Hero Lab Online

[LokiTheWanderer]

Since it was brought up at the session this past weekend, Hero Lab Online has now gone from Beta to open for subscription.  As of a few moments ago, the licensing is shown as being valid for 6 months, at a price of $34.99.  There will be options to renew for 6 or 12 months, but, the only current options are for a new purchase, or a conversion from Demo to Live.

[TheMaskedFerret]

Yeah... $70 a year. Only worth it if they already include all Starfinder updates.

I miss the desktop application.

[Steve Johnston]

I have not been impressed with what I've seen of Hero Lab Online, but the developers say it won't cost $70 a year. It's $34.99 for the Starfinder Core Rulebook, but server access will be a recurring charge.

Here's what they posted on their official forums today:
http://forums.wolflair.com/showthread.php?t=60012

That is an oversight in our description and the fault is ours for not catching it. We had initially planned to have server access available for purchase in the store at launch, which explained this, but a last minute issue prevented us from having it up in time. Unfortunately, in all the chaos, no one thought to go add something to the descriptions of what we do have that answered this perfectly understandable question. I apologize for any confusion this has caused! 

I will have a lot of official answers up later today.

But wheredoigo is correct. It will not cost $70 a year. It will work like Hero Lab Classic does now only with the addition of server access. When you purchase the core rules, you get free service time along with it. After that expires you can choose to pay for 180 days of service at $14.99 or 365 days of service for $24.99. 

Considering what Hero Lab Online is offering and the ongoing cost for server access, I'd rather make and maintain my characters on old-fashioned paper.

[Doonamis]

I wonder if each book you purchase is going to end up with more server time as well. That could skirt the recurring fees since I tend to buy each book anyway. Basically, then it would work exactly like Hero Lab Classic does for me now.

[TheMaskedFerret]

If they did that, it might be worth it...

[liamfisher]

$2 a month for server access and storage - the first book comes with 6 months of service. That seems to be the model.

[LokiTheWanderer]

Based on what I saw yesterday, since they released Alien Archive, it does not extend the server time when purchasing an additional book.

[LokiTheWanderer]

I just received an email from Lone Wolf Development, asking me to take part in a Beta release for Hero Lab Online as they add new features, including PF2 errata, tactical consoles, encounter building, etc.  I've agreed to take part and will use this thread to keep everyone up to date on what I see being added as well as how it's working.  I will also be asking for people who have been involved in the PF2 playtest (which I have not even had a chance to review) to review anything I see and let me know their thoughts.

[TheMaskedFerret]

Keep us informed!

[LokiTheWanderer]

So far, the heaviest testing is around having multiple devices/browsers logged in at the same time and to have any updates made in one session to automatically update in all others. The auto-updating has been inconsistent, at best.

I have submitted a few bug reports on a few existing items in the production environment:
1) Efficient Bandolier, per the Core Rulebook, is supposed to be able to only carry ammunition. In HLO, it is acting as a standard container, permitting any item to be stored within it.

2) Heavy Armor Proficiency has a strength minimum of 13. HLO does not block the addition of heavy armor on a soldier that does not meet the minimum strength.