For Hexroll as it is right now, I tried to follow B/X rules mostly to the letter, so things like random encounters, treasure types, etc are using the system specific tables. I don't know Savage Worlds at all but intuitively I would prefer staying true to the source material as much as possible. B/X for example has a set of random encounter tables per wilderness type. Is there anything similar in SW?
Savage worlds is....complicated. As unlike D&D or B/X it is not as focused a system. There's not a "PG, DMG, Beastiary" style set up that people then write world books for.
It is, at it's heart the core of a system. From there setting books, that can span different genres (sci-fi, modern, fantasy, pulp, etc.) are published that can add monsters, special rules, random monster tables, etc.
Tackling Savage Worlds would mean making Hexroll a framework based system, with modularity and swapability at it's core, as unlike D&D you can't take the basic rules, and slap a new coat of paint on the geography and call it a day. That's not intended as a swipe at D&D, just the difference between the two systems.
The same is going to be true if you try something like GURPS, Hero System, FATE, Cortex, Genesys, etc.
It's also going to be useful if you expand over to something like Pathfinder, or Starfinder, or even other old school-style RPG games, as each is going to have their own take on those, and a system designed with modularity in mind will be easier to adapt to a new system with less work for each adaptation.
Okay, I think I get it :) So yes, Hexroll's current model is not built to be a system-agnostic framework. I does have the basic concepts set as base entities, for example, an NPC, or a Hex, or a Settlement - all could be adapted to almost any system or genre, but it is currently focused on one system. Moving forward, I will certainly refactor things to make it easier for me (or others, wink wink) to support other games.
A stand-alone product. ...hmm. Here are my thoughts on it's potential benefits. Keep in mind, this assumes you are making changes to support these features. (And, tbh, I'm not positive what can or cannot be done via the web and such.) You MIGHT be able to do all of this through the web, or even have the stand-alone be a sort-of browser itself (like many mobile apps actually are)
- Customization. Once the system is modular, the number of ways to customize the program increases. Options on the procedural generation, customized lists, customized tilesets, etc.
- Configuration files. All of the changes you've made and used can be saved off to generate the same TYPE of world over and over again.
- Map Expansion. Load up a previously generated map/area, and have the system generate another map designed to expand what is there.
- Post generation adjustments. You like how a map generated, but you want to replace one hex with a different one. Say, turn a lake into a swamp. You can do that in the editor.
- System Modules, (sold separately)! Want to produce a version for "Pathfinder for Savage Worlds" work with Pinnacle and license it, maybe get a group license for that and Lahnkmar, Deadlands, and others. Then of course, you might be able to get a license for other published works as well (if needed).
- Hex-crawl management. Beyond generation, managing the hex-crawl is another key part. Most systems don't have a built-in hex-crawling system, so you could make one that is fairly universal. (at least within the genre of games this is designed for.) The system could track position, roll random encounters (great since you can customize the roll table for each hex). Track a calendar, generate weather, etc. Sure, specific rolls that the players need to make (navigation, survival, getting lost, notice/perception) are still made by the players and not handled by the system, but for the GM running a hex-crawl it would be invaluable.
- Notes. I love that everything in the output is cross linked. This also means that the system makes a great tracker/note-taker for the game. You can easily bring up the hex the players are in, and make changes to it as needed. Players knock down the guard tower providing the influence effect to the surrounding hexes, the GM can turn it off, and the program adjusts on the fly. Players empty a dungeon (or partially explore?) One button re-populate pulling on the background systems. Key feature discovered? Trail Made? Notes that can be made in the system on a hex by hex basis as needed, without having to scroll through the PDF to find it.
Thanks! a mil for detailing these.
I think were aligned on the vision :) Certainly things like being system-agnostic, expandable and having a more modular generation approach are in my scope. Adding more platform features such as Note-taking are already WIP. You can already experiment with the current Note-taking capability tested at https://pendicepaper.com/hexroll/ (the pencil icons) BTW.
For Hexroll v1, I was focusing more on adding the basic content generation entities - and I always feel I can and should do a better job at adding more variations or complications to the generation logic to make things more interesting.
Working on Hexroll v2, I'm now extending it as a platform - with things like VTT support, continent editing, modularity and mutability align perfectly with your ideas.