Thrak's Character Sheets for his MD game, on the site, are exported from HD.  As are my private ones for TCQ.

We pretty much just copy the code and put it into the source code of the page.

...I'm guessing that your idea would make this less work. 

I really get the advantage that it would mean for Desolation sheets, but not sure about the Hero ones.

The only advantage would be having a specifically designated "character sheet" content type that makes finding that sort of content easier.  If there was a Ubiquity equivalent to the Hero Designer, exporting to HTML, then it wouldn't be necessary for Ubiquity, either.

Now why do I get the feeling I'm going to be writing one?  After all, how hard can it be?

A character generator for Desolation, likely wouldn't be that super hard.  I mean, the formulas seem pretty minimal.

Especially if you allowed people the ability to input new skills on their own and have your program save them.

I'd happily help with any data entry. 

My guess, though, is that if we actually list traditions, flaws, talents and skills (w/i the program) - we'd likely need the permission from the Desolation crew.  I'd hate for you to go to any trouble for an application that we won't be able to use.  Maybe they could add it as a free download to help promote their pdfs or something.

How's that beast weave program coming along?  *grin*  That sounds like fun.

If - and I stress the word 'if' - I wrote such a program it would be as a generic Ubiquity programme and I would seek the permission of those wonderful folks at Exile Games before I gave it to them to release.  I would make it so that it was easy to create lists of skills, talents, motivations, etc that the programme would read in - multiple ones at hte same time, so you could have a set for the Desolation core book, another for Survivors, another for the HEX core, Secrets of the Surface World, Mysteries of the Hollow Earth, the Danger Magnet! horror supplement, etc., etc.  It would need a way for users to enter their own skills, talents, specialities, etc. (enter them and store them.  SQLite database?).  Equipment lists.  Weird Science module...

So.  Thinking aloud...  We've got a multi-step wizard approach to creating the characters (but with the option to jump to any stage you want for a completed character), it reads the data in from XML file(s) and outputs to XML and HTML.  The XML output would allow you to save characters and re-load them.  It would error-check and make sure your maths are right but it would just warn you when you've got something wrong, not prevent it so GMs can create whatever character you like.  It would have to be cross-platform (and I loathe Java) with simple development on Linux...  Maybe Python...  Adobe Air?

Curse you, China!  Curse you for infecting me with another idea.  You know I'm going to have to write this now, don't you?

As for the beast-weaver, the broken side is working fine.  I'm going to have to re-read the section on weave-touched a few times, work out the best way to do that part.  Then Challenge Rating.  No, Challenge Rating first, then weave-touched.  I'll post whatever I've got so far online when I call it a night tonight (it'll be somewhere at www.filesandrecords.com)

Anyone else out there with suggestions for this character generation programme?  If so, please create a new thread and we'll bash this one out.  Muchos cross-posting on both the HEX and DES forums might be important here...

1. Great idea on the higher level Ubiquity character creator, that would be way useful.

2. Thrakazog made a very nice Excel character generation type document.  Is there a way to export spread sheet into an html template, cuz that would suit us super well in the short term.

3.  There is no cursing me for good ideas... or any infecting of your brain with any random inspiration that you manage to pull out of my insane ineediwant ramblings.  :D  -- just isn't MY fault at all.  Sounds like a you issue.  *grin*  Perhaps it's Damsel in Distress syndrome, or Games in Distress syndrome...or.... or....

4.  The only tool that I feel that I have to have in place before I start my game is the Style Chip counter.  I think that w/o that tool, the game will flounder under the system.  Ubiquity is extremely easy and free flowing in a face to face game, but integrating chips in text based gaming adds an extra step (a comment an ooc note, tracking of chip awards, tracking of chip spending, etc.)  That style chip counter would take that extra step/pain out of the equation and make it as free flowing for text based games as it is for face to face play.

I'm in zero hurry, but I do want it in place before I start the game. so that I can give it the best chance for survival that I can.

1.  Right.  Then that's in the pipeline.
2.  Anything that goes Microsoft -> HTML is a painful process.  You can save spreadsheets to HTML but it could be a nightmare to clean it up afterwards and make it useable here on the site.
3.  It's definitely a me issue.  I can get a little over-enthusiastic about things...
4.  Hey, look!  A giraffe!  No, really!  Just over there.

But it worked!  I saw it...it was done, and worked.  *grin*

...but that was in Drupal 5.

Imajica, if worse comes to worse, I'd be willing to work out a basic program framework (And I work with Java for a living so it won't be as much of a hassle for me )

China is right that the math is minimal. the key aspect is keeping track of the relationships between Attributes, Skills, and Talents (f'r'ex, a Talent replacing one attribute for another in a Skill).

I've done some template work with MetaCreator (aka Creation Workshop, the precursor to Hero Games' Hero Designer). I've also been looking into the Authoring Kit in HeroLab. Alternatively, it would be ideal to create an app from scratch but that would likely involve re-inventing the wheel for a number of features.

Well, for an immediate fix, Thrakazog has created a great Excel sheet.  Complete with drop down boxes for skills, races, talents, flaws, etc.

...so if anyone needs something while the super train is being built, give him a holler.  It's pretty darn sweet, it is.