Thank you for downloading this software. It has been a part-time hobby project of mine for about two years and work is continuing on it to improve the product. I started writing this program the summer of 1993 when I wanted to teach some friends of mine how to play in the Dark Sun universe. What started as a simple program (some of you may remember version 1) has become a fully developed architecture for creating, modifying, and maintaining a character file for the Dark Sun gaming environment.
2.0 Requirements
Not much! The minimum requirements are:
1 - Any Macintosh with a 68000 CPU or better
2 - 800k free RAM
3 - 400k on disk
4 - printer (only if you plan on having hardcopy)
3.0 Capabilities, Conventions, & Abbreviations
3.1 Capabilities
This program will generate most stats for any type of character in the Dark Sun Boxed Set. It will not roll Wild Talents or Hit Points. Characters may be generated in the six methods outlined in the Boxed Set, saved in a basic format showing only the six statistics, race, and class chosen, or saved in a completed format, filling in most statistics on a full-size character sheet. Also, characters may be modified at any time after full creation. Printing is also available.
3.2 Conventions
This program assumes that the user has played fantasy role-playing games before, has played Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, and has (or their Dungeon Master has) a copy of the Dark Sun Boxed Set. Also, this program assumes some familiarity with the Macintosh Operating System. (It should considering you downloaded this!) In operation, this program follows the conventions in AD&D for abbreviations on the character sheet.
3.3 Abbreviations
The Creation Window's abbreviations mean the following:
Str - Strength Dex - Dexterity Con - Constitution
Int - Intelligence Wis - Wisdom Chr - Charisma
When you pick a class for a new character a window will appear using the following abbreviations:
F - Fighter R - Ranger De - Defiler Pr - Preserver
C - Cleric Dr - Druid Te - Templar Th - Thief
B - Bard Ps - Psionicist I - Illusionist
When you create a thief or bard, the abbreviations mean the following:
PP - Pick Pockets OL - Open Locks F/RT - Find/Remove Traps
MS - Move Silently HinS - Hide in Shadows DN - Detect Noise
C - Climb Walls RL - Read Languages
4.0 Making a New Character
4.1 Rolling the Stats
First, you choose the menu command Make New Character, you are presented with a dialog box listing six choices, each corresponding to the six rolling methods as presented in the Dark Sun Rules Book. Choose one of these and click the OK button.
4.2 Choosing the Race
Next, choose the menu command Pick Race. This choice will be available after you complete the Make New Character command. A dialog box will open with the race choices available corresponding to your rolled stats. Choose one of these and click the OK button.
4.3 Choosing the Class
Finally, choose the menu command Pick Class. This choice will be available after you complete the Pick Race command. A dialog box will open with the class choices available corresponding to your rolled stats and chosen race. Choose one and click the OK button.
5.0 Creating a New Character
5.1 Creating a New Character from the Creation Window
5.1.1 Make the Creation Window active
If the Creation Window is hidden or behind other windows, click it once to make it the active window.
5.1.2 Choose the Create menu command
This menu command will become available once you complete the Making a New Character Process. Select the Create menu command to begin the creation process.
5.2 Creating a New Character from an opened file
5.2.1 Make the Character window active
If the Character window is hidden or behind other windows, click it once to make it the active window.
5.2.2 Choose the Create menu command
This menu command will become available once you open a Character file. Select the Create menu command to begin the creation process.
5.3 An unfamiliar window opened and my character is a ………
5.3.1 Cleric
Click one of the four choices then the Set It button to choose the sphere your cleric will follow.
5.3.2 Thief
Click in the numbers below the skills to increment by one. Click OK when done or Reset to do over.
5.3.3 Bard
Click in the numbers below the skills to increment by one. Click OK when done or Reset to do over.
6.0 Modifying a Character
When a completed character is opened or completed from the Create menu command, the Modify menu command will operate. Just select this command and a checkmark will indicate that you can modify the character. Select the Modify command again to turn off modify capability.
7.0 Saving and Printing
When choosing the save or print menu commands, the topmost window is the one affected. When saving or printing from the Creation Window, just a basic character with stats, race, and class will be saved or printed. When saving or printing from a completed character, a full character sheet will be saved or printed.
8.0 Obligatory Shareware Notice
Not much, just that I have invested a great deal of myself in this program and if you decide to keep it, I would greatly appreciate comments and the shareware fee. The normal fee is $5, but you can save yourself cash by sending one Magic: The Gathering booster pack instead from any edition or expansion instead. The address:
