There are several programs available on the Internet for taking RPG tables and automatically generating the results. This is not one of them. Instead, this approaches the issue from the other direction; allowing the user to assemble a list of things, assign numbers to them to indicate their general likelihood, and then processing them to get a table the user can roll dice on during play.
It works by loading a text file (referred to as a .TIN file because it has the suffix .TIN, natch!) and processing that. The user can then choose whether to output the results as a plain-text file (.TXT) or a snazzy HTM web page.
This is not slick but it is easy. Unzip the provided files into whatever folder you like. Create a shortcut to SHARES7.EXE. Er, that's it.
Personally, I find it easier to make these up from Windows; Notepad does it just fine, but for real style, try TextPad (http://www.textpad.com) which is a real arse-kicker of an editor.
The first line is free text, and will form the table title. After that, each line should contain the text string for the result, followed by a number in curly brackets. Obviously, curly brackets are banned from the text portion! Here's an example:
Swords Table for Conan
Longsword {50}
Short sword {25}
Embarrasingly tiddly rapier {1}
So, what we're saying here is that the longsword is 50 times more likely to come up than the rapier, and quite right too, while the short sword is 25 times more likely than the rapier and about half as likely as the longsword.
Start Shares7 by double-clicking Shares7.exe. You'll notice that half the options are greyed out; you need to have loaded some data before you can use them. Press 1 to load a TIN file. The load dialog will default to the current directory, so it should locate the table files OK. Use the bar to select the file you want and press Return to load it.
Now the GENERATE option is lit up on the main menu. Press Return to start generating. A screen a bit like this will appear:
Shares v 8.4
Rcds: 3 Shares: 76 Bias: -1.0000 One: 1.3158 Die: d 100
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOP 101.5 BIAS-1 MODIFY .5
Successful completion
If the value of TOP oscillates without producing a result, press + or -
to alter the value of MODIFY. If this still does not help, press S to stop,
re-edit and change some share values.
Normally, generation should take a fingersnap. If, however, the numbers keep changing and the "Successful Completion" doesn't appear, SHARES is having trouble with the weighting of one "share" and needs a fudge factor. You have two options here.
If the generate has worked, the display will change after two seconds to a listing of the final table.
Shares v 8.4
Rcds: 3 Shares: 76 Bias: -1.0000 One: 1.3158 Die: d 100
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Swords Table for Conan
d 100 Result
------ ------
1 - 65 Longsword
66 - 98 Short sword
99 - 100 Embarrasingly tiddly rapier
Page on Exit Write to .TXT Write to .HTM
You can save it from here; use the L and R arrows and Enter to work the bar menu.
Pressing Q on almost any menu or dialog will bomb the program out - without "Do you want to save?" warnings!
I can't imagine this giving much trouble, it's too damned simple. But if you have questions or problems, contact me at