Sneak Preview: Citizens of the Imperium App for iPad

[agorski]

I've been pounding away at this project since the first of the year. It's a pretty complete implementation of T5 character generation for the iPad. There's no way I could squeeze the UI onto the iPhone. Thanks to the forum here for rules clarifications, sophont cards, and Hemdian's flowcharts. I think it illuminates the strengths and weaknesses of the current 5.09 rules. I'm still pounding on it to make sure I didn't do anything really stupid, but you can see some screenshots here:

http://naasirka.weebly.com/citizens-of-the-imperium.html

 

[Starflyer]

I have to say I really appreciate the work you do and have purchased all your releases so far, however that said this latest has really made me realize that one of the problems I think Traveller, and T5 in particular, has had is what a boring looking character sheet!! Not your fault I know, it's what it looks like ... but really it looks pretty intimidating to newbies for sure.It appears way too much like a spreadsheet, though essentially that is its basis.

I'd love to see a little border art or something to make it a little more 'enlivened'. I also don't see the need to list 0 skill levels, in your example there are three art skills adding to the dreary sheet and none have great consequence in play. Similarly for the creation log, it's nice to refer back to but has little use in play, it should be relegated to a secondary background sheet.

Sorry if I sound negative, but I don't think this effort is as useful as your prior good work on the builders.

 

[Magnus von Thornwood]

Whoa!

I just realized I can totes probably get your apps now, I have an iPad that runs iOS 10. Sweet.

Also, agree the creation log is useful but could be relegated to a second sheet, but do keep it. Traveller CharGen is good for beginning bios.

Keep up the good work and come Friday I'll have see what of yours I can pick up since I'm about to run.

And Starflyer I got your prettified character sheet. (shameless plug)

 

[Magnus von Thornwood]

Questions.

Can I enter my own Homeworlds?

Does it give Homeworld/Birthworld Skills/Knowledges?

 

[pendragonman]

Never mind Mags, do you have a version for android devices?

 

[agorski]

I have to say I really appreciate the work you do and have purchased all your releases so far,

Glad you've found them useful. Don't get me in trouble with Marc, all my apps are free.

however that said this latest has really made me realize that one of the problems I think Traveller, and T5 in particular, has had is what a boring looking character sheet!! Not your fault I know, it's what it looks like ... but really it looks pretty intimidating to newbies for sure.It appears way too much like a spreadsheet, though essentially that is its basis.

Traveller has always had that stark aesthetic and I find it comforting.

I'd love to see a little border art or something to make it a little more 'enlivened'. I also don't see the need to list 0 skill levels, in your example there are three art skills adding to the dreary sheet and none have great consequence in play. Similarly for the creation log, it's nice to refer back to but has little use in play, it should be relegated to a secondary background sheet.

There's a limit to what I can do in XOJO compared to Xcode as far as aesthetics goes without delving into arcane Declares. Plus, I'm not an artist. I think the level-0 skills are a useful reminder and there's room to display them. The creation log is needed during chargen to show you what you got from each roll and is useful for backstory. I had the room to put everything on one view, so I did. Easier for me.

Sorry if I sound negative, but I don't think this effort is as useful as your prior good work on the builders.

No problem. I appreciate your thoughts.

 

[agorski]

Can I enter my own Homeworlds?

Does it give Homeworld/Birthworld Skills/Knowledges?

Yes, you can manually enter the data for birth and home worlds. It's optional. If you enter the homeworld name you get the World knowledge for it. I'm thinking I need to add a little code at mustering out to reduce the World knowledge 1 level per term served, making the assumption that you didn't stay on the home world. It'll still be at least level-0 at the end.

There's also a view that comes up that lets you select all the world Trade Classifications that apply to your character's worlds, and it gives the appropriate skills/knowledges.

 

[agorski]

Never mind Mags, do you have a version for android devices?

Sorry, no. Although XOJO is cross-platform and is working on adding Android development soon.

 

[Magnus von Thornwood]

Whoo-hoo!

Yes, you can manually enter the data for birth and home worlds. It's optional. If you enter the homeworld name you get the World knowledge for it. I'm thinking I need to add a little code at mustering out to reduce the World knowledge 1 level per term served, making the assumption that you didn't stay on the home world. It'll still be at least level-0 at the end.

