Online Manual

This document generally explains how to use this program. In most instances, each screen or window has a Help button.  For specific instructions on how to use that screen or window, move the cursor over the Help button and click the left mouse button. This is referred to as left clicking or selecting.

You can get information on most program controls (such as buttons) by moving the cursor over the text for that control and clicking the right mouse button. This is referred to as right clicking. You can also right click on most list box items to get information on them.  If you are unfamiliar with list boxes or other Windows features, please examine the General Operation portion of this document. In most instances where you can right click, a small question mark will appear over the cursor.

You may find it handy to minimize this manual so that you can easily refer to it while using the program.  To minimize the manual, left click on the small box in the top right portion of this help file (left of the box with the X) with the horizontal line across its bottom. When you click on this box, this help file disappears from your screen and an Online Manual button is placed in your Start bar. You may click on this button to call up the online manual.


Differences from printed manual

This Online Manual contains material that became available after the printed manual was released. In the event of any conflicts or disagreements between the Online Manual and the printed manual, this Online Manual should be used.


Core Rules CD-ROM 2.0 Main Menu
Core Rules CD-ROM 2.0 Expansion Main Menu

This is the first screen that appears when you launch the program.  It allows you to access the different portions of the programs. You may access these different portions by either selecting (left clicking) on the art for that section or selecting that section's title in the menu that appears across the top of this screen.

When the cursor is over accessible art, the gold bar near the top of the screen displays the program section that art links to. Left clicking on that art will take you to that program section.  You can access the different sections as follows. The Characters program through the knight figure. The Mapmaker and Campaign Mapper through the globe. The DM Toolkit through the chest. TSR, Evermore Entertainment and ProFantasy Web sites through the three books with these names on their spines. The Books Online through the top book of the stack. The Dice program through the dice. Exit the program through the candle.

Menu Items

Across the top of the main menu screen are several menu options.  These are: Main Menu, Convert, Options, Updates, and Help.

Main Menu allows you to access the different main options (Characters, Maps, DM Toolkit, Books Online, Dice, and Exit) by clicking on a menu item.

Convert allows you to selectively convert AD&D Core Rules CD-ROM version 1.5 custom data (primarily characters) to a form usable by this program. Because of difference in the data structure between version 1.x and 2.0, not all custom information can be converted exactly.  This is particularly true when converting encounters.  If you do convert data, it is a good idea to review that conversion and see if it is to your satisfaction.  Converted characters can be viewed using the Update function in the Character portion of the program. Other data can be reviewed in the DM Toolkit portion of the program. To review NPCs, use the Update function. For all other data, go to the section of the DM Toolkit section where that custom data can be converted, select the converted data and use the Edit function.

Options allows you to toggle animations, sounds, and character generation dice color off and on.  In the character generation portion of the program, a warning message appears to remind you if you are creating a Core Rules or Player's Option character.  If you elect to turn that warning message off, you may turn it on again through an option in this menu.

Updates allows you to access web sites which support this product. Get Latest Update will take you to a web site where program upgrades, patches, bug fixes, etc. are available. Evermore Support takes you to a site where beta test version of patches and goodies are available.  Online Registration takes you to a site where you can register as an owner of the program and receive notice of upgrades and other special offers from the publisher. To connect with these sites, your system must be set up for direct internet access.

Help allows you to access the different help files for this product. Main Menu explains how to use the Main Menu screen. Wizard allows you to replay the introductory wizard. Online Manual brings up a copy of this help file (the one you are reading now). About give version, copyright, and credits information for the product.

Web Connections

A direct link for the TSR, Evermore Entertainment, and ProFantasy web sites which support this product are provided on this screen.  If your system has the ability to directly access web sites (this does not include indirect access through special services such as AOL), left click on these links to access these sites. To access one of these sites, select the book displaying that site's company name.

Books Online

This is the section of the program that contains books in a Rich Text Format (RTF) which may be loaded into your word processor, as a help file which allows for speedy location of desired information and extensive cross referencing, and in an editable HTML help format.

Twenty books are included in this product.  They are: Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master Guide, Monstrous Manual, Tome of Magic, Arms & Equipment Guide, Player's Option: Skills & Powers, Player's Option: Spells & Magic, Player's Option: Combat & Tactics, DM Option: High-Level Campaigns, The Complete Book of Dwarves, The Complete Book of Elves, The Complete Book of Gnomes and Halflings, The Complete Bard's Handbook, The Complete Druid's Handbook, The Complete Fighter's Handbook, The Complete Paladin's Handbook, The Complete Priest's Handbook, The Complete Ranger's Handbook, The Complete Thief's Handbook, and The Complete Wizard's Handbook.

