Turn Watcher looks like a simple way to keep track of initiative in your game — a computer-based alternative to using index cards.
It includes a couple of nice bells and whistles, like current hit points and status (delayed, etc.), and if you’re running d20 you can also plug in Spot, Listen, Will and other commonly-used values. And at $10 for a download, it seems quite reasonably priced.
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Very nice. Since I’m not a big DnD fan I personally would like it to have some different dice options, but it seems a perfect fit for a DND game.
Perhaps, but a few strikes against it:
1) Windows only; no Mac version.
2) If you have a computer in front of you during gaming I daresay that’s possibly more distracting to the game than using index cards (or some varation thereof).
3) A classicly bad website: no demo, no screen pics, no sale!
4) Why not a cross-platform web based version or Java/JRE?
5) Ten dollars? No way I’d pay $10 for something with that narrow of a focus. Of course I work in IT and could program my own initiative tracker if the need hit me, so the call to action isn’t really there for me.
6) As John said, too d20 specific. Sure, lots of people play d20 but they *also* play other games. So they use the program for six months and then start playing Vampire…ooops?
John: Yep, a bit more programming would have given this one more versatility.
Abulia: No demo is a downside, but there actually are screenshots. The how-to walkthrough does a decent job of letting you peek under the hood, too.
I’d love to see an Abulia-built initiative program — I’ll bet it would be small, slick and versatile. Any chance of that becoming a reality?
maikeru: Thanks for the link!
Am I the only one that sees that there is a demo? And that it has a Windows and Linux version? (which means that porting it to Mac is quite an easy step)
It’s okay. I was just playing with the demo (the Linux version in Fedora), but it doesn’t do much more than index cards or other lined-up tokens to in tracking combats, IMNSHO.
Cheers!
Lehi: Yep, you must be. I looked for a demo when I was deciding whether or not to link to it, and didn’t find one.
Thanks for mentioning it. It’s cleverly hidden in the downloads section, in my defense. 😉
Gah! I went back and there is indeed a demo and screenshots, so I stand properly admonished. Again, not the greatest website!
Hi guys,
I’m glad at least one person noticed that there is indeed a Linux version and a Demo is available.
Now, I’d like to know what we could do to ameliorate our website. If you don’t mind to tell me, that is.
From what I can see, it would be to add a clearer link to the demo and possibly a description of the systems supported.
As for the Mac OS/X version, we’re waiting for the company to buy 10.4 because gtk only works on 10.4, not 10.3 as we have right now. This should be fairly soon.
Anyway, if you don’t mind to elaborate on the subject of the “not the greatest website”, I’d really appreciate.
Thank you all for your comments,
Hello Alexis,
Personally I had no issue with the website design. It’s short sweet and to the point of selling something. The two things I would say.
1. I notice it’s “priced down” from $25.00. That is a price I wouldn’t even consider it at. Whether the price down is a marketing bit, or an introductory offer $10.00 is what I would pay for the program.
2. I might pay more if it had multiple dice style support, not just d20. This may be achievable through downloadable modules, or just built right in. Not sure of your programming but I switch systems frequently when I’m not playtesting and I would find the program incredibly useful, if it had multiple systems support.
Alexis: Apart from having trouble finding the demo, I quite liked the website. I agree with John that it’s short and to the point, and that’s a good thing.
IMO the demo, the how-to guide, testimonials and the price should be the first things that pop out at you when you visit the site.
Hi guys,
Thank you for commenting. It is always very helpful!
We changed the top area so just the actual price is showing and you also now have a link to the page to download a Demo.
I’m not too sure I’d want to make the testimonials too prominent at this time. We’ve something on the back burner to have a page of testimonials at some point. Then we could add a pretty visible link to that page.
Alexis
Alexis: The new header links look good. 🙂