Major RC Builder update!

Ugh, it has been six months since I’ve posted an update. Do not misconstrue that is loss of interest in RC Builder. Quite the opposite! I’ve made many changes since my last post, many of which I will describe in this post.

Backend Overhaul

One of the most important updates, and least visible to the end user, are major updates to backend software and code. There have been updates to NodeJS, ReactJS, and CoreUI (the UI/UX library I use.) This proved to be more challenging than I had anticipated, but it was important.

UI/UX Update

The updated UI/UX library is more noticeable to the end user. The font and menu headers are more vibrant. I also added that annoying “Accept Cookies” button. For example, you may notice some subtle differences:


I struggled to find a good “before” picture to put next to it. You’ll just have to take my word for it that it looks better now. :-)

Downloadable PDF Improvements

I changed the downloadable PDF to a “fillable” PDF. This made aligning the fields and data much simpler, and also gives the user the option to change values easily. The issue I’m having with this approach is that, at times, there aren’t enough fillable fields available. For example, a level 15 Rogue Scholar could fill up all of the Skill fields, resulting in an overflow. I need to figure out a way to show the overflows. Same goes for Weapons, Spells, etc.

Here’s are a few screenshots of the downloadable PDF:

New “Rank” Section

If your character has an O.C.C. that involves a rank, such as “Lieutenant,” you now have the option to select a rank. This is especially useful for Coalition and Black Market O.C.C.s

Many Other Miscellaneous Updates:

  • Icons in left navbar are nicer and more appropriate

  • Cybernetics has been overhauled. Again. Most of the changes are on the backend with how the data is stored and organized. But there are now alerts when you can't add a cybernetic for some reason. Should be a little more efficient too. The fields were changed slightly to align with the printable PDF.

  • The printable PDF actually looks good. I still have data to add to it, and I want to make it more efficient. Why print an 8 page character sheet when your character can fit onto 3? It's also a bit finicky right now, so let me know if you have trouble printing.Please provide a link to your character if you have trouble printing.

  • Added more stock weapons, mostly vibro-blades.

  • Added a 'rank' field if your character is C.S. or Black Market.

  • The "Report a Bug" page now includes a list of popular bugs and feature requests.

  • Fixed bug when adding custom currencies.

  • Backstory generator should be working now.

  • Cleaned up the Armor and Weapon Builds section.

  • Fixed miscellaneous issues with some O.C.C.s and Races.

  • Added many O.C.C./R.C.C.s from the Rifts New West and South America books.

However, there still some annoying bugs that stand out:

  • The left nav bar stays visible even when it shouldn't.

  • Breadcrumb navigation isn't working.

  • The top right Account menu seems to have vanished.

  • Lemurian data does not appear on printable sheet yet.

  • App feels a little sluggish. Seeing what I can do about that...

Some plans for the near future:

  • Fix the issues listed above.

  • Rifts Japan O.C.C.s and H2H marital arts styles.

  • Integrated character portrait generator.

  • Build custom power suits and robot armor.

  • Spirit West O.C.C.s

Discord Channel!

By popular request, I created an invite-only Discord channel for RC Builder-related discussions. Shoot me a message if you’d like an invite link!

Summary

That’s all I got for now! Below is a copy of the Change Log since my last post. If you’re interested in being a tester, shoot me a message. This app is not open for general use yet.

Change Log

April 12, 2024 (0.1.240412456)

  • Feature: there is now a section to add/manage ammunition. Find this in the Equipment section

  • Enhancement: When selecting a human racial ability, the associated bonuses are now displayed in the right-hand pane

  • Enhancement: Added support for Line Magic (South America)

  • Enhnacement (back-end): Support for default Armor and Weapons per O.C.C. on character creation

  • Added: Various South America 1 and 2 O.C.C.s and R.C.C.s: Hunter Cat, Flame Panther, Flying Tiger, Hunter Cat, Oracle Cat, Sekhmet, Sailor, Pirate, Voodoo Priest, Inca Warrior, Nazca Line Maker, Gaucho, Arkhon, Arkhon ESP Specialist

March 29, 2024 (0.1.240330487)

  • Fillable PDF now supports Atlantean and Lemurian details (except Bio-Armor... still working on that)

  • Fixed: non-standard combat moves now display in Combat pane

  • Added: Psi-Slinger O.C.C. (New West)

