2019-01-07

OED NPC Generator

I uploaded a batch of new code updates to the Arena repository on GitHub (see link below).

First and foremost, there's a new application there, NPC Generator, to conveniently create OED-compatible NPCs that are complete and playable at the table. This includes all the basic races and characters classes, multiclassing for elves, simple magic items, OED feats, spells memorized, names, suggested personalities keyed off alignment, etc. Unlike the other applications, these creations use a random heuristic without simulating the NPC's entire adventuring career (which is currently not feasible for thieves & wizards; maybe someday). As usual, it's an old-school program for old-school gaming; local desktop based-only, with a very minimalist command-line interface. (Java compiler required.)

Secondly, I overhauled the Marshal program (which generates complete listing for bands of Men in the wilderness, including fighter leaders that are generated by simulating their entire adventuring career) to have more streamlined and useful output. Previously, it would print very long reams of lower-level officers in detail; really, a lot more than could reasonably useful in-game. Now it prints only the top 4 leaders (think: captain, lieutenant, two sergeants), which (a) seems more obviously useful, (b) fits much more conveniently on a digest page, and (c) better simulates historical listings (e.g., Civil War company-level rosters).

Meanwhile, the Arena and MonsterMetrics applications work the same. In particular, MonsterMetrics has gone through regression testing so as to confirm that monster EHD (Equivalent Hit Dice) recommendations are the same as they were before.

As always, this code is released with the open-source GPL v. 2 license, so feel free to download, copy, share, edit, fork, use as the basis for a web program, etc., etc. Of course, there's always more work that can be done. But this has streamlined a lot of my game prep, so hope it might helps some of yours, too.



(P.S.: OMG these kinds of programs would be so much simpler if it weren't for multiclassing!)

3 comments:

  1. They look good but how do I use them?

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  2. Multiclassing is a nightmare; it took me forever to get just LBB elves working correctly for my tools.

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