Separator Characters

Background

There is an issue as far as long-term consistency for the use of characters to represent logical "AND" and "OR"

This document uses CHOOSE:TEMPLATE (since it doesn't exist) as an example. For additional CHOOSE tokens and proposals, you can see Architecture Changes 5.17

To readers: Please add additional options if you have additional ideas. You may find the Data LST Standards useful to look at reserved characters.

Option #1, Using Pipe as an OR separator, Using Comma as an AND separator

Using Primitives

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|Template1|Template2

...allows a choice of Template1 or Template2

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|TYPE=Foo|!TYPE=Bar

...allows a choice of any Template that is either TYPE=Foo or not TYPE=Bar

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|TYPE=Foo,!TYPE=Bar

...allows a choice of any Template that is both TYPE=Foo and not TYPE=Bar

Using Single a Qualifier

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|PC[TYPE=Foo|!TYPE=Bar]

...allows a choice of any Template that the character already has, where the Template is either TYPE=Foo or not TYPE=Bar

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|PC[TYPE=Foo,!TYPE=Bar]

...allows a choice of any Template that the character already has, where the Template is both TYPE=Foo and not TYPE=Bar

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|PC[TYPE=Foo,!TYPE=Bar|TYPE=Goo]

...allows a choice of any Template that the character already has, where the Template is (a) both TYPE=Foo and not TYPE=Bar OR (b) TYPE=Goo

Using Multiple Qualifiers

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|PC[TYPE=Foo|!TYPE=Bar]|QUALIFIED[TYPE=Goo]

...allows a choice of (a) Any Template that the character already has, where the Template is either TYPE=Foo or not TYPE=Bar OR (b) Any Template the PC is qualified to take that is TYPE=Goo

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|PC[TYPE=Foo,!TYPE=Bar],QUALIFIED[TYPE=Goo]

...allows a choice of: (a) Any Template that the character already has, where the Template is both TYPE=Foo and not TYPE=Bar AND (b) Any Template the PC is qualified to take that is TYPE=Goo

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|PC[TYPE=Foo,!TYPE=Bar|TYPE=Goo]|QUALIFIED,!PC

...allows a choice of: (a) Any Template that the character already has, where the Template is (a1) both TYPE=Foo and not TYPE=Bar OR (a2) TYPE=Goo OR (b) Any Template that the PC is qualified to take, but has not yet taken.

Discussion

• Note that this is the existing syntax used in the CHOOSE proposals as they are shown on the Wiki. [TRP]

Insert comments on option #1 here.

Option #2, Using Comma as an OR separator, Using Ampersand as an AND separator

Using Primitives

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|Template1,Template2

...allows a choice of Template1 or Template2

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|TYPE=Foo,!TYPE=Bar

...allows a choice of any Template that is either TYPE=Foo or not TYPE=Bar

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|TYPE=Foo&!TYPE=Bar

...allows a choice of any Template that is both TYPE=Foo and not TYPE=Bar

Using Single a Qualifier

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|PC[TYPE=Foo,!TYPE=Bar]

...allows a choice of any Template that the character already has, where the Template is either TYPE=Foo or not TYPE=Bar

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|PC[TYPE=Foo&!TYPE=Bar]

...allows a choice of any Template that the character already has, where the Template is both TYPE=Foo and not TYPE=Bar

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|PC[TYPE=Foo&!TYPE=Bar,TYPE=Goo]

...allows a choice of any Template that the character already has, where the Template is (a) both TYPE=Foo and not TYPE=Bar OR (b) TYPE=Goo

Using Multiple Qualifiers

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|PC[TYPE=Foo,!TYPE=Bar],QUALIFIED[TYPE=Goo]

...allows a choice of (a) Any Template that the character already has, where the Template is either TYPE=Foo or not TYPE=Bar OR (b) Any Template the PC is qualified to take that is TYPE=Goo

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|PC[TYPE=Foo&!TYPE=Bar]&QUALIFIED[TYPE=Goo]

...allows a choice of: (a) Any Template that the character already has, where the Template is both TYPE=Foo and not TYPE=Bar AND (b) Any Template the PC is qualified to take that is TYPE=Goo

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|PC[TYPE=Foo&!TYPE=Bar,TYPE=Goo],QUALIFIED&!PC

...allows a choice of: (a) Any Template that the character already has, where the Template is (a1) both TYPE=Foo and not TYPE=Bar OR (a2) TYPE=Goo OR (b) Any Template that the PC is qualified to take, but has not yet taken.

Discussion

• I think this is a problem, as ampersand is not a reserved character in PCGen. This is used in actual data that we ship, and thus we would expect homebrews to feel this character is also legal. Therefore, in order to implement this properly, we end up having to have a Data Converter, as this will break existing PCs. (which is the open FREQ, not the item completed for 5.16). While I think this is a nice idea, I think the hurdle is too large to do this quickly. [TRP]

Insert other comments on option #2 here.

Option #3, Using <OR> as an OR separator, Using <AND> as an AND separator

Using Primitives

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|Template1<OR>Template2

...allows a choice of Template1 or Template2

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|TYPE=Foo<OR>!TYPE=Bar

...allows a choice of any Template that is either TYPE=Foo or not TYPE=Bar

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|TYPE=Foo<AND>!TYPE=Bar

...allows a choice of any Template that is both TYPE=Foo and not TYPE=Bar

Using Single a Qualifier

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|PC[TYPE=Foo<OR>!TYPE=Bar]

...allows a choice of any Template that the character already has, where the Template is either TYPE=Foo or not TYPE=Bar

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|PC[TYPE=Foo<AND>!TYPE=Bar]

...allows a choice of any Template that the character already has, where the Template is both TYPE=Foo and not TYPE=Bar

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|PC[TYPE=Foo<AND>!TYPE=Bar<OR>TYPE=Goo]

...allows a choice of any Template that the character already has, where the Template is (a) both TYPE=Foo and not TYPE=Bar OR (b) TYPE=Goo

Using Multiple Qualifiers

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|PC[TYPE=Foo<OR>!TYPE=Bar]<OR>QUALIFIED[TYPE=Goo]

...allows a choice of (a) Any Template that the character already has, where the Template is either TYPE=Foo or not TYPE=Bar OR (b) Any Template the PC is qualified to take that is TYPE=Goo

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|PC[TYPE=Foo<AND>!TYPE=Bar]<AND>QUALIFIED[TYPE=Goo]

...allows a choice of: (a) Any Template that the character already has, where the Template is both TYPE=Foo and not TYPE=Bar AND (b) Any Template the PC is qualified to take that is TYPE=Goo

CHOOSE:TEMPLATE|PC[TYPE=Foo<AND>!TYPE=Bar<OR>TYPE=Goo]<OR>QUALIFIED<AND>!PC

...allows a choice of: (a) Any Template that the character already has, where the Template is (a1) both TYPE=Foo and not TYPE=Bar OR (a2) TYPE=Goo OR (b) Any Template that the PC is qualified to take, but has not yet taken.

Discussion

• I Have a similar concern here to option #2, as we have not reserved < or > as restricted characters. < and > are used in actual data that we ship, and thus we would expect homebrews to feel this character is also legal. There is less risk of using (literally) <OR> or <AND>, which makes this somewhat safer than option #2. However, this does introduce restrictions on data naming. In order to implement this without risk, we end up having to have a Data Converter, as this will break existing PCs. (which is the open FREQ, not the item completed for 5.16). I think the hurdle is too large to do the FREQ converter quickly. [TRP]

Insert comments on option #3 here.