To access Books Online, left click on one of the top 5 books in the stack.

 Map Maker

Two separate mapping programs are included. Map Maker by Evermore Entertainment is a tile-based program.  The Campaign Mapper by ProFantasy is a simplified CAD program based on its Campaign Cartographer 2 program.

Both programs allow you to create maps, link these maps together, and place encounters on the maps.  You will not be able to link Map Maker and Campaign Mapper maps together.

The Map Maker allows you to create city, dungeon, or overland maps.  You can customize and create encounters before placing them on the map. You also have control over the size of the map, and how it will appear when printed.   The Map Maker has a special feature that gives you the option of exporting or importing maps for others to share.

The Campaign Mapper also lets you make maps of city, dungeon or overland areas.  The Campaign Mapper also gives you the option of importing or exporting maps, but you will have to do this through the DM Toolkit, under the Export or Import buttons.  Since the Campaign Mapper includes an extensively indexed, cross-referenced help file, complete with bookmarks, a related topics button, and pop-up help that can be printed quickly.  This help file is found in the menu at the top of the screen.  It will help you with various map functions, including finding out what symbols mean and creating your own, hiding stuff you don't want players to see, customizing your map, printing to a particular scale, or putting color or a scanned image in the background of your map.

The help file is fairly extensive, and as a result there is windows help for the help file.  This is also indexed, and explains in detail how to use bookmarks, indexes, related topics, and other parts of the help file.

To access the mapping programs, left click on the globe.

 Dice

A dice rolling program that supports standard AD&D dice rolls is provided. It allows you to roll from 1 to 100 d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, and d20 dice and from 1 to 50 d100 dice. You may modify these rolls by having the program add or subtract numbers for them.  The program also has features that allow you to sort the dice rolls and exclude certain low rolls.

To access the Dice program, left click on the dice.

Characters

You may create, enter, or update Player Characters in accordance with either the Player's Handbook (Core Rules) rules or the Skills & Powers (Player's Option) rules.  The program allows you to edit either Player Characters or NPCs, and to convert one to the other if need be.  You can also print your character record and select what information appears on the printout, and how that information is formatted.  The Character program allows you to choose one of 12 types of rolls for point totals, including Player's Choice, which allows you to choose your race and class while the computer rolls for you.  You can also choose to enter your own scores through the Choose Character option, as well as adjust your ability scores and hit points.

The Character program gives you a way to access all of these options and information quickly, through the City screen.  There you can create your character, as well as buy and sell equipment, weapons, spells and skills.

To access the Characters program, left click on the knight figure.

DM Toolkit

This portion of the program is tended for use by Dungeon Masters (DMs).  As the DM, you can use this toolkit to access treasure tables and create custom treasure bundles, create custom races, psionic powers, wizard and priest spells, magic items, weapons, armor, and equipment.  You can also use this program to create NPCs (Non Player Characters) and custom monsters, as well as encounters.   There is also an option that allows you to import or export custom items so that others may share these items.

To access the DM Toolkit, left click on the chest of gold.

Exit

Left click on the candle flame to exit the program.


General Operation

The information in this section explains general Windows commands and how they are used in this program. If you are comfortable with your Windows' mastery, you may want to skip this section.

To make a selection (press a button, etc.), click the left mouse button.  To get information on a selection, click the right mouse button on the text for that selection.

 Help

Specific instructions are available for each screen.  For general instructions on what to do on a screen, left click on that screen's Help button.  For specific instructions on what a particular button or screen section does, right click on the text for that button or section.  See the example below:

Right clicking on Blowgun causes the help box to pop up. The help box contains help text about the Blowgun as a weapon.   Right clicking in the help box brings up the Copy/Print Topic menu.  Left clicking on the Copy option places a copy of this help text on the Windows clipboard. Left clicking on the Print Topic option brings up a menu that allows this help text to be printed out.

Hot keys

When a letter is underlined in a menu item, as with the o in Copy and P in Print Topic above, it means you can select that command by pressing the key for the underlined letter. For example, to copy the help text, press the o key.

For menu items which appear across the top of the screen, hot keys work somewhat differently.  For hot keys to become active, the Alt button must first be pressed.  For example, to open the Help menu on the Main Menu screen, first press the Alt key and then press the H key. While a menu is open, you may use hot keys to make selections on it.  Pressing the Alt key while a menu is open will close the menu.

Customizing the program

In certain instances, you will be entering information or making selections on screens or pop-ups which have a solid background.  In these instances, you are taking control of the program to a significant extent and need to be very careful with what you do. This most often happens when you are customizing the program for your particular gaming needs. Be sure to follow the instructions exactly to avoid causing the program to operate in an undesirable manner.

