Welcome to HeroGen, the Web-based
ALTERNITY character generator!
The HeroGen window is divided into four frames:
- The upper frame is where the hero's data is input.
- The middle frame is the character sheet, updated each time data is input or changed in the
upper frame.
- The lower-left frame is the navigation frame. Clicking on a link here will navigate to a
location in the upper frame, bring up the Skills or
Mutations window, bring up this file in a separate window, download
HeroGen, download the
cool ALTERNITY font, or open a window to
mail me a message.
- The lower-right frame contains the number of skills points purchased and the total number
of skill points available.
To save your character sheet to a file, click in the middle frame and select
Save Frame As... from the File menu.
With the use of cookies, character sheets can be saved between browser
sessions!
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HeroGen allows the input of the following items:
- Hero's Name, Player's Name, Species, Gender, Profession, Career, Attributes, Setting,
Gamemaster
- Abilities
- Skills
- Perks & Flaws
- Weapons & Armor
- Custom Weapons & Armor
- Personal Data
- Other Game Data
Each time data in the upper frame is added or changed, the character sheet is automatically
updated to reflect those changes!
Click on the View button near the top of the upper frame to bring up the character sheet
in a new window for viewing, printing, saving, etc.
Display the character sheet in the cool ALTERNITY
font by installing the fonts and checking the Cool Font check box just above the
Abilities section.
The two font files are named alternity.TTF and Boos1.TTF.
They are included with the latest version of HeroGen.
To install them (Windows):
- Click on the Fonts link in HeroGen
- Make sure the Open it radio button is selected, then click on the OK button
- Extract the files in the archive to your hard drive
- Click on the Start button
- Select Settings, then Control Panel
- Double-click on the Fonts icon
- Under the File menu, select Install New Font...
- Go to the folder containing the font files in the Folders list box
- the fonts should be listed in the List of fonts list box
- Click on the Select All button, then on the OK button
- the fonts will be installed
- Close the Fonts and Control Panel windows
With cookies enabled, data in HeroGen is able to be saved between browser sessions!
- Note:
- With cookies disabled, HeroGen will still work... your hero will simply die along
with your browser session.
To enable cookies:
- Select Preferences... from the Edit menu
- In the Category frame, click on Advanced
- Select the Accept all cookies radio button
- Click on the OK button
Four cookies are used to save the data in the character sheet:
The cookies are persistent for one year since the last time HeroGen was opened.
Simply opening HeroGen automatically refreshes its cookies, giving them another year of life.
- Note2:
- The Tab character is used to delimit data in the cookies.
- If you know of a way to insert a Tab character into an input field and do it,
you will mess up the cookies.
- You've been warned!
HeroGen allows the user to save up to four characters:
- the one currently being worked on... changes are stored on-the-fly
- three others accessible through the File button in the top portion of the upper
frame
To save a character, click on the Save button (just below the File button)
After a hero is saved, click on the File button to view the saved heroes.
- Selecting a hero in the list box then clicking on the Load button will swap that
hero with the hero currently being worked on.
- Selecting a hero in the list box then clicking on the Delete button will delete that
hero.
To create a new hero, click on the New button.
- The hero currently being worked on will be saved.
- A blank form will be brought up in the upper frame in its place.
- A character sheet for the new hero will be generated.
HeroGen allows each of the six ability scores to be assigned:
- Strength
- Dexterity
- Constitution
- Intelligence
- Will
- Personality
When a new species or profession is selected, the ranges of the abilities are recomputed,
based on the minimum and maximum ranges of the species and profession currently selected.
HeroGen allows the selection of all of the standard skills, broad and specialty.
(The optional psionic skills are not yet implemented.)
Each hero starts out with the free broad skills defined by his species.
Checking a broad skill's check box enables its specialty skills. Up to 12 specialty skill ranks
may be selected.
Unchecking a broad skill's check box wipes out all information for its associated specialty
skills.
- Note:
- When a new species is selected, all broad and specialty skills are wiped out and replaced
with that species' free broad skills.
Where applicable, a short description will appear to the right of the skills. If the
description's font is bold, the skill's impact has already been reflected in the
character sheet.
- A description at the ability level applies to all its broad and specialty skills.
