Whirlin Training Spreadsheet

[Whirlin]

If you're a forum junkie, you've noticed the discussions I've been having with Demgar over in the Tsoran Trainer thread (here (http://forum.gsplayers.com/showthread.php?63541-Tsoran-Trainer-v4-2-9-%28CMAN-Update-and-moving-forward%29/page15))

Well... based on those posts, I've gotten a flurry of PMs from people (or maybe just person, but I want to feel more important), regarding requirements, enhancement requests, etc. I was going to write up a ranger/paladin guide, but I figured I'd rather do some excel work in my free time for a while, I mean really... it's kinda hard to fuck up a paladin.

Justification: The Tsoran Trainer was originally programed using an old version of excel. I'm thinking '95 as potentially the most recent version it was using. Since Excel 95, there have been a myriad of functional enhancements to the application, including additional formula, VB enhancements, formatting options, etc.

On the player side, we've learned an astronomical amount of information regarding many of the systems that we use. I'm just gonna go ahead and call out Mark (he's likely a phantom GM) for doing probably 99% of that research, and retaining 100% of that information. Structurally, the spreadsheet was created for GS3, and GS4 mechanics added over time. Revamping the spreadsheet could streamline efficiency of calculations while reducing support of antiquated systems.

Scope: The scope is currently to be determined. The goal is to keep the spreadsheet spiritually similar in look and feel, while reducing data redundancy, speeding calculation times, and adding features. Consider this thread to be a wishlist where you can write up stuff that you want to see added to it.

Team: I've received notes from two PC persons interested in working on the revamp.

Requirements (prioritized)
Trainer worksheet (including stat placement/growth, inter-level training).
DFRedux equation validation (I'll bug Mark)
Equipment Worksheet (to track equipment statistics to be used in subsequent sheets, enchantments, enchancives, etc)
Magic Buffs Worksheet (likely minimal changes compared to current)
Offense worksheet (including AS/CS/UAC values)
Defense Worksheet (including Dodge/Block/Parry evaluations)
Combat Maneuvers & Shield Maneuvers
Storage and Swapping of character profiles (Store 10 characters in a single spreadsheet!) (New!)
Lockpicking worksheet (I dunno, it's there now)

I will likely remove the experience worksheet as it's own sheet and integrate in the equations into other parts of the workbook.

Delivered Requirements:
:(

Current Effort:
Trying to figure out where they got some values used on the hidden tables regarding Weight, Weight Factor, and Encumbrance factor.
Adding known values for racial bonuses to things like ETD, STD, Disease TD, Poison TD, etc.
Consolidating and normalizing data arrays.

[Izzy]

I'm curious why the push is for an excel based program (which limits the user base to people who have a copy of office - with things like open office and google docs this is becoming fewer) rather than something web based. IMO, throwing up a simple website would be infinitely more flexible, and make it accessible on a wider variety of devices. Anywho, I have nothing of value to contribute. Have at it!

[Buckwheet]

With the loss of the perfect stat cruncher/calculator you could replace that with this sheet.

Put something in with buffs that makes it "easier" to see the real world results. For example take lore training into account when using imbeds. Allow people to see all the buff bonuses in real time by selecting spells from a check list or something.

What would be pretty neato is the ability to build in a new character comparison option. For example pick multiple races, one profession, and compare the training points, AS, DS, TD.

If its not already in there, add in bonuses like halfling TD bonus etc, the dodge bonus, and maybe even the forging bonuses. Sorry for each item on its own line and I am shooting for the moon really. But if I was starting the game I would want to know that my halfing warmage is going to be pretty abysmal at forging and enchanting his own weapon compared to a different combination. I would want to take all the mechanical advantages into consideration.

What would be really cool, and I don't think we will see it anytime soon, is alternative choice training plans automatically compared. For example:

I have a 20m bard. Being able to load the same bard into the spreadsheet 4 or 5 times and picking different paths such as sword/board, pole, pure, or ranged based upon some general guidelines would be pretty amazing. It would also help a lot with the common questions here like "What should I train next!?". Could even include some general suggestions from class experts(community members) for post cap goals. So you might have 50m experience and zero trading skill and you could just say something generic like post cap goal - 15% bonus for gem/skin sales 2.5m experience.

