Barrelmaker: Small Batch Code & Creative

Core Disciplines:

• Application Design
• Vanilla Javascript & React.js
• Eleventy.js (Static Site Generator)
• Webpack
• HTML/CSS
• Netlify Hosting Platform

Introduction

Crown & Skull is an innovated tabletop roleplaying game by Runehammer Games.

Due to the highly configurable nature of Crown & Skull character builds, Runehammer Games reached out to Barrelmaker to develop a character generation application that would function primarily as a way for players to confirm the viability of their character ideas. In addition to the choice-based functionality, Runehammer also requested that every aspect of the character be selectable at random. Finally, a downloadable PDF character sheet would be generated for players to take to the table.

The Design

The Crown & Skull character generator was designed to visually match the printed source book. The design is minimalistic, sparse, and works great on any device.

The Code & Infrastructure

The application was originally built with Eleventy.js and vanilla Javascript, with JSON for core data. Since the intent was to focus more on the "calculator-like" functionality–rather than building a full service character manager like DnD Beyond–complex state management, local storage data persistence, and data storage and recall were deemed out of scope. Barrelmaker focused on a server-generated, non-dynamic structure that would render incredibly fast for players at the table who wanted the application to be bullet proof.

The Future

Crown & Skull was not originally conceptualized as a full service digital toolkit for players to create, run, and manage their characters like DnD Beyond. However, Barrelmaker is in the process of updating Crown & Skull with user accounts, character update and storage capabilities, as well as device responsive character sheets that can be used in game. For this update we are utilizing React.js with sophisticated state management and persistant local storage so that unsaved character updates aren't lost.