Playwrite, the fine wine of game design » 4e class creator

New 4e custom classes: Dark Swordmage, Elementalist, Berserker and Conductor

Logan — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:56:45 +0000

Some new custom classes have made their way from the 4e Power Toolkit. Whether you’re looking for alternatives to the stock classes or inspiration to help you roll your own, be sure to check them out.

Beserker
Conductor
Dark Swordmage
Elementalist

More custom 4e classes can be found here.

No related posts.

4e Power Toolkit v0.7.0 beta released, now with French and Italian translations

Logan — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:51:01 +0000

All those French and Italian dungeon masters who were missing out on the awesomeness of the 4e Power Toolkit – never fear! You too can create your own class and powers with the latest version of the program.

Sorry to all the English-only speakers out there… v0.7.0b doesn’t contain a great deal for you. Here’s the changelog anyway – something might take your fancy:

* Added first implementation of localisation support – different languages can be chosen by selecting one of the relevant flag icons at the bottom of the main program window. It is highly experimental and it is not recommended to upgrade to version 0.7.0 unless you plan to beta test localised text. Localised text is stored in the Locale subdirectory (English.txt, French.txt, Italian.txt, etc). Text may not be perfect and some text may still be in English even when a different language is selected. Please contact logan@playwrite-blog.net regarding corrections

* Powers and classes created in one localisation are not compatible with other localisations

* Language data is now stored in power and class XML

* Powers and classes with custom data (power sources, effect types, etc) will now load correctly

* Updated PDFsharp to v1.31

Probably the big takeaway is that classes and powers are not compatible between different versions of the toolkit. I should also mention the Italian translation was made with Babelfish, so it’s no doubt a bit rubbish.

If there’s anyone out there who’d like to translate the program into their mother tongue, just dip into the Locale subfolder of the 4e Power Toolkit folder. You’ll find an English.txt file with the program’s English text. Use this as a starting point to create your own localisation file. Once you’re done, just email me at logan (at) playwrite-blog (dot) net with the file and the language it’s for, and I’ll include it in the next build.

Thanks to Xavier Hunault-Pérusse for the French translation.

Download the 4e Power Toolkit 0.7.0b

No related posts.

4e Custom Classes: The Umbramancer

Logan — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:43:51 +0000

The 4e Custom Classes website is host to another interesting user-designed creation – the Umbramancer. While it’s influenced heavily by the Warlock, with a little Assassin flavour, author Maeglin has made it his own. He describes the shadowy death-dealer thusly:

Shadows and darkness – both are your tools, the incantations you have learned grant you all the powers of the Umbral Realm, all shadows are at your beck and call. Through years of study the realm of the dark has opened your eyes to the eternal bleak eternities and the reflection of all. Each time you cast a spell, you know that shadows are encouraging your words and that they wish to do your will. Your soul is forever held by the Arch Shades, whether the good or the malign.

And here’s an example of one of the powers:

Shade Dance

Umbramancer Utility 2

The clearing is suddenly filled with an amazing array of danacing shadows.

Daily * Shadow, Conjuration, Zone
Minor Action Area burst 2 within 10 squares

Target: Each Creature in the Zone,

Effect: You create and area of shadow performing an intricate dance. As a minor action you can move the shadows 5 squares. Any creature entering into the air gains concealment from all other creatures witin the area. Any creature outside the area cannot see any creature within the area. The area lasts until the end of your next turn.

Sustain Minor: The area persists.

You can check out the class in full here, or, if you’d like to make your own 4e classes and powers, download the 4e Power Toolkit.

No related posts.

Modern Warfare 2 class creator?

Logan — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:00:19 +0000

Lately I’ve noticed a lot of Google searches hitting my blog have been via the keywords “modern warfare 2 class creator”. For obvious reasons, those searches end up at the 4e Power Toolkit, formerly known as the 4e Class Creator.

I haven’t played Modern Warfare 2 yet, but is a class creator something people are desperate for? I’d be happy to investigate building one… though I get the impression people are looking for info on the class designer in the game, rather than an external planning tool. But I can’t be completely sure.

Drop a comment if you have some input, I’d love to hear from you.

No related posts.

