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Character Tool Instructions?

Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 3:10 am
by dloyer4
Am I missing something?

I saw the blurb on the RPTools site that says the Character Tool is "A configurable tool for managing the number-crunching of building and maintaining player characters."

So I downloaded it (ver. 1.0.b13), launched it and had a sort of WTF? moment.

I get a screen that has a couple Description fields, Token, Name, Category, etc. Some buttons that give you the option of displaying these fields alphabetically or categorized. Two buttons that allow me to expand or collapse categories. A View tab that allows me to show the property table or the character sheet (but nothing changes no matter what I select). A Game tab that allows me to select a game, with no clue what that actually means, and a Help button that's no help at all...I can "reset" the Character Tool and I can get the version information.

So, are there instructions anywhere on how to actually use this software?

Re: Character Tool Instructions?

Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:16 pm
by kristof65
dloyer4 wrote:So I downloaded it (ver. 1.0.b13), launched it and had a sort of WTF? moment.
That's exactly what I'm thinking right now as I really look at CT for the first time.

Re: Character Tool Instructions?

Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 1:00 am
by jay
There used to be, but when RPTools changed hosting sites they got lost. I've not re-written them yet, so there aren't any right now.

Re: Character Tool Instructions?

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 12:32 am
by mcewok

Bummer.

I'm having the same issue. Can anyone just give a quick shout out on how to get anything started with the char tool at all :)

thanks,



Re: Character Tool Instructions?

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 7:19 pm
by Mortuis
I'd like instructions as well. I'm trying to figure it out on my own but having a difficult time figuring it out with no guidance. Nothing to be found on youtube either.

Re: Character Tool Instructions?

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 1:43 pm
by jay
Here is a quick set of instructions:
  • Start by choosing the game you want to play. This will load the rules and character sheets available for that game. The default game is just something simple to load with the application and was what you were seeing. To select a game just choose Game -> Select Game from the menu. On the dialog that pops select a game in the 'Other Game Settings Files' then press the Change button. The game you selected will now be the Current Game. If there are any source files available, select the ones you want. When you are done select OK.
  • There will be a character sheet for your game shown a tab labeled 'Unnamed'. That is a new character. Set all of the data for a character in your game. The character sheets for each game are different, but there are a couple of similarities:
    • You can drag pictures for tokens and portraits to the areas available for them. Or you can just click on the area and choose one.
    • When you change a field's value it will recalculate everything after when you go to the next field. Usually there are some fields that are editable and some that are calculated and you can tell the difference by how they're highlighted.
    • The buttons on the character sheet usually let you perform some game function like attack or skill check. There should be buttons on each character sheet for common functions.
    • There are often tables of data for lists of feats or skills or powers. By selecting a row in the table often there is a button close to the table that lets you use the whatever is selected.
    • There may also be buttons near the table to add new stuff to or remove stuff from the table, like new equipment or perks.
    • Sometimes the columns in the table are editable, but most of them are not. The only way to tell is to click on a cell to edit it. This is something I need to work on.
    • Some of the labels next to fields are buttons. These are to let you perform some game type function related to the stat such as ability checks.
    • I tend to create a field called 'Temp' for temporary bonuses on my character sheets. Edit this field to add a bonus or penalty from a spell or an injury.
  • There may be a couple of different character sheets available. Each one shows the character in different formats. You can choose a character sheet by going to the View menu and selecting one from the list on the bottom of that menu.
  • There is also a view that shows the properties themselves, but it is difficult to use if you don't know how the game file is set up. However all of your data should be editable there. This can be selected from the View menu as well.
  • When you are done working with you're character you can save it using the File menu. The file will be saved in an RPTok file which can be loaded in Map Tool if you added a token to it.
  • That menu will also let you load other characters from their files. There is also a way to create new tabs from that menu so that you can have many characters at the same time.
  • If the game you chose can print its character sheets there will be a Print sub-menu on the File menu. You can choose one of the formats available and it will create a PDF file with your character in it.
  • At the bottom of the main screen, under all of the tabs is the output window. When you press buttons on your character sheet to execute game functions the output will be displayed here. If you can't see this area then it may be just sized to small. At the very bottom of the window should be an area that will cause the cursor to change to an up & down arrow so that you can resize it.
If you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask. I'll try to be a little more timely with your answers :oops:

Re: Character Tool Instructions?

Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 7:11 pm
by H.M.Gimlord
How, exactly, does one add a token to a .rptok file?

Re: Character Tool Instructions?

Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 12:45 am
by neofax
What do you mean by token? The image/portrait? If so, just drop the token in Maptools, right click and go to properties. Go to the config tab. Then in the upper right is a image viewer with a little green plus symbol. Click on that and drill down into your directory for the image.

Re: Character Tool Instructions?

Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 12:56 am
by Azhrei
neofax wrote:Then in the upper right is a image viewer [...]
Um, your other "right". ;)

Re: Character Tool Instructions?

Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 8:25 am
by H.M.Gimlord
I guess I'm just not asking the right question. When I put the .rptok file in my Tokens directory and drop it into MapTool, it doesn't load the CT properties into MT. Not like I expected it to, or anything. I imagine that I have to load these properties into MT separately. How do I find or create the .mtprops file that's compatible with CT?

Or am I way off the mark here?

Re: Character Tool Instructions?

Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:55 am
by neofax
Oh, OK that is definitely different. Well, first, what FW did you use in CT? You will have to use this FW in MapTools as well. The reason is CT uses the properties setup for that FW to "put" the info into those properties. So, let's say you select 4E and then TK's FW. You will need to go to the Campaign Frameworks subforum and D/L'd that FW and install it in MapTools.

Re: Character Tool Instructions?

Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 12:25 pm
by H.M.Gimlord
OK. Lingo check. What are TK and FW?

Re: Character Tool Instructions?

Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 4:56 pm
by neofax
FW=Framework and TK is the person that made TK's framework.

Re: Character Tool Instructions?

Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 8:08 pm
by H.M.Gimlord
I see. What framework goes along with the default dnd4e.rpgame token created by CT?

Re: Character Tool Instructions?

Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 8:45 pm
by neofax
TK's FW is the standard currently for Character Tool. You can find TK's campaign FW file in the User Creations-->Campaign Frameworks subforum. It is very basic, but it works.