Below is an example of a pop-up with a solid background:

Edit boxes

In certain instances (such as Name above), you may enter text into the program. To do this, left click in the text box and then enter (type) the text you want.  When you are done typing, press the Enter/Return key.  Make sure that what you've typed is what you want to appear in the program.

Check boxes

The column of hollow boxes in the above popup are check boxes.  To select or de-select a check box option, left click in the check box.  More than one check box can be selected at one time.

List boxes

Below is a list box.  To select an item from a list box, move the cursor over that item and left click.

Below is a drop down list box.  To use a drop down list box, left click on the down arrow at the right of the box and then left click on the desired item in the box which drops down.

In certain instances, you will want to transfer items from one list box to another.  An example of this is shown below where proficiencies are being purchased.  In the example below, a proficiency is purchased by left clicking on it (to select it) and then left clicking on the arrow that points to the box on the right.  To return a proficiency that has been purchased, select it (left click on it) in the box on the right and then left click on the left-pointing arrow.

Spin buttons

In some instances, such as during the purchase of thieving skills, you will use spin buttons to increase or decrease a number.  To add to a number, left click on the spin button's up arrow.  To subtract from a number, left click on the spin button's down arrow.

Scroll bars

When there are more items in a list box than can be shown at one time, a scroll bar appears which enables you to access all of the items.  In the example below, the scroll bar appears in the right side of the list box Character Information. You may use the up arrow at the top of this bar to scroll the items up, you may use the down arrow at the bottom of the bar to scroll the items down, or you drag the small box in the bar to scroll the items up or down.

To drag the box, left click on it and continue to hold the left mouse button down while you move the mouse.  In this instance, left click on the small box in the scroll bar and hold the left mouse button down while moving the mouse up and down.  You will see the items scroll in the direction you move the mouse.

The scroll bar below is a vertical scroll bar and you may drag the small box up and down.  If information is too wide to appear in a list box, a horizontal scroll bar will appear at the bottom of the box.  When this occurs, you may drag the box left and right.

Radio buttons

Two radio buttons also appear on the screen below. These two buttons are for Buy/Sell and Free options.  Radio buttons are used to make a selection among mutually exclusive items.  Only one radio button in a group may be selected at a time.  In the example below, the Buy/Sell Radio button has been selected.

Tree buttons (boxes)

In the above example, note that boxes appear to the left of many items and section headings. The Backpack and Belt pouch, large under the Items Worn section of Character's Equipment (top right box) are examples of this. These boxes show that these items contain other items or information.  Where these other items or information is displayed (as with the Belt pouch, large) there is a minus sign (-) in the box.  Where these items are not shown (as with the Backpack), there is a plus sign (+) in the box.  Left click on the box to toggle between its two states (showing or not showing the items or information).

Dragging and dropping

In the Character's Equipment box above, items may be moved by dragging them from one section or container and dropping them into another. To drag an item, left click on it and hold the left button down while you move the mouse.  To drop an item, release the left mouse button. For example, you could drag the Sling from the Belt pouch, large and drop it into the Belt pouch, small.  If this occurred, the large pouch would lose the box to its left and the small belt pouch would gain one (because the small belt pouch would now have an item in it while the large belt pouch would not).

To move items into containers or sections which are not visible in the Character's Equipment box, drag them in the desired direction.  When an item is dragged above the top of the box, the box will scroll up.  When an item is dragged below the bottom of the box, the box will scroll down.

When items are grouped together (examples: coins and sling bullets) and you drop them into a different location, a box will popup asking you how many you want to move. The default for this is all the items.  In the example above, sling bullets are being moved.  There are a total of 20 sling bullets, so the default number is 20. This number may be changed by using the spin buttons.

Spin Button/Edit box combo

Since the number of sling bullets is in an edit box, you may directly enter in a different number instead of using the spin buttons.  To do this, drag the mouse cursor over the number in the edit box (it becomes outlined in black), enter the new number, and press the Return/Enter key.


System Problems

If the program runs slowly on your system, it is likely due to memory constraints. To run the program, you should have 16 Megabytes of RAM and 80 megabytes of free hard drive space. If you are running other programs (other than Windows) at the same time, the memory demands may be greater.

To lessen the memory demands of this program, use the Options Menu on the Main Menu screen to turn off animations and sound.

