question about duplication between books... about pcgen

[BahamutDragon]

Riccardo,

At first I was trying to avoid duplication. Though, looking forward, realized this would be futile
on my part. All my pcc's (source books) have their published date entered in, any KEY that is
duplicated will use the latest version. That's my setting these days. What I need to be watchful for
is Names that are duplicated but have very different effects.

Where this is especially tricky is Spell Compendium actually renamed several core book spells. If I
get the time, I'll update those spell names in the core as 'Errata'.

Does that answer your question mate?

Please join my discussion group I set up http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/bd_games/ I'm trying to
build a community of homebrewers where we can share tricks and tips.

BD

P.S. I like how you handle Spell-Like Abilities, very creative approach and look to duplicate that
in my books.

On 1/15/2014 1:36 AM, Riccardo wrote:

Ho do you code the pcgen objects that are reprinted between varying books?
For example, spells that are written on various books:
do you code them all and load pcgen with the option to don't load the duplicate objects?
do you code only the one in the most recent book?
do you code all of them, but give access to character to only the latest (CLASSES tag on only the
last, and the older are copied with a KEY tag to permit the duplicated object to be given to monster
or weapons or other published in the book)?
Thanks

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[odraccir]

Thanks a lot, BahamutDragon.
my first option on duplication of spells was to remove the duplicated by hand, but with the advent of spell compendium, i thinked to reintroduce all removed spells and leave at pcgen to the choice to load the most recent (after the big work to rewrite some spells, the simple solution of leave at pcgen the encumberance is profitable).

feel free to copy my spell like abilities methods.
i'm thinking to turn back on my oldest dataset and update abilities used (mostly extraordinary and supernatural) to reduce the number of ability used.
many old abilities are created with an ability "father" that define variables and do the descriptions and bonus, and for each class/race that has the ability one ability "child" with variables of the class/race that do the calculation. i'm thinking to move the class/race variable in the CLASS or in the RACE, and remove the superflous, now empty, "child" ability (i think this will help pcgen to use less memory and make pcgen create in memory less objects)

[BahamutDragon]

Interesting thoughts. I had thought about a child/father ability relationship, but decided to instead use TYPE for the common shared abilities, and then use PREABILITY with ,TYPE.xxx. Though I did make an exception for the Evasion, since that bumps up. I made a master ability that tracks usage, like Barbarian, Rogue and Monk. I need to revisit that to make sure it's working correctly.
For the Spell-Like abilities, going to add those based upon book the spell appears in first. Did you see how the pcgen team is using that idea? Noticed one of the commits for Drow Spell Like Abilities. Same concept but built up the idea to allow it to switch to AtWill. Definitely using that trick.

I had a few requests for Forgotten Realms Campaign which is Player's Guide in 3.5. I'm borrowing your stuff till I can get to that on my end. Always interesting to see how others coded things up. Definitely have some great ideas in there mate!

[BahamutDragon]

Closing this issue since we haven't chatted this way for a month. If you need to contact me I can be reached by email.

[email protected].

Best,