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			  	      |BLADESTORM CALCULATOR|
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					      README

					       v2.5

					   Full Version


					  Copyright 2016
 					 Sebastian Klapdor
				    bladestormtabletop@gmail.com


CONTENTS:
- Combatant Calculator
- Unit Calculator
- Vehicle Calculator
- Movement Table


REQUIREMENTS:
- MS Excel 2010+
- Bladestorm Rulesbook Second Edition
- Bladestorm Quick-Start Rules
- Combatant Card Templates
- Unit Card Templates
- Vehicle Card Templates


PREFACE:
Thank you for downloading the full version of the Bladestorm Calculator. With it, you are able to generate combatants and units for the Bladestorm Tabletop Game that strictly follow the rules for Total Point Costs (TPC).


BACKGROUND:
The Bladestorm Calculator is your one stop solution to create forces for your Bladestorm games. The tool contains all stat listings included in the Bladestorm Second Edition rulesbook including the professions as well as the extensive weapon and attack tables. 

Use the calculator to maintain your forces, re-equip them, raise their stats and convert Experience Points to Development Points. Regular combatants, leaders, heroes, spell users, units and vehicles. Everything that can populate your tabletop games can be created in just a few steps. 

To make games measurable in terms of game balance, all forces created by the calculator receive a "Total Point Cost" value. TPC is an abstract value that is calculated based on the skills and abilities that a combatant brings to the fight. The Bladestorm Calculator helps you identify this value and create masters and minions for many battles to come.

CONCEPT:
The main concept behind a planned combatant and unit creation is a step-bystep process that starts with the general aspects of the combatant, then moves on to boosting stats and finally adds weapons that are available in combat. When generating foot soldiers you can move on to create a unit based on the combatant setup you just created. The combatant and unit spreadsheets basically takes all information into account that is presented in the Bladestorm Rulesbook and add a great deal of convenience. Creating combatants and units for your tabletop game becomes a point-and-click adventure.

While you develop combatants for your game, you will notice that the combatant, unit and vehicle cards automatically update with the relevant stats. Once all the details of the new card have been fleshed out, simply copy it's stats over to a game card for easy print out.


HOW TO BUILD COMBATANTS:
After double clicking the Bladestorm Calculator.xlsx file, the application opens the
"Combatant Calculator" spreadsheet. The window is separated into two areas: all options for combatant or unit creation are shown on the left whereas the right is dominated by a stylized card.

By default, the calculator is set to show a human, medium-sized combatant with no selected features. The TPC of 50 is based on the default selection for a medium sized combatant. It is recommended to always return the calculator to this state in order to start clean. Combatant and unit creation is guided through the following steps:


1. Let's start with size and background...

The combatant size determines the minimum and maximum stats and sets the initial base size. Humans, Goblins and Orcs for example are medium sized combatants, while Trolls are considered large. Numerous fantasy races are available that feature specific bonuses or penalties.
The third and fourth options "Profession" and "Skills" only apply when creating a hero or villain who can make use of profession cards and skills. 


2. Determine stats...
The Movement, Defense and Endurance stats as well as Shields, Armor can be set in this area. Note, that depending on your choice of base-size, you will have different values available in the drop-down menus. Advancing the stats will inevitably increase the TPC value associated with it.
On top of the stats for the Standard Game you can also set the stats for magical resistance or maneuver which are found in the Optional Rules.


3. Hand out some weapons...
The Bladestorm Calculator supports six weapon slots for either melee or ranged weapons. All applicable bonuses and penalties are applied accordingly. Weapon slots may also stay empty.
Martial arts can be applied as can be abilities that only fit to deamons and beasts, such as claws and talons. Note that the combatant cards only display four slots due to space restrictions. Slots five and six can be also be filled to get the appropriate TPC for huge creatures such as Dragons. 


4. Boost fighting skills...
The Bladestorm Calculator allows you to enhance your combatant's fighting skills. The Melee Attack Bonus is the basic representation of a combatant's fighting skill. The bonus is added to the Attack Roll and makes wielding cumbersome weapons, such as two handed swords, a lot easier. Keep in mind though that training is expensive and will raise the TPC of your combatant. Extra attack dice are available only to large and huge creatures. The Melee Damage Bonus is added to the weapon's damage value.
The same abilties can be boosted for ranged attacks except for the "Range Mod". Use this to increase your combatant's area of influence with all ranged weapons. 
Note that the Calculator also allows you to manipulate the the damage multiplier. Change this only for the most dangerous and legendary of encouters as a high damage multiplier can literally clear the room. 


5. Create a leader....
The most important aspect of a leader is his range of influence. Set this first and then determine what stats he is going to boost for those under his command and range of influence. Note that leaders are not eligible to build a unit (which would look pretty weird by the way).


6. Create a spell user...
Spell users are expensive and just like leaders they are not eligible to fight as spell user units. The first thing to choose is the maximum spell level that the combatant is able to cast. 
Next, you can select any number of spells form the available spell levels. This setup does not involve restrictions such as a required number of spells from one level in order to cast spells of the next higher level. 
Once you have determined the number of known spells (or war sounds in case of musicians) you can set a number of Power Points. The Elemental Spell Bonus resembles a spell user's aptitude towards a certain element and enables you to give bonuses for fire, water, air or earth based magic or any other type of elemental force.


After all selections have been made, the Bladestorm Calculator will have filled out the Combatant Card on the right side and offer a usable TPC value to ensure balance in your skirmish encounters. 


HOW TO BUILD UNITS:
The combatant you have just created serves as the base for your unit on the second "Unit Calculator" spread sheet. It consists of tabular area on the left side and different stylized card on the right side. 


1. Select combatants for your unit...
Depending on the selected base-size of your combatant you will notice that green and red backgrounds are shown on the unit roster. Green fields resemble the minimum size which must be checked while red fields resemble the maximum size that must not be checked. 
Add any number of combatants to your unit by putting a check mark into the applicable box. The TPC will be shown for each row in order to give you an impression of the developing costs. 

2. Determine unit tactics...
There are numerous formations available for units. Battle Order and General Order are selected as standard formations that any group of combatants can obtain. The standard maneuever mod for these is considered "9" which is also selected. 
You can train your unit to have up to five formations available to them. The lower the maneuver mod the more likely your unit is to successfully take on this particular formation. 


HOW TO BUILD VEHICLES:
Building vehicles uses the same mechanics as combatants. The only difference is that since they are (usually) made of inanimate material, they don't possess a movement rate on their own. Instead depending on the material (aka race) used, they detract from their mount's movement rate.

Vehicles have their own supply of weapons that can be equipped. These weapons are either mounted somewhere on a plattform to be used by riders or they resemble an integral part of the construction, e.g. a ballista, a stone thrower or blades attached to a chariot's wheel hubs. 
 
Other than that, vehicle construction is treated in the same manner as regular combatants. 


		TIP: If you like the combatant or unit card you just created you 
		     might consider laminating the Combatant Card for future use.


That about sums it up! I hope you enjoy this tool and will use it for many battles to come. For questions and suggestions, feel free to visit the MX Forums at "http://www.bladestorm.mx/forum".