Grab the 4e Power Toolkit v0.6.0, now includes power uploading

Logan — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:10:13 +0000

Create custom 4th Edition D&D powers and classes and upload them for the RPG community at large to use! The latest version of the 4e Power Toolkit allows you to do just that. It’s available, right now… so what are you waiting for?

v0.6.0 also removes the minimum size on the creator windows, allowing the program to be used on small screens, and I’ve fixed a problem that would prevent secondary and tertiary attacks from appearing on power cards. Otherwise, v0.6.0 is a lightweight update… but one you can’t do without!

You can download it from here, and all custom classes and powers can be seen at dnd.playwrite-blog.net.

No related posts.

4e Custom Classes: The Gunslinger

Logan — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:40:33 +0000

A fellow by the name of Mr. Bagelman has uploaded the “Gunslinger”, an interesting ranged martial striker created using the 4e Power Toolkit. Here’s the official description, as well as one of the class’ powers:

Gunslingers are ranged fighters who wield alchemical implements called “guns” and “pistols” and “rifles” to hurl projectiles at their foes (although there are some who use one or two crossbows). Their weapons do great damage at long range as well as close-quarters, but come to a disadvantage when it comes time to reload, given their early and experimental nature. Some Gunslingers take the time to make alchemical bullets, with special abilities, such as fire or acid. Gunslingers prefer to slide around the battlefield, keeping their enemies at a distance.

Bullseye

Gunslinger Feature

Your target is as easy to hit as the broad side of a barn.

At-Will * Martial, Weapon
Minor Action Ranged sight
Prerequisite: Gunslinger class

Target: One Enemy

Effect: You designate one enemy you can see as your target. Once per round, when you hit your target with an attack, the attack does extra damage based on your level (1d6 Heroic, 2d6 Paragon, 3d6 Epic). If you can make multiple attacks in a round, you can decide which attack to apply the extra damage to after all attacks are rolled. If you have dealt Bullseye damage since the start of your turn, you cannot deal it again until the start of your next turn.
The Bullseye stays on your enemy until the end of the encounter, until the Target is defeated, or until you designate a different enemy as your Target.

I quite like the idea of a pistol-wielding alchemist type. If you do too, I recommend checking the class out in full.

The Gunslinger [4e Custom Classes]

No related posts.

4e Custom Classes: The Transmuter

Logan — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:30:05 +0000

A new custom 4e class made with the 4e Power Toolkit was submitted today, and it’s packed full of tasty, much like a chocolate croissant or dinosaur kebab. Called the “Transmuter“, this class combines the versatility of the wizard’s utility powers with nifty polymorphing abilities. Here’s the class description:

There are many different styles of shapeshifting to be seen. One is the literal bodily alteration where the body physically changes, this is the path of which you chose. Your spells hamper your enemies and strengthen your allies. When pressed you shift form and stirke at your enemies with newly gained claws, and breath of fire. Ever changing and adapting, this is your magic, this is your life.

And a sample power, copy-and-pasted directly from the Power Toolkit:

Ettercap Webspinner Form

Transmuter Attack 5

You take the form a an ettercap webspinner, and in doing so gain its mastery over webs.

Daily * Arcane, Poison, Polymorph, Zone, Implement
Minor Action Personal

Effect: Until the end of the encounter, you take the form of a medium ettercap webspinner. You retain your statistics, hit points, and defenses, but you have a speed and climb of 5, and resist poison 10. You can use your arcane powers while in this form, and you gain the following melee basic bite attack, webbed terrain attack, and web walker ability.

Melee Basic Bite Attack: Standard action; reach 1; your
level + 7 vs. AC; 1d6 + Intelligence modifier damage, and you make a secondary attack against the same target; Secondary attack: Intelligence vs. Fortitude; ongoing 5 poison damage. Secondary attack is an implement attack.

Webbed Terrain: Standard action; area burst 2 within 10;
once per encounter; Intelligence vs. Reflex; the target is immobilized (save ends). The zone is filled with spider webs and is considered difficult terrain until the end of the encounter.

Web Walker: You ignore the movement effects of webs and difficult terrain related to spider swarms.

You can check out all the powers and details of the Transmuter at the 4e Custom Classes website.

No related posts.

