2E System Generator

[Brennall]

Because the 2nd Edition playtest is interesting, I decided to write a System Generator for it.

http://vbam.spellbound.co.uk/2esysgen.htm?

It randomly generates and names systems using the rules in the draft 2E pdf.

There are a number of url based settings which will enable you to alter the generated statistics e.g.

System settings
&name=ChooseAnyName : Choose your own name for the system.
&homeworld : will generate a homeworld using a +2 modifier on the dice rolls.
&player : will generate a player based homeworld as per the PDF guidance.
&seed : enter a randomseed to keep recreating the same system, good for keeping records.

Population settings
&census=4 : will change the census value to 4 for example.
&morale=5 : will change the morale value to 5 for example.
&tl=1: will change the Tech Level to 1 for example.

Infrastructure settings
&productivity=3 : will change the productivity value to 3 for example.
&shipyard=5 : will change the shipyard value to 5 for example.
&Agriculture=2 : will change the agriculture value to 2 for example.
&Tech=5 : will change the tech value to 5 for example.
&Intel=3 : will change the intel value to 3 for example.

Language settings
&language=german : will create random german sounding system names.
&language=swahili : will create random swahili sounding system names.
&language=viking : will create random viking sounding system names.
&language=chinese : will create random chinese sounding system names.
&language=japanese : will create random japanese sounding system names.
&language=minbari : will create random minbari sounding system names.

Output settings
&unexplored : Just shows the Jump lanes and if the system is inhabited which is useful for explorers.
&table : Shows a table of the system details, useful for cut and paste into a spreadsheet.
&tableonly : Just shows the table, with no system box above.

You can obviously mix and match the above settings to your hearts content, try some of these examples to see different results

Code: Select all

http://vbam.spellbound.co.uk/2esysgen.htm?seed=1314480436844&table&census=3&morale=5&tl=2&productivity=2&shipyard=2&agriculture=2&tech=2&intel=3

This recreates a nice little outpost called Banitand

Here is the same system generated from a Minbari viewpoint : Ha'tri, note the random name changed but the stats remained the same.

Here we can see the Ha'tri system with attendant table Ha'tri System

Lastly we will generate a new Homeworld system for a player:

http://vbam.spellbound.co.uk/2esysgen.htm?homeworld

You can play around with above settings all you like.

Obviously I am sure there will be further changes and additions to the rules for 2nd Edition, I will try and keep the system generator up to date with them as time passes. As an example I am unsure of the status of Diplomacy, but as it is a derived stat its calculable by a player until such time as the playtest seems to show its definite inclusion.

If you see any mistakes or errors, please post here. If you can think of anything else to add to the system generator please post here also.

I hope you enjoy it ... I am planning on making a small 2E playtest with it

[Vandervecken]

When I clicked on 'Ha'tri' and' Ha'tri System' on your last thread post; the system name still showed as Banitand for me. But the work for the actual Sys Gen is superb !!

[Brennall]

Opps ... I should obviously not post that late at night ... I have added the &language=minbari to the examples that need it.

Sorry about that!

[Charles Lewis]

Awesome!

[Brennall]

New version .. can be found here :-

2E System Generator

As well as being driven by the URL Query method ... this version has a number of buttons down the left hand side which let you alter the system and then save it as a bookmark to reload it.

You will also notice the format has been optimised for small screen work, such as android and iOS devices to some degree. I would like to do more work in that area, such as swipe or shake to generate a new system etc.

Its not finished yet, there are some changes I want to work on. But it is basically functional.

[Chyll]

That is looking excellent.

Tested it both in PC IE and on my Android (fit nicely on the screen).

The +/- mechanism was not immediately intuitive, but I worked out it.
The table feature wasn't very useful on the Android, but will be very handy on the desktop.


(wish I'd saved the capacity 12 system that turned up... )

[Brennall]

Ahh now its good that you have an Android device. I have an iPad and iPhone, but not any android devices to test with.

I almost removed the tabular output for mobile devices, but left it in case someone might need it. Its ugly when used, but serves a purpose in delivering spreadsheet compatible output.

I want to add shake or swipe to reroll, but haven't found a reliable method that works across android and iphone to my satisfaction.

I might badger you with requests to test that feature if I find a cross platform way of doing it

I played around today with a ship generator concept layout for 2E ... I think I have a layout devised for a web app but need to test it more.

I hope Tyrel is ok and returns soon, I want some 2E rules to play with

[Chyll]

Ahh now its good that you have an Android device. I have an iPad and iPhone, but not any android devices to test with.

I almost removed the tabular output for mobile devices, but left it in case someone might need it. Its ugly when used, but serves a purpose in delivering spreadsheet compatible output.

Yeah, it would be useful, but scrolls off the screen on a phone, and without a tablet I doubt I'd be doing a lot of real 'usage' of it on my droid

I might badger you with requests to test that feature if I find a cross platform way of doing it .

Feel free.

[Brennall]

I hope its one of the self solving issues, people on phones hit the table, go "erk that doesn't work" and then don't hit it again! ... if it really is a problem I could always sniff out the device / browser and disable it. But you watch, when I do that someone will need it!

The other change I was interested in was to add support for outposts etc during the generation process. Using a dropdown like the language button and based on the chart from Pg 24 of VBAM2E_20110821.pdf. This would be a help for GM's looking to quickly generate NPE's. I could also roll the homeworld and player homeworld buttons into it.

[Brennall]

I spent some time refactoring and generally tidying the 2e System Generator today.

This is a screenshot showing the current state of play.



Hopefully the table on mobile devices is now fixed by using Vertical text for the headers. Sounds simple, but it took a lot longer than I had thought. The good news is it works in Chrome v10+ , Safari v5+, Opera v10.5+, Firefox v3.5+ and Internet Explorer v7+ strangely.

On the mobile devices it works on the iPhone, iPad and if I can get someone to test I will know about the android platform

Apart from a little bit more tidying (and depending on any rules changes) I am just about finished with this project. I might still do the outpost / colony support, but I have put some thought into a Ship/Unit designer for 2e already and might have a go at that next week.

If you want to try out the latest version it can be found here: -

http://vbam.spellbound.co.uk/2esysgen/2esysgen.html

Enjoy and if you find any problems please let me know in this thread.

[Vandervecken]

Thank you, again. Your generator robustly handles its task, yet is simply elegant to view.

[Vandervecken]

Brennall,

Seems to be a problem with this version of your system generator it is only 21K size download compared to previous versions 121K, and doesn't do much. Could you have accidentally just saved a sub-system of the generator ??

[Brennall]

Ooh .. I forgot to mention this is a server based version .. so needs to be run from my website at the moment.

I need to merge all the subsidiary files into the html file to make a stand alone version.

I will be back at home in about 7 or so hours and get a stand alone version made then

[Vandervecken]

Hehehehe, no problem. Thanks again !

[Vandervecken]

The server based newest version doesn't remember to use Japanese, swahili etc when I refresh; is that simply because of me refreshing on an active server vs stand alone; or is this something you need to modify because it should remember I want Viking names ?