So tomorrow I run my first Ars Magica game! This is a big deal. I've been wanting to play this game for years but my friends have been slavishly devoted to D&D. I downloaded Metacreator to help in preparation of this momentous event, which for the most part has been very helpful in creating NPCs on the fly (though I have noticed that the random generation feature isn't really all that random-- an Irish Grog minstrel has a hunchback every time
I've recently tried to create an ogre using the creature template/sheet, but the software seems to revert back to 4th Edition. Is this my imagination?
Although the web page http://www.alteregosoftware.com/ states that creature creation is a feature of the software for 5th edition, the template definitely seems to be for 4th edition.
Ack!!!! If I only spent a couple a more minutes before posting!!!
Select New.
Game system -> Ars Magica 5.
File type -> Character Sheet.
Template -> ArsMagica5.cst.
Press OK.
Generate Character Window:
Type -> Creature
Gender -> Your choice.
Add Template Data -> Select this check box.
Age -> Your choice.
Press Load Data button.
Load Data Sheet Window:
Make sure Beasts.mds is in the Load Data Sheets text box. I don't know what happend if you put this in the Always Loaded text box, so I would just leave it here. You probably want to load all the other data sheets too, although this is a guess.
Press Close button.
You should be back at the Generate Character window. Press Next.
Select Template Window:
Pick a creature type template. If you don't like any of them, pick generic creature. I picked Stellatus, the Dragon.
Native Language Window: Pick Native language and press Next.
The creation process is now similar to creating a character.
Alas I finally had the opportunity to follow your instructions. I was still unable to create a template that includes the Might of the creature... I bet it's user error on this end, but I'm emailing Alterego folks just to make sure...