Playin around twiddlin my brains...

Having come up with the idea of running the TSR AD&D module H4 "Throne of Bloodstone" with the Pathfinder rules seemed simple at the time but now I'm dragging in a whole new concept which I find makes the GM side a bit easier to figure out stuff...  Hitbox.

What Hitbox is a matrix which the player and GM can configure for their own use and quick reference.  The most important factor is speed and clarity of data.  Speed for the quickness of the information being referenced and clarity because we're keeping only simplest of information.

As this is a hack-n-slash campaign with some figuring out where stuff is it I only want to see maximum numbers.  If you have to think more than 3-5 seconds then its not fast enough.  In-between games is the only time you should be figuring stuff out.  Experience gained will be calculated at the end of each game day we play.  A blog about what XP was gained and when may be posted to keep this moving along for the others not in attendance.  

If you miss three sessions without notice then you will be taken out of the game entirely.  This is paramount as not to slow down the others.  If you can only play once a month then this is understood but you are to play when you are scheduled;  miss once and you're done.

Games will be held via Skype and Infrno.net on a bi-weekly basis with a break every two sessions.  Session 1, break a week, session 2, break for 2 weeks, session 3, break a week, session 4, break 2 weeks.   Each odd session one week break, each even session break two weeks after.  

Here's what Hitbox looks like...

"Throne of Bloodstone" with Pathfinder Rules

Throne of Bloodstone with Pathfinder Rules

This is my grandiose attempt to run an epic level campaign.

Originally written for first edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons the H series of modules were meant to take a bunch of adventurers from 1st level up and through very high levels, even those which were beyond the first edition rules.  In another system, Dungeons and Dragons (which had basic, advanced, expert, master, and immortal rule sets) there was a system set to go up through 100th level.  It is here where the last part of the H series loses many players.

Wiki has defined -->  [ Epic Levels ] <-- which includes 1st, 3rd, and 4th edition examples and explanations.

Orcus is considered to be a 33rd level being and should be able to be dealt with as-is.  In the Pathfinder rules (3.75e) a party with average party level 30 (APL:30) Orcus would indeed be an Epic difficulty challenge (APL +3 = epic).

According to the Swords and Sorcery: The Tome of Horrors Complete book Orcus is a CR 35.  Orcus is a 33rd level being with demonic and deity traits ( in my rules each trait gives an effective CR+1, thus CR35, which makes sense).  [ chaotic, demon, evil, huge, outsider ]

What my intentions are is to have a party of CL-20 get a chance to stop

Pathfinder RPG Database by Harry Lotis JR

I've been trying to come up with a fast character generator so players can just make a few choices and then their character is up and away.

Very basic and quick but able to save everything in the database and output it to a format like Adobe's PDF or Microsoft's XPS formats (which codes are readily available).

User inputs their name into a text field to be saved as the filename for later reference.  Then he is given his first drop-down menu choice:  Race.

After making this selection the application then grabs data from the database and will modify the next dropdown choice: Core.  These are the core groups which everyone seems to miss in conventional role playing games but those whom have played MMORPG's online know these concepts already:  melee, ranged, arcane, divine, and skilled.  Depending on what is chosen his stats start with the Elite Array and are then modified by Race. This is done automatically for the user and are saved for the final output.

Then the next dropdown choice is what Classes are available by the previous Core choice.  There will be a limited listing due to the Core choice made.

Last dropdown choice will be Class Level (CL).  In the Free Version CL is limited to 1st thru 10th level.

No experience is listed because GM's use one of three varieties of Progression:  Slow, Medium, Fast.  This option may be picked up on the Advanced Version.

The Free Version (FV) will only save to the database but may be output in PDF or XPS formats.  Printing will also be available.

The Advanced Versions (price yet determined for "Unlocked Player Version (UPV)" or "GM Mode (GMM)" features).  There will be more data available in the UPV and GMM but the only difference is that the GMM is able to add/modify existing data.

Currently I am planning to encrypt all data so they may not be reverse engineered.

Everything which I am using is out there on the Official D20 Pathfinder SRD Site and I choose to use it in a different fashion to welcome new players into the fray of the hack-n-slash storytelling game which I like to run.

I have minor experience in programming VB & C+ so bare with me...  what comes next is how I want to explain things and feel free to comment (send to Marcaise at Gmail ) in what I call... English Coding.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

open program

display banner/graphic saying the name of the program

look for existing FV, UPV, or GMM keys  (FV is always included)

• Display main menu for FV:
• - choice : generate a pc  (g)
• - choice : exit program (x)
• 
  
• Main Menu for UPV:
• - choice : generate a pc  (g)
• - choice : exit program (x)
• 
  
• Main Menu for GMM:
• - choice : generate a pc  (g)
• - choice : edit a pc (e)
• - choice : edit database (d)
• - choice : exit program (x)

Generate A PC

1. Input Name :

- user inputs name, 6 to 24 characters, no spaces, no special characters

- this will become the filename for this PC

2. Select Race

- dropdown appears and user must make decision

a. choose race:

  i. FV : dwarf, elf, gnome, halfling, half-elf, half-orc, human

  ii. UPV : as (i) plus : goblin, dhampir, catfolk, drow, oread, tengu, kitsune, samsaran, svirfneblin, duergar

  iii. GMM : as (ii) with the option of making their own via editing the data prior to running generation

b. chosen race data will carry modification data for stats for use with Core

3. Select Core

- dropdown appears and user must make decision, or choose "Go Back";  if go back is chosen he is asked "Are you sure?  (You only get one Go Back)".

