GCA versus GCS (GURPS Character Sheet)

Cerebrolator · 12-04-2007, 04:38 PM

I haven't seen GCA but I have downloaded GCS from http://gcs.trollworks.com/Welcome.html. Can anyone tell me what the differences are besides the fact that GCS is free?

I hope it isn't inappropriate to ask this question on this forum.

Þorkell · 12-04-2007, 07:03 PM

I find that the GCA interface is much easier to use.

Bruno · 12-04-2007, 08:04 PM

GCA has customizable character sheet formats, automates much of the effects of advantages and disadvantages and etc, gets updated for each new book fairly promptly, and can be extended with your own items. Comes with pretty much every enhancement and limitation ever printed in GURPS 4e.

Not sure how much of that GCS does, although as far as I can tell it does NOT allow customized character sheet output.

GCS does run on a mac with minimum fuss, and I believe it runs natively in Linux too.

Hockney · 12-04-2007, 08:26 PM

The Unix version does run natively on linux, just tested it out. I'll second that the interface is a little odd, feels wrong after using GCA. As alluded to by Bruno, there is the problem of no first-party support, you're relying on whoever it is that produces this software to keep it properly updated. I didn't notice any glaring errors in it however, although I did just give it a cursory run-through.

I may use this as I dual boot and it does run natively in linux, but when I'm in Windows, I'll be using GCA.

Cerebrolator · 12-04-2007, 09:42 PM

I was reading a bit on the forum and it sounds like GCA doesn't have a template wizard. Perhaps what I was reading is out of date. How hard is it to put together a template on GCA? I'm looking for something that is easy to use. I have found GCS to be very easy to use. My only complaints are that the output doesn't appear to be very customizable and there is no documentation.

gmillerd · 12-04-2007, 10:48 PM

For what its worth, GM control sheet in GCA I find hell-a-useful.

And as remarked previously the ability to quickly and accurately 'Trickster (12 or less) -15' and with two clicks have that 'Trickster (15 or less) -7' is amazingly valuable. (the show on gm control sheet option would be right there as well)

Michaela · 12-10-2007, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cerebrolator

I haven't seen GCA but I have downloaded GCS from http://gcs.trollworks.com/Welcome.html. Can anyone tell me what the differences are besides the fact that GCS is free?

GCA and GCS tackle the same problem but with different approaches. This means that they're going to appeal to different groups of people. I've recently tried GCS and quite like it. I found it intuitive and clean, yet flexible. Others have already posted to the thread that they prefer GCA and perhaps find it a bit more powerful. If you try one and don't care for it, it's quite possible the other will suit you more.

Moebius · 07-13-2010, 04:57 AM

I like GCS because it can be run on a computer using Linux (Ubuntu).

panton41 · 07-13-2010, 07:24 AM

I find GCA runs under Wine just as well, if not better, than it does on Windows with the caveat that you need to keep Wine up to date. Pre-1.0 Wine can run it but not well and the current 1.2-RC versions run it faster than Windows 7 on the same hardware in my opinion. Mind you, that's decent hardware, a low-end system might have trouble with it under Wine so YMMV.

Moebius · 07-13-2010, 04:52 PM

I'm looking into this, now. I'm gathering that GCA will work with the latest Wine if you don't run the patch. Is that about it?

(I'd be using an ASUS eee running a smaller version of Ubuntu, that should work, right?)

12-04-2007, 04:38 PM	#1
Cerebrolator Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Idaho	GCA versus GCS (GURPS Character Sheet) I haven't seen GCA but I have downloaded GCS from http://gcs.trollworks.com/Welcome.html. Can anyone tell me what the differences are besides the fact that GCS is free? I hope it isn't inappropriate to ask this question on this forum.

12-04-2007, 07:03 PM	#2
Þorkell Icelandic - Approach With Caution Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Reykjavík, Iceland	Re: GCA versus GCS (GURPS Character Sheet) I find that the GCA interface is much easier to use. __________________ Þorkell Sigvaldason Viking kittens \| My photos \| More of my photos

12-04-2007, 08:04 PM	#3
Bruno Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Canada	Re: GCA versus GCS (GURPS Character Sheet) GCA has customizable character sheet formats, automates much of the effects of advantages and disadvantages and etc, gets updated for each new book fairly promptly, and can be extended with your own items. Comes with pretty much every enhancement and limitation ever printed in GURPS 4e. Not sure how much of that GCS does, although as far as I can tell it does NOT allow customized character sheet output. GCS does run on a mac with minimum fuss, and I believe it runs natively in Linux too. __________________ All about Size Modifier; Unified Hit Location Table A Wiki for my F2F Group A neglected GURPS blog

12-04-2007, 08:26 PM	#4
Hockney Join Date: Feb 2007	Re: GCA versus GCS (GURPS Character Sheet) The Unix version does run natively on linux, just tested it out. I'll second that the interface is a little odd, feels wrong after using GCA. As alluded to by Bruno, there is the problem of no first-party support, you're relying on whoever it is that produces this software to keep it properly updated. I didn't notice any glaring errors in it however, although I did just give it a cursory run-through. I may use this as I dual boot and it does run natively in linux, but when I'm in Windows, I'll be using GCA.

12-04-2007, 09:42 PM	#5
Cerebrolator Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Idaho	Re: GCA versus GCS (GURPS Character Sheet) I was reading a bit on the forum and it sounds like GCA doesn't have a template wizard. Perhaps what I was reading is out of date. How hard is it to put together a template on GCA? I'm looking for something that is easy to use. I have found GCS to be very easy to use. My only complaints are that the output doesn't appear to be very customizable and there is no documentation.

12-04-2007, 10:48 PM	#6
gmillerd Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota	Re: GCA versus GCS (GURPS Character Sheet) For what its worth, GM control sheet in GCA I find hell-a-useful. And as remarked previously the ability to quickly and accurately 'Trickster (12 or less) -15' and with two clicks have that 'Trickster (15 or less) -7' is amazingly valuable. (the show on gm control sheet option would be right there as well) __________________ "Look after the universe for me will you, I have put a lot of work into it." -- Doctor Who

07-13-2010, 04:57 AM	#8
Moebius Join Date: May 2005 Location: Oakdale, MN	Re: GCA versus GCS (GURPS Character Sheet) I like GCS because it can be run on a computer using Linux (Ubuntu).

07-13-2010, 04:52 PM	#10
Moebius Join Date: May 2005 Location: Oakdale, MN	Re: GCA versus GCS (GURPS Character Sheet) I'm looking into this, now. I'm gathering that GCA will work with the latest Wine if you don't run the patch. Is that about it? (I'd be using an ASUS eee running a smaller version of Ubuntu, that should work, right?)