(GMs) How do I create a new Microlite20 game?

1. Go to the Location Editor tab.
2. Fill in a Location Name. It can be anything you want, you can even have name duplication (but I don't suggest it, you'll get lost for sure!). 
3. Fill in a Location Image if you need one. 
4. There are two types of locations: 1) Interactive Map and 2) Basic Image. If you intend on using this location like a game board, you'll want to choose Interactive Map. If the location will simply serve as part of a role playing section where no movement is performed, you'll definitely want to use the Basic Image. Interactive Maps allow you to place tokens on the map to represent characters, monsters and items where as Basic Image will not do this. It will simply serve as a background image for your game/location.
5. For Interactive Map types, you'll be able to set the default Zoom level. This simply makes it so navigating to the location will always ensure the same zoom level to begin with (if your map is particularly high resolution, you'll probably want to zoom out a bit (a larger number). If your map image is a low resolution, you may want to zoom out a bit (a smaller number like 0.5). TIP: Don't use negative numbers! If you want the map to be smaller, use fractions like 0.2 or 0.5.
6. Provide a description for this location. This description will be visible to your players so make sure it doesn't give anything away!
7. Provide any Game Master notes necessary for the location. These notes will ONLY be visible to GMs, not players.

1. Go to the World tab if you're not already there.
2. Navigate to the location (or object) you wish to put your new objects. To do this, just click on the blue links until you see the desired object in big white letters at the top of the left side of the screen. For example, if you want to add Spells to a character, you'll want to navigate to the character or, if you want to add a monster to the map, you'll have to navigate to that location instead.
3. Click on New Objects in the grey bar at the top of the right side of the screen.
4. Select the specific Object Class that you need (Example: spells, weapons, armor, characters/monsters..etc) or you can choose to search All. 
5. Type the name (or part of the name) of the thing you need to search for and press Enter on your keyboard or click the Search button.
   TIP: All spells have their spell school embedded in their name to make it easier to search for a specific school. Just make sure to include the school you need in your search.
6. Check all the boxes of the items you wish to create then click on the Add Selected button. A quicker way to add a single object would be to simply click the Add Now link next to the object you wish to create.

(GMs & Players) How do I change the image of an object/my character?

Players can only change their own image while GMs can change the image for any object. To change an image, navigate to the object that you want to change the image for and click on the  icon. A combo box will appear allowing you to select the image you want. 

If you want to upload your own image, click on the  icon in social bar at the bottom of the screen. This will take you your My Images section where you can upload your own personal images to be used in your games. Please take special note of the fact that any dashes (-) found in the filename will be used as directory separators. For example, if you upload an image called weapon-sword-sword1.png, it will be found in the (user)/(weapon)/(sword)/sword1.png folders when picking the image (it is always put in the user directory for image you upload yourself). So make sure to rename your images to organize them and make them easier to find!

TIP: Remember! Images you upload yourself will always be found in the (user) directory when picking an image.

(GMs) Can I change the way the token looks on the map?

If you navigate to the object you want to change the token for, then click on the  icon, you will be given a list of options. 

Here is what each of them do and look like:

Example Icon	Token Type Name	Description
	Standard Token	This is the default token style. It has a checkbox, a 3D looking backing and the object image (or name if no image is specified).
	Small Token	This version excludes the large backing but also excludes any image or name. A mouse-over the token will reveal the name however.
	Small Token No Checkbox	As the name suggests, its the small token but without a checkbox. It will be hard to target this object without the checkbox but it has it's uses.
	Zoomable No Backing	Zoomable means when the map is zoomed in and out, these tokens will scale appropriately as oppose to the other token types which will always stay the same size. This version of the zoomable token type has a checkbox. To make it easy to target for scripted combat actions (like Attack).
	Zoomable No Backing No Checkbox	This is the same as the previous zoomable type (read for details) except it has no checkbox. This is great for objects you don't often need to target for scripted actions.
	No Backing	This token type is very rarely used. Use it only for special objects that should always be shown at full scale (regardless of the zoom of the map).
	No Backing No Checkbox	This is the same as the No Backing token type but it is without a checkbox. Again, this type has very few uses.

(GMs) What do all the other icons do?

There is a row of icons on every object that allow the GM to control certain properties or perform certain actions on the object. I will list what each icon does. You may also mouse-over each of the icons to get an in-game hint telling you what each one does.

