GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

The incredibly popular GURPS Character Assistant has been updated to Version 5.

If you have purchased this software previously via Warehouse 23, you can download the new version at no additional cost from your Warehouse 23 download library.

IMPORTANT: The new GURPS Character Assistant does not support the old (GURPS Character Assistant 4) character sheets or exporters. We're sorry about that, but there was no way to maintain backward compatibility using the new framework. All versions of GURPS Character Assistant prior to this version are unsupported and should only be used for "legacy" purposes. If you purchased the software prior to February 7 via Warehouse 23, the old version of the software (4.0) will be added to your Warehouse 23 account before the end of the month.

What's New

Here's what's new with this 5.0 version of GURPS Character Assistant, compared to the previous 4.0 version:

• It's been rebuilt on a more modern framework, GCA now runs more smoothly and reliably on modern Windows.

• Faster! This version is much faster, across the board.

• It features improved data handling. Each character is now loaded with the library of data that they rely on; no longer is one library applied across the entire program.

• GCA includes additional way to view your character data, called the Unified View, which puts everything onto a panel you can drag around to see the different types of information without having to change tabs or windows. This view can be expanded through plugins in the future.

• Improved loadout support. It's easier than ever to build and manage loadouts.

• All new support for transforms, allowing for different racial templates or other sets of traits that aren't meant to be all applicable at one time, allowing you to apply just the ones that are meant to be used at the moment.

• Better armor and protection handling, with added support for those of you that need to track armor by the layer.

• Added a package manager for Updates and Optional packages. This helps alert you to program updates and allows you to install optional extras, such as new character sheets, extra symbol icons, or data for the 3rd Edition books.

• Random characters! GCA includes a new tool that lets you build random characters based on character templates.

• Improved editors, plus a new editor for attack modes which makes updating, adding, and removing attack/weapon modes much easier.

• Many smaller, simpler, but nice-to-have improvements, such as highlighting important traits with different colors, collapsing and expanding parents, indicating capacity for containers, letting you build different kinds of bonuses, tracking uses in multi-use traits, the ability to save to PDF directly from the Print Preview window, and more.


More information about this program – including screenshots and the User Reference Guide – can be found here: http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/characterassistant/

Whether you're a long-time user or a new GURPS gamer, GURPS Character Assistant will make your games faster and easier than ever. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

Woo! This is good news!

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

Will this update allow me to experiment with Alternate Attributes? I really want to use Quintessence as the base skill for supernatural stuff.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

Great, plan on getting it.

Wish you have been able to break out of the Windows box... like I have players who do not have computers, they have tablets and phones. Really wish, even if it was just a 'viewer' that allowed for like changing current HP, FP, etc., for mobile app/web app that works with phones and tablets.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

I purchased it from Warehouse 23, but back in the days when one could acquire such things on - gasp - CD. Hence, it's not part of my download library (although I am of course a registered user). Is there any easy way for me to get hold of the new version?

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

I have a question if you don't mind. How many licenses do you get with a purchase, I use a laptop and a home computer for my game can I put the program on both with only one purchase?

I will be purchasing a copy, I just need to know how many.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

I get that the exporters and sheets are not supported, but are the actual character supported?

Meaning, can I take a character I created, say a big-bad, and import that .gca file in with GCA 5 and it will work?

How about importing from a .xml?

Just looking for a format I can export from GCA 4 to GCA 5 without re-entering all the stuff again.

Thanks!

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

You can load GCA4 characters into GCA5 with the normal File > Open. But it's a one-way conversion: when you save the character, you must save it as a GCA5 character.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

Does the GCA4 version need to be uninstalled before installing the new one?

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

No, you can install and run them side by side.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

As Stormcrow said. However, Do NOT install GCA5 into the same folder as GCA4!

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

You could do that with GCA4 already.

If you're asking if GCA will somehow know what skills should be adjusted to work with Quintessence, then no, you still have to do that.

I personally don't have enough time to work on that without it being a paying job, because I have to eat. I think maybe the web app GCalc (GURPS Calculator) does that kind of thing?

What Stormcrow said.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

Presumably, GCA 4 data sheets aren't compatible. Is there an easy way to convert the old sheets?

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

If a more Official answer to either of these gets posted, I may delete my responses here.

