Setting up AutoHarp

AutoHarp allows you to create and update your character.  Each level there is a new (house-made) Training Package that needs to be added to your installation.

If you are installing in Windows 10 – make sure to install to a directory that is NOT under “Program Files”.  If you do install there, you will not be able to print your characters, but other functions will work OK.

The first time you update, you should unzip the ” House Rules” book into the directory (assuming you’re using Windows):

<install directory>\Harp Databases\Harp Sci-Fi

This will create a sub-directory named “House Rules”.  When you run Auto-Harp, make sure to open this “book” along with the main rules (and Xtreme if you have it).

Then each level, add into the “House Rules” subdirectory the latest TrainingPackagesFromHouseRules.xml file (emailed to players).

For creation of characters, we allow 150 points for the 1st level characters rather than the standard 100.  To achieve this, edit the file:

<install directory>\preferences.xml

Replace the lines mentioning Development points to this:

<DevelopmentPoints>
    <UseRegularRules>false</UseRegularRules>
    <CustomRules>(_LEVEL_==1?75:50)</CustomRules>
</DevelopmentPoints>

That makes you get 75 points for level one, doubled – because the rules automatically double points at first level.  Then 50 points for every level after that.  The editor built into the program does not save the changes to the “CustomRules” XML section correctly, which is why you need to manually edit the file.