1. Make sure you're in the World tab.
2. Select the object you wish to move, if the object is already on the map, selecting it will cause its token to become green.
3. Double click on the map to place the token.

1. Navigate to the location you want to apply FOW to
2. Click the  button in the FOW cloud box.
3. Give your cloud an appropriate name, usually the name of the room you are covering (you can't rename it!)
4. Make sure your cloud is selected in the dropdown box in the FOW cloud section/box. If you have more than one cloud already, it may not be selected by default when you create a new one.
5. Then click the  button in the RIGHT box (the blotches section), its NOT the same one you clicked the first time.
6. If you move your mouse over the map, you'll see a new blotch attached to your mouse. Set the Size of the blotch as needed (the default is 30). 
7. Now double click on the map to apply the blotch to the map.
8. Repeat from step 5 to apply more blotches to your cloud.
   TIP: You have to click the green plus button every time! The same goes for the red X button for deleting.
   TIP: If you want to stop cancel adding a new blotch or deleting a blotch, you gotta refresh the page (there is no cancel button yet).

Revealing/hiding areas with the clouds

If you make a mistake and need to delete a blotch, use the  in the blotches box on the far right of the screen. NOT the Delete button just above it.

• 
  Race: This is just a basic indication of the type of character/monster object this is. The scripts use this in some cases (specifically if it is set to Monster or Monster (With Class)). But its use is limited to character/monster creation when it is created using the New Objects link in the GMs World tab. 
• Level/HD: Currently, this value is just a simple number. Once multi-classing is implemented, it will likely be automatically calculated by adding up your class levels. A leveling object will be in charge of making this value change (as of writing this, said object is not yet created).
• Hitpoints: This is automatically generated when a character/monster is created. In the case of a character/monster with a class, it is generated when the Character Stat Generator has it's Finished action clicked. If you are playing manually or need to adjust hitpoints manually, the GM can change this value however he sees fit.
• AC: This is automatically generated and takes into account any armor and shield you have have directly on your person.
  TIP: It will NOT include any equipment you have in your inventory. Only things directly under your character will be included in this total.
• Movement: The number of squares you can move in a single turn.
• Gold: The amount of gold you're currently carrying.
• STR/DEX/MIND/CHA: These are your character's primary stats. A GM can modify these as he sees fit. They may also be modified during the character creation process until a character is completely created (when all the  Player/Character Options have been taken care of).
• Melee/Ranged/Magic:  These are your attack bonuses. They are also automatically calculated BUT, in some cases, there may be something that is not taken into account. You should make sure you're aware of this and notify your GM to modify the rolls or DC accordingly. However, in most cases, these should be right and I will strive to ensure they are always right.
• Initative: When engaging in battle, the Battle Controller (that GMs use to control the flow of battle) will roll your initiative for you. The value you find here will be a standard Microlite20 initiative roll +100. I've had to add 100 to avoid negative numbers because they mess with the calculations and make the script more complicated (yes, its the easy way out :p). If you're wondering what your actual initiative is, just subtract 100.
  TIP: Any conflicts will be resolved by re-rolling, the results of which can be seen as decimals.
• Combat Action Points: At the beginning of each round, characters that are able to act are given 5 action points. An attack costs 3 action points while a movement costs 2. You can perform 2 movements in a single round or 1 attack and 1 movement. Combat action points are handled automatically using scripts but if a problem arises that requires manual intervention, your GM can modify this value however he sees fit.

• PHYS/SUB/KNOW/COMM/SURV Bonus: These parameters can be freely edited by the GM to boost/reduce each skill category. Scripts will also use these parameters to modify skill categories.
• Melee/Ranged/Magic Bonus: These parameters can be freely edited by the GM to boost/reduce each attack bonus category (though magic doesn't really work that way). Scripts will also use these parameters to modify the various bonuses. 
• Racial STR/DEX/MIND/CHA Bonus: Each race gets a particular configuration of stat bonuses, this is them. They are consumed during the character/monster creation process and are not used for anything after that. If you see Applied in this parameter, it means it has been consumed successfully and is now reflected in the stat score.
  TIP: Modifying these parameters will do nothing! Ignore them. If you wish to modify stat values, just modify the actual scores themselves.

