Xref: utzoo rec.games.frp:4249 comp.sys.atari.st:9725
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!yale!jellinghaus-robert
From: jellinghaus-robert@CS.YALE.EDU (Rob Jellinghaus)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp,comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: AD&D Character Generator
Summary: Why write it at all?
Message-ID: <29060@yale-celray.yale.UUCP>
Date: 13 May 88 17:24:05 GMT
References: <771@leah.Albany.Edu> <10265@stb.UUCP>
Sender: root@yale.UUCP
Reply-To: jellinghaus-robert@yale.UUCP
Organization: Yale University Computer Science Dept, New Haven CT  06520-2158
Lines: 32

In article <10265@stb.UUCP> tracer@stb.UUCP (Jeff Boeing) writes:
>What I'd really like to see is the source code (ANSI C preferrably) for a
>character generator for CHAMPIONS(tm), the Super Hero Role-Playing Game.
>Try writing one yourself some time!  It is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to make a
>Champions(tm) character generator that lets you use all the options.  Heck,
>I don't even want to THINK about programming in options for Multipowers or
>Variable Power Pools!  Anybody who could make one of these would earn my
>award for Best Applications Programmer of the Year.

Why bother?  Champions character generation was MADE for spreadsheet
packages.  I've made up a nice Excel template, with borders and boxes
everywhere, lots of room for explanatory comments, and most of all,
complete freedom to hack with the equations until you get what you
want.  Things like:  I have a Multipower set up with an END battery.
If I want to see what happens with a different-sized END battery, I
change *one* number, and the whole Multipower recalculates.  For
characteristics, I just type in how many points over/under the base
I want; it calculates derived stats (END, STUN, &c), calculates the
point cost, instantly.  And this is really really easy to do.

Heck, a spreadsheet is MADE to let you interconnect a bunch of equations
and play with them.  What could be more perfect for Champions?

>Jeff Boeing (which is not my real name)   |   ...!uunet!stb.uucp!tracer
>------------------------------------------|----------------------------
>"As of now I'm taking charge."     -- Alexander Haig
>"Megatron is down!  I am your new leader!"  -- Starscream

Rob Jellinghaus                | Robert Anson Heinlein
jellinghaus-robert@CS.Yale.EDU |   1907-1988
ROBERTJ@{yalecs,yalevm}.BITNET |   A man who touched many lives.
{y'all}!ihnp4!hsi!yale!robertj |   May we be worthy of his legacy.