My understanding is that there is no effective way for SJGames to provide the free upgrade to users that do not have GCA4 in their Warehouse 23 download library.

I believe that we go with this view:

If the possibility exists that more than one copy might be in use at the same time, we ask that you buy additional licenses to cover that. Otherwise, you're fine installing it where you need it.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

If you mean the data files, then GCA5 reads those written for GCA4 without trouble (GCA5 was developed using GCA4 data). GCA5 *is* more finicky about certain types of data and certain expressions, so some data that may actually have been wrong in GCA4, but worked in some fashion anyway, may not work right in GCA5.

Almost everything included right now is from the GCA4 data files, and I'm slowly updating them as I have time and find things that need adjustment.

If you mean character sheets, then no.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

Yeah I meant data files. That is exceptional news.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

Just to be clear, I have two entries in my download library one is GURPS Character Assistant LEGACY ONLY (Version 4) (SJG31-4001-4L) 12.5MB, which I assume is the old one. Then there is GURPS Character Assistant (SJG31-4001) at 16.9 MB which I guess is the new shiny one?

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

Yes, that is correct.

The new GCA takes over the official SKU, while the old one became the Legacy version.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

I also bought the original on CD. For $16.00 I can buy the new version, and Armin has earned his share with all the work he has put into GCA over the years.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

If we already had the beta installed, do we need to re-install the final version, or will it update itself?

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

The Beta Preview will *NOT* be updated. I'm not posting any updates of any kind to it.

Please install the official release version.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

That's exactly my situation and what I did. Well worth it!

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

GURPS Character Assistant has been updated to Version 5 of GCA has received an update to squish a few bugs.

To quote one particularly important bit of the readme.txt:

"If you have previously installed a previous version of Version 5, you don't need to do anything special, nor do you need to uninstall the previous version of GCA5. This installer should provide a smooth install over the top of the previous one; it will detect the previous installation and install the new one right into the same place."

All previous purchasers via Warehouse 23 can download the updated installer from your Warehouse 23 download library.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

Just to clarify - running "Check for Updates" from within the program no longer downloads a patcher to update just the files that need updating? All check boxes on that dialogue notwithstanding, we have to hand-download and install the complete new version every time there's a new release?

It's not a great inconvenience, but it's a change in behaviour from version 4 that confused me for a few hours.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

Likewise, especially as I can't find the old CD, so have no actual proof I bought the thing anyway. It seemed easier to just buy it anew, and I can afford to right now.

Now, whether I'll get the use out of it I'd like to is a different matter - my players are all cheapskates and thus use GCS.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

That is correct. (Technically you had to hand-download and then run the GCA4 patcher also, but you didn't have to login to the store to get that.)

Actual patchers in the new world of Windows these days are freakishly expensive, and the old tech I had for GCA4 long since stopped being accessible to me.

Since GCA isn't free, I can't make the core program available through the Package Manager the same way I can books and plugins. So any updates to the core program will require access through a login system. It was the preference of the SJGames staff (they didn't want a third-party having access to logins) and me (since it would have been a lot more work) that I not create a custom browser to access Warehouse23 to get the new installer for any update and then run it automatically.*

For now, the best I can offer is a message that the update is available, and a link to your Download page at Warehouse 23. Maybe we'll be able to revisit that down the line.


* I did build a system for doing some of that, but it doesn't scale to the web store access with cookies and obfuscation system that most online stores use.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

Okay, fair enough — thanks.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

I have GCA4, and I also just bought GCA5 and installed it.

When I run it, I get this error, but when dismissed GCA starts up without issue (that I can tell).

frmMain.InitPLugins: 457 Add Failed. Duplicate key value supplied.
Stack Trace:
at Microsoft.VisualBasic.Collection.Add(Object item, String Key, Object
Before, Object After)
at GCA5.frmMain.InitPlugins()

Any ideas what this might mean?

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

It means you have multiple plugins with the same name. It should not be related to GCA4 in any way.

That is most likely to happen if you have manually installed a plugin and also installed it with the Package Manager.

For example, Spring Bandit Sheet was available for manual install for a while, and could be put into your Documents\GURPS Character Assistant 5\plugins\ folder. However, if you install it from the Package Manager, that installs it into the system plugin folder, where it is loaded *first*, and that will cause this error when GCA then tries to load the one from Documents.

