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3rd edition bonuses for ability points

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:28:58 +0000

2nd edition vs 3rd edition refresher...

Spoiler

This component aims to bring 3rd-edition style bonuses for abilities. My current implementation is as follows:

Strength: Thac0 bonus follows the standard 3rd edition rule. Damage uses a similar rule, but enhances the effect (damage bonus = floor((str - 10) * 2 / 3) ) - this is because in 2nd edition damage bonus used to be larger, and because in 3rd edition two handed weapons received an extra damage bonus. Bend Bars/Lift Gates and Weight Allowance use a complex formula, but the end result is similar to the vanilla behavior (see strength.pdf (26.17K)
: 13 for graphs).
Most importantly, exceptional strength is now irrelevant, even if it still shows up in the character screen.
Dexterity: AC bonus, ranged thac0 bonus, and reaction bonus all follow the standard 3rd edition rule. Thieving skill bonuses aren't touched (their progression is already evened out between all possible ability values).
Constitution: HP bonus (for both warriors and non-warriors) and Fatigue bonus follow the standard 3rd edition rule. Regeneration Rate and Minimum Dice aren't altered, since finding values for them is more trouble than it is worth (minimum dice must be <= 4, stacking multiple regeneration effects doesn't work nicely).
Notably, this component means that all classes would get extra HP from all values of Con (previously, 17+ on a non-warrior was wasted).
Intelligence and Wisdom: no effect, since Int and Wis offer no mechanical bonus to non-casters outside of specific situations.
Charisma: Reaction Bonus is already evened out. Discount is now max(5 * ((cha - 10) / 2),0).

Does anybody have suggestions on this?

Challenge #77: Dragon Age

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:18:35 +0000

#77 Challenge: Dragon Age!!
Deadline: Monday, 15th March
Post your piece in this topic!

You've got it! Spoil your heart out!!

You remember the drill I hope. You have two weeks time, and everything artistic goes as long as it's made by yourself.

BiG World Project (BWP) v8.3

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:08:28 +0000

BiG World Project (BWP) v8.3

Entire installation instructions for the Baldur's Gate Megamod

For German gamers you can visit our German forum.

The BiG World Project aims to merge all games of the Baldur's Gate series and the additional contents created by its community in one massive adventure, including a modification of BG1 to run BG1 with the more modern engine of BG2, plus the added functionality of ToB expansion. Now all new functions which are introduced only with BG2 are also available for BG1. This signifies, BG1 uses just like BG2 the same graphic arts, the same character kits, the same magic and the same rules. Now even for those which know BG1 by heart this is a new play experience. Besides, it also includes an additional transition from BG1 to BG2. And all this can expanded with additional mods.

BiG World Project is constantly going through changes to acquire a more stable and bug free version with every new update.

All what you need to start with is the BiG World Setup (click me).

The current instructions (in English, in German, in Spanish) are divided into the following versions:

Quote

BGT Minimal-version
This minimal installation is very easy and fast done. You don't need anything to know about the BG mods. Install this version to play BG1 with the BG2 game engine until the end of ToB. We recommend this version to gamers, who has not played BG, yet. Only the BiG World Setup will offer this version and it depends on the Standard-version. The following mods will be installed with this version:
BG2 Fixpack, Baldur's Gate Trilogy and Restored Textscreen Music with the Language Pack.

Quote

Recommend-version
The recommend mods depends on recommendations from gamers and modders from different BG game forums. This version is a small megamod and a solid basis. This version alone gives you much new game-experience and content and if you wish you can add some more of your lovely choosen mods to it. Only the BiG World Setup will offer this version and it depends on the Standard-version. The mods for this version are marked green in the Linklist and the BiG World Setup.

Quote

Standard-version
Herewith you can install all mods which have not an absurd degree of difficulty or known bugs. You can take all these Standard-mods or choose the ones, you like. The Install.bat installs only the mods you have extracted into the BG2 main directory. The mods for this version are marked green and blue in the Linklist and the BiG World Setup.

Quote

Tactic-version
With this installation you can add mods and components to the Standard-version that make above all the fights with the enemies more difficult and, therefore, are thought for experienced gamers. The mods for this version are marked orange in the Linklist and the BiG World Setup.

