SuperSatellite

Data pack update for Earthdawn Character Generator

// November 23rd, 2008 // 2 Comments » // Games

Some friends and I have been working on starting up an Earthdawn again.  In the process of this, I’ve been revisiting some old resources that I used to use, one being the Earthdawn Character Generator originally released at the Lost Papers web site.  The current version is 1.3e, and was released back in 2004, so it’s probably safe to say that there will be no more development on it.  But luckily, the data files for the program are human readable, so they are easy to edit.

That being said, I used this to my advantage, found a more recently updated set of data files, and extended them further with some more disciplines, races, talents, and equipment (sorry, haven’t been through spells yet).  I dug around for all the bits I could find to bring together, and I put in most all that made sense.  That means yes, some things like the Hawkman race, Bladesman discipline, or Malac rifle didn’t make it in, but that’s mostly because I tried to stick with what made sense, was canon(ish), and would be helpful for character generation.  If there’s interest in something I didn’t put in, I’ll happily add it and repack it if people want me to.

EDCG 1.3e Data File repack 081123

Just in case the source ever goes down, for the sake of argument I’ll mirror a download for Earthdawn Character Generator 1.3e.  Just remember this will have the original data files in it, so you’ll need to download the repack above and copy it to your /data directory to get the new stuff.  Also, I did not create, nor do I maintain EDCG, so don’t ask me about supporting or updating the software itself, ask the guy who made it.

All of this being said, there’s also a newer character creator called The Second Step.  Their site looks gone now, but I still have a copy of the software if anyone wants it.  I’ll host that as well if people are looking for it.  Just understand that this is the default setup as well, with no updates to the data in it.  If enough people are using it, we could even work on updating the info in it as well.

The main problem is that Earthdawn, formerly of FASA, was liscensed to Living Room Games, who fell asleep on the job with it.  Then came in RedBrick, who are back to work on it.  EDCG is more tightly connected to the old style, which RedBrick is basically following, while The Second Step is designed for 2nd Edition, that Living Room Games put out.  Which is better?  I don’t know.  Personally, I think the Second Step program might actually be a better piece of software, but I haven’t looked too closely to see if it could be used compatibly with the classic system (I would assume so though).  There wasn’t a ton of difference between the two mechanics-wise.

Share your thoughts below.  Which would you rather use, which do you prefer?  If I worked on updating the data in one or the other, which would you prefer?

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Innovation at E3

// May 11th, 2006 // 1 Comment » // Entertainment, Games

Well, E3 is underway.  For those of you not in the know….eh, I’m really not going to explain what E3 is.  That’s what Google is for.  I was just reading an interesting transcript at IGN from the Nintendo news conference.  I particularly liked when some Nintendo guy named Reggie said, “Microsoft and Sony’s focus on graphics and same-old gaming was fatal, and that history is littered with companies who fell because they did not advance.”

It’s really true when you stop and think about it.  There isn’t a lot of innovation coming from S&M (like my clever scronym?).  Frankly, I am more excited about the Wii than I am any other system, and probably more than the Dreamcast, which is the last system I was excited about, and the newest one I own (that’s like a 7 year old system, and the only other console I own is an NES).  I might very seriously get a Wii.  And the price point, which has often been the case with Nintendo, is going to be the big winning point for their system I think.  That’s why Game Boy has always come out on top versus more advanced competition, price.

I’ve also been bouncing back and forth between getting a DS or a PSP, and the New Super Mario Bros. and Star Fox DS might have just sold me on the DS.  Katamari was the driving power on the PSP for me, but that’s about it.  Frankly, I can do without.

I’ve never been a big gamer, but a lot of the news coming out of the Nintendo Wii camp is really getting me kind of stoked.  Q4 will be the telling time I suppose.  Granted, sometimes innovation bombs for Nintendo.  Think Virtual Boy.  But really, people seem pretty sold on the motion sensing controller, and the touchscreen on the DS seemed flat out stupid to me when I first heard about it, but it’s been a huge success too.  I’m interested to see what comes out of E3 once the hands on demos start.

March of the….

// March 26th, 2006 // No Comments » // Entertainment, Games

Don’t you love when the blog title is little more than a piece of some random thought completely unconnected to the blog itself? Great, no?

So there’s this game on the PS1, right? It apparently sucks, but has a certain draw nonetheless. It’s called Irritating Stick. I shit you not, the game is about running a stick charged with 100,000 volts through a maze. The best part is that it’s based on a Japanese TV show. How can you not want to see this show? Okay, if you’ve never seen Japanese game shows, go watch this and this. That should give you an idea of how much potential an idea like an irritating, electrically charged stick and mazes can have.

Rory picked up Katamari yesterday. While the graphics look like a port of the PS1 (it’s a PS2 game), it does have a fairly addictive quality. So much that it might have sold me on getting a PSP so that I can play Me and My Katamari. We’ll see, I’ll wait for PSP prices to drop first, but that and Lumines have got me wanting to get one. Sorry Nintendo, I guess you just didn’t catch me enough with the DS (though I admit the DS Lite is pretty slick and they are not necessarily short on good game titles). I’ll keep the GBA for a while, maybe pick up FFIV for it. Otherwise it looks like I’ll jump ship to Sony.

The Command & Conquer first decade pack is out. I want it. Bad. Command & Conquer is one of the best game franchises ever in my opinion, and this takes every game and puts it into one package. I have wasted a lot of time with those games. But the older versions don’t work on XP (till now), and the newer versions I have lack a certain…legal….quality? Yeah….moving on. It reminds me of how Blizzard is still milking the Starcraft franchise after how many years? And they don’t even have any sequels, just an expansion. But you can still buy it brand new with Brood War for $20.

I’ll also mention that I finally ordered a new cell phone and am switching providers. Getting a Razr with cingular. I don’t care if it’s the phone everyone is getting, I like it. It’s hard for me to find a flip phone I like, I’m picky, so I got it. Should be here Tuesday. Now, how much of a bitch will it be to get my number ported to the new phone I wonder. Mine with Sprint doesn’t have the handy SIM card or anything I can swap out real fast. I have a feeling I’ll be in for a headache. But not as much of one as I get when I can never get calls out because the Spint network is busy, or calls don’t come through to my phone, and people aren’t sent to my voicemail. Bye Sprint.