My usage of VCC so far (current ver 0.92.3)
Submitted by joeman on Sun, 2009-05-10 00:50
I have been using VCC in this way:
1) I create the encounters making sure I specify in the ID section for each monster something characteristic about the mini that is being used for that particular monster.
2) I then make a txt file (in notepad) for each monster, copy the stat card info from D&DI Compendium (or pdf file) for each monster into its txt file. To which I add my own notes, including a physical description of the monster & also its tactics.
3) I also make a txt file for each PC. In this file, I put information like:
- Perception/knowledge scores
- Healing surges available
- Action points & milestones
- A list of encounter & daily powers that they have (which i write "used" next to when it is used
- a specific list of effects that they can apply during play so that I can just copy it from here & past it into the Effect Creation box.
- Other info like XP, GOLD & Notes specific to that character.
4) Then when it comes time to play, I open up the prebuilt encounter, then click on each combatant in the initiative list and copy and past their txt file into their notes section.
Over time, quite a long list of monster txt files gets created that you can easily go back and reuse...
When the ability to save inside VCC becomes a reality, then there need be absolutely no prep time during play. Just load the party & all those txt files will be loaded along with it.
It is my hope that VCC can be used as a complete resource for the DM during play. Meaning that there would need to be no other source/book or notes, required to play the game as it can all be done inside VCC.
Thinking along these lines, users could upload their encounter files or folders containing entire adventures or campaigns for other users to play their games from.... (of course making sure that there is no copyright infringment).
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Interesting Input
I have some comments o some of the points above.
1) With the idea of the Multi-function display is to use very short ID so that you can select a combatant just a view keystrokes (e.g. 10 = Keys 1 and 0). So having long sequences with the same prefix may be bad (e.g. LARGE1, LARGE2). However I plan to introduce an "Alias/Mini" value that can be added to the combatant when adding them to the encounter. This should allow short IDs (like the numbers for monster and letters for PC) while still allowing easy identification of the minis.
2, 3 & 4) A text block will be included in the new monster and PC data files. One question I have is if this text should or not be editable. If it's not it could be an HTML format, if it's editable it will have to be a simple text.
As for the other comments, that is my goal. To have all information you need to run a combat in one single screen.
I like the idea of sharing files, but I'm really afraid this will violate copy right. One idea I have is that all data you save in your VCC can be exported and sent around.