Quote

Expert-version
This version tries to fathom the feasible and includes all available mods of the Standard- and the Tactic-version and additional the mods, which are bugged at the moment. You have a 100% chance of running into bugs and/or CTDs (crash to desktop). The mods for this version are marked grey in the Linklist and the BiG World Setup.

With the "BiG World Setup" you can do a BG2 only installation with all these versions, too (except the BGT Minimal-Version).

This project is in development. Beginners should keep absolutely to the instructions, while experienced players with some efforts, tests and bugfixing can also create their own version of the BiG World.

Step by Step Instructions

BG1 installation
- Make a full installation of BG1 and Tales of the Sword Coast
- Should be installed in C:\Games\Baldur's Gate
- Patch it with BioWare’s official ToSC patch v5512
- Start BG1, make your settings, create a character and make a quicksave with Q in Candlekeep
- Quit the game

BG2 installation
- Make a full installation of BG2 and Throne of Bhaal
- Should be installed in C:\Games\BGII - SoA
- Patch it with BioWare’s official ToB patch v26498
- Start BG2 and ToB, make your settings, create a character and after the autosave quit the game

Important: Don't change the BG graphic-options or not more then 1024x768. You can get crashs to desktops (CTDs) if you take a higher resolution as 1024x768. When you want to play in a higher resolution take the Widescreen Mod.
If you want to use the Widescreen mod try out several resolutions until you found one that's optimal. It's probably better to do the testing on a clean BG2 install first (which shouldn't take long on a modern computer), to get a feel for the viewable area as well as text clarity, and then reply the selected resolution during the installation (you will be asked for it).

Begin the installation

Download the BiG World Setup
Execute the "BiG_World_Setup.exe" and follow the on-screen instructions
The whole installation could take 2 until 12 and more hours, depending on how many mods you chose and how fast your computer and internet-connection is
Start "Baldur's Gate II" and choose your game

Quote

Note:
The BWP-Tools were created for Windows 2000 upward, so you can use them on Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista/7, only.

The BiG World Project contains the following:
- BiG World PDF-Manual (in Englisch, German and Spanish)
- BiG World Setup (for an easy installation)
- BiG World Installpack (contains the installation commands)
- BiG World Fixpack (fixes bugs in mods)
- BiG World Textpack (for foreign languages (currently in German and in Spanish))
- Lollorian's Kit-Guide (contains all informations about character-kits)

Jarno's great FAQ for the Megamods (click me)
You find there many informations about megamod installations and how you can solve standard problems.

We are glad about every suggestion and every criticism which serves to improve the BiG World Project.
The BiG World Project Team is available for you at any time in the forums.

BiG World Setup Beta-Testing

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:40:53 +0000

Short version:
Get it and test it, please.

Longer version:
If you have a little time to spare, download and test this beta.
In exchange, please tell me if you found some bugs, if you are able to recreate them and what the debugging-screen told you.

There may be some issues that I have not encountered or some stuff that has been delayed due to some other work. For example, conflicts and dependencies between mods are set up listed, but components that are required by others are something that has to be pushed to make decision-making less error-prone.

I did manage to make a complete run from selection to finish with some less mods then usually selected.
Well, testing takes a lot of time and I did not want to increase it. I know of a few people that tested those builds a few weeks ago and they seemed to install just like the batch does.

So, what's new:
You can select components - so exporting your selection and share it does make more sense then before
You can select different languages and give priorities to them
You can pause, exit and resume your download, extraction and installation
The installation is monitored, so it can be stalled if errors are encountered and you want to fix them
You can choose to try some sort of auto-pilot-mode that will only hold on hefty errors
You will see a list of mods/components that you wanted to have but were not installed
Dependencies and conflicts are handled more flexible than before
Those can be solved automatically if you want to or you can do that manually
You can create your own "spin-off" for BWP (copy all stuff but the cdX-directories)

For a more or less complete list of changes, check the download-page.

Please note that I can only write translations in German and English. Others will be updated when the beta is stable and not much will be added and/or changed. So if you want to, you can use the Spanish one, but there may be ugly passages from an online-translator and also English stuff. The French one is just a placeholder since the person that started the translation is pretty busy at the moment.

