[New release] EABA v2 augmented pdf

BTRC · 05-22-2013, 04:07 PM

(self-serving blurb from the publisher...)
EABA v2 is a technological and to some extent conceptual evolution of the first edition of EABA (or EABA v1). EABA is the self-mocking acronym for the End All Be All role-playing system, a universal system designed to work with any genre, level of realism or gamemaster style. BTRC has been at the bleeding edge of pdf development, with our first pdf gaming products actually predating the advent of places to sell them. EABA v2 continues the tradition, in that it is designed from the start to be a tablet-friendly game, but it is also equally at home on the desktop, laptop or in print-it-yourself form. In its most sophisticated form, the pdf has:

• pop-up navigation menus

• fully hyperlinked

• built-in dice roller

• semi-automated character sheets

• ability to import pictures directly into character sheet

• on-screen mapping

• one-click character creation

• savable changes so you can have your own library of custom characters, NPC's, vehicles, maps and so on.

And all this is in the pdf, so you do not need anything other than a pdf app capable of implementing it. At the moment, the best choices are Acrobat Reader (desktop), PDF Expert (iOS) and qPDF Notes (Android). A free quickstart version with all the advanced features can be downloaded from here, and there is a YouTube video of the interface here. It is, of course, available at e23...

(end blurb)

If you do download the quickstart and have any questions, you might find the answers over on the BTRC forum, but if you want to ask here, I'll keep an eye on this thread.

johndallman · 05-22-2013, 04:22 PM

Having a quick tinker ... Sumatra PDF doesn't handle the JavaScript. Trying it in Acrobat Reader 10.1.7, the dice roller works, but it isn't obvious how to get rid of it without re-rolling if you select it by accident.

BTRC · 05-23-2013, 04:23 AM

On a desktop, you really need to use Acrobat Reader to get the full features. You can get rid of the dice by clicking the "clear all" button. There is also a hidden button to the left of the die icon, and it rolls a straight 3d6. Tapping the word "Result" rerolls the last die selection from the menu.

My house got hit by lightning last night and I am replying via a jury-rigged connection, so bear with me if I am mostly off-line for a day or so as I get this taken care of.

~~Peter Knutsen~~ · 05-23-2013, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BTRC

If you do download the quickstart and have any questions, you might find the answers over on the BTRC forum, but if you want to ask here, I'll keep an eye on this thread.

Does the quickstart demonstrate some or all of these cool functionalities?

johndallman · 05-23-2013, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Knutsen

Does the quickstart demonstrate some or all of these cool functionalities?

Yes. That's what I was using.

johndallman · 05-23-2013, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BTRC

On a desktop, you really need to use Acrobat Reader to get the full features.

I am.

Quote:

You can get rid of the dice by clicking the "clear all" button. There is also a hidden button to the left of the die icon, and it rolls a straight 3d6. Tapping the word "Result" rerolls the last die selection from the menu.

Those are good, but there isn't a way out of having clicked the dice icon by mistake without loosing the current result.

Quote:

My house got hit by lightning last night and I am replying via a jury-rigged connection, so bear with me if I am mostly off-line for a day or so as I get this taken care of.

I hope this is reasonably straightforward!

BTRC · 05-23-2013, 02:55 PM

Quote:

I hope this is reasonably straightforward!

Better than last year, anyway. When that happened I was up to my elbows in MOSFET's for a week after the main inverter blew. What happened this time was a nearby strike vaporized a few of the copper phone wires going into the house and fritzed the DSL filter. That just got fixed, so everything is happy now. Got other things to catch up on, but if there are any new questions I'll get to them in the morning.

vicky_molokh · 05-23-2013, 03:26 PM

You should have a more obvious link to e23's page of EABA 2.

*Sigh* I should some time take a closer look at this system. Wonder if it would handle Transhuman Space templates better than GURPS. (This is more idle curiosity than actual intent.)

vicky_molokh · 05-24-2013, 07:28 AM

Okay, I finally skimmed the quickstart.

I'm quite worried about the 'keep 3 dice, and optionally convert one into +2', since it seems to make higher difficulties not reachable with even significant roll levels. E.g. a difficulty of 21 can be beaten automagically with a 42 dice, but with 41 die, it turns into trade one for +2, roll 40, keep three sixes, and still only reach 20.

GURPS is sometimes criticized for breaking down at high skill levels, but EABA seems to make difficulties above 20 outright unbeatable.

