Case study: Pathfinder Dashboard

Introduction to Pathfinder Dashboard

Summary

🎯 The Objective

To create an online tool for GameMasters of Pathfinder 2nd edition that will help find creatures, track combat, hp, and creature info;

🥵 The Problem

Most encounter trackers for Pathfinder 2e don't show creature statistics on the same screen as the encounter information, meaning you have to switch between tabs a lot. Most also have separate modes for making an encounter, and running the encounter, which creates extra work for the GM.

📚 Insights

All required information should be visible on the same page. Not other tabs.
All GMs have different preferences, so the webapp should feature lots of customization and options, and not force users to use features they don't like.
While the webapp is mostly focused on improving quality of life, larger features are what users request the most.

🔍 Explorations

The project started at first for D&D using Windows Forms and screenshots, which was fast, but ugly, and had little functionality.
Pathfinder Dashboard version 1 used vanilla javascript, and static statblocks created using a C# script. This severly limited functionality and caused many problems.
The newest verion uses the Vue framework, which allows for lots of functionality, and to let me add features quicker.

💊 Final solution

The app is easy to understand, flexible, has many quality of life features, and is easy to update and improve. There is also an active discord community for bug reports and feature requests.

💥 Impact

At least hundreds of people use Pathfinder Dashboard often, and I've received many positive reviews, and created an active online community for the app.

What I learned

With enthusiasm, it's easy to create something very valuable.
HTML, CSS, JavaScript, C# (database processing), WinForms and WPF with XAML (previous versions).
Using generative AI to vastly speed up development and design.

Reviews

This is amazing! Its so clean and fast and easy to use. My DM has been having trouble planning combats and this is the perfect tool for him. [...] its so comfortable to have the initiative quickly added to the list AND its info!? Just great :D
from Reddit

[...] I had no idea this would be the day that forever made my life as GM easier. This is incredible!!!
from Reddit

This is the exact thing I have been looking for as a DM!
from Reddit

It is so responsive and quick. I am using this for my Extinction Curse game tonight!
from Reddit