[D&D4E Framework] Blakey's Framework
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:29 am
Latest Edit: 13th July 2011. v1.17.
Download: http://www.rodinia.info/downloads.php - select "Blakey Framework<version>.zip" and download the package.
Blakey's Framework
This is a simple framework for 4E D&D. It works hand in hand with, and in fact pretty much requires, my TokenMaker program to create tokens for it. The latest version of TokenMaker is included in the download.
The idea is that every token, both PC and NPC, has a character sheet associated with it. Mousing over the token pops up a dockable frame with the character sheet in it. This character sheet is covered with clickable links which fire off macros enabling that token to do things. Most should be fairly self explanatory. For example, clicking the "Initiative" link rolls initiative for the token. Clicking "HP" allows you to heal the token. Clicking "Bloodied" allows you to damage the token.
The name of each power the token has is a link, which when clicked pops up a separate dockable frame which details what the power does. For example if the token is a PC cleric they will have the Healing Word power. Clicking the Healing Word link will pop up a frame with the description of Healing Word, right out of the compendium, so you can see exactly what that power does. Neatly this is instantaneous as the compendium is searched for this data when the token is built, so it doesn't require a connection at the time of running MapTool.
Under each power is a list of the weapons the PC has equipped and clicking on any of the weapons will make an attack with that weapon. At this stage the framework assumes that you have one or more targets selected in MapTool and it will apply that attack against each target you have selected. It will tell you if you have hit or missed, based on the default values it knows about. There are no situational modifiers applied. At the same time it will roll the damage for your attack and display it. It will also tell you how much you would have done were that attack a crit (helpful in coup de grace situations for example). No damage is applied automatically. This is intentional as I want the Framework to remain light and flexible as possible.
Note that as this FW requires you to target NPCs by selecting them you need v1.3b70 or later of MapTool to make it work.
Likewise you won't find this framework popping up dialog boxes when you make attacks. In order to keep it simple, select your targets, press one link and everything fires off. You might have to make some mental adjustments to take combat advantage, cover, etc into consideration but I'm happy to do that.
When you want to end your turn simply click your name at the top of your character sheet. That means "end my turn". Saves can be made.
Clicking on the "Skills" link at the bottom of the character sheet will let you make a skill check. Likewise the "Str" link allows you to make an ability check (not just Strength).
For monsters with recharge powers, when you use them they become white. However, if they are rechargable on a dice roll, click the "recharge" link on that power and it will roll a dice for you and recharge them if it rolls high enough. Also this roll is made automatically for the monster when its turn comes up.
The zip file includes Lib:Blakey which is required for any campaigns of your own to work.
To Make Your Own Campaign
1. Start MapTool.
2. Import BlakeyProperties into Campaign Properties.
3. Put Lib:Blakey onto one of your maps.
4. That's it!
You'll need to use TokenMaker to make the tokens to use with it.
TokenMaker
Included in the download are PCMaker.jar and NPCMaker.jar. Both are really required to make tokens for this framework. They both require a DDi subscription to work. The first time you run either they will prompt you for your DDi username and password. These are then stored on the filesystem for later re-use. I guess you have to trust me that I'm not stealing your account details. .
PCMaker is used to make PC tokens. Start it up, click "Load" and select a DDi save file to load. If it works (!!) click Save and pick a save file name and location. You'll then get a RPTOK file for your PC. Saving takes a while, about 1 second per character level, give or take, as the program is going off to the compendium to get the details of all the powers your PC has so they can be stored on the token for instant access at game time. So this will need a live internet connection and DDi account.
However if you are using the online CB and doing an Export, these export files now have enough data in them that PCMaker can build a token without needing to go to the Compendium so it is lightning fast.
NPCMaker provides you with a little search facility to find NPCs. It gives you back a list from the compendium of any matches and then you can either double click an entry or press the Build button and it will go off and grab that monster from the Compendium. This takes a couple of seconds and will need a live internet connection and DDi account. You'll get a little representation of it in a frame and then you need to pick a portrait for it. Any graphics file will do. Once done, press Save, give it a name and location and it will make an RPTOK file for you. This is pretty much instant as there is nothing more to get from the compendium at this stage. Select and build more monsters if you want.
The code for TokenMaker is out there on the net in Google Code so if you don't trust me not to be stealing your passwords, go and download the code, check it over and build your own copy. I'm totally fine with that.
A Thanks to Veggie
I have been using Veggie's framework for as long as it's been around now and it was mainly due to him I decided to write my own. But as I don't believe in re-inventing the wheel I stole as much as I could from him. As such many of the lower level macros in this framework were originially his. Many have been tweaked to work with this new framework but a lot of the effort here is his. Hat's off to him and a big thanks!
We have been using this in my home game for about a year now and it's fine for us. YMMV of course.
Requirements
After some testing it's been found that 2Mb stack size is not big enough. I usually stick mine at 8mb but don't actually know what is the minimum required to make this work.
