D&D 3E/3.5 'E-Tools' for v3.5?

[Infinite_Kydeem]

I heard someone say that e-tools (a player character sheet creater from 'code monkey' I think) doesn't work with a lot of the v3.5 stuff. Is this true? Don't want to get it if it only works with v3.0 stuff.

If e-tools doesn't work, is there another program that does?

 

[marune]

I heard someone say that e-tools (a player character sheet creater from 'code monkey' I think) doesn't work with a lot of the v3.5 stuff. Is this true? Don't want to get it if it only works with v3.0 stuff.

If e-tools doesn't work, is there another program that does?

It works if you buy the 3.5 data sets. (One for core and one for every book, but there is some bundles)

 

[Infinite_Kydeem]

That's what it says on their web site.

However, I read on a different forum that it only really works well for the core books. That it didn't work for a lot of the feats/classes/spells in the additional books. I have not tried it myself, that was just what I read.

Have you tried it with the additional books like PHB2, Complete Psionics, etc...?

 

[marune]

That's what it says on their web site.

However, I read on a different forum that it only really works well for the core books. That it didn't work for a lot of the feats/classes/spells in the additional books. I have not tried it myself, that was just what I read.

Have you tried it with the additional books like PHB2, Complete Psionics, etc...?

The Complete line works pretty well, but I didn't try the more recent ones.

You'll also face problems when both giving more HD and class levels to a monster.

If you don't know how to write XSL files (and they are a pain), you won't be able to format the output according to your preferences.

The biggest problem of eTools is that it is slow when you have a large amount of data set, Feat selection is the slowest (I wish I could see how badly it is coded).

 

[Infinite_Kydeem]

So is there an alternative that works better, faster, and/or is easier to use?

 

[Fieari]

PCGen is quite a bit faster than E-Tools (although, given that it's written in Java, still slower than I might wish)

It also has more options, and an easier to use interface (IMHO). Not to mention it's far more customizable and adaptable. You still buy the datasets from the Code Monkeys (SRD and a few others come free).

http://pcgen.sourceforge.net/

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

ALtho.. I have been using E-Tools for quite a while. The two parts I like over other options out there are:
- Abilility to modify 'Core' material with House rules..such as giving all classes +1 skill point
- The help file version of the book

I haven't had any issues with it and I run 3.5 Eberron with some 3.0 converted stuff {like Masters of the Wild}

 

[Infinite_Kydeem]

Has one of you folks out there made any extensive trials of both programs?

Would you be willing to give me an (even semi-unbiased) opinion of the pros and cons of each?

One of the biggest factors (from my personal perspective at this time), is there a difference in price for the program and/or the datasets to match the given expansion books.

Of approximately equal importance to me is if it will work allow any of thhe possible combinations allowed/specified in the books.

Customizability would certainly be nice, but isn't as important to me in most situations.

I'll thank you in advance for any assistance.

 

[Festivus]

I pretty much stick to Heroforge. The last version has Spell Compendium support, but no PHB2 support yet. It's free, but you need Excel to get it to work. You can get it here:

http://www.nzcomputers.net/heroforge/

I tried PC Gen but I didn't like it as much. Personal preference I suspect, I am sure it's a fine application, I just liked being able to do other dorky things like have my exp per game session tracked and added up on the notes page (being in excel it was easy).

 

[Artoomis]

I use PCGen.

Works great. Is free. I do make my own custom changes for supplemental material, though. I use only what the program comes with plus material I input to modify to my character to work with supplemental rules (new feats, new spells, new prestige classes, new templates, etc.). It's not too hard, but I do have years of programming experience, and that helps a lot.

Produces very nice character sheets.