- A description at the broad skill level applies to all its specialty skills.
When the selection of skills is complete, the skills window should be closed.
HeroGen allows the user to select one of three skill rules.
| Original | Upgraded | Mikey |
| Starting Skill Points |
Table P5 of the Player's Handbook |
30 plus 3 times intelligence |
30 plus 3 times intelligence |
| Starting Broad Skills |
Table P5 of the Player's Handbook |
Six, modified by the Intelligence-based resistance modifier |
Six, modified by the Intelligence-based resistance modifier |
| Specialty Skill Cost |
Original purchase price plus current rank |
Original purchase price |
Original purchase price plus current rank |
Select the desired skill rule by selecting the appropriate radio button at the top of the
upper frame.
The character sheet will be updated to reflect the rules chosen.
HeroGen allows the user to select a special benefit for the following
professions:
- Combat Spec
- Situation Bonus
- Choose a specialty skill from the list box: that specialty skill's base situation die
improves from +d0 to -d4.
- Diplomat
- Secondary Profession
- Choose a profession from the list box: skills from that profession can be purchased at
list price -1 instead of list price.
- Free Agent
- Resistance Bonus
- Choose an ability from the list box: its resistance modifier improves by one step.
When the appropriate profession is selected in the upper frame, choose the special benefit for
that profession; the character sheet will be updated to reflect the special benefit chosen.
The list boxes for the other professions will be automatically disabled.
HeroGen allows the selection of all of the standard perks and flaws.
The perks and flaws selected will show up in the Game Data section of the character
sheet.
Each perk and flaw selected affects the total skill points scored.
Each hero is limited to three perks and three flaws.
The following perks and flaws cannot be selected at the same time:
| Perk | Flaw |
| Filthy Rich | Dirt Poor |
| Fortitude | Fragile |
| Good Luck | Bad Luck |
| Great Looks | Poor Looks |
| Observant | Oblivious |
For example, if the Filthy Rich perk is purchased, then the Dirt Poor flaw cannot
also be purchased.
Perks in italics may only be purchased when the hero is created:
- Alien Artifact
- Faith
- Filthy Rich
- Good Luck
- Great Looks
- Heightened Ability
- Psionic Awareness
- Vigor
Perks not in italics may either be assigned by the gamemaster or purchased by the player as an
Achievement Benefit.
HeroGen allows the selection of all of the standard weapons and armor.
Each hero is permanently given the Unarmed melee weapon.
(Unless the hero has no arms... wait a minute... he'd still be unarmed! :-)
T'sa heroes automatically receive natural body armor.
Checking the Weapon Accuracy check box causes a weapon's base situation die to be
adjusted by its accuracy.
In addition to the standard Weapon Data table, the character sheet also has an Armor Data table.
HeroGen allows the selection of all of the standard cybernetic gear.
Gear marked with a single asterisk requires a Nanocomputer.
- If a hero has gear requiring a Nanocomputer installed and unchecks the Nanocomputer
check box, HeroGen will prompt the user to verify this action. If the user answers
affirmatively, this gear will be uninstalled.
(Custom cybernetic gear will remain installed...
its property will be changed to not require a Nanocomputer.)
Gear marked with two asterisks can be installed at no cost in skill points.
Mechalus heroes are initially given a Good-quality Nanocomputer, a Passive Data Slot,
and Reflex.
(This gear does not use up the Mechalus hero's Cyber Tolerance boxes.)
HeroGen allows the selection of mutant abilities.
In order to select mutant abilities, the hero's species must be set to Mutant.
When the selection of mutant abilities is complete, the mutant window should be closed.
For more information on mutants, check out the Player's Handbook.
HeroGen processes achievements the following ways:
Clicking on the Achievement Points button brings up a dialog box with three sections:
- The upper section displays the total number of achievements points earned by the hero,
as well the number of points needed for the next level.
- The middle section contains a text field where the player inputs the number of achievement
points the hero earned in the last adventure. Entering a positive number in the text field
and clicking on the Apply button will add the points to the hero's total and update the
dialog box.
- The lower section contains the Reset Achievement Points button. Clicking on this button
will set the hero's achievement points to zero, as well as clearing any
Last Resorts and
Achievement Benefits purchased.