There's also a view that comes up that lets you select all the world Trade Classifications that apply to your character's worlds, and it gives the appropriate skills/knowledges.

Groovy. I run an ATU so being able to add non-OTU stuff is major plus.

Thanks.

 

[Starflyer]

Glad you've found them useful. Don't get me in trouble with Marc, all my apps are free. .

Quite, I really meant i'd downloaded and use them all, hopefully the fannon police aren't knocking on your door.

 

[agorski]

OK, it's out and in the store:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/citizens-of-the-imperium/id1253171767?ls=1&mt=8

 

[Magnus von Thornwood]

Well...

OK, it's out and in the store:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/citizens-of-the-imperium/id1253171767?ls=1&mt=8

So, biggest issue so far. Cancel kills characters!

:rant:

Holy cows is that aggravating as can be. I get to a point where it is giving me fits and then freezes and I loose some rather nice characters.

Cancel should just undo last choice. Or give an "undo choice" button.

I have lost at least five characters and I just got the App. Gggrrrrr.

END :rant:

Now, besides it not saving my progress a couple other things.

Seem to be having issues adding more than one Language.

When offered a chance to Apply to Flight School if you pass (or Waiver in the standard Admiral Green method) it seems to give you Pilot-3 but doesn't make you pick your two Knowledges which it should since Pilot is like Fighter or Engineer Skills. Unless I missed something...

I wish it told me up front I was failing a Commission roll, but no biggie.

It seems to hang when you get a lot of Skills/Knowledges from the Scout career.

It tends to freeze up when you try to get a third Term of Career. And I really want to see how Aging works. Not to mention how sick house.

And last off the top of my head, use a radio button or something to let the user now they selected a Table to roll on and not a Skill or Knowledge, which happy giddy me had user issues with. Remember most Referees using this fine App (and it is fine) may have very little knowledge of the mechanics of T5 CharGen and are using this tool to avoid having to bone up...and sometimes developers.

And since we're doing feedback need a custom entry for Damage in GunMaker since my ATU has Neural weapons...like EMP for Sophonts.

EDIT: Just remembered this one. The VehicleMaker let me pick multiple Options for the Vehicle which is rocking and proper but it does not do this for GunMaker which it should since sometimes you want a weapon that Low Observable and Close Quarters with Sight Enhancement. Just saying...

Dangit, okay last one for real and also for other App. (also cool, but also same cancel/no progress save issues), when making a military Vehicle it would be cool if one could either import a Weapon from GunMaker or either a stock selection or random generated.

[m;]If you point me a the correct threads for the other Apps, I will happily move them to the correct threads and delete them and this Mod tape[/m;]



I feel sorta bad because at first glance it might sound like I hate it but damn it is cool and I got a couple characters done and saved.

Digging the log and yeah, I'll shut my pie-hole. It's fine where it is, I find myself checking it to see what happened in the Term.

I love how Fame isn't the number but the distance. No one above Close Relatives by the way.

Personal Development feels soooo right, it never seems to give you what you want.

Still haven't had a chance to see what it can really do but I am digging version 1 (or whatever) of all your Apps and am hoping to see more T5 Apps in the future because man they rule!

And bug Robject about maybe doing up and App version of his T5 Shipyard App. :devil:

Ooooo, another thing. Be awful neato-kuzeeto if we could like email them or print the results somehow. You know in that vast amount of precious free time you must surely have.

Anyway, rock on and compliments to the coder.

:coffeesip:

 

[agorski]

So, biggest issue so far. Cancel kills characters!

I needed a way at every decision point for the user to escape the process so this is what I came up with. Just don't hit the Cancel button.

Seem to be having issues adding more than one Language.

I haven't seen this. In education, you just get a level. In careers, you get good proficiency in each additional language, per the rules. I've had characters with 4 languages. Remember you can define new languages, so "Battle" for soldiers.

When offered a chance to Apply to Flight School if you pass (or Waiver in the standard Admiral Green method) it seems to give you Pilot-3 but doesn't make you pick your two Knowledges which it should since Pilot is like Fighter or Engineer Skills. Unless I missed something...