If you continue to have problems running the program, contact the customer service number that is in the printed manual. You may also e-mail concerns regarding any program problems (excluding the Campaign Mapper) to Evermore@evermore88.com. You may use the ProFantasy web link on the Main Menu screen to contact ProFantasy directly regarding Campaign Mapper issues.


Converting Core Rules data

If you created characters or other custom items or data using the first Core Rules CD, you may want to convert that information and have it placed in the database for the Core Rules CD-ROM version 2.0.  There are two ways to do this.

When the program is first installed, you have the option to do a mass conversion.  If you elect to do this, the program will search your system in an attempt to find the first Core Rules program and convert any custom information it may contain.  This process can take some time.

Whether or not you elect to use the mass conversion, you can choose to have characters and other custom data converted on a group or individual basis.  To do this, use the Convert Menu at the top of the Main Menu screen.

If you use the All option, the program will convert all of the custom information it can find.  If you choose a group option, the program will display all of the members of that group it can find and you can elect to have the entire group or one or more members of that group converted.

When characters or other data is converted, the converted files are placed in the database for this program.  To examine them, go to the correct portion of the program for that information.  For example, converted characters will be placed in the character portion of this program. Converted weapons will be placed in the DM Toolkit/Other Custom Information/Custom Data portion of the program (custom weapons on the Parts popup). To view converted characters, use the Update function.  To view other information, use the Edit function.

Note that each time you convert custom data, it will be added to the version 2.0 database.  This means that you may have multiple copies of the same data.

Because of differences between the databases for the two versions of the program, not all information can be converted.  This is particularly true for encounter information. For the main monsters in an encounter, any changes you have made to the monsters' THAC0 or AC will not convert.  Also, the HP for the monsters will be re-rolled.  For other (special) monsters which were placed in an encounter, only the number and type of monsters will be converted.  NPCs will be converted as a description only.

Prior to using any converted material, it is a good idea to examine that material though either the Update or Edit function.


Books Online

When you open a book as an rtf file the program will attempt to load that book into your word processor. The program attempts to automatically locate your word processor but, if it cannot find it, you will have to make this connection before the book can be accessed.

The Help files contain the text from all twenty books plus the monster pictures from the Monstrous Manual. While it is helpful to have all of this material linked together, it can also be difficult to locate one specific piece of information. Both the Search and the Index tabs make this easier.

To use these features, enter the word or words which represent what you are looking for in the edit box at the top of the popup. If Search provides too many entries to examine, try using the Index function.


Characters

This portion of the program allows you to create new Player Characters, enter Player Characters you already have into the database, and update Player Characters which are in the database with current information. You may also convert Player Characters to Non-Player Characters, view and print Player Character records, convert Player Characters records to an internet-usable HMTL format, and delete characters.

Before you can do this (excluding, create or enter), you must select the character before you select the command  button. That is you must left click on the character in the top left box before you click on the update, view, print, convert, export, html, or delete button.

Languages

To acquire a language for a character, use the language button.  This is found on the bottom of the NWP and Secondary skills screen.

Disadvantages

This refers to Players Option characters only. Character generation in this program is organized as it is in the Skills & Powers book. Because of this, Disadvantages are located in the Nonweapon Proficiencies and Traits section which comes after the Race and Class abilities section. However, it is possible to use Character Points gained from disadvantages to purchase Race and Class abilities.

To do this, when you generate a character, use the Next key to move directly to the Nonweapon proficiencies screen. Do not take any other actions along the way. When you get to that screen, make your disadvantage selections and then use the Back button to return to the Race abilities screen – again without taking any other actions along the way.  You may now use Character Points taken from disadvantages to make Race and Class ability purchases.

Schools and Spheres

This also refers only to Player's Option characters. If you create a Wizard or a Priest character, you may find that you have far fewer character points available to you on the Class abilities screen than you expected.  This is because the program has already spent these points to purchase school and sphere access.  To change this, select the Schools and/or Spheres buttons on that screen and then use the left-pointing arrows to remove the purchased access and reclaim the character points.

Special Advantages

Certain Player's Option characters, due to kits or racial or class abilities, receive special bonuses when using a weapon of their choice.  This choice is made using the "focus" button on the Weapon Proficiencies screen.


DM Toolkit

This is the most diverse section of the program.  As a general rule, if what you are looking for does not clearly fall under one of the named sections, you can locate it under (first) Other Custom Information and (then) Custom Data.

Also, except for maps, any data (including characters) which are imported to or exported from your database uses the Import and Export button in the DM Toolkit. Please do not confuse importing and exporting with converting.  Converting refers to changing custom data (including characters) created in the first Core Rules program into a format which can be used in version 2.0. Exporting and importing refer to moving data between version 2.0 databases.

