

I don't imagine the rpg does the kind of numbers that X-Wing does, so maybe they wouldn't spend the time on something like this. But, not needing maps of any kind, it would be a lot simpler than what they've already done for that game!

They need to just load up a truck full of money and drive it over to OggDude's house.

You know, I've heard so many great things about that generator, but I understand it's not mac-compatible.

i will have to download it as it seems so great. For now i survibved with a simple word documetns and my love of printed books.

You know, I've heard so many great things about that generator, but I understand it's not mac-compatible.

run a windows emulator. problem solved

You know, I've heard so many great things about that generator, but I understand it's not mac-compatible.

It's not...but luckily I have a Windows PC around running XP...a bit slow, but perfectly useable.

You know, I've heard so many great things about that generator, but I understand it's not mac-compatible.

run a windows emulator. problem solved

Not always. The excellent character generator seems to be a little RAM hungry, which makes it a no-go for some of us.

i use vmware fusion and runs fine in there. (fusion is pricey but i need it for work)

They should seriously hire OggDude for this.

I seem to recall WotC saying Character Creators did fall under the electronic gaming license...

Not gonna be upset if that's not the case anymore. Would be funny if they just subcontracted Ogg to formalize his and call it good...

I seem to recall WotC saying Character Creators did fall under the electronic gaming license...

Not gonna be upset if that's not the case anymore. Would be funny if they just subcontracted Ogg to formalize his and call it good...

I'm thinking if they managed to publish an electronic scenario builder for one Star Wars game, they should be able to get away with a character builder for another!

i use vmware fusion and runs fine in there. (fusion is pricey but i need it for work)

That's good to know. That's what I'm using too, but my ride doesn't have enough RAM to run its OS, Win7, and oggdude's character creation tool. It runs the first two and other games just fine though....

I seem to recall WotC saying Character Creators did fall under the electronic gaming license...

Not gonna be upset if that's not the case anymore. Would be funny if they just subcontracted Ogg to formalize his and call it good...

I'm thinking if they managed to publish an electronic scenario builder for one Star Wars game, they should be able to get away with a character builder for another!

The difference is that the scenario editor doesn't do you much good without the game pieces (cards, markers, miniatures, etc...). A character generator can make needing the sourcebooks unnecessary as the stats of an item alone make it immediately usable in an RPG game. So, if not done right, can actually impact the sales of new books if everyone can just download updates for nothing.

They need to just load up a truck full of money and drive it over to OggDude's house.

They could park that truck in my driveway as long as they want

I seem to recall WotC saying Character Creators did fall under the electronic gaming license...

Not gonna be upset if that's not the case anymore. Would be funny if they just subcontracted Ogg to formalize his and call it good...

I'm thinking if they managed to publish an electronic scenario builder for one Star Wars game, they should be able to get away with a character builder for another!

The difference is that the scenario editor doesn't do you much good without the game pieces (cards, markers, miniatures, etc...). A character generator can make needing the sourcebooks unnecessary as the stats of an item alone make it immediately usable in an RPG game. So, if not done right, can actually impact the sales of new books if everyone can just download updates for nothing.

By putting the page numbers and book reference in the descriptions, I've gotten more people tell me that they bought the books specifically so that they could use the editor and know what all the talents, etc., mean. So I think, if anything, the apps have actually increased sales.

I seem to recall WotC saying Character Creators did fall under the electronic gaming license...

Not gonna be upset if that's not the case anymore. Would be funny if they just subcontracted Ogg to formalize his and call it good...

I'm thinking if they managed to publish an electronic scenario builder for one Star Wars game, they should be able to get away with a character builder for another!

The difference is that the scenario editor doesn't do you much good without the game pieces (cards, markers, miniatures, etc...). A character generator can make needing the sourcebooks unnecessary as the stats of an item alone make it immediately usable in an RPG game. So, if not done right, can actually impact the sales of new books if everyone can just download updates for nothing.

By putting the page numbers and book reference in the descriptions, I've gotten more people tell me that they bought the books specifically so that they could use the editor and know what all the talents, etc., mean. So I think, if anything, the apps have actually increased sales.

Again, that depends on how the app is done. I said "CAN make needing the sourcebooks unnecessary", not WILL. So, in the specific example of your app, you did it in a way that means someone will need to buy the books for the Talent's descriptions. But they won't need to buy the books if the stats for armor, weapons, ships, etc... are in the generator and no check is made that the person has the material in the first place.

How do you handle the description being in multiple sources? Like all the basic Talents that are probably in both the EotE and AoR core books?

I seem to recall WotC saying Character Creators did fall under the electronic gaming license...

Not gonna be upset if that's not the case anymore. Would be funny if they just subcontracted Ogg to formalize his and call it good...