For the curious ones, one or two pictures:

As you can see, there are sub-trees for all mods. You can select the tree to get all the associated items in one go.
Below you can see the conflicts/dependencies-part of the description that is automatically generated to show you possible issues during the selection.

When you continue, you can see them as in this example. You won't see this screen if you are a noob and don't want a customized installation.
As you can see, you have several selections to solve the problems fast and flexible.

I hope for some feedback.
Dabus

Can't enter chapter 4, Edwin says we haven't finish our busin

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:06:29 +0000

did the scroll quest, Edwina changes back to man.
did the hair quest and got the item.
Edwin talked about his mentor assassin and how he tricked him in order to protect me from harm and then the lovetalk stops.

I have played this mod before and I know it is about the time for Edwin's teacher to show up but he hasn't

anyone knows how to set the lovetalk #?
I tried
CLUAConsole:GetGlobal("Lovetalk","LOCALS")

but got no feedback so I dare not to run do SetGlobal("LoveTalk","LOCALS",XXX)

any help plz

[OS X] Progress with manual install

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:32:07 +0000

Hello,

In the interest of letting folks know how BiG World installation instructions work out on a Mac running OS X Tiger (10.4.11), I'd like to post at various points along the way during installing and playtesting. If this needs to move to another forum, please let it be so

On my Quicksilver Power Mac G4, I've recently made a new install of BGII - SoA/ToB (latest patch), then began installing and testing mods (testing after installing, this time, rather than doing it all and then testing). Here's the WeiDU log:

// Log of Currently Installed WeiDU Mods
// The top of the file is the 'oldest' mod
// ~TP2_File~ #language_number #component_number // [Subcomponent Name -> ] Component Name [ : Version]
~SETUP-BG2FIXPACK.TP2~ #0 #0 // BG2 Fixpack - Core Fixes: v8
~SETUP-BG2FIXPACK.TP2~ #0 #1 // BG2 Fixpack - Game Text Update: v8
~SETUP-BG2FIXPACK.TP2~ #0 #2 // Super Happy Fun Lucky Modder Pack: v8
~SETUP-BG2FIXPACK.TP2~ #0 #3 // BETA Core Fixes (please check the readme!): v8
~SETUP-BG2FIXPACK.TP2~ #0 #100 // Party Gets XP for Sending Keldorn to Reconcile With Maria: v8
~SETUP-BG2FIXPACK.TP2~ #0 #101 // Improved Spell Animations: v8
~SETUP-BG2FIXPACK.TP2~ #0 #102 // Cromwell's Forging Actually Takes a Day: v8
~SETUP-BG2FIXPACK.TP2~ #0 #103 // Mixed-Use Dagger Fixes: v8
~SETUP-BG2FIXPACK.TP2~ #0 #104 // Ghreyfain's Holy Symbol Fixes: v8
~SETUP-BG2FIXPACK.TP2~ #0 #106 // Giants Receive Penalties When Attacking Halflings, Dwarves, and Gnomes: v8
~SETUP-BG2FIXPACK.TP2~ #0 #107 // Remove Dual-Classing Restriction from Archers and Stalkers: v8
~SETUP-BG2FIXPACK.TP2~ #0 #108 // Remove Second Attribute Bonus for Evil Path in Wrath Hell Trial: v8
~SETUP-BG2FIXPACK.TP2~ #0 #109 // Corrected Summoned Demon behavior: v8
~SETUP-BG2FIXPACK.TP2~ #0 #110 // Additional Script Fixes: v8
~SETUP-BG2FIXPACK.TP2~ #0 #111 // Bard Song Fixes: v8
~SETUP-BG2FIXPACK.TP2~ #0 #112 // Wizard Slayers Cause Miscast Magic on Ranged Attacks: v8
~SETUP-BG2FIXPACK.TP2~ #0 #113 // Additional Alignment Fixes: v8
~SETUP-BG2FIXPACK.TP2~ #0 #114 // Change Free Action to Protect Against Stun: v8
~1PP.TP2~ #0 #0 // 1PP: Everything but Potions
~ITEM_REV.TP2~ #0 #0 // Item Revisions by Demivrgvs: v2
~ITEM_REV.TP2~ #0 #1 // Masterwork Weapons: v2
~SETUP-TDD.TP2~ #0 #0 // The Darkest Day, v1.12
~SETUP-TDD.TP2~ #0 #1 // TDD Character Kits
~SETUP-ROT.TP2~ #0 #0 // Region Of Terror, v2.1
~SETUP-TTSQ.TP2~ #0 #0 // The Tortured Soul Quest - WeiDU
~TB#QUEST.TP2~ #0 #2 // A large battle
~TB#QUEST.TP2~ #0 #3 // Underdark Mage Duel
~SETUP-SPGAUNT.TP2~ #0 #0 // Spellhold Gauntlet
~SETUP-SPGAUNT.TP2~ #0 #1 // Irenicus Waiting in Spellhold
~SETUP-SPGAUNT.TP2~ #0 #3 // Interjections for Spellhold Gauntlet (dialogue by Liam)