Originally I did it this way but the Eneri Dinshaa example in the rules shows him getting Pilot-3. I also made a judgement call to give the main skill when awarded for rank promotion. It's a judgement call based on trying to interpret the hazy rules of 5.09. Seems appropriate for an enlisted soldier to get Fighter-1 instead of just one of the knowledges.

That said, If you have Pilot-3 only, your next 8 Pilot skills will be knowledges only until you catch up using the 2 to 1 rule and then you will get Pilot skill again. That was my interpretation on how to deal with this.

It seems to hang when you get a lot of Skills/Knowledges from the Scout career.

It's a bigass complicated app and I don't guarantee it will never have problems. But I fixed everything I found in testing.

It tends to freeze up when you try to get a third Term of Career. And I really want to see how Aging works. Not to mention how sick house.

I've had characters with 6+ terms and never saw a problem. Craftsmen tend to be old before they start cranking out masterpieces.

Aging is done using the standard rules complicated by support for sophonts with different life stages. Ask and you shall receive.

// Increase age and check for and resolve aging effects

// Calculate life stage ages
Dim lifestage As Text = Characters(CurrentCharacter).Sophont.LifeStageTerms
Dim terms As Double, lifestage5 As Integer, lifestage9 As Integer, previouslifestage As Integer, previousage As Integer
Dim physicalaging As Boolean, mentalaging As Boolean

If Integer.FromText(lifestage.Mid(0,1)) = 0 Then 'half a term for first life stage
  terms = 0.5
Else
  terms = Double.FromText(lifestage.Mid(0,1))
End If
terms = terms + Double.FromText(lifestage.Mid(1,1)) '2nd life stage
terms = terms + Double.FromText(lifestage.Mid(2,1)) '3rd life stage
terms = terms + Double.FromText(lifestage.Mid(3,1)) '4th life stage
terms = terms + Double.FromText(lifestage.Mid(4,1)) '5th life stage
lifestage5 = terms * 4 'Age at which physical aging begins
terms = terms + Double.FromText(lifestage.Mid(5,1)) '6th life stage
terms = terms + Double.FromText(lifestage.Mid(6,1)) '7th life stage
terms = terms + Double.FromText(lifestage.Mid(7,1)) '8th life stage
terms = terms + Double.FromText(lifestage.Mid(8,1)) '9th life stage
lifestage9 = terms * 4 'Age at which mental aging begins
previouslifestage = Characters(CurrentCharacter).LifeStage
previousage = Characters(CurrentCharacter).Age

// Increase age
Characters(CurrentCharacter).Age = Characters(CurrentCharacter).Age + increase

// Update log
AddToLog("Age: " + Characters(CurrentCharacter).Age.ToText)

//Check for physical aging
Select Case Characters(CurrentCharacter).LifeStage
Case 0 To 4
  physicalaging = False
Case 5 To 9
  If previouslifestage = 4 Then 'just crossed over
    physicalaging = True
  Else
    For i As Integer = (previousage + 1) To Characters(CurrentCharacter).Age
      physicalaging = False
      If (i - lifestage5) Mod 4 = 0 Then 'crossed a 4 year boundary
        physicalaging = True
        Exit
      End If
    Next
  End If
End Select

//Check for mental aging
Select Case Characters(CurrentCharacter).LifeStage
Case 0 To 8
  mentalaging = False
Case 9
  If previouslifestage = 8 Then 'just crossed over
    mentalaging = True
  Else
    For i As Integer = (previousage + 1) To Characters(CurrentCharacter).Age
      mentalaging = False
      If (i - lifestage5) Mod 4 = 0 Then 'crossed a 4 year boundary
        mentalaging = True
        Exit
      End If
    Next
  End If
End Select