  • Added: Saddle Tramp O.C.C. (New West)

  • Added: Sheriff's Deputy O.C.C. (New West)

  • Added: Saloon Girl O.C.C. (New West)

  • Added: Race: Felinoid (South America 1)

March 25, 2024 (0.1.240325411)

  • Updated UI library to new version

  • Icons in left navbar are nicer and more appropriate

  • Cybernetics has been overhauled. Again. Most of the changes are on the backend with how the data is stored and organized But there are now alerts when you can't add a cybernetic for some reason. Should be a little more efficient too The fields were changed slightly to align with the printable PDF

  • The printable PDF actually looks good. I still have data to add to it, and I want to make it more efficient. Why print an 8 page character sheet when your character can fit onto 3? It's also a bit finicky right now, so let me know if you have trouble printing.Please provide a link to your character if you have trouble printing

  • Added more stock weapons, mostly vibro-blades

  • Added a 'rank' field if your character is C.S. or Black Market

  • The "Report a Bug" page now includes a list of popular bugs and feature requests

  • Fixed bug when adding custom currencies

  • Backstory generator should be working now

  • Cleaned up the Armor and Weapon Builds section

  • Fixed miscellaneous issues with some O.C.C.s and Races

January 10, 2024 (0.1.240107115)

  • Added: Birdman Warrior O.C.C. (Lemuria)

  • Added: Race: Spirit Sasquatch (Canada)

January 07, 2024 (0.1.240107115)

  • Fixed: MOS selection correctly clears previous MOS selection

  • Fixed: MOS combat selections fixed to use new Combat object (ex: Cold Born O.C.C.)

January 05, 2024 (0.1.240106968)

  • Fixed: Custom Armor builds page doesn't crash anymore

  • Added: CS Nautical Commando (Coalition Navy)

December 31, 2023 (0.1.231231413)

  • In Progress: changes to PDF download layout

  • Added: Deep Intel Agent O.C.C. (Free Quebec)

December 29, 2023 (0.1.231229005)

  • Returning soon: Backstory generator!

  • Added: Mini Monkey Spy R.C.C. (Lone Star)

December 28, 2023 (0.1.231228992)

  • Fixed: Black Market abilities that consume two slots now correctly calculates remaining slots.

  • Added: Reaver Grunt O.C.C. (Warlords of Russia)

  • Added: Reaver Mechanized Cavalry O.C.C. (Warlords of Russia)

  • Added: Reaver Assassin O.C.C. (Warlords of Russia)

  • Added: Reaver Military Scout O.C.C. (Warlords of Russia)

  • Added: Reaver Raider O.C.C. (Warlords of Russia)

December 26, 2023 (0.1.231225384)

  • Added: Russian Villager O.C.C. (Warlords of Russia)

  • Added: Travelling Story Teller O.C.C. (Warlords of Russia)

  • Added: Huntsman-Trapper O.C.C. (Warlords of Russia)

  • Added: Explorer O.C.C. (Warlords of Russia)

  • Added: Ectohunter O.C.C. (Warlords of Russia)

  • Added: Bogatyr O.C.C. (Warlords of Russia)

  • Added: Cossack O.C.C. (Warlords of Russia)

December 25, 2023 (0.1.231225384)

  • Fixed: Rift Runner: 'W.P. Any' Base Skill selection works now

  • Fixed: Rift Runner: Selecting certain Rift Runner spells now works properly

  • Fixed: Display sheet now correctly displays the value for "Is M.D.C."

  • Enhancement: Attribute column now displays P.S. type if it isn't 'Normal' (Supernatural/Robotic/Augmented/etc.)

December 24, 2023 (0.1.231224326)

  • Fixed: Combat bonus not displaying when high P.S. or P.P.

