Hey all, me again trying to pick your brains before I get into running the GPC.

I've been generating the families of my PKs and am wondering how people go about keeping track of it all? Most of today I've been hunting around for different family tree software and having little luck getting something that's. . . pleasant to use.

Anyone got any tips or even made up a basic family tree chart that they'd be willing to share?

There is some software (Domesday, Windows only) that can generate a family tree if you like.

For our campaign each player generates their own family. Some have done so more than others; but, nobody has fully utilized all knights assigned at character generation. I really don't find it necessary to pregenerate the entire family and do think it very useful to leave most of the family in reserve to generate at need. You never know when you'll find yourself in need of an adventure and can throw in that second cousin knight from Lindsey or the like.

I use SmartDraw which has a built in Family Tree template. It allows you to add siblings, descendants, spouses, etc at the touch of a button. It's not perfect but it is quick and easy to use and you can always manipulate the final image a bit in Photoshop to suit your needs.

Here are some examples from my campaign created using just such a method;
http://kap5.smugmug.com/History/Knights-of-Salisbury/7988096_7buVb
(http://kap5.smugmug.com/History/Knights-of-Salisbury/7988096_7buVb)

That looks pretty neat Pramalot, I'll give it a try! All I found was professional stuff that was either too complex or half the functions were locked.

ewilde, aye, I agree, I've left all the males in the family who aren't knights out of the family trees but I've kept the aunts, uncles, brothers, and sisters in, as well as the people who make up the family knights, the others can appear as needed. :)

Nice work on the family trees. Pramalot. Does Smartdraw have a freeware or shareware version? I see there's a free trial - does it expire?

Nice work on the family trees. Pramalot. Does Smartdraw have a freeware or shareware version? I see there's a free trial - does it expire?


It does have a free trial but it does expire. I use it for work - and of course it comes in handy for Pendragon too. TBH there's nothing it does that you couldn't do by hand in Photoshop, but it makes it a lot quicker and simpler.

I use Family tree maker; a lot of functions I dont use, but quite intuitive to use. And i makes pdf:s.

Is there somewhere a free/open-source package/software for this?

fg,
Thijs

I have a few suggestions here (http://www.gspendragon.com/roundtable/index.php?topic=1165.0)