sean
Apprentice Douchebag
Posts: 52
|
Post by sean on Dec 15, 2011 21:38:02 GMT -8
Stu's love of GURPS has convinced me to pick it up again after more then a decade. I can see that there's a great system there, honest I can, but . . . Jesus. That is one hell of a lot of character generation. I just can't see GMing this system without some computer assistance for creating NPCs. Now, in the show notes, Stu said some pretty uncomplimentary things about the Character Assistant software - glitches and so on. But that was when he first started using it. There's a lot of season 3, and all of season 4 I haven't listened to yet. Maybe he's changed his mind.
So. Can anyone experienced with the GURPS Character Assistant tell me how well it works?
|
|
|
Post by Stu Venable on Dec 16, 2011 8:07:59 GMT -8
I use GURPS Character Assistant.
I never experienced the math problem others said it had. My only complaint is that it's slow, but considering the complexity of GURPS Car Gen, that's a minor complaint.
There's also GURPS Character Sheet (google it). It's free, but it isn't as complete.
I've used them both extensively, and they both work fine. I just got a notification that there's some kind of update on GCA, but I haven't downloaded it yet.
|
|
|
Post by inflatus on Dec 16, 2011 8:52:40 GMT -8
I don't like the lack of Mac support. I did use it in its early iteration. I didn't think that it look too good or do anything besides math. If you are new to the game having the math done on the fly may be a good thing. Hopefully the app has improved since the beginning.
|
|
sean
Apprentice Douchebag
Posts: 52
|
Post by sean on Dec 16, 2011 21:35:42 GMT -8
Sorry Stu, but when you record everything you do, other people are bound to remember things you've forgotten. Way back in July '10 ( www.happyjacks.org/?p=626), you talked about problems with the Character Assistant. But if you don't remember, then I guess the problems aren't an issue any longer.
|
|
Nolinquisitor
Journeyman Douchebag
Next Project: BrigadeCon, RPGS 2 Your Science Fantasy Toolkit Supersetting
Posts: 162
Preferred Game Systems: GURPS, M&M, 7th Sea, Cypher System
Currently Playing: Playing is for the weak.
Currently Running: Cypher System, D&D 5E + Freeport
Favorite Species of Monkey: Dr. Zaius
|
Post by Nolinquisitor on Dec 17, 2011 8:24:54 GMT -8
Character Assistant is a useful software but I can imagine that can be quite a bit if you are just starting GURPS. Personnally I just use GCA for PC generation, not for NPC and here's why. When you design an NPC it's all about what you want this character can do or what he is. Point totals in 4th edition is more of a guideline instead of an almighty game balance device. Especially with NPCs, point totals are nothing of use to your GMing and even less for the PC's who are not supposed to know those details. So my greatest advice for your NPC generation problem would be : don't bother with points totals. Then you don't need all the calculations and math wizardry to make an NPC. Just make a list of his attributes, advantages, skills, etc. and you are done. If you forgot something... just add it later. Nobody said that a NPC should be as complete as the PCs. What if I realize my NPC King don't have Status 7? He's a king... sure he as it! I just add it later on. Since GURPS is all about simulation, the point totals are of no use to balance an encounter too. A 100 points NPC is not equivalent to another 100 points NPC. In theory yes, but if one invest 100 points in combat skills and the other 100 points in social skills... you will see my point. A 50 points NPC can be extremely deadly. For example, let's pick a normal thug with DX 10, Gun (Rifle)-23, for a total of 48 points! In GURPS, 48 points is pretty badass when focused in one little thingy, but why would I use such a NPC who can shoot a PC in the head with his eyes closed? Food for thoughts.
|
|
sean
Apprentice Douchebag
Posts: 52
|
Post by sean on Dec 19, 2011 5:49:49 GMT -8
Thanks Seb. Good advice. It made me think of the Wildcard rules (p175), which at first read looked unbalanced. That King will have Governing! 18, Diplomat! 12, Warrior! 14, and that's it for skills. I can always add more if needed. Should save a lot of work.
|
|
|
Post by ironnikki on Dec 19, 2011 17:26:38 GMT -8
I made my first GURPS character last month using GURPS Character Sheet. It was a little confusing to use, but it worked out alright. For me, the most daunting aspect of making a character was wading through the Ads/Disads and skills, and having a searchable list greatly streamlines the process if you're not certain beforehand which skills you want.
|
|
|
Post by daeglan on Dec 19, 2011 18:45:24 GMT -8
Sorry Stu, but when you record everything you do, other people are bound to remember things you've forgotten. Way back in July '10 ( www.happyjacks.org/?p=626), you talked about problems with the Character Assistant. But if you don't remember, then I guess the problems aren't an issue any longer. Yes as I recall one of his players was saying it was doing the math wrong. I have never had it do math wrong. I suspect that they may have not understood the math or possibly just found a bug in a data file.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2011 4:09:26 GMT -8
I just use GA for PC generation, not for NPC Completely agree here. Unless your story requires fully fleshed out NPC's then it's a waste of time to build them in the Character assistant. I use is for all my GURPS games as it's quicker and far more accurate than I would be on my own. I can make 5 Characters up in an evening rather than maybe 1 if I have to pour through the books.
