Battletech Character Creator

Modern .NET migration

A new WPF implementation is being developed in src/. It targets .NET 10 and keeps compatibility with existing .btcc character files. The original Qt application remains in the repository as a reference during migration.

This project is based on bearchik's original BattleTech Character Creator. The original Qt application, data, and design provide the foundation for this modern .NET migration.

The new Create flow includes affiliations, early and late childhood, higher education, basic, advanced, and specialist education fields, and all 46 Stage 4 real-life module variants, representing all 24 base modules in the corrected printing. Module effects, choices, prerequisites, repeat restrictions, and module-specific repeat penalties are implemented in the Core library. The wizard supports two ordered careers, including legal repeat modules and career-to-career prerequisites. ComStar and Word of Blake characters also select a full-cost birth affiliation. All 68 corrected Stage 0 sub-affiliation XP packages are included. The legacy equipment, weapon, skill, trait, career, subskill, and description catalogs are imported as structured .NET data for the editor.

Rules are verified against A Time of War: The BattleTech RPG, Corrected Third Printing. See docs/RULES_SOURCE.md for the authoritative page map and migration policy. Optional material from A Time of War Companion is tracked in docs/COMPANION_AUDIT.md. The original Qt application is an implementation reference, not the final authority when it conflicts with the corrected rulebook.

Build the new application with:

dotnet build BattletechCharacterCreator.sln
dotnet run --project src/BattletechCharacterCreator.App

Run the dependency-free migration checks with:

dotnet run --project tests/BattletechCharacterCreator.Tests

The application provides a Life Module character wizard and a detailed character editor for A Time of War.

Interface mockups

These development mockups show the current direction of the .NET interface. Layouts and details may continue to change before the first stable release.

Start screen

Character wizard

Character editor

Development status

The .NET migration is approximately 80% complete. There is not yet a stable or packaged release.

Completed

• .NET 10 and WPF application foundation
• Character wizard from basic information through Stage 4
• All affiliations and 68 corrected sub-affiliations
• Life-path effects, prerequisites, repeat rules, and flexible XP allocation
• Character editor with guided Attribute, Trait, and Skill XP controls
• Searchable equipment and weapon catalogs with quantity-aware totals
• Legacy .btcc character save and load compatibility
• Official character-sheet PDF preview and export
• Automated tests covering major Inner Sphere, Periphery, ComStar, and Clan paths

Remaining

• Import selected optional character options from A Time of War Companion
• Expand equipment and weapon purchasing details
• Continue interface polish and usability testing
• Strengthen error handling and recovery
• Complete the final rulebook audit
• Create a Windows installer and packaged release

License

Only for Non-commercial use. Battletech Character Creator is free software, and is released under the terms of the Creative Commons license version 3 or (at your option) any later version. See https://creativecommons.org/