SWADE: Editing and/or Adding Arcane Backgrounds

[Technomorphic]

I'm planning to run a game in a custom setting, and it uses custom Arcane Backgrounds. Is there a way for me to rename the Arcane Backgrounds available in the Powers tab, or to add new ones?

When I googled about the subject, I saw some posts about doing this but the posts were years old and seemed to assume the reader was familiar with modifying the program. I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty, but I'm brand new to Fantasy Grounds so please try to explain not only what to do, but how to do it, assuming I don't know even the basics. I'm more than willing to read any documentation you can point me to.

Being able to either create new Arcane Backgrounds with associated Skills, or to rename the existing Backgrounds and Skills, would be all I need.

Related note: The SWADE character sheet treats the Power Points for Weird Science differently from the other Arcane Backgrounds, which is a holdover from previous editions that as far as I can tell no longer applies.

[Zetesofos]

I don't have anything to add to this request, but I too would love to know how to create a new background (using a custom sci fi setting)

[twistedtechmike]

+1 for the Weird Science issue. Ran into that this weekend myself.

[Technomorphic]

I'll probably try to sit down and figure this out again tonight. If anyone has any tips on where to start just learning how to create extensions in general, that would be helpful. More importantly, though, is any information that would help me locate the specific information I need to change. Is it possible for me to look at the code for the sheet directly?

Thanks for any help anyone can offer, and I'll update everyone if I figure anything out.

[esmdev]

On the weird science issue I reposted a link to PEG forum response here:

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?48112-Savage-Worlds-2019-February-update&p=431957&viewfull=1#post431957

Sadly on the actual thread I don't have anything to add beyond ETU changes the character sheet to handle the modified arcane background via an extension, so that is likely the way to go. It is not specific to savage worlds but Damned did a whole series on making an extension for MoreCore which explains how extensions are made and how they effect the character sheet. The same principle can likely be applied to Savage Worlds as well.

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?46553-MoreCore-Coding-Tutorials

Hope these are helpful.

[Technomorphic]

On the weird science issue I reposted a link to PEG forum response here:

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?48112-Savage-Worlds-2019-February-update&p=431957&viewfull=1#post431957

Sadly on the actual thread I don't have anything to add beyond ETU changes the character sheet to handle the modified arcane background via an extension, so that is likely the way to go. It is not specific to savage worlds but Damned did a whole series on making an extension for MoreCore which explains how extensions are made and how they effect the character sheet. The same principle can likely be applied to Savage Worlds as well.

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?46553-MoreCore-Coding-Tutorials

Hope these are helpful.

The PEG thread is referring to Deluxe. Adventure Edition handles Weird Science the same way it does the other ABs, in regards to Power Points. A Weird Scientist no longer assigns his points into devices unless he takes the Artificer Edge. That means we need Current and Max Power Points entries like the other Backgrounds, but currently there is only Max.

The tutorials should prove helpful, though. Thank you!

[GunbunnyFuFu]

I'm happy to help people walk through changing an extension to include custom AB. I'm not an expert at it, but I've done it a few times.

GBFF

[Technomorphic]

I'm happy to help people walk through changing an extension to include custom AB. I'm not an expert at it, but I've done it a few times.

GBFF

That would be fantastic. For my purposes, I think all I need is just to give an AB a custom name and associated skill. For example, I'd like an option for Arcane Background (Adept) using the custom skill Chi.

[GunbunnyFuFu]

Shoot me a PM with your availability. I can jump into FG Discord and walk you through it..you'll need an editor (I suggest notepad++). No problem.

[Technomorphic]

Thanks to GunbunnyFuFu for providing the sample file and explaining how to use it!

If anyone wants to use custom Arcane Backgrounds in your game, here's how you can do so:

1. Download the attached EXT file
2. Change the file extension from .ext to .zip and unzip the contents.
3. Navigate to the scripts folder, and open launcher.lua in a text editor. GunbunnyFuFu recommended I use Notepad++ and it worked great.
4. If you want to get rid of the default backgrounds, leave the line "ArcaneManager.unregisterAll()" in place. If you want to keep the default backgrounds, remove it.
5. in the section labeled "register Arcane Backgrounds" you'll find "CustomName#" in quotes. Change the name to the name of the Arcane Background you wish to add. Make sure you leave the quotes and don't change anything outside of them.
6. In the quotes after "skill =" you'll find "CustomSkill#". Change this to the name of the skill the Arcane Background uses. Again, leave the quotes and everything outside of them unchanged.
7. If you wish to use the "Weird Science" layout for tracking power points, change "main" to "individual"
8. Delete any extra lines, or copy and paste a previous line to edit if you don't have enough for the backgrounds you wish to add.
9. Save the file.
10. ZIP the whole directory structure back up, with the extension.xml file on the top level.
11. Change the file extension from .zip to .ext
12. Place the newly created .ext file in your extensions folder, which you can find by going to settings in the Fantasy Grounds launcher and looking under "Data Directory".
13. When you launch your campaign, load the "Custom Arcane Backgrounds" extension.

[Ikael]

Related note: The SWADE character sheet treats the Power Points for Weird Science differently from the other Arcane Backgrounds, which is a holdover from previous editions that as far as I can tell no longer applies.

Weird Science Arcane Background is fixed and update will be in next regular cycles (next Tuesday I believe)

[twistedtechmike]

Thanks Ikael!

[Zetesofos]

So, not sure if this is compatiable with SWADE, or just deluxe. I tried to use with 5.1 savage Worlds, and the extention is not showing as available when I launch fantasy grounds. Any advice?

[ragnarol]

Thanks for the extension @Technomorphic, two minutes and I have my Cybernetics arcane background in place!

[Chris CB]

So, not sure if this is compatiable with SWADE, or just deluxe. I tried to use with 5.1 savage Worlds, and the extention is not showing as available when I launch fantasy grounds. Any advice?

Yes, I know, I reply to this question a long long time after you're asking.

To make the extension work for SWADE, just before zipping all the stuff, open the file "extension.xml" at the top of the directory and just after the description, add this code :



<ruleset>
<name>SWD</name>
<minrelease>5.2</minrelease>
</ruleset>

[JuicyJuicen]

Hi there, so I'm hopping on this thread because I've been trying to work with the ext file on here. I followed the instructions and am able to get the file loaded up with SWADE, but I don't see any of the edges I've created appear. I'm fairly certain I followed the instructions to a T, so I was wondering if there was some option in FG I was missing?

[Talyn]

Try this one: I put everything into a single file with some instructions and the announcement links to the SW API thread for even more info. This loads into both 'SavageWorlds' and 'SWD' rulesets on both clients.

@JuicyJuicen: Adding a custom arcane background does exactly that and nothing more. It just makes your new AB available to choose on the character 'Powers' tab and sets which skill that AB uses to cast. It has no effect on what Edges you can or cannot see.

[Xeonen]

I might suggest making custom Arcane Backgrounds, maybe related changes a sticky post. I also had the same question. :D

[macDsinfo]

nvm

[lozanoje]

Is registerArcaneType deprecated? This is shown at the console at latest 5.5.3


[11/5/2022 6:58:32 PM] [Deprecated] ArcaneManager.unregisterAll function is deprecated
[11/5/2022 6:58:32 PM] [Deprecated] ArcaneManager.registerArcaneType function is deprecated
[11/5/2022 6:58:32 PM] [Deprecated] ArcaneManager.registerArcaneType function is deprecated
[11/5/2022 6:58:32 PM] [Deprecated] ArcaneManager.registerArcaneType function is deprecated
[11/5/2022 6:58:32 PM] [Deprecated] ArcaneManager.registerArcaneType function is deprecated

Seems so: https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?69818-Savage-Worlds-v5-4-released


[Deprecated] ArcaneManager.registerArcaneType, ArcaneManager.unregisterType and ArcaneManager.unregisterAll APIs deprecated


So how do we register new Arcane Backgrounds? Or is not required anymore?

[Jiminimonka]

Is registerArcaneType deprecated? This is shown at the console at latest 5.5.3

Yeah it has been for some time now (since Pathfinder for Savage Worlds with multiple Arcane Backgrounds).

[lozanoje]

Yeah it has been for some time now (since Pathfinder for Savage Worlds with multiple Arcane Backgrounds).

So no need to register AB anymore since there is an integrated AB editor, isnt it?

[Mike Serfass]

Correct. Registering arcane backgrounds in code is no longer required. You now set them up in the game by going to the powers list, clicking the "arcane backgrounds" button on the top left, and adding to the arcane backgrounds list that appears. Just like adding racial abilities from the races list.