Thanks! \o/
Sketching out how a 5E support will look like is still on my todo list so I can better understand how to support more systems in Hexroll.
I like both ideas. 'Connections' is something I already partially applied and could be extended. 'Influences' sounds pretty cool and I'll take a look at how to best model something like this. I add both to the Trello board.Some thoughts on modularity:
Your system and 5e use "hit dice" as a psuedo difficulty marker. A system like SW lacks that, or has an entirely different stat (or calculation) to do that.
Bring systems in with a standardized stat block, and allow the "difficulty market" to be set based on system, or turned off entirely.
If a system lacks a modular monster build system, you can build in some light re-skinning. For example, there tends to be ton's of generic NPCs such as shop keepers, guards, etc. You can flag those as "generic" and apply new names as necessary.
For monsters, the same could be true, but there might be some back-end list work. Build a list of creaturs/monsters that could be represented as the same stat block in man games. (for example, Big Cats: Lions, Tigers, Lepords, cheetas, etc.) Stretching farther, you might even be able to extend that same stat block to things like bears, and other large predators.) If the creature doesn't exist, you can use a "generic" flag, and the add whatever name you need there.
For Hexroll as it is right now, I tried to follow B/X rules mostly to the letter, so things like random encounters, treasure types, etc are using the system specific tables. I don't know Savage Worlds at all but intuitively I would prefer staying true to the source material as much as possible. B/X for example has a set of random encounter tables per wilderness type. Is there anything similar in SW?
Savage worlds is....complicated. As unlike D&D or B/X it is not as focused a system. There's not a "PG, DMG, Beastiary" style set up that people then write world books for.
It is, at it's heart the core of a system. From there setting books, that can span different genres (sci-fi, modern, fantasy, pulp, etc.) are published that can add monsters, special rules, random monster tables, etc.
Tackling Savage Worlds would mean making Hexroll a framework based system, with modularity and swapability at it's core, as unlike D&D you can't take the basic rules, and slap a new coat of paint on the geography and call it a day. That's not intended as a swipe at D&D, just the difference between the two systems.
The same is going to be true if you try something like GURPS, Hero System, FATE, Cortex, Genesys, etc.
It's also going to be useful if you expand over to something like Pathfinder, or Starfinder, or even other old school-style RPG games, as each is going to have their own take on those, and a system designed with modularity in mind will be easier to adapt to a new system with less work for each adaptation.
Okay, I think I get it :) So yes, Hexroll's current model is not built to be a system-agnostic framework. I does have the basic concepts set as base entities, for example, an NPC, or a Hex, or a Settlement - all could be adapted to almost any system or genre, but it is currently focused on one system. Moving forward, I will certainly refactor things to make it easier for me (or others, wink wink) to support other games.
A stand-alone product. ...hmm. Here are my thoughts on it's potential benefits. Keep in mind, this assumes you are making changes to support these features. (And, tbh, I'm not positive what can or cannot be done via the web and such.) You MIGHT be able to do all of this through the web, or even have the stand-alone be a sort-of browser itself (like many mobile apps actually are)
Thanks! a mil for detailing these.
I think were aligned on the vision :) Certainly things like being system-agnostic, expandable and having a more modular generation approach are in my scope. Adding more platform features such as Note-taking are already WIP. You can already experiment with the current Note-taking capability tested at https://pendicepaper.com/hexroll/ (the pencil icons) BTW.
For Hexroll v1, I was focusing more on adding the basic content generation entities - and I always feel I can and should do a better job at adding more variations or complications to the generation logic to make things more interesting.
Working on Hexroll v2, I'm now extending it as a platform - with things like VTT support, continent editing, modularity and mutability align perfectly with your ideas.
