Hi everyone Thanks to everyone that has replied or PM'd. I asked for PM so I could keep you in private conversations if we need to. It helps to have a point of contact. If you don't hear from me, then don't be worried - it just means I have been too busy getting stuff ready. I am going to stop this being a one-morph show, and open it up to the floor for input. I know it runs a risk of losing steerage (it's no longer mine if I ask everybody for their ideas, is it?). But I have had a few comments like "I wouldn't use it but I'd like to be a part of it" or "no I don't need it, but can I have it anyway?" So what would you like to see in the software? This is GM software (I am working on a Player version that taps into it) -- this is what I am working on * the character screen is too cluttered (yes everything is in one screen, but it is real busy) and on a laptop it is too much * goons and npcs don't need as much player info - so some screen space can be saved there - so new screens for npcs and goons * the combat resolvernator (tm) - probably the single biggest hangup for GM's is the combat resolution - I want to point and click and resolve actions and combat rounds. * hot-key EVERYTHING - by the time my hand has gone for the mouse and found the on-screen location of the button and clicked it, and the outcome resolved, I could have picked up two dice and dropped them many times * diarise game activity - this would be a variable game-time based activity monitor. * a mapper or map provider - I don't need a software mapper, but I would like to bring up a layout of specific locations * a name generator, specific to cultures or backgrounds * a character up-grader - this is for npcs that a GM might want to revamp into a tougher adversary. I think I fix the issues with the character screen that I identified prior to the con, and then I will post a functionality vid to youtube. Then I will spend some more time building the EPGMT. Now the way I made it, it is really easy for me to incorporate ANY ideas. Tell me what you want to see :) ~kenkthulhu I just had some more ideas!

Octomorph: it is NOT a generator. That is not my domain. I can build one, and I don't think I would have trouble, but I would rather commit more to GM tools than to player tools right now. So generation as such is at the bottom of my list. But it will let you put in whatever character data you want, and certainly assists in choosing most of the variable and multiple elements: eg motivations, skills, morphs, etc.

thelabmonkey: of course a lot of people are leaning towards a character generator. I don't want to do one. I can however, pickup an excel sheet and import the details - this requires considerable work though. Initiative (and a combat planner resolver) is on the books. How do players feel about NOT rolling initiative? Would they miss something that would be offset by the speed of play? Hard work? Not really. Just time. I will plod away and see what I can do by Friday, hey?

@thelabmonkey: I don't know that I need a parser. Can I get a jmobius sheet from somewhere? I am sure that I could just import it - that's not too hard. But I don't want to replace anyone's hard work. I know a lot of people have put time and love into their sheets, pdfs, and other stuff, and I don't want to take away from any of that. Let me get something going by Friday/Saturday and we'll see what I can deliver.

Hello all I talked to kindalas about an interface with the jmobius/kindalas character sheet - and it seems possible. Early days yet, and not a huge priority for me. Unfortunately, an underlying problem with the platform framework, meant that I had to fix that before I got back to expanding the EPGMT. So I now have Game, Game Players, and Players details screens. I have to rework the Character screen. And there is a navgitation nightmare to unravel - it is quite likely that the software user will want to navigate between different screens whilst maintaining context between them - eg create a Game, add Players to that Game, add new players to the system, add characters for that game and player. Kinda important stuff just to move around! Anyway, I missed my deadline to deliver so you can test. Let's see how I travel tomorrow. Keep in touch. ~k

Hi everyone. Well to say the least, I had some trouble. I completely redesigned the character screen, and built screens for games and players. My no-click skill auto-roller works a treat - very proud of that. Still have to do the Implants, Gear, and Armor sections for the char screen - but it is looking good. I guess the rest of the software will be screens for the locations, gates, vehicles, etc and they're pretty much cookie cut - so I would say I am almost finished this version. I tried making a video for youtube, but when I got to the char screen I thought that I should fix it before I went any further. So no video just yet. Besides, why spend the time to make a video when I can complete the project in the same time? And then I need to package it for you guys to try. See you on the other side :-) ~ken

Quincey you are an inspiration! ok so how do I attach screenshots to an existing thread? start another thread? I am so close to making this thing work. Let's see how I go today, and I will put up a video. Thank you, people. I hope no one is disappointed.

Quincey: it appears that one can only attach files if a new thread is started. I don't see any options to add files.

Ok I think I am about ready to release the beast. I have most of the static screens done (any more would be just like the existing screens, and therefore easy to add later). The character screen needs some layout improvement. I have been speccing up the combat screen - wow took three days just to work out what should go in there. And it is massive! But before I begin I think I can deliver something. I will need to lock it up and package it for delivery. ~k

Quincey Manual: it kind of drives itself. but I can do that. Export: Yes this is entirely possible - and very easy for me to do. However - since the EPGMT is essentially a database of EP stuff and anyone can put in their own EP game material (I really haven't put much int there), then very quickly it will break if one is importing and exporting. example: my EPGMT has 7 factions stored within it, Mike's has 9 because he created and added another two. So Mike exports a character with one of these new factions. My EPGMT will not import it. Also: if I have Factions that he doesn't have and I import his character then the process may assign Factions he doesn't have to his character's factions. Now, extend this for every other aspect of an EP character - motivations, skills, weapons, armor, etc where any player/gm can create their own material - and we have versions of EPGMT that are incompatible as soon as someone creates new content! --I was going to do maps - not a mapper - but a map storage function. a bit like a combat map or such. --Tell your players to get real computers :) joking! --Yes EPGMT will run on Macs if they have a certain version of MS Office. And because I don't have a Mac then I can't really answer the question. Let's just say if it works then go with it. Otherwise, read below. EPGMT was supposed to be a tool for me to run my con event, then I expanded it to run any game session, and it is still basically a prototype for what I really want to do: a java-based application that I can easily port to any platform; PC, Mac, website, or handheld app. This is a long way off, so I hope EPGMT will suffice for everyone until I get a real application written. I like all the comments (keep them coming) - and I am happy to try to incorporate everything that GMs and players need. Just put it on a list and send it to me. "I wish this thing could..." ~ken

Hi there I have completed the first cut for testing. If you have registered for testing (I thank you) you must first go to my blog and tell me how cool EPGMT is, or isn't (or leave any old message, doesn't matter). There are six lucky (dubious accolade) testers who put their appendages up to test. If the testing gets rough along the way then let me know. Blog comments give me a link to your email through my email and keeps emails away from this post and forum. However, in fairness to the EP forum, who may like to know how things are going or might like to have input, I think it is best to put any comments or discussion into this thread and thus remain in the EP domain. So, go to my blog. Leave a comment. And I will respond to you shortly. If you can think of another (ie better) method, then I am all ears (well, my morph is, you should see it) :) Please be kind. Please be constructive. And please respect the work I have put into it - EPGMT is freely given for all to enjoy. And if you feel that through providing this software that I have taken anything away from anyone else please let me know and I will rescind my actions. I respect intellectual property and the rights of anyone to create anything for fun or profit. Fly, fly, my pretties. kenkthulhu