[GRaske]

I like buying the books though for all the stories and flavor and stuff and if the hero lab packs are the same cost its like buying the books twice which sounds too expensive for me just for a character builder.

[Mathias]

I just checked Drivethru RPG, and it looks like the pdfs that we include in our pdf bundles vary in cost from $4-$8.  Our pdf bundles are 5 pdfs for $10, so $2 each for the Hero Lab versions of those same things.  The core supplements in pdf appear to normally be $12 at Drivethru RPG, bundled for $10 each, and our bundle of the core supplement packages in HL is $35, so $7 each.

So, you're certainly not buying the books twice - much less than that.

[Mathias]

GRaske, why not try HL out in demo mode?  You can download it from http://wolflair.com/index.php?context=hero_lab&page=downloads and give it a test.  That'll give you a better idea of what you're purchasing before you purchase it.  The only things restricted in demo mode are saving and printing (you can still see the print preview).

[Mara]

I like buying the books though for all the stories and flavor and stuff and if the hero lab packs are the same cost its like buying the books twice which sounds too expensive for me just for a character builder.

It is still long time cheaper then the Chargen program used by that other company, where you have to pay monthly for their subscription, and have to log in, and have active net access to use it...

[AJCarrington]

Missed this release: HeroLab 4.0 is available, along with a MAC version also.

Regards,

AJC

[Mathias]

Our April newsletter has just gone out:

http://wolflair.com/index.php?context=newsletter&page=april_2012

[Mara]

Mathias, I am curious: How do you guys decide a) what gets bundled and b) what gets its own, separate release?

[AJCarrington]

Thanks for the update Mathias.  Nice to see that the core books will be updated and complete by the end of May.  As an extension to Mara's question, it would be great to get a snap-shot of future bundles/releases in the works.

Thanks again.

AJC

[Mathias]

Mathias, I am curious: How do you guys decide a) what gets bundled and b) what gets its own, separate release?

If the price we'd like to charge for an item is too small, it gets bundled with other similar items.  We don't want to have dozens of $2 or $3 products for sale, for example.

The assignments to pdf bundles #1 vs. #2 were chronological, based on the original release dates of those pdfs.

[Mathias]

As an extension to Mara's question, it would be great to get a snap-shot of future bundles/releases in the works.

Runner's Companion and Unwired are the only projects I'm worrying about right now.

It's too early in the development cycle for the remaining boks (running wild, war, attitude, spy games, 2073, etc.) to make a final decision on how we want to group those, and until that decision is final, I'd rather not make announcements based on our estimates.

[Mathias]

Version 2.10 of the Shadowrun files for Hero Lab are now available from the automatic updates mechanism within Hero Lab.

This update adds the Drakes, HMHVV infected, and sapient critter rules from Runner's Companion for all of our users who own the Runner's Companion package.

For all our users, we've added support for critters, including all the critters from the core rulebook.  Those with the Augmentation package  will also get the biodrone cyberware and sample biodrones from that book.  To see the critters, on the configure hero form, choose "Type: Critter/Spirit", rather than the default "Type: Hero (PC)".  Also, on the Vehicle tab, there's a new table: "Critters & Biodrones", which is where you have the option of purchasing any critters or biodrones that have been assigned a cost and availability.

Also for all of our users, we've added the contacts from Runner's Toolkit.  These are available both as new contacts on the Social tab and as ready-to-use NPCs from the "Import Stock Hero" option on the Portfolio menu.  A big thanks to one of our users, Bryan Wallbridge, for doing all the data entry for those NPCs and for giving his work to us so we could distribute it to all of you.

(A change to the Runner's Companion release plan I detailed in the first post of this thread - Runner's Companion will end up being released over four different updates, rather than three.  There's still another release of material from the Advanced Character Concepts chapter coming, which will be followed by a release that contains the Alternative Character Creation chapter)

[AJCarrington]

Thanks for the info Mathias...much appreciated.

AJC

[Mara]

*hmms*
OK, so...Anyone figured out where Drakes and HMHVV Infected are? Not under race or qualities that I can see...

Never mind...found it right below the race bar...

[raggedhalo]

I'm probably just being dim here, but I could use a hand...

We're playing with the optional rule from Street Magic that adepts can use a metamagic slot to learn a new power point (it's not in my Street Magic PDF, but it's in the errata...but I can't seem to make that happen.  What do I need to do?

[Mathias]

We're playing with the optional rule from Street Magic that adepts can use a metamagic slot to learn a new power point (it's not in my Street Magic PDF, but it's in the errata...but I can't seem to make that happen.  What do I need to do?

On the Personal tab, go to the Permanent Adjustments table at the bottom, and add the "Adept Power Points" adjustment, setting it to +1 (or more).  Then, add the "Metamagic Powers" adjustment, setting it to -1 or more.