4e Power Toolkit v0.4 Beta released

Logan — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:10:57 +0000

Found a few hours to pour into the 4e Power Toolkit. After my brief tangle with integrating 4ePT powers into CrawlNotes, I decided to make the process easier. As a side effect, it’s also cake now to post powers into blogs and forums (where HTML is permitted).

A full list of improvements below:

* Added right-click menu to power preview window. Menu options will show windows for the original source, inline source and image preview. Both the source text and image can be copied from these windows.

* Added new power HTML export options:
– Embedded CSS, when the power will be displayed by itself on a single web page
– Inline CSS, for use in blog and forum posts and CrawlNotes

* Added new power image export options:
– BMP, provided for maximum compatibility with other applications
– PNG, for web use and reduce file size. Note PNG is a lossless format, and should be the one used most of the time

* Changelog window now uses Courier New font for improved readability

* Fixed an additional bug with the Class Creator window that would cause it to scroll when it shouldn’t

* Fixed some error checking quirks with Save/Load dialogs

No need to dilly-dally now! Pick v0.4 up over at the apps page.

No related posts.

4e Power Toolkit v0.3 Beta released

Logan — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:27:05 +0000

This is one of a few incremental updates to the 4e Power Toolkit – rather than release a massive update after a long delay, I’ll just get the juicy bits in and push out new versions quickly. Mind you, this is the grand plan. It might be a little less grand in practice.

Anyway, here’s a list of changes:

* Added class modifiers to Hit, Effect, Miss and Sustain boxes. A class modifier can be used to include modifiers to powers based on classes, feats and other factors

* Fixed a bug with the Class Creator window that would cause the scroll position of the left hand window to constantly reset while a power was being dragged

* Added Melee 2, Melee 3 and Melee 4 to possible ranges

* Added scroll bars to a number of text boxes

I know it’s not huge… I’m working on it as I can.

If you’d like to grab the latest version, just head over to the apps page. Again, thanks to everyone who has made suggestions and reported bugs!

No related posts.

4e Power Toolkit v0.2 Beta released

Logan — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:40:43 +0000

Just over a week since the 4e Power Toolkit was released and close to 1150 people have checked it out already! I’d hate to leave them hanging for an update.

So, I won’t.

Here are the changes you’ll find in v0.2 Beta of the Toolkit:

* Fixed bug with Power Creator that would cause the “Attack type” combo box to fill forever

* Power names may now be 36 characters, up from 30

* Hit, Miss and Effect text now correctly formats carriage returns and multiple spaces

* The Auto-detect target function now uses “creature” and “creatures” instead of “enemy” and “enemies”

* A power card template based on the power layouts in the PHB is available under “Templates\Power cards”

* HTML exported via the Class Creator will no longer add titles for levels or frequencies that have no powers

* Added “Melee or Ranged” option to attack types

* Added NYI text to power card HTML export

* Fixed a typo in the “Classes” help tab

* Added changelog to Help window

Thanks to everyone who’s provided feedback and bug reports so far, every bit of help is appreciated! I’ll look to add the Upload feature next version so everyone can start checking out the awesome classes and powers being cooked up out there!

To grab the latest version, head over to the Downloads section.

No related posts.

Why the 4e Class Creator will rule

Logan — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:33:38 +0000

Update: The 4e Power Toolkit is now available! Grab it from here.

Super-sized image of the above can be found here.

Okay, so I don’t know if it will actually rock, but going by the warm sensation I get in my tummy when I code it, I feel comfortable enough to associate it with the word “tubular”.

The 4e Class Creator is the successor to the 4e Power Creator. The latter was coded in a single night, and I’ve made a few tweaks, bug fixes and upgrades since then.

After releasing it into the wild, quite a few requests came in for new features, keywords and the like, but the hacked-together nature of the app left little room for easy improvement. So, the 4e Class Creator was ~~birthed~~ ~~bourne~~ ~~born~~ conjured.

It’s about as modular as I can make it. A HTML template contains tags that each module can read and replace with the whatever information is required. Adding something new to the program is as simple as creating a new module, adding tags to the HTML, and outputting the form data.

There’s built-in support for custom accessories, weapons, damage and power types, as well as power sources, so there’s no need for a recompile if your campaign has a Doctor class that uses Forceps or something equally as creepy.

I’d like to have it out by the end of January. February at the latest. But we’ll see how things pan out.

No related posts.