Playing with Spreadsheets Again (etc)

Shockingly, I’m still playing with the GM tools spreadsheet. Have now got it to the point where when the numbers for skills, attributes etc are rolled up the derived statistics also automatically calculate. More excitingly the FUDGE-inspired categorical distinctions are automatically calculated. For both the characteristics/attributes (3d6) and the percentile skills.

As suspected I have gotten rid of the ‘useful tables’ by amalgamating it with the FUDGE sheet.

VLOOKUP() function in open office is a fantastic function. It is enabling me to automate arrays (tables).

I’m now working hard on the character creation element whilst also trimming the excess fat on the character sheet. I’m got a weapons table sorted, taken from RQII and merged to CoC(V) specifications. Not sure if I will use the training rules of RQII yet which is money-based, but think I will as this makes for highly flexible characters – modding attributes, so that players can become heroic (which is a request from my second player in the group – the possibility of becoming an heroic figure).

So potentially you can roll up a PC with just 3d6 (no adjusted, no extra rolls, no swapping attributes) and train attributes to max them up – over time and with money earned from campaigning. And become heroic. Which is a player preference I can have built in with this RQII mechanic.

My algorithm for character creation (using a combo of HM occupations/RQ/CoC mechanics) is developing – mostly CoC inspired, but adjusted for occupational history so that players can be aged and developed with pro’s and con’s for the player to weigh up as they roll their character. Keeping most of this collaborative and trying to keep the table rolling for character creation down as prefer this to be a collaborative GM/P venture. Building the FUDGE Level descriptor interface over the top to keep the details of the mechanics hidden is proving both challenging and fun.

I’m rolling up a character in the character sheet, documenting it in the character creation worksheet as I develop the mashed rules. Lurving it, but really want to get onto the world creation bit – going to custom build my own world, mashed from all bits and pieces I think. That’s what I’m really looking forward to :)

Playing with Open Office Spreadsheets

Given that this rule-system I’m putting together in the mash up is going to contain a lot of ‘hidden’ elements, and I’m making the mechanics as hidden as possible, I’m gonna need help administrating it. So I’m calling in the spreadsheets.

I have open office on my linux netbook and although I haven’t used the software much up until now. I have a spreadsheet in development now that tracks and records the mash-up developments I’m making, and essentially is implementing the mashed rules. So, there’s a character sheet/generator, a master skills list, a fudge sheet, a useful tables sheet (I think that will merge with the fudge sheet), and a character generation flowsheet. I have in mind that there will be a need for a spells sheet/magic guide, equipment list etc but these are a bit further away at the moment.

Have finally sussed how to get the spreadsheet in open office to use other parts as ‘look up’ tables. This makes implementing the FUDGE-esque categorical distinctions of the 3d6/d100 figures so much easier. Type in the characteristic (or generate it), and instantly the sheet looks up the appropriate trait description. Rock and roll! I did do a little whoop! on the train when I got that working. For those who want to know I’m using the VLOOKUP function in open office to achieve this, and the FUDGE sheet has the tables with the numbers and categorical descriptions running in parallel columns to form a simple array for the VLOOKUP to follow. Sweet :)