I'm not finished installing mods by a long shot, obviously. I've followed the BiG World installation instructions, but I can't run the automatic/batch processes, fixes, etc., as Macs don't do .bat files. Instead, I've been manually applying and locating files where appropriate. It's more work, but I currently don't know a more efficient method.

New SoA and ToB games start and play with no unwanted behavior. I'm about to take my SoA test game to the second level of Irenicus' dungeon; I was pleased to meet Wulfgar in there, and have him join my party!

I wanted to post a couple screenshots, but am unsure how to do so. The game's first screen (whether SoA or ToB) looks different, and has some pretty graphic elements on it, as does the character inventory screen. I don't recall which mod alters the GUI elements, but suspect either TDD or RoT has done this.

Updates to follow. I feel I'm off to a good start, and hope the rest of the installation and testing will go smoothly and successfully (as much as it can, all things considered).

Any and all feedback is appreciated!

Thanks and happy modding/playing,
Eric

BiG World Setup

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:28:03 +0000

*takes his hat of*
Hi there.

I would like to introduce a hopefully useful tool to you.
As the topic tells you, its name is "BiG World Setup" and the goal of this tool is to make it easy for you to choose the mods you would like to have for your BiG World and install them with the same ease.

Currently, you will be able to start as follows:
- select the game-folders you want to install (tests will be made if they meet the requirements)
- select between predefined mod-selections

The impatient or newbies can start right away, others may
- add or remove almost all mods or mod-groups (the mods that come in chapters) as you like (well, there are a few fixed ones). To assist you, you can read short explanations of the mods (just like from Leonardo Watsons guide).

After you have chosen you selection, checks for conflicts and open dependencies are made. Your selection will be saved after that. A Test for the availability of the mods you want will be started.
There should not be too many, since an update of the current database is made every time you start the application. This is done via a download of a compressed version of the link-list at the Kerzenburg-Forum, which also hosts the download. You can see a summery at the end of the test.

Aaaaand action
- ask you to create a backup (it is possible to save and restore at almost any time)
- start downloading all the files.
- test if anything was missing and tell you that. You can choose to remove the missing mods from your selection, or download them by yourself (the download-URL will be launched by your favourite browser).
- extract all the archives (unnecessary folders are stripped away, double-packed archives are handled and nsis-installers are executed with the silent-command-line-switch)
- test if anything was missing again and tell you that. You can choose to remove the missing mods from your selection, or extract them by yourself (the archive-file will be launched with your favourite packager).

After this is all done, the Batch-Installer will be modified so that the BGT-WeiDU-installer will use the selected BG1-folder for the installation and the batch-file will be executed �€“ or skip the test for BGT.

Sound nice, eh? Well, I hope it does.

Other features
-checks for program-updates at the start
-help-texts in all windows that a normal user will enter
-search within the mods (name/description)
-detection of a few possible installation-folders, even if you did just copy the installation
-testing of already downloaded files for the current selection
-possibility to continue from the point where you closed the application or all your bits and bites crashed and burned to hell.
-remove mods from the list that are not available in the selected language.
Currently we provide English an German translations. So if you want your game to be in English only, your wish is just a mouse-click away.
-logs all over the place
-crash-logging, so you can post an Error-log when the application crashes

But you will have to be a little patient for the best feature.
We (the BiG World Project-Team) want to go deeper and be able to select all the components itself.
Parts of the requirements are already implemented, but it will take a little (longer) time to have current data and a good way to run and test the WeiDU-installations.
But to help those that just want to play the game without reading a lot or having a bunch of handiwork, we decided to release this as a "quite stable" beta.