You should remove any such plugins from their place in Documents and let the Package Manager handle it once you've installed from there.

(NPC Record Card is another possible cause, as are either the Foundry or Fantasy Grounds export plugins, which I believe may be available through other means as well.)

ETA: To expand on this: GCA prints to the Logging pane as it finds and processes plugins. You can probably read through that to see which plugin it is finding and failing to load due to this error. I'm afraid I don't remember exactly what to look for at the moment.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

As of minutes ago, GCA5 has been updated to version 5.0.172. Previous purchasers can download the new version from their Warehouse 23 digital libraries.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

GCA5 has been updated to version 5.0.176. As before, previous purchasers can download the new version from their Warehouse 23 digital libraries.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

Sorry, but I cannot find the update file in my WH23 library -I've updated to V5 a while ago, but when I search for something like "update" in my orders or downloads nothing appears, and searching for "GURPS Character Assistant" only yields the GURPS Character Assistant itself and the GURPS Character Assistant LEGACY ONLY (Version 4) --- any idea where to look?

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

There is no separate Update installer for this version. When there is an update available, you should download and install the full GURPS Character Assistant installer again, and install that--it will update you to the newest version right over the top of your existing GCA5 installation, and without the problems that the previous patching system had.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

GCA5 has been updated to version 5.0.183. Those who have purchased the digital download previously from Warehouse 23 version can download the new version from their their Warehouse 23 digital libraries.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

I do release notes by the build over at my GCA5 blog https://www.misersoft.com/gca5/ while I work, so exactly what's new in this release is everything that was noted since the previous release.

However, these things are probably most relevant or important to folks:

• shield items now calculate their block score (as charblockscore), so accessing that from sheets and exporters is much easier.
• added the option to have your shield DB add to your active defense scores. (GCA by default does not, and you have to remember to add shield DB; with this option set, you instead need to subtract it when it doesn't apply.)
• fixed an issue related to calculating things based off of ST values, when the character doesn't have a Striking ST.
• updated some routines that draw the Protection graphic, so they're a better match with the one used in the Protection dialog.
• Prerequisites that rely on groups of things should be properly checked more reliably.
• fixed some things related to sizing in Windows 11
• the default 'display name' of equipment items now includes modifiers, as all other trait types do.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

AND you put in the NPC exporter for Fantasy Grounds Gurps!

A big Thank You for that!

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

I have pushed some updates out for my sheets and the package manager. DO NOT install the sheet updates if you are NOT running 5.0.183! Go to Warehouse 23, go to your Downloads page, download GURPS_Character_Asssitant.zip, and run the setup program it contains! That will update your GCA to the newest version and will not affect your personal data. THEN you can install the sheet updates.

If you don't have 5.0.183, some of your sheets will not load (will disappear from inside GCA) because these updates require features that the older GCA releases don't support.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

There is a new sheet available for use with GCA5: GCA Prime.

The GCA Prime sheet is available now through Check for Updates.

This is a columnar block flow sheet, with a fair number of options to get us started. It also includes a couple simple sets of Preset options you can try from inside Sheet Options.

While I've been using it a lot, and it was available to my patrons at Patreon for some time now while I was building it, I can't promise that it's entirely bug free--but it does seem pretty solid. This sheet is a big step up in sheet features for GCA5.

I hope you like it.

! Requires GCA 5.0.183 or later! !

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

has anyone had problems with advantages and skills dissevering? I have had the advantages work fine for a single character, but when I load a new one the advantages are not there.

I am using ritual path magic and dungeon fantasy 11, along with the supporting books.

any help would be appreciated because I have to rearrange my library for each character now.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

I'm afraid I don't understand what you are asking, or understand what you might be seeing.

If you create a library, every character also created with that library should have the exact same traits in the Library lists within the program.

*However* if you create a library, that does not mean that every character you create is being created with that library.

From the Tools menu, select Options. The second box on the Program Options tab is called Characters. Check the box for "Always require choosing the character's library". Then, every time you create a new character, GCA will ask you which library you want to use, and you can select the appropriate one. If you don't do that, you have to use File > New, Choosing Library in order to create a character with a specific library.