Have fun and good luck!
Cheers
Blakey
Download: http://www.rodinia.info/downloads.php - select "Blakey Framework<version>.zip" and download the package.
Blakey's Framework
This is a simple framework for 4E D&D. It works hand in hand with, and in fact pretty much requires, my TokenMaker program to create tokens for it. The latest version of TokenMaker is included in the download.
The idea is that every token, both PC and NPC, has a character sheet associated with it. Mousing over the token pops up a dockable frame with the character sheet in it. This character sheet is covered with clickable links which fire off macros enabling that token to do things. Most should be fairly self explanatory. For example, clicking the "Initiative" link rolls initiative for the token. Clicking "HP" allows you to heal the token. Clicking "Bloodied" allows you to damage the token.
The name of each power the token has is a link, which when clicked pops up a separate dockable frame which details what the power does. For example if the token is a PC cleric they will have the Healing Word power. Clicking the Healing Word link will pop up a frame with the description of Healing Word, right out of the compendium, so you can see exactly what that power does. Neatly this is instantaneous as the compendium is searched for this data when the token is built, so it doesn't require a connection at the time of running MapTool.
Under each power is a list of the weapons the PC has equipped and clicking on any of the weapons will make an attack with that weapon. At this stage the framework assumes that you have one or more targets selected in MapTool and it will apply that attack against each target you have selected. It will tell you if you have hit or missed, based on the default values it knows about. There are no situational modifiers applied. At the same time it will roll the damage for your attack and display it. It will also tell you how much you would have done were that attack a crit (helpful in coup de grace situations for example). No damage is applied automatically. This is intentional as I want the Framework to remain light and flexible as possible.
Note that as this FW requires you to target NPCs by selecting them you need v1.3b70 or later of MapTool to make it work.
Likewise you won't find this framework popping up dialog boxes when you make attacks. In order to keep it simple, select your targets, press one link and everything fires off. You might have to make some mental adjustments to take combat advantage, cover, etc into consideration but I'm happy to do that.
When you want to end your turn simply click your name at the top of your character sheet. That means "end my turn". Saves can be made.
Clicking on the "Skills" link at the bottom of the character sheet will let you make a skill check. Likewise the "Str" link allows you to make an ability check (not just Strength).
For monsters with recharge powers, when you use them they become white. However, if they are rechargable on a dice roll, click the "recharge" link on that power and it will roll a dice for you and recharge them if it rolls high enough. Also this roll is made automatically for the monster when its turn comes up.
The zip file includes Lib:Blakey which is required for any campaigns of your own to work.
To Make Your Own Campaign
1. Start MapTool.
2. Import BlakeyProperties into Campaign Properties.
3. Put Lib:Blakey onto one of your maps.
4. That's it!
You'll need to use TokenMaker to make the tokens to use with it.
TokenMaker
Included in the download are PCMaker.jar and NPCMaker.jar. Both are really required to make tokens for this framework. They both require a DDi subscription to work. The first time you run either they will prompt you for your DDi username and password. These are then stored on the filesystem for later re-use. I guess you have to trust me that I'm not stealing your account details. .
PCMaker is used to make PC tokens. Start it up, click "Load" and select a DDi save file to load. If it works (!!) click Save and pick a save file name and location. You'll then get a RPTOK file for your PC. Saving takes a while, about 1 second per character level, give or take, as the program is going off to the compendium to get the details of all the powers your PC has so they can be stored on the token for instant access at game time. So this will need a live internet connection and DDi account.
However if you are using the online CB and doing an Export, these export files now have enough data in them that PCMaker can build a token without needing to go to the Compendium so it is lightning fast.
NPCMaker provides you with a little search facility to find NPCs. It gives you back a list from the compendium of any matches and then you can either double click an entry or press the Build button and it will go off and grab that monster from the Compendium. This takes a couple of seconds and will need a live internet connection and DDi account. You'll get a little representation of it in a frame and then you need to pick a portrait for it. Any graphics file will do. Once done, press Save, give it a name and location and it will make an RPTOK file for you. This is pretty much instant as there is nothing more to get from the compendium at this stage. Select and build more monsters if you want.
The code for TokenMaker is out there on the net in Google Code so if you don't trust me not to be stealing your passwords, go and download the code, check it over and build your own copy. I'm totally fine with that.
A Thanks to Veggie
I have been using Veggie's framework for as long as it's been around now and it was mainly due to him I decided to write my own. But as I don't believe in re-inventing the wheel I stole as much as I could from him. As such many of the lower level macros in this framework were originially his. Many have been tweaked to work with this new framework but a lot of the effort here is his. Hat's off to him and a big thanks!
We have been using this in my home game for about a year now and it's fine for us. YMMV of course.
Requirements
After some testing it's been found that 2Mb stack size is not big enough. I usually stick mine at 8mb but don't actually know what is the minimum required to make this work.
Have fun and good luck!
Cheers
Blakey