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Codex Arcana

Codex Arcana is a Django-based management and rules application for the pen-and-paper RPG Arcane Codex.

The project combines persistent character data with a server-side rules engine so that the character sheet reflects the current mechanical state instead of acting as a passive data dump.

Status

Early alpha / prototype. Features, rules coverage, and data structures are still evolving.

Current Feature Areas

• dashboard, archive, and draft management
• multi-phase character creation
• character sheet with precomputed server-side context
• inventory, equipment, quality, and pricing logic
• learning and progression for attributes, skills, languages, schools, techniques, and specializations
• diary and other persistent character-side workflows
• central typed modifier engine for rule effects

Modifier Architecture

The productive rules layer is built around charsheet/modifiers/.

Key points:

• ModifierEngine is the central modifier resolver
• productive calculations use typed modifiers such as SkillModifier, DerivedStatModifier, CombatModifier, RuleFlagModifier, SocialModifier, and more
• advantages and disadvantages are not modeled as numbers only
• the engine separates numeric modifiers, rule flags, capabilities, resistances, movement, combat, economy, social state, and behavioral tags
• persisted legacy Modifier rows still exist as source data, but productive resolution uses their translated typed representation
• there is no productive legacy_only mode anymore

See:

• docs/engine.md
• docs/models.md
• docs/modifier_refactor.md

Technology Stack

• Python 3
• Django 5.2
• PostgreSQL 16
• Django Templates

Getting Started

Requirements

• Python 3.x
• PostgreSQL on localhost:5432
• or Docker for the provided database setup

Start the database

docker compose up -d db

Run the application

python -m pip install -r requirements.txt
python manage.py migrate
python manage.py createsuperuser
python manage.py runserver

Important URLs

• Login: http://127.0.0.1:8000/
• Admin: http://127.0.0.1:8000/admin/

Project Structure

codex_arcana/
charsheet/
  models/
  engine/
  modifiers/
  templates/
  sheet_context.py
docs/
static/

DDDice Integration

Codex Arcana can use DDDice for animated 3D dice visuals.

The actual dice result is still calculated on the server. DDDice is only a rendering layer.

License

GNU General Public License v3.0.