Clicking on the Last Resorts button brings up a dialog box where the player can input
the number of last resorts used in the last adventure and/or the number of last resorts the
player wishes to purchase.
Clicking on the Achievement Benefits button brings up a dialog box where the player can
purchase any achievement benefits allowed at the hero's current level.
HeroGen allows the input and saving of custom weapons, armor, and cybernetic gear
through cookies.
To open the Custom dialog box, click on the Weapons, Armor, or
Cyber Gear link in the lower-left frame, then on the Custom button.
The dialog box contains fields for entering data and a row of buttons. To create a new custom
item, click on the Insert button.
Changes are applied as soon as the value in a field changes and the field loses focus. To
cancel the changes to the record since it was navigated to, click on the Revert button.
To delete a custom item, click on the Delete button.
Always click on the Close button to ensure the changes are reflected on the
character sheet.
The status bar will indicate which custom item is being edited.
January 24, 2003
- Version 3.0
- HeroGen is now fully compatible with Internet Explorer
- tested with version 6.0 on Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP
- Added the Weapon Accuracy check box
- when this box is checked, the optional rule for weapon accuracy will be in effect
- a weapon's base situation die will be adjusted by its accuracy
- Added the View button to bring up the character sheet in a new window
- for viewing, printing, saving, and whatever else you can think of :-)
- The character sheet now has an Armor Data table
- similar to the standard Weapon Data table
- Prevented the Armor Operation broad skill and its specialty skills from automatically modifying:
- the Action Check Score
- the dexterity resistance modifier
September 21, 2000
- Version 2.2.1
- Better formatted the Achievement Track section
- Changed the font of the Willpower perk from italic to normal
- meaning it can be purchased at any time, not only at hero creation
- (its functionality was working; the font was just incorrect)
August 25, 2000
- Version 2.2
- Added in strength and dexterity resistance modifiers for
the deflection harness (+2) and the displacer softsuit (+3)
- Display how many last resort points
have been purchased in the Last Resorts dialog box
- Added quality indicators for cybernetic gear
- Display achievement benefits on the character
sheet
- Added the ability for a hero with an Entertainment specialty skill to enhance
a broad skill
- Included the version number in the character sheet
- Fixed the increased effect the Technical knowledge specialty skill has:
- it no longer modifies itself
- it now modifies the Technical Science broad skill
- Fixed a typo in the Mutants window
- Added a column in the Attack Forms table for the weapon's base
situation die altered by its range modifier
July 30, 1999
June 23, 1999
- Version 2.0
- Separated the skills out into their own window
- Each form element uses a little bit of the system and user resources
- With so many broad and specialty skills, HeroGen was using a substantial
percentage of the available resources
- Now each ability's skills appear separately, greatly reducing the amount of
system and user resources used by HeroGen
- Added the ability for a hero with an Entertainment specialty skill to enhance
another specialty skill
- Added Mutants
- Added more specialty skills under Vehicle Operation to allow for the
specialization in specific types of the same class of vehicle
- Added the
cool ALTERNITY font
for display in the character sheet
April 26, 1999
April 15, 1999
April 13, 1999
- Version 1.0.1
- Fixed the Vigor perk so that each of its benefits can be purchased separately
April 9, 1999
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HeroGen has been tested using:
- Netscape Navigator 4.5 and Netscape Navigator 4.7 under Microsoft Windows 98
- Netscape Navigator 4.08 and Netscape Navigator 4.7 under Microsoft Windows NT
- Netscape Navigator 4.8 under Microsoft Windows 2000
- Netscape Navigator 4.8 under Microsoft Windows XP
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 under Microsoft Windows 98
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 under Microsoft Windows 2000
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 under Microsoft Windows XP
HeroGen (an ALTERNITY Character Generator)
Copyright © 1999-2003 Mike Heffner. All rights reserved.
ALTERNITY is a registered trademark owned by TSR, Inc.
Copyright © 1998 TSR, Inc. All rights reserved.
Netscape and Netscape Navigator are registered trademarks of
Netscape Communications Corporation in the United States and other countries.
Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, and Windows XP are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S.A. and/or other regions and/or
countries.