Is anybody else making automated GM tools?
 

This weekend I intend to complete the

General setting -> Squad type -> Squad structure

part of my character generator. This will produce things like:

Wilderness -> Bandits -> Bandit leader and followers
Town -> Tavern -> Random tavern staff and visitors

And so on.

Is anybody else working on tools either for map generation or whatever that would generate options I should allow specification of?

Re: Is anybody else making automated GM tools?
 

I've been working on both a hex map engine with random map generation, and an arena combat game with a random character generator as part of it.

I don't know what you mean by "generate options I should allow specification of", though?

Re: Is anybody else making automated GM tools?
 

Just let me know if you need swamp dwellers or other strange encounter types.

Re: Is anybody else making automated GM tools?
 

I see, no not for what I'm currently doing.

Re: Is anybody else making automated GM tools?
 

I'm hoping to wrap up Shamat to version 1.0 soon. Have another tool in the works which may or may not be useful.

Re: Is anybody else making automated GM tools?
 

I keep adding new job titles and then figuring out what the average job holder looks like.

For example I split off Army/Police Tracker as a distinct type and my next pass will most likely define how a Wizard Tracker differs from a Hero Tracker.

http://www.hcobb.com/tft/squad.php

Re: Is anybody else making automated GM tools?
 

If only I could run polls here I'd ask if the next step is to add random monsters and nuisance encounters (I.e. Noble brat with tutor, wizard academy orphans, lords of the flies, etc.) or figure out what the mixing ratio is for various races to join organizations (of various types) led by specific other races.

Re: Is anybody else making automated GM tools?
 

Thanks for this.

Re: Is anybody else making automated GM tools?
 

What difficulty rating does everybody assign to the existing monsters?

I'm winging it as I'm adding monsters as squad alternatives.

Re: Is anybody else making automated GM tools?
 

What do you mean by difficulty rating?

Re: Is anybody else making automated GM tools?
 

The combination of the selections on this page: http://www.hcobb.com/tft/squad.php

A city of a hostile race or a wilderness with a lot of expert monsters would be a higher difficulty rating for the party.

Re: Is anybody else making automated GM tools?
 

When I get done with this I'm tempted to make a wiki of house brand rulings, if I can find other people to agree with.

Re: Is anybody else making automated GM tools?
 

Ah, so you're asking how we assess how dangerous each of the existing monsters is?

I use my play experience and understanding of the mechanics and what the monsters' stats and special rules are. I particularly consider their damage, armor, DX, special attacks and immunities, and then imagine how a combat with them will tend to go in whatever situation, particularly whether they're liable to stay standing long enough to hurt someone.

Giant scorpions seem wicked, but have a hard time hurting people in armor.

Practically all large monsters can be overwhelmed and destroyed if they can be subjected to multiple attacks - especially if they knock the monster down or lower its DX so much it will probably miss. Even the larger dragons are quite vulnerable unless they do something smart to avoid having that happen to them.

Typical low-end shadowwights are practically nuisance creatures. ...