
                               EDChar/Win 0.75

                An Unauthorized Earthdawn Character Generator
                              for Windows 3.1.

        EDChar/Win v0.75 is a freeware windows program used for creating a
character for FASA's Earthdawn FRPG.  It was written in Microsoft Visual
Basic v3.0, and was my first attempt at writing a Visual Basic program.  Not
bad, I think, for my first attempt at a new language and a new enviornment.
As this is a sub v1.0 product, there are certain limitations.  (Note:  If
this kind of talk bores you, just skip to the Installing section.)

Oops....I realeased the wrong version, he he...
The following was fixed from the ill concieved v0.5:
   1.  Before, whether a talents required karma bared an uncanny resemblance
       to whether it required an action or not.  No more.
   2.  It would crash whenever you would hit cancel from a file access screen.

Limitations of this version:
   1.  It can only create first circle characters.
   2.  Magic Using Character aren't limited to the Robe Embroidery Skill
   3.  After Loading a file or starting the program, you must enter and
       exit the Discipline section to properly set up the Talent section.
       You must also enter and exit the Race section to properly setup the
       Attribute and Other Data sections.  I'm workin on this one.
   4.  It won't work in 640x480 resolution, the main menu is too big.
   5.  Only the Disciplines in the original ED Manual are included (none in
       the Dinizens or Companion books.
   6.  The Human talent of Virsitility is not added to the Discipline section
       so you must be honest (for now) about applying Talent Ranks if you
       end up making a human.
   7.  Doesn't include the Action Dice, only Steps.
   --IMPORTANT--
   8.  Please, please, please don't use a " (double quote) in any of the
       input fields.  If you do, you won't be able to re-load them.

Features:
   1.  Blocks out illegal Race/Discipline or Discipline/Attribute choices.
   2.  Allows you to forget page flipping through the ED book.
   3.  Quick, easy, point and click interface.
   4.  Allows saving and loading of files.
   5.  Allows you to add your own Artisan/Knowledge skills.

Future plans:
   1.  Printing of Character sheets.
   2.  Ability to add/created new disciplines.
   3.  More Virsitility options.
   4.  Help file.  :->

Far Future:
   1.  Keep track of character through spending of Legend Points.
   2.  A lockable legend point system, so GM's can give characters legend
       points w/o fear of characters doing it themselves.
   3.  Character sketch tool to print out on sheet.
   4.  Anything else I or you can think of!

Adding Skills:
        There are two files included with EDChar/Win called ARTISAN.EDW and
KNOWLED.EDW.  These files contain the Artisan and Knowledge skills that can
be chosen from.  To add your own skills, simply edit the file in your
favorite text editor (TM).  The first number is the number of skills in the
file.  To add your own skill, just increase that number and add your skill to
the end in quotes.  Note:  If you change the order in which the skills are in,
any saved character will come up with different skills.  (i.e. I keep track
of what skills are chosen in a static array with a number of elements equal
to the number in the beginning of the file, and only save the element number.)

Installing:
        Simple, put all these files on a floppy or a temporary directory on
your hard drive, then run SETUP.EXE from windows.  Follow the instructions.
Real Simple.

Contacting Me:
        I'm on the net, just mail me at neurom@u.washington.edu.  Easy, hu?
Please put EDChar in the subject line somewhere.

Other:
        If you want, I'll send you the program I used to create the Discipline
lists.  All it does is let you choose the statistics of the Talents available
to each discipline.   You could use this to created your own talents, although
it's rather limited.


--Neuromancer
  neurom@u.washington.edu






