Compendium improvements for picking creature
Submitted by stargazer_dragon on Sun, 2011-01-09 12:55
| Project: | Virtual Combat Cards |
| Version: | 1.10.x-dev |
| Component: | User interface |
| Category: | feature request |
| Priority: | normal |
| Assigned: | Unassigned |
| Status: | active |
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Description
ok so I assume this would be a very easy thing to change / fix. I recently started using the VCC tools whatever the newest one1 is. Love it by the way best tool I found (have tried a few other good ones this one has best potential currently) So two things really:
1) the way the monsters/ chars are stored needs fixed. There needs to be a way to group monsters. As to say if I go to edit party and want to add say 3 goblins and a spider I need the ability to have my goblins in 1 folder and the spider in a different one. As current I open it up and the compendium lists all the monsters I have captured or custom entered. This is already becoming a issue after about 12 fights (which is a very small variety of monsters compared to what I will soon have stored for later use) So If I can put all my goblins in 1 folder all my humans in anouther so on then I can MUCH easier get tot he monsters I am after to add them to the encounter instead of sorting the the huge (though at least organised) list that currently comes up.
2) this is something the D&D 4ed combat manager has (may be slightly named differently but is something like that)It allows you to use the adventure tools to create a monster then copy rich text and you can then past that rich text into the monster stat area and use those stats. So for those of us who make lots of custom monsters (like myself) it allows us to easily import that info via the already included rich text copy option in the monster builder tool. besides that I am pretty happy with the tool though I don't use the next turn garbage just use it for hp tracking fast stat reference and init order which is plenty perfect for my needs.
Bug: If you don't start combat then later tell it to clear all monsters it often freezes. Only does this if you forget to start combat which I often do since I only use it for init and hp tracking (plus fast stat references)
Over all this tool has increased player (and definitely mine to) enjoyment and has helped speed combat along greatly.
#1
Ok I think we have 3 issues here and so we must make sure we break this down a bit.
1) This one is tricky. I would like to have ways to search information better. I believe 1.4.0 introduced level ranges, which reduces the number of monster on screen. What I have considered is some type of meta-tagging, like: this is a humanoid, goblin, level 5, controller, elite. You would then be able to select some tags for filtering. This is something I want to do.
Secondly, have you used parties/encounter files? Whenever I make an adventure (or use a made one), I create encounter files for each area (like "Room of Doom" file has 3 goblin and one spider). This means that I can quickly load the files.
2) Appear to me to be like issue #123: Import creatures from D&DI Adventure Tools, I would like to import monster from the adventure tools, however I'm not sure if that module will continue to exist. This may be a pain. Importing rich text is not something I think is a nice way to go, the tools has some XML files (which should make it easier for Java/Scala).
3) Bug? You can only use the initiative rotation when combat is started. True you can apply damage and effects, but you lose the out end of effects. I'll try to reproduce, if you could please one an issue with the exact sequence you do the get a hang I'll investigate.
#2
Bug: with the bug what the issue is since I don't rotate initiative I simply roll it then go down the list and start over when I hit the bottom ocationaly I forget to even start the combat.
So when you add monsters, then calculate damage for combat then try to clear all monsters without ever starting combat the program freeses and has to be reloaded. works great long as I remember to start and end combat but if I forget to start the combat then i fgets mad and freeses up.
#3
Moving bug discussion to #210: Clearing monsters after rolling intiative will cause VCC to hang. We should discuss the other compendium issues.
#4
For organising monsters I would sugest a option to limit the monster that apear based on keyword and name plus of cource lv which is already there, though not sure how hard this would be to impliment,
as for importing monsters theres two ideas, one as mentioned other places could use the xml export option since even the new monster builder will probably have this option and feature, alternatly or maybe seperatly could add more feilds int he monster info section so you could easaly enter in powers action point's and junk in. though this might take more coding and time then someone is willing to devote, I personaly lack the programming knoledge sadly.