NPC Generator

This allows you to create both individual and groups of NPCs.  Please use the on-screen Help button for instructions on how to do this.

Monsters and Encounters

This access the sections of the program where you can create custom monsters and encounters.

Due to the large amount of system time they take to generate, we do not include any encounters with the program which generate thousands of NPCs or leaders. If you decide to create custom encounters to do this, be aware that it will take a very long time (possibly measured in days or longer) for your system to generate these encounters. In fact, generating these encounters may exceed your system's capacity.

The first step in creating a custom encounter is to create a template for it. The template can then be used to generate the encounter. In creating custom encounters and templates (as well as monsters) remember the first step is to select the general monster type in the list box at the top of the screen before selecting (or creating) the specific monster, template, or encounter in the bottom of the screen.

Treasure

The Calculate button above the treasure list on the Roll Treasure screen will provide you with very valuable summary information.

The Edit button allows you to add or delete specific items to a treasure.

You may right click on items in the treasure box for additional information.

A new feature allows you to generate custom scrolls. To do this, first create a treasure in the normal way and then choose the Edit option.  Select an existing scroll from the treasure and then select the Edit Scrolls button.

Other Custom Information

This takes you to the section of the program where you can create classes, races, spells, psionic powers, kits, etc. Before creating any custom item, please use on-screen Help buttons for information on how to do this.

Table Rolls

These work as per the rules.  Sometimes the results seem unusual (death plus triple damage) or even contradictory.

Import

Use this button to add custom data to your data base.  This data must have first been Exported.

Export

Use this button to create files that allow custom information from your program to be added to other system using the Import feature.


Dice Roller

For this to work, you must first use a spin button to indicate how many dice you want rolled and then press the Roll button.


Map Makers

There are two of these. The Map Maker allows you to generate maps rather more quickly and easily. The Campaign Mapper gives you more flexibility and control over what you create, but is not quite so easy to use.

The maps you create with these programs cannot be loaded into the other program. That is, maps created with the Campaign Mapper cannot be loaded by the Map Maker and vice versa.

Note that when you go to place an encounter on a map, you have the option of generating a new encounter without leaving the mapping program.


New Expansion Features

Books Online

This now contains a total of 20 books. You now have the option to view the books in an HTML format and 11 of the Complete Handbooks have been added.  You also have the option to purchase additional books from the publisher and add them into this section of the program through the Online Bookstore.  A direct internet connection is required to use the Online Bookstore.

Maps

A new art set, building interiors, has been added to the Map Maker.  This set allows to create maps of building interiors and print them out with one-inch squares (suitable for use as battle maps).

Characters

Core Rules characters now have kits available to them.  These approximately 165 kits are taken from the Complete Handbooks added in Books Online.

The ability to organize characters into parties and print out character records as both RTF and TXT files has been added.

Options to include additional information, such as THAC0 when using two weapons have been added to the character printouts.

DM Toolkit

A great many features have been added to this section, including…

NPC Generation

NPCs may be generated in groups of up to 15 at a time. These groups may be organized into parties of up to 1000 NPCs.  Encounters may be generated with these NPC groups from the NPC screen.

NPC character records may be converted to RTF and TXT files.

Options to include additional information, such as THAC0 when using two weapons have been added to the character printouts.

Approximately 165 kits from the Complete Handbooks added in the Books Online section are now available to NPCs.

Treasure

Custom scrolls may now be created as part of treasure. To do this, you must edit a new treasure or existing treasure bundle.  On the edit screen, select a scroll of the appropriate type (wizard or priest) and select the Edit Scrolls button. This will bring up a dialog box where you can selectively add and subtract spells from the scroll.

Other Custom Information

A great deal has been added to this section including the ability to create custom classes, a greatly expanded ability to create custom kits, and a limited ability to create custom class abilities.

Custom kit and class ability creation is accessed through using the Custom Data button.


Custom Classes

To access this portion of the program, select DM Toolkit from the main menu screen, then the Other Custom Information button, and then the Custom Classes button.

To make your custom classes available to your characters, you must assign them to a race.  Use the Custom Races button and the Allowed Classes… button to do this after you have created a custom class.

The easiest way to create a custom class is to select the existing class most similar to the one you want to create and then select the Copy button (on the classes screen). When you do this, you only need to enter the name of the new class and a limited number of changes to distinguish it from the copied class.

If you decide to create a custom class using the new button, you may still want to use the Auto Fill… buttons for the Levels… and More… sections.  Warning:  as the program supports classes up to level 100, you will have to enter in information for each level (unless you use Auto Fill…) for the program to operate correctly.