CT High Guard character generator for Mac OS X

[agorski]

High Guard is an Intel-only Mac OS X application that generates characters with a Navy background.

It follows the rules in Book 5: High Guard, 2nd edition, published in 1980.

At each point in the character generation rules where the player may select options, these are offered, along with a description that includes the success die roll and die modifiers, if any. Thus, this app provides complete control over character generation.

Skill availability is automatically limited to skills available at the tech level specified for the character. A skill browser window shows all skills available in the program.

The zip file which contains the application and an extensive READ ME file can be downloaded from here.

My Mercenary app (see previous thread) is now also available at the same website.

Let me know what you think. I already have plans to develop apps for Scouts and Merchant Prince.

 

[h0mbre]

Thanks for the intro!

I'd love to try your High Guard app.

thanks!

 

[agorski]

I must have some really good keywords on my website. Google Analytics says I had a visit from the Department of Homeland Security. Heh.

 

[Prometheus]

tried both apps

I was so Impressed I actually bought REAL World... Being MAC OSX and computer stupid... I figure I could tinker with my own Ideas.

For anyone else it is simple and straight to the point ... and very quick.

 

[ssgbryan]

I liked both apps.

very nice indeed.

Now, how do we go about added more classes? I don't program, but I may actually have to get involved in it.

 

[agorski]

very nice indeed.

Now, how do we go about added more classes? I don't program, but I may actually have to get involved in it.

Thanks. Not sure what you mean by adding more classes? I've started working on Scouts, with Merchant Prince to follow. You can post requests here or on my website and you can subscribe to the news feed on my website for announcements.

 

[Meteoric Assault]

if you can ever get the Book2 / Book 5 Ship design off the ground

It would be quite a coup in the face of the Windows users!!!!!:rofl:

 

[agorski]

if you can ever get the Book2 / Book 5 Ship design off the ground It would be quite a coup in the face of the Windows users!!!!!:rofl:

Actually, I've done Numbers spreadsheets for High Guard starship and small craft ship designs. They're posted over on rpggeek.com. Maybe someday I'll convert 'em into full apps.

 

[Meteoric Assault]

Actually, I've done Numbers spreadsheets for High Guard starship and small craft ship designs. They're posted over on rpggeek.com. Maybe someday I'll convert 'em into full apps.

I was thinking in lines with your mercenary and high guard Character generators... I have picked up Realstudio software.. and am playing with it. I am not a real computer nerd so I stress those two brain cells I have left.

 

[agorski]

I was thinking in lines with your mercenary and high guard Character generators... I have picked up Realstudio software.. and am playing with it. I am not a real computer nerd so I stress those two brain cells I have left.

Well, there's a learning curve. I spent about 150 hours on my first program, but that included learning Real Studio.

Start with the Apple Human Interface Guidelines, that is the bible for making an app people will actually use and not give up on in disgust (like being able to hit the Return key to press the default "Continue" button).

Draw up the user interface. I used OmniGraffle, because it gives you the dimensions of everything in pixels, which is then easy to make the equivalent elements in the app (windows, fields, etc.) the same exact size. I used it for the main window and for the TAS form for printout.

I found it was MUCH easier to use the built-in SQLite database to store all the data. I use a free app named MesaSQLite to build the database structure. If you look in the Resource folder in my App you will find the 2 database files. One for static data that doesn't change and one for character-specific data. Use MesaSQLite, or equivalent program, to examine what I did.

Join the forum over at Real Software and search it when you have questions. I've stolen a bunch of code snippets from posts over there. There are lots of code examples in the documentation which I also stole.

Finally, it's object-oriented programming, so code runs when it's attached to an event that happens. My main window has a PagePanel that I switch among multiple pages to get the different "screens" (PagePanel1.Value=5, for example). As soon as I execute that code, the "screen display" changes and the program flow switches to the code associated with that. That's how I do almost everything in these apps.

Here's one of the first pieces of code you'll need. A D6 die roll:

Function Roll1Die() As Integer
dim roll as new random, i as integer
i=roll.InRange(1,6)
return i
End Function

 

[Meteoric Assault]

Well, there's a learning curve. I spent about 150 hours on my first program, but that included learning Real Studio.

Start with the Apple Human Interface Guidelines, that is the bible for making an app people will actually use and not give up on in disgust (like being able to hit the Return key to press the default "Continue" button).

Draw up the user interface. I used OmniGraffle, because it gives you the dimensions of everything in pixels, which is then easy to make the equivalent elements in the app (windows, fields, etc.) the same exact size. I used it for the main window and for the TAS form for printout.

I found it was MUCH easier to use the built-in SQLite database to store all the data. I use a free app named MesaSQLite to build the database structure. If you look in the Resource folder in my App you will find the 2 database files. One for static data that doesn't change and one for character-specific data. Use MesaSQLite, or equivalent program, to examine what I did.

Join the forum over at Real Software and search it when you have questions. I've stolen a bunch of code snippets from posts over there. There are lots of code examples in the documentation which I also stole.

Finally, it's object-oriented programming, so code runs when it's attached to an event that happens. My main window has a PagePanel that I switch among multiple pages to get the different "screens" (PagePanel1.Value=5, for example). As soon as I execute that code, the "screen display" changes and the program flow switches to the code associated with that. That's how I do almost everything in these apps.

Here's one of the first pieces of code you'll need. A D6 die roll:

Function Roll1Die() As Integer
dim roll as new random, i as integer
i=roll.InRange(1,6)
return i
End Function

I really appreciate it... I am a OMNI consumer as well. Are there any how to guides online or in a bookstore you would recommend?

 

[agorski]

I really appreciate it... I am a OMNI consumer as well. Are there any how to guides online or in a bookstore you would recommend?

There was a really good O'Reilly book on Real Basic ages ago, but it's long out of print and Real Studio has changed a lot of stuff since it was published. Might be worth finding a used copy.

I don't know of any other books. Start by reading the user manual and refer to the language reference when you need to use a specific command.

 

[Meteoric Assault]

There was a really good O'Reilly book on Real Basic ages ago, but it's long out of print and Real Studio has changed a lot of stuff since it was published. Might be worth finding a used copy.

I don't know of any other books. Start by reading the user manual and refer to the language reference when you need to use a specific command.

I found one .... on Amazon. Thanks

I hope I can talk to you more about this we have already exchanged emails outside of the forum.

 

[agorski]

Version 1.1 is now available.


Bug Fixes
• Corrected problem where OCS-2 was reported on TAS Form 2 if the character attended OCS with an age waiver.
• Corrected a problem where checks for a skill level used in DMs always returned a skill level of 0.

Enhancements
• The "Included" skills Handgun and Laser Weapons now award all the individual skills in each category separately, instead of awarding the major skill.
• The optional skill level limit of INT+EDU first introduced in Merchant Prince has been implemented by reporting to the Log in case the user wishes to use this rule and muster out the character.

 

[agorski]

Version 1.2 is now available.

Bug Fixes

• Corrected problem where Assignment year was not correctly incremented after Flight School.
• Renamed the File>Print… menu item to File>Print TAS Form 2… for clarity.

Enhancements

• Character data can now be saved to a file.
• A saved character file can be re-opened for examination and printing.