GCA's normal behavior is that if you just select File > New the character is created with the 'default' library, which just has whatever books that has, but is not necessarily the library you wanted.

Using the Manager Your Library dialog has no impact on a character by itself, unless you get there by File > New, Choosing Library or by Character > Switch Library (or by any related toolbar buttons).

I don't know if any of that helps, but I hope I hit something there that does.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

GCA5 has been updated to version 5.0.187. Those who have purchased the digital download previously from Warehouse 23 version can download the new version from their their Warehouse 23 digital libraries.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

I release notes by the build over at my GCA5 blog https://www.misersoft.com/gca5/ while I work, so exactly what's new in this release is everything that was noted since the previous release.

However, these things are probably most relevant or important to folks:

• There was a bug in correctly initializing bonuses loaded from saved characters, when those characters used gains bonuses (“to me from X” style). This bug could cause an issue that resulted in any such bonus causing an endless loop. That is now fixed.
• A new sheet, GCA Prime, is now included with the installation. This is a columnar block-flow sheet that provides more options for what you can see and print.
• Updates to the GCA UI to help improve display of Super-Effort values for Supers/Powers characters.
• If you have Show Hidden turned on, GCA will now display otherwise hidden attacks in the Attack displays.
• Added an option to scale super-large attribute scores.
• Added a simple checkbox on the General Info box for turning on/off Metric if you use that.
• Miscellaneous other fixes and bug-catching stuff.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

GCA5 has been updated to version 5.0.189. Those who have purchased the digital download previously from Warehouse 23 version can download the new version from their their Warehouse 23 digital libraries.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

This quick new update is due to a bug fix! (Big thanks to Steven for the quick posting!)

The fix I noted here for the previous update:

wasn't implemented correctly, which caused a bug that crashed GCA when loading characters with a different type of bonus.

Should be fixed now!

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

Should I break out these updates to their own thread, or keep tacking them on here?

Ehhh... that's a problem for Future Steven!

Anyway, GCA5 has been updated to version 5.0.197. Those who have purchased the digital download previously from Warehouse 23 version can download the new version from their their Warehouse 23 digital libraries.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

I release notes by the build over at my GCA5 blog https://www.misersoft.com/gca5/ while I work, so exactly what's new in this release is everything that was noted since the previous release.

However, these things are probably most relevant or important to folks:

• There have been lots of bug fixes.
• Improved support for using rich-text (RTF) in the Description and User Notes fields of Edit Traits, and in Campaign Log notes entries.
• Added support for 'mini-modes' in attack modes, which is just a way to get an extra damage listing in the same mode line.
• Added an explicit VTTNotes field for storing stuff for your virtual table top related to a trait. This is now found on Edit Traits. If you don't use a VTT, you can use this as an extra notes slot for things that won't get printed when printing User Notes.
• You can now change the Reaction Modifiers box in Unified to list bonuses By Line instead of as a paragraph. See the new gear menu.
• Sheet View and Print Preview now let you view sheets as Facing Pages.
• Build Campaign Book has been improved to allow you to use a reference library, so making changes later is easier.
• Saving traits to a file from inside GCA will now result in GCA prompting you to see if you want to reload the library (IF the file you just saved to is part of the current library).
• You can now right-click library traits in the Unified or Sheet view Library Lists to select categories that should be *excluded* from the current listing. You can clear those exclusions again by clicking the red X for the exclusion list that will appear below the Category list.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

So, as seems traditional now, I broke something while fixing other things in this update.

In the Select dialogs, the process that limits traits to specified ranges is currently not working. For example, if a template says you can take up to 3 levels of Magery, you would currently be able to take more than that. All of these limits are currently broken.

I have fixed it for the next update, and will try to get that out soon.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

And, lo, as ordained by prophecy, GCA5 has been updated to version 5.0.199. Those who have purchased the digital download previously from Warehouse 23 version can download the new version from their their Warehouse 23 digital libraries.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

GCA5 has been updated to version 5.0.202. Those who have purchased the digital download previously from Warehouse 23 version can download the new version from their Warehouse 23 digital libraries on the old store, or the new store.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

(I release notes by the build over at my GCA5 blog https://www.misersoft.com/gca5/ while I work, so exactly what's new in this release is everything that was noted since the previous release.)