• A. melee
• - fv: fighter, barbarian, monk
• -  upv/gmm: fighter, barbarian, monk, samurai, ninja
• B. ranged
• - fv: ranger
• - upv/gmm: ranger, gunslinger
• C. arcane
• - fv: wizard, sorceror
• - upv/gmm: wizard, sorceror, magus, summoner, witch
• D. divine
• - fv: cleric, druid, paladin
• - upv/gmm: cleric, druid, paladin, inquisitioner
• E. skilled
• - fv: rogue, bard
• - upv/gmm: rogue, bard, alchemist

4. Class Level

- fv: single dropdown appears with a single scroller with 1st through 10th on it

- fv: single class, 1st thru 10th

- upv/gmm: dual dropdowns appear with 1st through 10th on them

- upv/gmm: upto 20 CL's, may choose from two cores but these may only be CL 1-10 each

Note: before going on to the next session there will be the dropdown appearing and asking the user to make a decision, or choose "Go Back";  if go back is chosen he is asked "Are you sure?  (You only get one Go Back)".

Final...

- fv: preview by screen

- fv: print (no saving)

- fv: save to PDF or XPS

- upv/gmm: preview by screen

- upv/gmm: send to printer

- upv/gmm: save to PDF or XPS

- upv/gmm: save to database

- gmm (only): edit, but must keep filename

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

That's pretty much it.  The code will be input from Microsoft's Excel spreadsheets and Access databases in conjunction with this application created in Microsoft's Visual Studio for use with Windows XP and 7.  Created for XP/7 it should run in Windows 8/8_1.

I've always told people that I can make it look like a beauty of a program but it has no brains.  There may be menus but they do not function.  I hope to make this program up in parts and have someone help me put it together.  I have the pieces to the puzzle but I cannot quite see where the pieces fit together.

I'm in the Maryland area around College Park so let me know and I'd like to get 1-on-1 with someone to crunch this up.  I'm a typer, know some VB6 / C+ / VisualStudio (-ish), have taken some college level entry programming, and want to get this database application up and working.  Those helping me will get lifetime access for your efforts.

Let me know and let's rock some coding!

Advanced Down and Dirty ... a homebrew version of Dungeons and Dragons / Pathfinder ...

I'm doing well with a local gaming group I met through the Meetup site...  Colesville Indy RPG Group.  We play quick versions of some not-so-often played games with quick rapid succession...  to only have fun!

I'm taking the same idea so there will be a more "Hack-n-Slash" feel...  that's what I'm hoping for.

I've made a simple device so players and GM's can use it to move their game into action...  enter the HITBOX.

Hit Box is simply a grid with a quick reference for that character, or for the GM a few characters if you set it up right.

HitBox  1  2  3  4  REZ   DEAD
Title , 1 - 4 = columns 1-4, Rez is how much more you got to be resurrected by a healer, Dead is simply the point at which you are dead to any and all (not even the Gods may raise you nor your soul).

HD = Hit Dice (ADnD 1E), this is not your level (CL), it is how many hits an average human can take.  There are 8 hit points per HD.  1-8hp = 1hd, 9hp-16hp = 2hd, and so on.  This is the simplest way to keep track of damage, by the 3rd column you really should be near death, and 4th column you should be asking why you aren't dead already.  Broken down by quarter increments and the base number is written here.

HP = Hit Points (ADnD 1E), the exact amount of damage you can withstand before unconsciousness and death.  Broken down by quarter increments and the base number is written here...  for example: someone with 100 hp, 1-25 = column 1, 26-50 = column 2, 51-75 = column 3, 76-100 = column 4, 101-110 = Rez, so that means when you suffer 111hp damage you are too far gone for anyone to bring you back.

BAB = Base Attack Bonus (Pathfinder), the accumulation of combat training enables you to output more damage than the average human.  At higher levels of training you can attack more opponents, some upto five opponents at once.  List your BAB here with the totals you have from equipment, weapons, training, magic, and other factors.  Column 1 is your best attack with your main hand, col.2 is best with offhand, col.3 is 2nd MH attack, col.4 is 2nd OH attack, the REZ Column is for a 5th "Lucky Hit" (resultant modifier may be upto a maximum of -5)... and in the DEAD Column if you are enchanted with the Haste spell and that attack (modifier) goes here.

AC = Armor Class (Pathfinder), is a number 10 plus any bonuses from armor, shields, magic, dexterity, etc.