[Aluvius]

I think an Excel based spreadsheet is better because even though there are alternatives its still the most widely used and because websites tend to go away at some point.

[Whirlin]

I'm a certified Excel Specialist, and I spend my free time at work coding VBA to automate anything my department needs to do. I don't know crap about html coding for a website.

Open Office does not have a scripting capability along with it. While equations could be written, you'd be working on a per-line basis. You'd be writing such redundant, massive in line equations, that it would end up being multiple megs to support, and drastically slowing than writing custom functions.



To Buck's points...
Any comparison potential will likely not be truly side-by-side... I'd like to envision having 5-10 character 'slots' on the spreadsheet, that will allow users to swap between characters quickly to compare, but not really a side by side on the same screen comparison. It's just too much real estate to dedicate to something which may or may not be occurring.

Hell, if you want a true side-by-side comparison... open up a second screen of Excel. REQUIREMENT DELIVERED.

Foraging/Forging/Maneuver bonuses are not concrete. The best I'd be able to do is just have a little text/popup thingy that say something like, "You're a halfling! You have an excellent bonus against maneuvers!" But wouldn't drive anything beyond some shoddy flavor text. TD bonuses, I plan on taking them into account.

[Buckwheet]

I'm a certified Excel Specialist, and I spend my free time at work coding VBA to automate anything my department needs to do. I don't know crap about html coding for a website.

Open Office does not have a scripting capability along with it. While equations could be written, you'd be working on a per-line basis. You'd be writing such redundant, massive in line equations, that it would end up being multiple megs to support, and drastically slowing than writing custom functions.



To Buck's points...
Any comparison potential will likely not be truly side-by-side... I'd like to envision having 5-10 character 'slots' on the spreadsheet, that will allow users to swap between characters quickly to compare, but not really a side by side on the same screen comparison. It's just too much real estate to dedicate to something which may or may not be occurring.

Hell, if you want a true side-by-side comparison... open up a second screen of Excel. REQUIREMENT DELIVERED.

Foraging/Forging/Maneuver bonuses are not concrete. The best I'd be able to do is just have a little text/popup thingy that say something like, "You're a halfling! You have an excellent bonus against maneuvers!" But wouldn't drive anything beyond some shoddy flavor text. TD bonuses, I plan on taking them into account.

As long as I don't have to enter in my stats 5 times and can copy it into another slot to then open in a second copy of excel I am cool with it.

[Demgar]

As long as I don't have to enter in my stats 5 times and can copy it into another slot to then open in a second copy of excel I am cool with it.

One thing I'm going to look at is a lich script to export everything into a text file that can be picked up by the spreadsheet to auto-populate it!

[Buckwheet]

One thing I'm going to look at is a lich script to export everything into a text file that can be picked up by the spreadsheet to auto-populate it!

Even better.

[Whirlin]

I've noted DRASTIC inconsistencies between the spreadsheet and Krakii/official documentation regarding a lot of racial attributes (nothing in the GIs). Predominantly in the racial weight/encumbrance modifiers. So I needed to do research and pulls of a lot of additional data elements, and revamp the structure of the hidden reference tables.

I believe I have the dominant master race table all set, complete with additional information regarding TD modifiers. I just need to configure a similar table for classes.

Time has been incredibly tight the last week or so, but I should be able to push out the new front page/reference table by next weekend... where it can be distributed to other individuals that were eager to assist in the process.

[Jace Solo]

Master race. Muahahahahah. Magnificent!

[Carsyn]

Any update on a new trainer sheet by chance?

[Carsyn]

Or is anyone good at Excel that can do minor updates to the current 4.4.4.5 version? I noticed it doesn't allow me to choose Stance of the Mongoose as a CMAN because it thinks I'm not allowed to as a warrior, but I am.

[Donquix]

just find something else you're not already learning, but costs the same, like executioner.