This version includes minor bug fixes to book processing, bonuses, and the combination attacks editor

It includes some new stuff, including but not limited to:

* additional features for bonuses
* more math functions (heavily weighted toward those that aid randomization)
* improvements to some template features, including ability to apply protection from added armor
* general improvements to randomized character features
* an update to the plugin compiler so that plugins can properly reference required additional DLLs
* And an update to the Updater, to help avoid installing updates that aren't yet supported by your current version of GCA.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

Oh! I forgot to include this one:

* A new optional plugin to export characters for use with the Roll20 VTT (from TheMadCoder).

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

As per Steven Marsh's post over here, GCA 5.0.209 is now available at Warehouse 23.

I release notes by the build over at my GCA5 blog https://www.misersoft.com/gca5/ while I work, so exactly what's new in this release is everything that was noted since the previous release.

This version largely consists of general bug fixes and miscellaneous improvements, including a number of new features and functions for data file authors.

It also includes these updates that may be of interest:

• Additional biographical data available for use on the updated Appearance / Biographical Data dialog.
• An updated Build Campaign Book dialog.
• Automatic unit conversions now allow for using either 'game metric' or 'real metric' and new settings for that are available in Options. (Only 'game metric' was available until now.)
• An option to cap per-die returns (as used for damage bonuses for some skills).

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

As per Steven Marsh's post over here, GCA 5.0.212 is now available at Warehouse 23.

I release notes by the build over at my GCA5 blog https://www.misersoft.com/gca5/ while I work, so exactly what's new in this release is everything that was noted since the previous release.

I've mostly been working on data file and sheet updates lately, but here are some new things that may be of interest:

• A fix to the damage calculation/display bug introduced recently. All damages should now be back to working as they were before that change.
• The system for sheets and exporters to request options when they're creating output has been fixed.
• Page numbers in the Info pane have been improved, so they can now show the full book name after the page code (so you don't have to remember codes), and if you don't have a link set up to that PDF, you can set it when you click the link.
• The GM Control Sheet has now been included.

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

As per Steven Marsh's post over here, GCA 5.0.218 is now available at Warehouse 23.

I release notes by the build over at my GCA5 blog https://www.misersoft.com/gca5/ while I work, so exactly what's new in this release is everything that was noted since the previous release.

This time around is mostly some bug fixes and accessibility improvements, but here are various new things that may be of interest:

• As usual, a variety of bug fixes, small adjustments, and general improvements
• Fixed an issue with automatic weight conversions and using the ::baseweight reference
• Addressed some issues related to modes and how damage might be calculated, in order to allow for a better user experience and less confusion and mistakes in damage formulas
• Updated handling of damage with special text, such as 'slam+3' or 'HT+formula', and new user-damage-prefix support using square brackets '[prefix]+stuff'
• Many accessibility fixes and improvements
• A new Point Summary dialog, both for reference and as an accessible-friendly means of checking points spent
• Updated gear menu, with new options and handling, for Unified View trait boxes
• Added a new, bigger Zoom level
• Added an option to have Templates tracked as their own point expenditure category
• A new type of plugin which will allow coders to create plugins that users can launch from the Launch menu to do work, either as one-time jobs or as tools that stick around and work while you use GCA

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

Sorry to be dumb on this, but I don't see where to download updates from the new WH23 site. I can find only very recent downloads in my account and the page for GCA seems to be offering to sell an additional copy but not perform an update. Where should I be looking?
Thank You

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

I have some guidance for that on my blog here: https://www.misersoft.com/gca5/?p=1026

Re: GURPS Character Assistant Updated to Version 5
 

As per Steven Marsh's post over here, GCA 5.0.220 is now available at Warehouse 23.

I release notes by the build over at my GCA5 blog https://www.misersoft.com/gca5/ while I work, so exactly what's new in this release is everything that was noted since the previous release.

This time, it's a bug fix release, fixing two issues:

• For some reason, GCA would stop responding if you were in an edit field on a Classic View trait list and you clicked on a tab to change to a different list or view. That should no longer happen.
• Fixes a critical bug related to item weight calculations introduced in b213 (released with version 5.0.218).