• Begin Battle:  Select all the characters that are going to be in the first round by checking their checkbox. Then click this action. A handy game message will be created to notify all players of the situation. The action will then do the following:
• Roll initiative for each character.
• Sets each character's Combat Action Points to 5.
• Sets the Battle Controller's "Ordered Units" property to list the order of the combatants as decided by the initiative roll.
• Sets the Battle Controller's "Current Unit" property to show which unit is going first.
• Next Unit: This action will change the Current Unit to become the next unit. A game message will be created to notify of the turn change.
• Add Unit: This action will add additional units to the fray, calculating their initiative and updating the Ordered Units property of the Battle Controller. You have to select all the additional units to add by checking their checkbox before clicking this action.
• End Battle: This will reset all the combatant's combat properties (Initiative and Combat Action Points) as well as the Battle Controller's action points. Future versions of the battle controller may also automatically dole out experience (ELs) to players and/or create treasure (however this is more likely going to occur in as separate actions).

1. Navigate to the Game Root 
2. Click on New Objects
3. Set the Object Class: to be Game Controllers
4. Click Search
5. Click Add Now on the Battle Controller
6. Click on the Battle Controller
7. Click the  icon. This will pin any object to the top grey bar for GMs.

1. Navigate to the character/monster you wish to move.
2. Click on the Standard Move or the Run action (or any other move acftions) listed below or beside the Combat Options object.
3. If you are able to perform this action (if it is your turn, if you have enough combat action points left..etc), a system message will appear telling you how many squares to move on the map.
4. Double click on the game map on the new location for your character/monster.

1. Navigate to the character/monster who is about to make an attack.
2. Find the weapon you're going to use to attack.
3. Check the checkbox of the character/monster you are attacking. (You can only check 1 at a time when using standard weapons)
4. Click the Attack action beside the weapon you're using.

• Falling Damage: The GM would write the roll formulas according to the M20 manuals and then reduce hitpoints accordingly (see Modifying object parameters). If a character dies from falling damage, create a new Dead condition on the character (see Giving characters/monsters a condition (like Dead, Unconscious, Sleeping, Helpless...etc)). His name will be automatically renamed to Name (Dead) when the object is created.

1. Click on the Object Types tab
2. Click on the New Item Type button (yea, it should read New Object Type)
3. Provide a name for your new weapon in the Object Type Name field
4. Select the Weapons option in the Object Class field
5. This is NOT a player object, so keep it unchecked
6. Provide a Description if you feel it necessary. Might be nice for looks.
7. Click the Create button
   TIP: You can't select an image until you create the object first. Its just the way the system works.
8. Now you can select the image you want (see How do I change the image of an object/my character)
   TIP: Make sure you select your image first! If you select your image after modifying parameter values, your changes will be lost!!
9. Now fill in the appropriate parameter values for this weapon
   
• Type - Select the weapon category this weapon falls under. The categories are fairly straight forward.
• Cost - Enter the cost in gold pieces. If the weapon doesn't cost anything, just leave it 0.
• Damage - Enter the damage formula (no need for {{}}, just write the formula like 1d6+2 or 3d8..etc)
• Range - Enter the range in feet, remember, each square is 5 feet. If the weapon offers no additional range, you may leave this field 0 or -.
• Reach  Weapon - Choose Yes if the weapon cannot attack adjacent squares but can attack further squares (based on the range given in the previous field)

(GMs) How do I create my own monsters/NPCs/Races?

