Character Simulator & Formation Builder beta 2

In the last news, I wrote you heard about the game tools soon, so it is!

Today, both Character Simulator & Formation Builder released in version beta 2. Their code have been fully rewritten, and bring the following improvements and new features:

Character Simulator

• One-step creation process, instead of three. Creating new characters or editing your mercenaries is much faster.
• More compact format, especially in width. So compatibility with small screen resolutions (1024x768) is better.
• Better support of game rules. In its first versions, it was possible to specify enchanted arrows or mounts, no it isn't. In a few words, the simulator is more clever. Try to equip an archer with armors and a weapon, then change the class to cannon: the armors will be kept (as they both are Long Range mercenaries), but the bow weapon will be reseted.
• Equipment part is fully visual, and very intuitive. All ingame icons from Atlantica have be added: players just have to click the slot (gloves, helmet...), a list of available items will appear, matching the class and the level of the character. Picking up an item will add it.
• Bonus and Skill points sums are calculated in real-time, with a color code related to the theorical maximum.
• Privacy option is now available, so you can show each character to everybody, or choose to keep it private. In future development, it will also be possible to share your mercenaries with other players from your guild...
• Main built-in characters have been reviewed. Instead of lvl 1 basic characters, they are now level 101 with an equipment similar to their D-class mercenary (i.e. Main Sword has the same gear as Hero Gyebaek). So comparisons will be easier.
• Experimental PvP (Free League) support: both PvE and PvP (Free League) stats are displayed now. As I didn't have the possibility to do numerous tests (especially with highly enchanted gear), I'm not sure about them - but tests I did (and Xadavus too) were right. I hope your feedbacks will confirm or improve these values.
• As a consequence, the My characters page in your accounts has been rebuilt too (example: Test account). It shows more info in a more visual way. And of course, characters with a private access will be invisible to others.

Formation Builder

• Previewed creation mode, instead of a dispersed pictures. The generated picture (artistic format) will be almost the same as the preview!
• More compact format, especially in width. So compatibility with small screen resolutions (1024x768) is better.
• Support for hero pictures. Hero mercenaries have different pictures in Atlantica Online (usually more colored), the Formation Builder now handles them (artistic format).
• Improved text font (artistic format). Sure, it's less artistic, but it's cleaner, makes it possible to write longer names (on two lines instead of one). The name of the formation now appears at the bottom of the picture, and levels of each mercenary at the top-left of their portrait.
• Pictures automatically generated on save. When registered users save their formation, both pictures (artistic and tiny format) are automatically generated. No more confusion with various links for each task, just pick up the correct option on the generation form.
• Privacy option is now available, so you can show each character to everybody, or choose to keep it private. In future development, it will also be possible to share your mercenaries with other players from your guild...
• As a consequence, the My formations page in your accounts has been rebuilt too (example: Test account). It shows more info in a more visual way. And of course, formations with a private access will be invisible to others.
• Built-in mercenaries usable: you can add any of the 121 built-in characters or mercenaries in your formations.

About convertion

Existing characters and formations have been converted to support beta 2 (new format in database). Due to better game rules handling, some may have been automatically modified. However:

• Anonymous simulated characters (normally deleted after 48 hours) haven't been kept.
• Artistic pictures have not been converted, to give the possibility for people to save them. To update in the new format, just edit/save your formation again, the old picture will be erased.

With this major update, those two game tools get a "satisfactory" level of quality, and I think they are much easier and nicer to use.
Despite of tests and tens of work hours, bugs may be present so don't hesitate to report them. Most of time they are easy and fast to correct.

What's coming next now?
Let's finish this game tools period with a new in-game-titles handling and Craft Calculator beta 2.