  • Fixed: Non-standard combat moves display properly again

  • Added: Legacy Scout O.C.C. (Dinosaur Swamp)

  • Added: Bushman O.C.C. (Australia)

  • Added: Kwarla R.C.C. (Australia)

December 22, 2023 (0.1.231221348)

  • Added: Swamp Stomper O.C.C. (Dinosaur Swamp)

  • Added: The Naturalist O.C.C. (Dinosaur Swamp)

  • Added: The Pathfinder O.C.C. (Dinosaur Swamp)

December 21, 2023 (0.1.231221348)

  • Enhancement: Spells are now sorted by level, then alphabetical

  • Enhancement: Spells now have Black Market category assigned as applicable. (Rifts Black Market, pages 40-41)

  • Added: Rift Runner O.C.C. (Black Market)

December 20, 2023 (0.1.231217325)

  • Added: Robo-Gladiator O.C.C. (Northern Gun 2)

  • Added: NG Bush Pilot O.C.C. (Northern Gun 1)

  • Added: NG Loss Prevention Officer O.C.C. (Northern Gun 1)

  • Added: NG Monster Responder O.C.C. (Northern Gun 1)

  • Added: NG Police Officer O.C.C. (Northern Gun 1)

  • Added: NG Robot Control O.C.C. (Northern Gun 1)

  • Added: Case Man O.C.C. (Black Market)

  • Added: Merchant O.C.C. (Black Market)

  • Added: Raider O.C.C. (Black Market)

  • Added: Reburbisher O.C.C. (Black Market)

December 16, 2023 (0.1.231215524)

  • Fixed: Combat bonuses granted from O.C.C. or Race now display correctly

  • Fixed: Stacked combat bonuses working after H2H style selected

  • Added: Leopard Man R.C.C. (Madhaven)

  • Added: Mantis Man R.C.C. (Madhaven)

  • Added: Metal Morph R.C.C. (Madhaven)

  • Added: Quill Man R.C.C. (Madhaven)

  • Added: Savage Lummox R.C.C. (Madhaven)

December 13, 2023 (0.1.231203522)

  • Added: Beast Man R.C.C. (Madhaven)

  • Added: Dyno-Man R.C.C. (Madhaven)

December 9, 2023 (0.1.231203522)

  • Added: White Knight O.C.C. (Madhaven)

  • Added: Squire of the White Rose O.C.C. (Madhaven)

  • Fixed: Perception bonuses working again

December 8, 2023 (0.1.231203522)

  • Added: Tundra Ranger Scout O.C.C. (Canada)

  • Added: Tundra Ranger Cavalry O.C.C. (Canada)

  • Added: Trapper-Woodsman O.C.C. (Canada)

  • Added: Preacher O.C.C. (New West)

December 6, 2023 (0.1.231203522)

  • Added: Race: Jungle Elf (South America 1)

  • Added: Race: Crab Warrior (D-Bees)

  • Added: Race: Meran (Lemuria)

  • Fixed: Psionic per-level instructions now work for psionic races.

December 3, 2023 (0.1.231203522)

  • Enhancement (MAJOR): All combat moves are displayed in combat section, not just 'core' moves.

November 18, 2023 (0.1.231118446)

  • Feature: Manage Bonuses! You can now add/remove Attribute, Combat, Saving Throw, and Skill bonuses assigned to your character. See the "Manage Bonuses" item in the left nav bar.

  • Added: Apok O.C.C. (Wormwood)

November 12, 2023 (0.1.231111414)

  • Added: Herbalist O.C.C. (England)

November 11, 2023 (0.1.231111414)

  • Feature: You can now manually add/remove Saving Throw bonuses. See the "Manage Bonuses" item in the left nav bar. (Still experimenting. Use at your own risk!) Manage/Remove Attributes, Skills coming soon!

November 9, 2023 (0.1.231109486)

  • Feature: You can now manually add/remove Combat bonuses. See the "Manage Bonuses" item in the left nav bar. (Still experimenting. Use at your own risk!) Manage/Remove Saving Throws, Attributes, Skills coming soon!

November 4, 2023 (0.1.231028295)

  • Added: Layer of Laws O.C.C. (Mystic Russia)

November 1, 2023 (0.1.231028295)

  • Added: Smuggler O.C.C. (Mercenaries)

  • Added: Master Assassin O.C.C. (Mercenaries)

  • Added: Freelance Spy O.C.C. (Mercenaries)

October 31, 2023 (0.1.231028295)

  • Added: Psi-Druid O.C.C. (Psyscape)

  • Added: Psi-Ghost O.C.C.(Psyscape)

  • Added: Psi-Nullifier O.C.C. (Psyscape)

  • Added: Bandit O.C.C. (New West)

  • Added: Bandit: Highwayman O.C.C. (New West)

  • Added: Bounty Hunter O.C.C. (New West)

  • Added: Justice Ranger O.C.C. (New West)

  • Added: Forger O.C.C. (Mercenaries)

BrandenComment