1. Click on the Object Types tab
2. Click on the New Item Type button (yea, it should read New Object Type)
3. Provide a name for your new race/monster in the Object Type Name field
4. Select the Characters/Monsters option in the Object Class field
5. If you want your players to be able to choose this race/monster as their character, check the Is Player Object checkbox
6. Provide a Description. The description will be visible to all players who can see the object, so make sure it doesn't give anything away that they shouldn't know.
7. Click the Create button
   TIP: You can't select an image until you create the object first. Its just the way the system works.
8. Now you can select the image you want (see How do I change the image of an object/my character)
   TIP: Make sure you select your image first! If you select your image after modifying parameter values, your changes will be lost!!
9. Now fill in the appropriate parameter values for this new monster/race (make sure to read the instructions for each field, they can be important!)
• RACE - This is a very important field because it determines the algorithm used to generate stats and Player Options. You will want to chose Monster as a race (even if its a human!) if you don't want to manipulate stats or choose a class every time a new instance is created. Monster races will NOT generate the Character Stat Generator, Class Chooser or any other Player/Character Options. It will instead attempt to generate a complete NPC with the stats values or roll formulas you specified. This means that hitpoints are generated immediately instead of after the Finish button is clicked on the Character Stat Generator because there will be no such object!
  The Monster race makes it easy to create low maintenance monsters on a whim because you don't have to go through the character creation process (picking classes, swapping stats around..etc).
• Challenge Rating - Set this to whatever you think is appropriate. Encounter generators will use this to try to generate random encounters that are within a specified CR.
  Note: There are no encounter generators yet! Don't start looking for one :p
• Level/HD - The level or Hit Dice of the monster this is. If you're creating a player usable race, this should always be 1! They can go through the level-up process later. Only Monster types should have something other than 1 specified.
• Hitpoints/Maximum Hitpoints - If you specified Monster as a race, it is mandatory that you set the Maximum Hitpoints to either a value or a dice roll formula (without the {{}}). For example, it could be 12 or 1d8 or 4d6dl1...etc. (See Dice Roll Messages/Formulas for details on dice roll formulas)
• AC -  I suggest leaving this alone. It is automatically calculating the AC based on equipment and dexterity of this monster/race. If you need to up the AC, consider adding armor or other equipment in the Starting Armor or Starting Shield fields. 
  TIP: Make sure you read about how to specify starting equipment, it requires a special formatting!
• Movement - Specifies the number of squares this race/monster can move in a standard move action.
• Gold - Specifies the amount of gold this race/character starts out with. You can specify a random amount using a dice roll formula that INCLUDES the {{}} formatting. For example: {{6d10}}
• STR/DEX/MIND/CHA - Specifies the stats for this race/monster. By default, you will see {{4d6dl1}} in these fields. This dice roll formula means 4d6 drop lowest 1. If you'd rather specify your own formula or a specific value, this is the place to do it!
• Maximum Strength/Dexterity/Mind/Charisma - Leave these alone, they will be filled in automatically.
• STRB/DEXB/MINDB/CHAB - Leave these alone, they are calculated automatically.
• PHYS/SUB/KNOW/COMM/SURV - Leave these alone as well, they are calculated automatically based on Level/HD + <Skill Name> Bonus. 
  TIP: If you need to change these for your race (a common thing to do), modify the PHYS/SUB/KNOW/COMM/SURV Bonus field instead.
• Melee/Ranged/Magic - These are calculated automatically, they don't need to be modified. If you need to change these for your race, modify the Melee/Ranged/Magic Bonus field instead.
• Initiative...to...Range Attacks Remaining - All 4 of these fields are combat related and controlled by the Battle Controller. Just leave them as dashes (-).
• Bonus fields and Racial Bonus fields - This is where you specify race related bonuses. If there is no bonus, just leave them as blank or 0. 
• Starting fields - These are special fields that create sub-objects on this race/monster when it gets created. For example, if you want to provide your monster with a Long Sword, you would specify it in the Starting Weapons category. You MUST ensure that the object exists! It may not complain about missing object types, so the equipment/abilities you specify will simply be missing with no explanation. These fields require very special formatting and the details of which is described next...

Specifying starting equipment/armor/abilities fields require special formatting

These fields (example: Starting Weapons, Starting Armor, Starting Abilities..etc) are special in that they require a special formatting. I'm going to give a number of examples so you can learn by seeing:

• A adding a single dagger to the Starting Weapons field:
• <<Dagger>>
• Adding a Long Sword and a Shortbow to the Starting Weapons field:
• <<Long Sword>><<Shortbow>>
• Adding a long sword with a different damage formula:
• <<Long Sword(Damage: 2d6)>>
• Adding a Longbow with a different damage and range:
• <<Longbow (Damage: 2d10 & Range: 50)>>
• Adding a Shortbow with a poison in it:
• <<Shortbow <<Drow Poison>>>>
• Adding a Shortbow with a poison in it and a different Damage and Range:
• <<Shortbow (Damage: 2d6 & Range: 60) <<Drow Poison>>>>

That should pretty much cover everything. You can see you have a wide variety of customization options when it comes to adding starting equipment and abilities. Keep in mind that you can also add things like Player/Character Options as well (like the Stat Bonus object) which allow further customization during the character creation process.

Microlite20 features and controls

The game system contains numerous helper objects and scripts to keep things running smoothly and somewhat automated. For example, there is an automatic storefront object that allows players to buy their goods without the help of the GM, while ensuring they go over budget. 

