Genesys (FFG RPG) work in progress

[johniba]

Hey @johniba,

1) Alright, I have been working on the TI setting book in my spare time, and there are a couple of things that are presented in it which is not supported by the base system. I thought I could bring them up here and we can decide if it is something that should be supported "native" by the base or if they should be added by an extension.

The first is the fact that there is a Species/Archetype that is symbiotic. It has 2 sets of characteristics and the stats for the two symbiotic characters are calculated separately, however, they share both their talent and skill lists, as well as gained xp. (which is spent on them as if they where a single character). Though they each have their own inventory, the larger one is usually carrying the smaller and a combined weight would also be needed. When targeted, if they are within range of each other the player gets to choose which character is targeted. So that's something.

Second, There are some "large giant" types which have larger silhouettes. and I can't find a place to specify the character's silhouette/size. (I think there are calculations that use that number to get results, are there not?)

I will keep at it... How is it going on your end? Any significant progress on the aspects you are working on?

Later,
Xy

Hey

So here is where I am at:

There are a few things I want to prioritize

I want to add the feature in the ruleset to have a Species/Archetype to have two sets of stats etca, in a way to support symbiotic creatures.

It is a bit tricky, but my goal is to have the ruleset support all features for official settings at least.

2) I am also working on moving the planetary database fields into the locations table, so that genesys can also benefit from it. Currently that database is in starwars
As always, I will write code in the updater for the database, so that it can identify the existing planetary records and move them to the locations table
I have done this in the past so it wont be super difficult

3) My other priority is creating the specialization feature in star wars. It will work similar to the talent trees i have created (and I am a bit proud of that one to be frank, it was tricky to make, just like the vehicles feature

4) After that, I want to focus on improving the code so automation is possible

I know that the dnd5 ruleset has a very nice code for handling properties in objects (npcs, weapons...) and events to send info to the system when something needs to be automated.
This is a challenge, because the whole dice system in genesys and star wars are completely different from other rulesets, and have some hard code done that I need to rethink

This is necessary so that I can work on an automation that can handle official stuff (talents, properties) and also (this is my wish) I could add a way for GMs to be able to create new talents, properties etca without needing to code.

Not only that, but some things after rolling dice need interaction/choice. For example: what to do with advantages/disadvantages?


I have made notes of your suggestions, and I will keep you updated on progress.

[viresanimi]

I want to add the feature in the ruleset to have a Species/Archetype to have two sets of stats etca, in a way to support symbiotic creatures.

Ooh.. That would be amazing. I have made my own modern fantasy setting, where there are quite a few shapeshifters. Could be awesome!

[Xyvius]

I want to add the feature in the ruleset to have a Species/Archetype to have two sets of stats etca, in a way to support symbiotic creatures.

It is a bit tricky, but my goal is to have the ruleset support all features for official settings at least.

Awesome! Then i don't have to worry about making an extension to handle it. I am not great with LUA or XML, though I get by. Also, are "Agendas" a thing in other settings besides TI? If so, a way / place to track progress on those might be nice also.

2) I am also working on moving the planetary database fields into the locations table, so that genesys can also benefit from it. Currently that database is in starwars
As always, I will write code in the updater for the database, so that it can identify the existing planetary records and move them to the locations table
I have done this in the past so it wont be super difficult

This is good, being that TI is also a Space Opera setting, it will benefit from this also. Something that might be "simple" to add also and could be useful would be a "Factions / Organizations" tab, although this could probably be just as simple to do in the "stories" tab using groupings to separate them out from other stories. This is probably how I will do them unless you add something like this.. but it is for sure low priority.

3) My other priority is creating the specialization feature in star wars. It will work similar to the talent trees i have created (and I am a bit proud of that one to be frank, it was tricky to make, just like the vehicles feature

I meant to ask you about this. I noticed the "Specializations" tab, but have not run into anything in the books that match this... What is this for? how does it work/function. (Or how will it once operational if it's not yet?) Looking at it I thought it may be a way to "pre-load" sets of talents for easy adding or "starting suggestions" but that did not seem to be how it functioned, so I am curious.

4) After that, I want to focus on improving the code so automation is possible

I know that the dnd5 ruleset has a very nice code for handling properties in objects (npcs, weapons...) and events to send info to the system when something needs to be automated.
This is a challenge, because the whole dice system in genesys and star wars are completely different from other rulesets, and have some hard code done that I need to rethink

This is necessary so that I can work on an automation that can handle official stuff (talents, properties) and also (this is my wish) I could add a way for GMs to be able to create new talents, properties etca without needing to code.

I understand that this element will take some time. I would like to suggest NOT using the same method the 5e system uses as far as it being pure "text parsing". This would mean every possible combination of every possible wording would need to be hard coded. I thought that maybe having the "automation" search for "links" in the text and analyze those using a fixed ruleset might be a better approach. I have been looking at various ordering of terms and think I have a straight forward one which covers most cases. I would say all, but I only own the Core Books and the Twilight Imperium ones.

By using links, it would be possible to make default terms in such a way that for "most" circumstances dragging a skill into the text would have an action that would trigger using the defaults. And then providing further "arguments" on the link's text could instruct the automation further. But this would mean that when creating home brew stuff or translating books as I am doing now you would need to know the "shorthand" to make it functional.
If you are interest in my ideas on that (or if you have a better / different approach) let me know. I am more than willing to share my thoughts on structure of such things if you are interested.

In the meantime, I am using it so that whatever method is decided on in the future, I can look at it in then and "convert" whatever over without too much thought. Things like creating an ability called "(Starting Skills)" or "(Starting Items)" using parentheses so that they sort to the top and placing links for skills and items in those using that format. Easy to go back later and update them according to whatever standard you agree/decide on.

Not only that, but some things after rolling dice need interaction/choice. For example: what to do with advantages/disadvantages?


I have made notes of your suggestions, and I will keep you updated on progress.

Thanks. It is exciting to be "helping out" in some capacity. If I can do more or you want to see "notes" on my link shorthand let me know. Glad to share if it is wanted and useful.

On a different note, do you have script that strips out the copyrighted data from the proper fields of the mods automatically? If you do, It would be faster for you to run that on these TI mods I am making so that they can be distributed to others without violating law. If not, I guess it can be done manually, but... ugh. LOL

Later,
Xy

[Xyvius]

I am to the point of entering in vehicles, and many (due to the genre) have an additional field listed right before the price as "FTL: RANGE/SPEED". This speed is seperate from the "speed" in the stats and is used for long distance travel as opposed to maneuvering. For now I have been dropping the data into the text field after Encumbrance because it is rarely used on these, but it would be nice to add such a field. A simple text field should suffice.

[johniba]

I am to the point of entering in vehicles, and many (due to the genre) have an additional field listed right before the price as "FTL: RANGE/SPEED". This speed is seperate from the "speed" in the stats and is used for long distance travel as opposed to maneuvering. For now I have been dropping the data into the text field after Encumbrance because it is rarely used on these, but it would be nice to add such a field. A simple text field should suffice.

Hey Xyvus

I will make sure to add that field, will let you know soon.

[Xyvius]

Hey Xyvus

I will make sure to add that field, will let you know soon.

Thanks