//Perform physical aging
If physicalaging Then
  If Roll2D6 < Characters(CurrentCharacter).LifeStage Then
    Characters(CurrentCharacter).C1 = Characters(CurrentCharacter).C1 - 1
    AddToLog("Aging: C1=" + Characters(CurrentCharacter).C1.ToText)
    If Characters(CurrentCharacter).C1 = 0 Then
      Characters(CurrentCharacter).C1 = 1
      AddToLog("Aging: Reset C1 to 1")
    End If
  End If
  If Roll2D6 < Characters(CurrentCharacter).LifeStage Then
    Characters(CurrentCharacter).C2 = Characters(CurrentCharacter).C2 - 1
    AddToLog("Aging: C2=" + Characters(CurrentCharacter).C2.ToText)
    If Characters(CurrentCharacter).C2 = 0 Then
      Characters(CurrentCharacter).C2 = 1
      AddToLog("Aging: Reset C2 to 1")
    End If
  End If
  If Roll2D6 < Characters(CurrentCharacter).LifeStage Then
    Characters(CurrentCharacter).C3 = Characters(CurrentCharacter).C3 - 1
    AddToLog("Aging: C3=" + Characters(CurrentCharacter).C3.ToText)
    If Characters(CurrentCharacter).C3 = 0 Then
      Characters(CurrentCharacter).C3 = 1
      AddToLog("Aging: Reset C3 to 1")
    End If
  End If
End If

//Perform mental aging
If mentalaging Then
  If Roll2D6 < Characters(CurrentCharacter).LifeStage Then
    Characters(CurrentCharacter).C4 = Characters(CurrentCharacter).C4 - 1
    AddToLog("Aging: C4=" + Characters(CurrentCharacter).C4.ToText)
    If Characters(CurrentCharacter).C4 = 0 Then
      Characters(CurrentCharacter).C4 = 1
      AddToLog("Aging: Reset C4 to 1")
    End If
  End If
End If

And last off the top of my head, use a radio button or something to let the user now they selected a Table to roll on and not a Skill or Knowledge, which happy giddy me had user issues with. Remember most Referees using this fine App (and it is fine) may have very little knowledge of the mechanics of T5 CharGen and are using this tool to avoid having to bone up...and sometimes developers.

There's usually a text prompt that says to "select a table" or "select a knowledge". Don't know how else to do this.

And since we're doing feedback need a custom entry for Damage in GunMaker since my ATU has Neural weapons...like EMP for Sophonts.

I just implement the existing rules.

EDIT: Just remembered this one. The VehicleMaker let me pick multiple Options for the Vehicle which is rocking and proper but it does not do this for GunMaker which it should since sometimes you want a weapon that Low Observable and Close Quarters with Sight Enhancement. Just saying...

I just implement the existing rules.

Dangit, okay last one for real and also for other App. (also cool, but also same cancel/no progress save issues), when making a military Vehicle it would be cool if one could either import a Weapon from GunMaker or either a stock selection or random generated.

Currently, that is a limitation of iOS. Apps are sandboxed and one app cannot get to another app's data. That seems to be changing in iOS 11 with the new Files app coming out.

[m;]If you point me a the correct threads for the other Apps, I will happily move them to the correct threads and delete them and this Mod tape[/m;]

Just leave 'em here. I'm the only one who cares about this.

I feel sorta bad because at first glance it might sound like I hate it but damn it is cool and I got a couple characters done and saved.

Digging the log and yeah, I'll shut my pie-hole. It's fine where it is, I find myself checking it to see what happened in the Term.

I love how Fame isn't the number but the distance. No one above Close Relatives by the way.

Personal Development feels soooo right, it never seems to give you what you want.

Still haven't had a chance to see what it can really do but I am digging version 1 (or whatever) of all your Apps and am hoping to see more T5 Apps in the future because man they rule!

Aw shucks!

And bug Robject about maybe doing up and App version of his T5 Shipyard App. :devil:

Ooh, an idea for my next app.

Ooooo, another thing. Be awful neato-kuzeeto if we could like email them or print the results somehow. You know in that vast amount of precious free time you must surely have.

Anyway, rock on and compliments to the coder.

:coffeesip:

If you turn the iPad vertical you get just the Character Card displayed. Do a screenshot (exercise left to the reader). It puts it in your camera roll and if you have access to a printer from your iPad it prints out quite nicely using the Sharing panel. You should also be able to copy the entire log to put the text elsewhere, like the Notes app.

 

[Fovean]

It seems that age 18 Humans get a LOT of zero level skills even before birthworld is determined. I've been skimming 5.09 but haven't found anything similar in rules or examples. For instance I started a Scout and before I entered Birth/Homeworld info she already had three Art, several Shipboard and a handful of other Skill-0's in her skill list.

Not a criticism, just curious as to the why. It also happened with the merchant character I mentioned in the other thread.