Automatic, player character storefronts

If the GM desires, a storefront can be setup for players to purchase goods automatically. A storefront object can be populated with Weapons, Armor, Shields and Items, all of which have a Cost (in gold). 

TIP: If you wish to modify the cost of the objects in the store, you may do so by editing the objects you have filled the store with. 

TIP: Only the cost of an object can be modified, any modifications of any other parameters (like damage) will simply be ignored and the original Object Type's value will be used instead.

Setting up your storefront

1. Create a new storefront object (its under Game Controllers)
   (see How do I create monsters/NPCs/equipment/items for object creation details).
2. Move the storefront object to whatever location your players are (or they wont be able to access it. Keep in mind when the buying period is over, remove the store from that location so the players can no longer access stores. I suggest putting it in the Game Root when they're done.)
   (see How do I move game objects from one location/object to another)
3. Now create all the Weapons, Armor, Shields and Items that should be available directly into the storefront object.
4. Optional: Modify the prices of the objects to suite your needs by navigating to each object you created in the storefront, clicking the Edit button beside the parameters label and change the Cost.
   (see Modifying object parameters for parameter editing details)
5. Optional: I also suggest renaming your storefront. For example, for a weapon shop, try renaming your storefront to Weapon Shop. 
   (see What do all the other icons do for renaming details). 

How to use a storefront

Players are supposed to be able to use a storefront without the aid of the GM to buy their equipment and goods automatically. 

1. Navigate to the location where both you (the character) and the storefront are located in the World tab (note: players are always on the world tab now).
2. Click the player's checkbox (the checkbox of your character if you're a player) and then click the Begin action on the storefront.
   The storefront object will be transferred into your character and the player will now be able to browse what is contained within the storefront.
3. Navigate to the storefront which is now located within the character you chose checked.
4. Browser the goods in the store, you may click on the items to see their parameters (cost, damage, description...etc).
5. Check any goods you wish to buy and then click the Buy Item action that you can see in the storefront.
6. Important: It is very important that when you're finished with the store, that you click the Finished action on the storefront object. This will release the store to be used by other players. The storefront will be returned to the location which it was taken.

Encounter Roller

This is an object that allows the GM to a random, pre-programmed event. The result of the roll will simply be stated (hidden to the players) in a system message for the GM to see. For example, you may want to roll 1d6 where 1 and 2 result in nothing, 3 and 4 result in an encounter with an orc and 5 and 6 result in an encounter with 1d4 orcs. This object allows you to roll these kinds of things with a single click, the result of which is displayed nicely in a system message.

How to setup the encounter roller

1. Create a new Encounter Roller object wherever you want. If you will be using this roller often, you may want to pin it.
2. Edit the description of the Encounter Roller to tell the GM when it should be used as well as any other relevant notes about the roller and its actions.
3. Edit the parameters of the Encounter Roller. First specify a Roll Formula that will be used. This should just be a basic dice roll formula, nothing special. Make sure you don't wrap the formula in curly braces {{}}.
4. Now specify the Roll Result using the following format: 
   #-#=Text, #-#=Text, #=Text....etc
   
   Here is an actual example:
   Roll Formula: 1d6
   Roll Result: 1-3=Nothing happens, 4=The player finds a key on the ground! (only once, otherwise, nothing happens), 5-6=1d4 rats start attacking the players

When it is time to roll the formula, just click the Roll action on the encounter roller. A new system message will be created with the result of the roll and the message will be hidden from players. 

Campaign: Room Package

This is another Game Controller object that allows a campaign/adventure designer to store the contents of a room within an object for later unpacking. For example, if you had a room with 10 enemies, 12 crates and 2 chests, it might be very difficult to play with so much stuff littering the world. This object allows you to pack all those objects up until they actually need to be used in the game. It is also a convenient way of hiding objects that cannot be seen by players (until they enter the room). 

How to setup the room package

1. Put all the objects that will be hidden in this room package where they should be on the map. Set them up the way they should be when the players see the room for the first time.
2. Create a new Campaign: Room Package object in the location where your room is. It is a Game Controller object class. And place the object on the map where the room is (so its easier to find).
3. Rename the room package to reflect the room it pertains to. For example, if it is a package for room number 3, you might call it Room 3 Package.
4. Now check all the objects you wish to hide in the package.
5. Then click the Pack action on the package object.