|
|
|
Post by daeglan on Jan 10, 2012 10:52:54 GMT -8
I disagree. Here is why you build them in Character assistant. Need a mook. make a mook in GCA. Don't worry about the math just give them what you want them to have and save. Now you can print GM sheets for as many as you need for an encounter. If you need a mook but he needs to be slightly different open the mook character modify and save. Also go here www.gurpscharacter.com/characters Download them all. My point is you can use GCA as a character library. Make thugs, luetenants villains everything in GCA. for NPCs don't worry about the math. This turns GCA into a time saving tool by allowing you to have an ever expanding library of characters. Also when you make them take the time to upload the character to the link above as everyone who does is saving another GM time.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2012 5:20:11 GMT -8
My NPCs get created in GCA as well. I then print them to PDFs and look them up on my iPad when I need them. If you use the Phoenix Character Sheet, it gets even better, as you then can customize how your character sheet looks... Here is an example of a Dungeon Fantasy Goblin Berserkers I made in GCA with Phoenix: DF Goblin BerserkerCheers! Onkl
|
|
|
Post by doctorlovecraft on Mar 3, 2012 16:08:58 GMT -8
I have found the GCA to be slow and not easy to use. Sure an experienced player with some computer experience can make a character with little difficulty but it isn't really user friendly. It may sound that I am being to harsh on it, but there was a free program for 3rd edition named GURU that was way easier to use, just as comprehensive, and much faster. I could knock out a complete character in three minutes with it. It was also highly customizable, though this did require a decent amount of knowledge of the program. The GCA really pales when compared to it. That said the GCA is the best 4th edition character builder I have found and it does everything you would expect of it. Coincidentally there is a 3rd edition NPC character generator here ayinger.no-ip.info/ There is an online version and a downloadable one for Windows.
|
|
quietlyscheming
Initiate Douchebag
Posts: 33
Preferred Game Systems: GURPS 4e, Shadowrun 4e, Trail of Cthulhu
|
Post by quietlyscheming on Jul 13, 2012 11:19:27 GMT -8
I use the GCA pretty extensively. It can be a bit slow, depending on how many gdf files you load up, but it works wonderfully. I've never had a math problem with it like I've had with other programs and I love how customizable it is. It is a bit faster too with the latest update. Every game I've run in GURPS I create a custom gdf file for my players. It contains stuff that is exclusive to the world like advantages, disadvantages, equipment, racial templates, etc. It's really a pretty awesome tool to have and not that hard to learn how to create them. Example: In the Shadowrun GURPS conversion game I did, my players could load up the Shadowrun gdf file and have all the spells (Manaball, Slay, Wreck), racial templates (Dwarves, Orks, Elves, Trolls), they could purchase equipment (Commlink Novatech Airware, load on your choice of platforms under modifiers), grab new advantages (Murky Link, Resonance, Threading) or disadvantages (Gremlins, Social Stigma Elf Poser). All thanks to a custom gdf that was pretty easy to make. I totally agree with Seb that two 50-point characters are not equal, depending on the focus of their build. However, I do use the GCA for my NPCs. I give my minor NPCs just the core stuff I need. Stats, a few skills, and an advantage or two. My major NPCs always get a full character sheet build. Then I load them all onto a GM Control Sheet in the GCA. So now I can have a printable list of all my major and minor NPCs with all their stats and any skills, disadvantages, and advantages I choose to put on there. IF the minor NPC, with just a few core things, becomes a major NPC I simply go back and fill in the details as they get fleshed out. It works really great. Anyway, there's my two cents. I won't play a GURPS game without the GCA these days.
|
|
jeffrywith1e
Journeyman Douchebag
Posts: 182
Preferred Game Systems: Pathfinder, BRP, d20 Modern
Currently Playing: Pathfinder
Currently Running: OpenQuest
Favorite Species of Monkey: gone to heaven
|
Post by jeffrywith1e on Jul 18, 2012 15:48:00 GMT -8
|
|
sunshine
Apprentice Douchebag
Posts: 69
Preferred Game Systems: Savage Worlds, GURPS, anything with d10s
Currently Playing: L5R - Homebrew
Currently Running: L5R - Homebrew
|
Post by sunshine on Nov 13, 2012 10:11:55 GMT -8
I have been using the GURPS Character assistant for a few years now, and as a GM I can tell you that it REALLY helps me turn my players character concepts into reality MUCH faster than going through the books.
In my area, GURPS is a relatively under-used system, so many people are not familiar with it. Getting an idea, and quickly going through ideas and lists with the assistant is great, and I can quickly print up a character sheet for them.
For NPCs it is tricky, like someone said above me, forcing you to meet point totals is a good idea, but often, I need to do stuff like add HP, DR or something odd, that often costs a lot of points, which makes for NPCs who are the same power level, but worth more points.
Mostly, I just get an idea and go from there.
In summary, the older version used to crash for me, but the newest version is great and I love using it to help my PCs and give me NPC concepts, though not whole NPCs
|
|