[RPG] How to add an alternate racial trait to a race in PCGen

homebrewpathfinder-1epcgenracial-traits

I'm trying to include some custom races into PCGen for simplicity (custom setting). I've got the races down, easy enough. The problem I can't figure out is how to add the alternate traits for a few of my races.

I want to add an alternate trait that I can select for the characters and NPCs of each race, like with subraces or something.

And I haven't really tried anything beyond adding the over-arching races, because I can't find the right file for where alternate traits would go. So I suppose the question is more where do I add these traits to the files than how do I add them?

Best Answer

On this YouTube channel describing how to create races, this comment can be found for racial traits, assuming you're creating a "Dwelf":

Dwelf CATEGORY:Internal ABILITY:Special Ability|AUTOMATIC|TYPE=Dwelf Racial Trait.

I don't know if this syntax is still the used, but nevertheless I guess it's worth a try :)

Related Solutions

[RPG] How to add an ability to PCGen

Yes all of the above, plus the online documentation, which is marginally more up to date than the doc with the prog.

And there's some video's also. http://pcgen.org/get-help/videos/

Here's the full step by step answer

Step 1 In the PCGen data folder, create a folder labeled mystuff in the Pathfinder Homebrew folder, you structure will look like this \data\pathfinder\homebrew\mystuff

Step 2 Create a text file called "mystuff.pcc" in the step 1 folder

Step 3 Edit "mystuff.pcc" file with Notepad (or bbedit if mac) paste the following into it

CAMPAIGN:My stuff
GAMEMODE:Pathfinder
RANK:8
GENRE:Fantasy
BOOKTYPE:Homebrew
SETTING:My Homebrew Campaign
TYPE:Homebrew.PathfinderHomebrew
SOURCEDATE:2013-10

ABILITY:my_abilities.lst

Step 4 Create a text file called "my_abilities.lst" in the step 1 folder

Step 5 Edit "my_abilities.lst" file with Notepad (or bbedit if mac) paste the following into it

Pragmatic Activator
KEY:Pragmatic Activator ~ Trait
CATEGORY:Special Ability
TYPE:Trait.BasicTrait.MagicTrait
PREMULT:1,[PREABILITY:1,CATEGORY=Special Ability,Pragmatic Activator ~ Trait],[!PREABILITY:1,CATEGORY=Special Ability,TYPE.MagicTrait]
DESC:While some figure out how to use magical devices with stubborn resolve, your approach is more pragmatic. You may use your Intelligence modifier when making Use Magic Device checks instead of your Charisma modifier
BENEFIT:While some figure out how to use magical devices with stubborn resolve, your approach is more pragmatic. You may use your Intelligence modifier when making Use Magic Device checks instead of your Charisma modifier
BONUS:SKILL|Use Magic Device|max(CHA,INT)-CHA

Step 6 Load PCGen, you should see a "My Stuff" source on the left. Load that and create your character.

[RPG] How to add a trait to PCGen

By looking into the inner workings of PCGen, I have manage to cobble something together that seems to do the trick. However, this answer is in no way comprehensive, but meant to serve as a guide on how to patch your own homebrew stuff. For more information about working with Homebrew files, I suggest looking into the documentation (Help -> Documentation, F1), under the "List Files" heading (Sadly, I cannot link to specific pages of the documentation here).

Quick Example

The following is an explanation on how to add a Combat Trait called "Homebrew Trait" to the game, which adds two claw attacks dealing 1d4 points of damage. This is achieved mostly by combining an existing Combat Trait with the claw attacks granted by the Maw or Claw Tiefling Alternate Racial trait, found in [PCGen]/data/pathfinder/paizo/roleplaying_game/advanced_players_guide/apg_abilities.lst and advanced_race_guide/arg_abilities_race.lst, respectively.

Open up [PCGen]/data/pathfinder/homebrew/my_homebrew. This is the pre-installed Homebrew Campaign Thingy, which will do just fine for this purpose.
Traits are internally handled as "abilities". Using a good text editor (Notepad++ or similar), open up my_abilities.lst. Under #insert your data here, add the following line

Homebrew Trait      KEY:Trait ~ Homebrew Trait      CATEGORY:Special Ability    TYPE:Trait.BasicTrait.CombatTrait   PREMULT:1,[PREABILITY:1,CATEGORY=Special Ability,Trait ~ Homebrew Trait],[!PREABILITY:1,CATEGORY=Special Ability,TYPE.CombatTrait]      DESC:You have studied the workings of PCGen and managed to claw your way into creating a homebrew trait|PRERULE:1,DisplayFullAbility        NATURALATTACKS:Claw,Natural.Weapon.Melee.Finesseable.Piercing,*2,1d4

Once you have your ability to your liking, save the file and open up PCGen. Go To Sources -> Select Sources (CtrlL), and go to the Advanced tab. In the dropdown list at the top, select Pathfinder RPG as your Game. On the right side, you should now see "Pathfinder RPG for Players", as well as "My Pathfinder Campaign". Click on Load. Your homebrew trait should now be available to choose from the list of traits.

Code explanation

Of course, a trait called "Homebrew Trait" is not very appealing, but again, a full explanation is absolutely beyond the scope of this answer. However, I'd like to provide an overview on what the above code does, and why it does that. Let's break it into lines.

Homebrew Trait
  KEY:Trait ~ Homebrew Trait
  CATEGORY:Special Ability
  TYPE:Trait.BasicTrait.CombatTrait
  PREMULT:1,[PREABILITY:1,CATEGORY=Special Ability,Trait ~ Homebrew Trait],[!PREABILITY:1,CATEGORY=Special Ability,TYPE.CombatTrait]
  DESC:You have studied the workings of PCGen and managed to claw your way into creating a homebrew trait.|PRERULE:1,DisplayFullAbility
  NATURALATTACKS:Claw,Natural.Weapon.Melee.Finesseable.Piercing,*2,1d4

It starts off with the name of the ability, "Homebrew Trait"
Next up is the KEY keyword, followed by the internal name of the trait, allowing you to use this trait in other homebrew things, as a prerequisite for a feat, for example. I followed the naming convention I found in other *abilities.lst files.
The CATEGORY tag is there to list this under Special Abilities, nothing much to say here.
The TYPE tag is more involved. This is a dot-separated list of subcategories this Special Ability falls under. In this case, we have a trait which is a basic trait, and which is a combat trait. You can change the latter to what you like, but you'll have to change the prerequisites as well.
The line starting with PRExxx denotes prerequisites. PREMULT:1 states that only one of the following prerequisites need to be fulfilled. The prerequisites are given in square brackets.
- PREABILITY:1,CATEGORY=Special Ability,Trait ~ Homebrew Trait means that you qualify for this trait when you have this trait. In particular, it means 1 prerequisite ability from the Special Ability category, which is "Trait ~ Homebrew Trait". This is needed because of the second prerequisite.
- !PREABILITY:1,CATEGORY=Special Ability,TYPE.CombatTrait means "Not 1 Special Ability pf the CombatTrait type, as per the trait rules. Without the first prerequisite, this would make the trait disallow itself.
DESC is followed by the full description of the trait. Not sure what the PRERULE part does, just keep it there.
Finally, NATURALATTACKS adds the crunch. I copied this part from a Tiefling Alternate Racial Trait. It adds an attack called "Claw", lists the applicable types (see above), makes it 2 attacks, and sets the damage to 1d4. Instead of this (or in addition to!), you could have a BONUS tag, as many other abilities do.