For example, I'd love sheets that look more like the example character sheets (i.e., from Keep on the Shadowfell), where stats are simply listed in a block and/or given some color instead of decorated with all the black boxes.
Anyone know of anything?
I understand that from a programming point of view, the current sheet is optimal. But the looks doesn't appeal to me that much.
Shows that it is possible (technically, if not legally) to construct a third-party character sheet using a character made by the CB. It's just that no one with the skills necessary really cares enough to make one.
We just added full-screen sheets. Upload your dnd4e files then use the site to run your character. It's a pretty big step up from the built-in CB sheet, if I may say so. And feedback is always welcome!
Cheers,
Andrew
I guess I need to just write up an XML parser someday and make them myself someday :p
I'm actually not looking for a Combat Manager, but for a more printable sheet.
Funny; we're looking for the same thing ;)
I guess I need to just write up an XML parser someday and make them myself someday :p
If you do so, I'd recommend looking into our IP4XML export format at iplay4e. Your life will be easier using that format, which is fully commented and third-party-friendly, than reproducing all our efforts of understanding the full dnd4e file.
Heck, if you write a printable sheet XSL template on top of our IP4XML, we could include it on the site and you could have the eternal gratitude of untold numbers of D&D players, not to mention our own!
Cheers,
Andrew
Funny; we're looking for the same thing ;)
I looked at your site, but didn't see a printable sheet (but I was just browsing quickly).
Heck, if you write a printable sheet XSL template on top of our IP4XML, we could include it on the site and you could have the eternal gratitude of untold numbers of D&D players, not to mention our own!
Heh, if only I had the time! I'll add it to the list of potential programming projects ;p
I looked at your site, but didn't see a printable sheet (but I was just browsing quickly).
We don't have printable, really - we have full-screen interactive. Run a search for your class or race of preference; the two icons next to each result are for full-screen and mobile interfaces respectively.
The sheets do actually print fairly well in landscape mode, in some browsers at least. We haven't advertised that, because we haven't done cross-browser print testing, nor have we really optimized for printed use.
Heh, if only I had the time! I'll add it to the list of potential programming projects ;p
I hear ya'!
They're much easier to read and look less cluttered. Also having the powers in the PHB format is a big must.
When I imagine introducing new players to 4th edition, and I compare a sheet produced by the Character Builder, and one of the pregen, I can't help thinking that the CB sheet is intimidating. There's so much black. Finding the relevant information is difficult. A good character sheet should actually make all relevant information readily available.
Thinking about it, I don't think that making such a sheet would be so complicated. There are no odd formats (except maybe for the powers themselves). It's just a 2 columns sheet with various blocks of information : level, HP, init, defenses, basic attacks, class features, racial traits, feats, gear and powers.
Is the team considering making such a sheet, or is it considered a waste of resources ?
We don't have printable, really - we have full-screen interactive. Run a search for your class or race of preference; the two icons next to each result are for full-screen and mobile interfaces respectively.
The sheets do actually print fairly well in landscape mode, in some browsers at least. We haven't advertised that, because we haven't done cross-browser print testing, nor have we really optimized for printed use.
I hear ya'!
Perhaps you could find a way to program it so that it would take the info from the CB and parse it into this character sheet
Perhaps you could find a way to program it so that it would take the info from the CB and parse it into this character sheet
'twould be easier if we had an HTML template to start with rather than a PDF, but I have admired Shados' sheet for some time now. Perhaps someone out there can see how close they can get in HTML?
I use power cards built via MSE, using Anders00's set as a base (He has all the core powers, and I've added the others as I needed them - fairly painless as long as I don't try to add an entire class's worth at once). I also use small printed tokens for conditions, healing surges, action points, and milestones. I don't need my play card to show claculations. So, what's left gets pretty small.
My character sheet happens to be self-contained HTML (Css included in a style tag in the header, no JS). I've got the HTML template checked in. I've also got a short Python script that rips into CB files & fills in the template.
The script only runs against the latest version of .dnd4e files (version 0.7a at the moment). If you haven't edited and saved your character since the last data update, the script won't work for you. They keep making minor tweaks to the format (as they add a lot more data, comment it, and simplify the structure). I update the script from time to time - every time that I've got to print another PC or NPC. The script requires Python 2.6 and lxml. If there's enough interest, I'll package it up as an .egg.
Note: the character sheet prints well in IE7 (or did, before I updated to IE8) and Firefox. However, the font size is wrong in IE8. I'll probably get around to fixing that soon - but every time I see it I'm finishing prep for a game session, so just open up a different browser rather than fixing the problem.
You need a printer that can handle index cards with .25" margins.
Feel free to use these in your games; please don't further distribute them (or I might get into trouble with WotC. Linking to this post is OK). Also, no warranty, etc. I make no claims that they'll work for you, but they work very well for the game that I'm running & the one I'm playing in.
'twould be easier if we had an HTML template to start with rather than a PDF, but I have admired Shados' sheet for some time now. Perhaps someone out there can see how close they can get in HTML?
It's relatively easy to create the empty form in HTML (it took me about 2 hrs to recreate 25% of the 1st page and I had to learn as I went), but the Ravenna font used is an issue as well as selection of the powers/weapons you want displayed.