Again not a criticism- this app seriously rocks. Wouldn't be hard for me to strike out the zeroes I don't want listed, just thought I'd ask.

And yes, big fan of your other apps as well - thanks for all the hard and awesome work!

 

[agorski]

It seems that age 18 Humans get a LOT of zero level skills even before birthworld is determined. I've been skimming 5.09 but haven't found anything similar in rules or examples.

Yep, according to the rules the Default skills listed on pg 112 and described on pg 113 in 5.09 are awarded at level-0 to all characters. Since a level-0 skill is more useful than no skill at all, I list them.

Also, the first time you acquire a knowledge from a skill you haven't had before, I award knowledge-1 and skill-0. Again, per the rules but don't ask me where.

I've become fairly expert on T5 chargen just by reading through it hundreds of times and thinking through all the small details so I could program it. Can't always find what I remember, though.

 

[herr_phil]

Thanks!

Thank you so much for this. I was literally just searching for a fillable character sheet when I saw this post here. Your work is an incredible time saver, keep it up

 

[agorski]

Thank you so much for this. I was literally just searching for a fillable character sheet when I saw this post here. Your work is an incredible time saver, keep it up

Aw, shucks.

 

[agorski]

Version 1.1 is out

New:
• Incorporated changes corrected or clarified in the T5.10 core rules.
• Added a text export option for completed characters.
• Dark Mode support.

Changes:
• Good candidate for: Enhanced recommendations on Characteristics view and added to Choices view.
• Scholar and Entertainer careers: If Begin fails, no Retry allowed.
• Entertainer career: Optional flux rolls to increase Fame now display current Fame change in the dialog.
• Citizen career: if Major or Minor exists, may check Edu to select one as Job or Hobby instead of random assignment.
• Scout career: Roll vs the maximum of Str or C2 or C3 to Begin, not vs 6.
• Scout, Merchant, Spacer, Soldier, Agent, Rogue, Marine, and Functionary careers: Begin Failure does not allow career to be attempted again when Retry is not attempted.
• Scout career: Risk and Reward failures can now be retried by rolling vs C5.
• Spacer career: Roll vs Str to Continue, not vs 7.
• Spacer, Soldier, and Marine careers: Risk & Reward successes award XS Medal, not Campaign Ribbon.
• Soldier career: Roll vs C3 to Continue, not vs 7.
• Rogue career: Risk, Reward, and Continue rolls of 12 are automatic failure.
• Rogue career: Failure to Continue ends character generation, not continue in Marine career.
• Marine career: Officer Promotion is roll vs Int, not Soc.
• Functionary career: Roll to Begin vs Total Terms x3, not Auto.
• Functionary career: Rank F6 titles for functionary careers of Scholar, Entertainer, Merchant, and Rogue now set to specific titles.
• Fame: Fame points for MCG, SEH, and SEH with Diamonds medals changed.
• Skill acquisition: Instead of following the pattern Knowledge-Knowledge-Skill forever, once Skill-1 is achieved, the Skill Level is increased upon each receipt.
• Character Creation Log: If a Major or Minor skill is awarded and the Major or Minor has not been defined, the log now indicates that no skill was awarded.
• Muster Out: Knighthood benefit can be received only once.
• Muster Out: Knighthood benefit cannot be received by Nobles.
• Muster Out: Knighthood benefit does not increase Soc if Soc is B or greater.

Notes:
• Merchant, Spacer, Soldier, Agent, Rogue, Marine, and Functionary careers: The rules don’t clearly specify if a Retry is allowed if Begin fails. The app allows Retry but you can always decline the Retry attempt.
• Functionary career: The rules don’t specify career Fame for functionaries, so it is set to Fame = functionary rank.
• The Character Card is now reloaded far less frequently, in an effort to avoid an app crash.

 

[AnotherDilbert]

Looking good!

Hasn't crashed yet during a few long complex characters, big step forward!

Spacers seems to roll for Risk/Reward three times per term?

 

[agorski]

Spacers seems to roll for Risk/Reward three times per term?

Nope. A successful Risk roll gets you an XS medal. A successful Reward roll gets you an XS medal and you consult the Medals table where you are most likely to get an XS medal. So those things pile up fast!