(Also, I'm a Sumatra user too. Hope I don't miss any essential comment boxes or the like.)

BTRC · 05-24-2013, 07:38 AM

Don't know how well it would do THS. EABA v1 had a nanotech post-Ruin supplement called Age of Ruin, but I have not converted that over to the EABA v2 powers system. I am in the early stages of a different nanotech-postsingularity supplement called Grep, which is thus far working out under v2 rules.

05-22-2013, 04:07 PM	#1
BTRC Join Date: Aug 2005	[New release] EABA v2 augmented pdf (self-serving blurb from the publisher...) EABA v2 is a technological and to some extent conceptual evolution of the first edition of EABA (or EABA v1). EABA is the self-mocking acronym for the End All Be All role-playing system, a universal system designed to work with any genre, level of realism or gamemaster style. BTRC has been at the bleeding edge of pdf development, with our first pdf gaming products actually predating the advent of places to sell them. EABA v2 continues the tradition, in that it is designed from the start to be a tablet-friendly game, but it is also equally at home on the desktop, laptop or in print-it-yourself form. In its most sophisticated form, the pdf has: • pop-up navigation menus • fully hyperlinked • built-in dice roller • semi-automated character sheets • ability to import pictures directly into character sheet • on-screen mapping • one-click character creation • savable changes so you can have your own library of custom characters, NPC's, vehicles, maps and so on. And all this is in the pdf, so you do not need anything other than a pdf app capable of implementing it. At the moment, the best choices are Acrobat Reader (desktop), PDF Expert (iOS) and qPDF Notes (Android). A free quickstart version with all the advanced features can be downloaded from here, and there is a YouTube video of the interface here. It is, of course, available at e23... (end blurb) If you do download the quickstart and have any questions, you might find the answers over on the BTRC forum, but if you want to ask here, I'll keep an eye on this thread. Last edited by BTRC; 05-24-2013 at 06:57 AM. Reason: added e23 product link

05-22-2013, 04:22 PM	#2
johndallman Night Watchman Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Cambridge, UK	Re: [New release] EABA v2 augmented pdf Having a quick tinker ... Sumatra PDF doesn't handle the JavaScript. Trying it in Acrobat Reader 10.1.7, the dice roller works, but it isn't obvious how to get rid of it without re-rolling if you select it by accident.

05-23-2013, 04:23 AM	#3
BTRC Join Date: Aug 2005	Re: [New release] EABA v2 augmented pdf On a desktop, you really need to use Acrobat Reader to get the full features. You can get rid of the dice by clicking the "clear all" button. There is also a hidden button to the left of the die icon, and it rolls a straight 3d6. Tapping the word "Result" rerolls the last die selection from the menu. My house got hit by lightning last night and I am replying via a jury-rigged connection, so bear with me if I am mostly off-line for a day or so as I get this taken care of.

05-23-2013, 03:26 PM	#8
vicky_molokh GURPS FAQ Keeper Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kyïv, Ukraine	Re: [New release] EABA v2 augmented pdf You should have a more obvious link to e23's page of EABA 2. Sigh I should some time take a closer look at this system. Wonder if it would handle Transhuman Space templates better than GURPS. (This is more idle curiosity than actual intent.) __________________ Vicky 'Molokh', GURPS FAQ and uFAQ Keeper

05-24-2013, 07:28 AM	#9
vicky_molokh GURPS FAQ Keeper Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kyïv, Ukraine	Re: [New release] EABA v2 augmented pdf Okay, I finally skimmed the quickstart. I'm quite worried about the 'keep 3 dice, and optionally convert one into +2', since it seems to make higher difficulties not reachable with even significant roll levels. E.g. a difficulty of 21 can be beaten automagically with a 42 dice, but with 41 die, it turns into trade one for +2, roll 40, keep three sixes, and still only reach 20. GURPS is sometimes criticized for breaking down at high skill levels, but EABA seems to make difficulties above 20 outright unbeatable. (Also, I'm a Sumatra user too. Hope I don't miss any essential comment boxes or the like.) __________________ Vicky 'Molokh', GURPS FAQ and uFAQ Keeper

05-24-2013, 07:38 AM	#10
BTRC Join Date: Aug 2005	Re: [New release] EABA v2 augmented pdf Don't know how well it would do THS. EABA v1 had a nanotech post-Ruin supplement called Age of Ruin, but I have not converted that over to the EABA v2 powers system. I am in the early stages of a different nanotech-postsingularity supplement called Grep, which is thus far working out under v2 rules.