Some notes
Some mods may be located on servers that need passwords and the setup can't handle that.
It's not a bug if those mods cannot be downloaded. You will be assisted to download those mods to integrate them into your installation.

We need you...

The whole tool is a little script that has exceeded the size of any script I have done; so if you do know the scripting language AutoIt3 and want to contribute, that would be appreciated.

If you like the application itself and want it to display your native tongue, please have a look at the Conf\Translation.ini-file. You can find all current translations there. Today it's two of them, but that may change. To get started, you may want to replace the German translation and leave the English one as the original one. This way, you can figure the length of text that's suggested.

It would be really nice to have some feedback.
Not just the errors, but also some success-stories.
If anything goes wrong, I will try to give you some support. This may take some time, since I have my work and have some hobbies, so please stay patient.

Hmmm, I think that's it.

Here is the Download.

Note:
If your system does not run the BWS right after you unpacked the files, your registry may have been edited so VBS is disabled.
Either run regedit and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows Script Host\Settings to set the value of the key enabled to 1 or just go into the path you extracted the BWS to and drag the BiG World Setup.au3 onto the AutoIt3.exe.

Have fun
The BiG World Team

Mod updates for BWP v8+

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:55:49 +0000

Since these have a tendency to get buried in the BWP monster threads, and whoever updates this may be on holiday or something, I'll start a new post here. If anyone else knows of new mods that should be added to the BiG World Project, feel free to post here too. I guess that goes for new mod versions, if the links have changed on the linklist) or changes in mod install order.

Aurora's Shoes should be added - v2 should now be stable for BWP. It also includes updated versions to (and therefore deprecates) Store Prices aka agprices (formerly here). It can probably just replace the existing entry, since they should be installed fairly late for full effect (after other stores and creatures).

I think I mentioned elsewhere that Exnem Vault should be installed before BG1UB, and possibly before CtB and BGT as well, since it overwrites rndtreas.2da and those other mods patch it. Since the spells/scrolls it adds are rather powerful, it may be considered one of those so-called "expert" mods as well, if it isn't already.

Trap-setting script?

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:45:47 +0000

Anyone have or know where there's a simple trap-setting script for a bounty-hunter-type character? I suppose I could try to write one but it might involve some hackishness and I don't really want to bother if I can swipe one that works from somewhere already.

BaldursGate Cutscene problem

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:41:38 +0000

Hi there!
I am writing a mod for Baldurs Gate using the BiG World Setup v8.3.1 (Minimal Installation, German) and I am new to this.
I managed to build a new area with some npcs, scripting and so on.

At this time I am working on a small map which has only one npc and a cutscene. (Every file is in the override folder)
The creaturefile of this npc is IMOEN.CRE and the problem is, that I can not use her as an Object in my cutscene. I have tried this with other npcs and different names but none worked. Neither she does anything nore can I *kill("Imoen")* (or whatever) her.
When I am not in the cutszene everything works fine, Dialogues and Scripts.

This is an extract from the cutscene saved in CGCUT1.BSC in the Override folder:

Quote

IF
True()
THEN
RESPONSE #100
CutSceneId("Imoen")
Wait(2)
DisplayStringHead(Myself,6701) // Keule
...
END

IF
True()
THEN
RESPONSE #100
CutSceneId(Player1)
Explore()
...
END

This is the Areascript starting the Cutscene:

Quote

IF
OnCreation()
THEN
RESPONSE #100
Wait(6)
ClearAllActions()
StartCutSceneMode()
StartCutScene("CGCUT1")
END

I already checked other cutscenes but could not find any helpfull information on this.
Furthermore this does not work on an other PC.

So i am very frustrated because I work on this for several hours now.
I would appreciate any help you could give me.
If you need more information feel free to ask.

Nevertheless I am going to sleep now. See you soon.