Update (Testers Needed)

Hello.

As ever, thank you for your continued support.  A rather length update today as I've been tinkering away with stuff behind the scenes.

1) Content Delivery Network

I've farmed pathbuilder2e web's data provision out to a Content Delivery Network. It's faster and should help with the server strain that occurs when a new update comes out.  If you've got the time please go to https://pathbuilder2e.com/beta/app.html and test out the data download.  It should be version 73 with everything working correctly. You only need to let me know if something is going wrong.

2) Remastered Plans

With the Remaster fast approaching, I've been doing quite a lot of work experimenting with different ways to accommodate people's different needs.  Integrating both unremastered content and remastered into a single app is not going to work, partly for data reasons, and also as the UI might well change (eg for Shield Runes, focus points, and for generating ability scores). I wouldn't be surprised if there were changes to some of the optional rules too.  The remastered books covering the old CRB and APG has also presented a further difficulty in terms of allowing both sets of data.

So, this is now my solid plan for the remaster:

• The existing web app and android app will convert to remastered, implementing the changes as errata. Existing characters will be converted to the remastered version when they are opened where possible. (eg changing spells).
• There will be a legacy version of the android app available to download, which will copy across the local database from the main app.  It will function as the current app does but will require the standard pathbuilder 2e android app to be installed for purchase unlocks (the apps will speak to each other).
• There will be a legacy version of the web app available. I'm not certain whether it will share the local character database or copy it across to a new discrete database. It will function exactly as the current web app does.
• I've made a custom pack for the cantrips spells which are changing in the remaster from dice+spell casting modifier to dice only. Users can then import the pack and use the old spells in the remastered app (with their GM's permission of course). This seemed like a sticking point for some people and was solved fairly easily.

I intend to get all of this working in the next couple of weeks and make it available, so people can switch to and start using the legacy versions.

3) Pathbuilder Encounters

I've decided to keep this on the shelf until the remaster is done and the new bestiaries are out. When I revisit it, I want to explore ways in which I can be responsible for the code, but other people maintaining the data. (eg all monster data would be imported from user created repositories somewhere else). Basically I've overstretched myself with this, but think it will be possible to find a way forward.

4) IOS

I bought a month of MacinCloud in early september to explore the possibility of an IOS native version of Pathbuilder 2e.  Despite being a miserable and laggy experience, my experiments went well.  At some point next year when the dust has settled on the remaster I'm going to buy a mac mini and develop an IOS version.  I'm not underestimating the size of that project, as I need to learn the Swift programming language and learn how a whole range of technologies work on IOS (sqllite, cloud data, UI, saved states).

I've also got Starfinder Enhanced to look at, and it won't be long then until the new Remastered books are available. It's going to be a bit of a mad dash to get it done when the pdfs come out, so if anyone gets it early as is able to let me have a peek I'd be very grateful.

Dave