One reason I stopped coding it in HTML though was because printing from a web page brings up a lot of formatting issues. Right now I'm thinking about either automatically filling in the template PDF or creating a brand new PDF with everything filled in. I'll take a look at your IP4XML format since I was gonna send you guys any code/app I ended up with.
It's relatively easy to create the empty form in HTML (it took me about 2 hrs to recreate 25% of the 1st page and I had to learn as I went), but the Ravenna font used is an issue as well as selection of the powers/weapons you want displayed.
One reason I stopped coding it in HTML though was because printing from a web page brings up a lot of formatting issues. Right now I'm thinking about either automatically filling in the template PDF or creating a brand new PDF with everything filled in. I'll take a look at your IP4XML format since I was gonna send you guys any code/app I ended up with.
Great! We use XSL as our translation layer; can you use XSL to generate PDFs?
Great! We use XSL as our translation layer; can you use XSL to generate PDFs?
Well, I would use a new XSL to translate to an easier XML format for parsing, then work off of that. I don't see that your XSLs are available on your site, would you be able to send them to me so I can take a look / get familiar with them?
I should say that I'm probably not going to start this for a couple weeks. I'd like to get out of the inCombat 4e beta first.
Well, I would use a new XSL to translate to an easier XML format for parsing, then work off of that.
We've already done that bit - check out Star Menu - Download - IP4XML from one of your characters on iplay4e. We've made a third-party-friendly character XML format. You can even get at it programatically (pm me for details).
I don't see that your XSLs are available on your site, would you be able to send them to me so I can take a look / get familiar with them?
The XSL templates (which process IP4XML to HTML) for the full-screen and mobile interfaces are, respectively:
http://iplay4e.appspot.com/xsl/fullpage.xsl
http://iplay4e.appspot.com/xsl/jPint.xsl
I should say that I'm probably not going to start this for a couple weeks. I'd like to get out of the inCombat 4e beta first.
That's dead sexy. We should chat integration; pm me if you're interested.
By the way, I didn't catch the answer to my question in there: can one use XSL to transform XML to PDF?
Cheers,
Andrew
By the way, I didn't catch the answer to my question in there: can one use XSL to transform XML to PDF?
Not that I'm aware of, not automatically in one step. I think the way forward is to take the IP4XML format, pull the data out of that, then programatically plug that data into the PDF creation. I might prototype the thing out in Flash first simply because then I can do everything easily on the desktop, but I know you can generate PDFs in PHP, so after that it'd just be a matter or translating the algorithms from AS to PHP. So your program/script would take the .dnd4e file, use XSL to translate to IP4XML, and create a PDF off of that. If you guys store the IP4XML for each char, then of course you get to skip the 1st step.
That's dead sexy. We should chat integration; pm me if you're interested.
Thanks.
I'll probably do so later tonight.Does iplay4e have a view which is the entire character on one screen (like that can be printed out?) Or is that part of the goal of producing a pdf (cause you can always just format the thing as a web-doc and then print it to pdf--that's easy). I didn't see one when I was glancing at the site earlier (but I should probably take a closer look).
Plus, even your simplified xml doesn't include all the details for powers and feats and stuff, right? So that would all have to be filled in automatically (I only glanced at the .dnd4e xml). That's part of the awesomeness of the Character Builder, not having to manually write out all the powers. Though I guess I could always just print out the CB power cards and then use a nice sheet created through iplay4e
Thanks for taking up the challenge guys
I'd love to help but I just don't have the time between all the other projects I'm working on. 
Plus, even your simplified xml doesn't include all the details for powers and feats and stuff, right? So that would all have to be filled in automatically (I only glanced at the .dnd4e xml). That's part of the awesomeness of the Character Builder, not having to manually write out all the powers. Though I guess I could always just print out the CB power cards and then use a nice sheet created through iplay4e
Right, the .dnd4e doesn't include the power or feat text. I do exactly what you said, though: right now I manually fill in Shado's char sheet and only print out the power cards from the CB. Insert full pages into sheet protectors and use dry erase markers for the win.
OP here, sorry to interrupt--
Does iplay4e have a view which is the entire character on one screen (like that can be printed out?) Or is that part of the goal of producing a pdf (cause you can always just format the thing as a web-doc and then print it to pdf--that's easy). I didn't see one when I was glancing at the site earlier (but I should probably take a closer look).
We have a full-screen view, which can in theory be printed, but it's optimized for interactive use rather than printed use. The icons next to the pushpins get you the full-screen view.
Plus, even your simplified xml doesn't include all the details for powers and feats and stuff, right?
Correct; that's because including anything that's not in the dnd4e file would be illegal, and that's not in the dnd4e file.
Correct; that's because including anything that's not in the dnd4e file would be illegal, and that's not in the dnd4e file.
Which is why I'm asking the CB developpers to make us a character sheet which is similar to the one presented in Keep on the Shadowfell. Only them can make us a character sheet with all the required information.
I believe that those sheets are so great to introduce people to 4th edition. Everything is written on the sheet. There's no need to open up a book. That should be a big argument for WotC to develop this kind of character sheet.