I'm thinking if they managed to publish an electronic scenario builder for one Star Wars game, they should be able to get away with a character builder for another!

The difference is that the scenario editor doesn't do you much good without the game pieces (cards, markers, miniatures, etc...). A character generator can make needing the sourcebooks unnecessary as the stats of an item alone make it immediately usable in an RPG game. So, if not done right, can actually impact the sales of new books if everyone can just download updates for nothing.

By putting the page numbers and book reference in the descriptions, I've gotten more people tell me that they bought the books specifically so that they could use the editor and know what all the talents, etc., mean. So I think, if anything, the apps have actually increased sales.

Again, that depends on how the app is done. I said "CAN make needing the sourcebooks unnecessary", not WILL. So, in the specific example of your app, you did it in a way that means someone will need to buy the books for the Talent's descriptions. But they won't need to buy the books if the stats for armor, weapons, ships, etc... are in the generator and no check is made that the person has the material in the first place.

How do you handle the description being in multiple sources? Like all the basic Talents that are probably in both the EotE and AoR core books?

I have a source field for everything that tells the software where it's from. If it's found in multiple places, then there's a collection of sources it'll belong to. If it should literally show up all the time, it doesn't have a source at all.

To make sure there's a baseline of data no matter which sources you choose, I can flag a source as a "Core" source. That means at least one "Core" source must be selected. Currently, you need to select at least one of the EotE, AoR, or FaD core sources. All other sources are optional.

They need to just load up a truck full of money and drive it over to OggDude's house.

Agreed, however I think you overestimate the amount of money people make in this industry.

They need to just load up a truck full of money and drive it over to OggDude's house.

Agreed, however I think you overestimate the amount of money people make in this industry.

I wish the professional software I pay for was updated as often and as well as OggDude's!

I suspect the X-Wing app gets through the "electronic media and games" restriction through a loophole, namely that it falls under "support material for a physical product."

WotC tried to get a character generator for Star Wars (including even wanting to officially adopt a fan-created one, and the LucasArts folks did seem amenable to a version based off their 4e Character Builder), but they were stymied each time as per their license, since a character generator program can very well be seen as a stand-alone product (particularly if it contains all the information from the books) and thus ran afoul of the "electronic media and games" clause.

They need to just load up a truck full of money and drive it over to OggDude's house.

They could park that truck in my driveway as long as they want

They should, you've certainly earned it.

I don't know the specifics of the Disney/Lucas contract but it would be worth FFG's time to see if they can attach an addendum for a character generator. Even at a premium price (to offset buying a core book) I think it would sell well and be well received. Simply look to OggDude's build as proof of concept and model a package based on that design, all while acknowledging and providing recompense to OggDude of course.

I don't know the specifics of the Disney/Lucas contract but it would be worth FFG's time to see if they can attach an addendum for a character generator. Even at a premium price (to offset buying a core book) I think it would sell well and be well received. Simply look to OggDude's build as proof of concept and model a package based on that design, all while acknowledging and providing recompense to OggDude of course.

I suspect that FFG will be trying to see about getting "electronic media" rights where the RPG is concerned, if only for PDF distribution rights. Being able to offer a character generator would be a side order of gravy in comparison.

I suspect that FFG will be trying to see about getting "electronic media" rights where the RPG is concerned, if only for PDF distribution rights. Being able to offer a character generator would be a side order of gravy in comparison.

With respect, I don’t think PDF is going to happen. Not with the official published books, and doubtfully with the betas. Just too much risk of them getting too widely distributed and hurting sales.

They might get the rights to do DRM’ed e-book versions, but those would probably be pretty heavily locked down.

Ironically, I think the electronic game aid is a much more likely thing that they might convince Disney/LucasFilm to do.

I suspect that FFG will be trying to see about getting "electronic media" rights where the RPG is concerned, if only for PDF distribution rights. Being able to offer a character generator would be a side order of gravy in comparison.

With respect, I don’t think PDF is going to happen. Not with the official published books, and doubtfully with the betas. Just too much risk of them getting too widely distributed and hurting sales.

They might get the rights to do DRM’ed e-book versions, but those would probably be pretty heavily locked down.

Ironically, I think the electronic game aid is a much more likely thing that they might convince Disney/LucasFilm to do.

The books already exist on the net with out them selling PDFs so that argument is a bad one. So what is really happening is they are losing money by not selling them.

The books already exist on the net with out them selling PDFs so that argument is a bad one. So what is really happening is they are losing money by not selling them.

Which is a good part of why I think they might get the rights to sell DRM’ed e-book versions.

But I don’t think that Disney/LucasFilm will ever give the rights to anyone to ever officially produce any PDF versions of any books.

That’s just IMO, of course.