Re: Official TFT App

I helped send (a lot) of bugs in the beta. During the interaction, I learned that the developer didn't use any software tests for checking if combat follows the rules (e.g., reactions to injury, getting knocked down, etc.), which is really a pre-1990s style of writing software (ok, it's free, so we can't really complain). All the bug-fixes are 100% reactive, meaning you have to play the boomerang (or fencing talent, or MW3, or...) to find out that it doesn't work according to the rules, then you send a bug report, and the "firemen put out the fire" (which is why I call it reactive, since writing tests allows you to detect the obvious bugs before the users get them). You quickly realize you're doing the developer's job of testing the features he supposedly implemented, and (for me as a software engineer) it's not very motivating.

I like the idea of a simple linear combat - full hex-based movement with a map would be a huge feature to implement (I've tried to code that before, with engagement rules, etc.), and would slow down the release process (it would never be released with just one person coding it).

The latest version has some strange rules for missile weapons. You can move up to 1/2 your MA and fire a small bow, but then if you move more than one hex on the next turn, you can't reload it. If you only move one hex you are given the "reload" action, which seems like it's a crossbow? I don't have the new rules, so I can't say if that's a bug or the way Missile weapons work now. Perhaps this is a ploy to get us all to buy the latest rules ;-)

On Thu, Aug 8, 2019 at 9:58 AM Thomas Fulmer <tfulmer1@gmail.com> wrote:

The last update from the TFT Kickstarter noted that TFT had an app for Android and iPhone now.

I installed it and took a quick look around. The app allows you to create multiple characters using standards TFT rules. It has built in dice generator, "use character" (seems to be a way to not have a paper sheet, you can track your fatigue, damage, etc manually), and it has a way to play your character against the computer in arena or adventure combat.

Some things I liked:
--I always liked gurps character assistant, so nice to have something for TFT

--Had some quick arena combat action on the train today to keep me busy

Areas to improve:
--There seems to be a bug in arena combat on Android. If you lose, you can either continue or clear your combat history. If you win, the only option seems to be to clear combat history...??

--the character Creator only lets you create 32 point characters, anything higher than that tells you that the character is too high and won't let you play the character in the app. Very annoying in case I wanted to test a specific build

--arena combat is linear, it only tracks distance apart, so no side or rear hexes exist and there is no real tactics. Close with head on and pummel is the only option. The default wizard bad guy had sleep spell, so that fight consisted of turn 1: you close distance, wizard puts you to sleep and slits your throat. Fun

I think this app can be cool and fun for a quick fix or to test builds, but they may need some feedback to guide them.

--Thomas