SHS News RSS

SHS Welcomes aTweaks to its lineup!

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:01:17 +0000

Though it has been available for a while, aTweaks has now officially joined the SHS lineup of mods!

Quote

This mod represents a compilation of PnP related tweaks and various house rules which are designed to bring more consistency to the gameplay. It works on normal Baldur's Gate II games as well as either of the two Baldur's Gate conversion projects: (Easy)Tutu and Baldur's Gate Trilogy (BGT).

In summary, aTweaks can bring several classes, races, spells, items and creatures closer to their PnP counterparts, add more consistency to the gameplay by making sensible rule adjustments and eliminating exploits, and make it easier to distinguish between creatures with similar avatars through the use of recoloring techniques.

The mod is divided into multiple components all of which can be installed separately and are completely independent of each other. More detailed descriptions of all components can be found in the readme.

aTweaks has been updated to v3.04. In summary, this maintenance release slightly revises the Scribe Scrolls ability, updates the Italian translation as well as the Forum and Homepage links in the readme. Here's the full list of changes:

New in v3.04:

The Scribe Scrolls ability has been slightly revised. Inscribing a scroll now removes one instance of the spell in question from the caster's memory (i.e. just like casting the spell regularly would)
Updated the Italian translation
Updated forum and homepage links

Related links

SHS Suggestions and Problems Thread

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:01:18 +0000

I know there are a few people out there with some suggestions for SHS, and I'm sure every now and then there'll be a problem with the website or forums. If you experience a problem or are struck by a brilliant idea, please post here!

SHS forum upgrade, new features and new look!

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:57:49 +0000

Hey all!

As part of SHS' 12 Days of Christmas, we decided it was time for us to upgrade our forum software and give our forums a new look. IPB v3 comes with a slew of new and improved features, the most important of which are outlined below. A quick note is that the sub-forums will once return their vertically-placed selves later in the week. We are still ironing out problems and bugs, so if you find anything strange please report it here!

Download Manager Note
Unfortunately, due to a complication with the Download Manager, SHS' downloads will not be available for the next few days. My sincere apologies for this, it is the worst possible time for it to happen with 12 days going on! As a result, 12 days is on pause until the DM comes back online. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

Onto the new and improved features of IPB v3!

Private Conversations
The biggest change (apart from the new interface) is the switch from Private Messages to Private Conversations. Private Conversations work very similarly to forum threads, but only those you invite into the conversation can see and post in them. It has been likened to GMail by some, and in my opinion it's a huge improvement over the old system!

New file uploader
A brand spanking new file uploading system is in place, making the process of uploading files that much easier. In order to use the new uploader, you have to enable it in the user control panel. You can do this by clicking on the drop-down box in the top right-hand corner, and going to My Settings > Forum > Enable Flash Uploader.

"View New Posts" forum filter
A feature that people have been requesting for some time, View New Posts can now be filtered! Simply click on the drop-down box in the top right-hand corner, and go to My Settings > Forum > Block Forums.

Improved spam protection
IPB v3 comes with much improved spam protection, so with any luck we won't be seeing any more irritating spambots around!

"Friendly" urls
A new links system is incoporated into IPB v3, using natural language URLs. This makes it simpler for us and for search engines.

We hope you enjoy the new and improved Spellhold Studios forums!

Liam "K'aeloree" Esler
SHS Administrator

PS:T Fixpack & PS:T UB hit v2.0, PS:T Tweaks hits v3.0

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 03:21:18 +0000

Busy as ever, our PS:T guru Qwinn has just made a round of updates to his Planescape: Torment mods!

The major changes from the first versions are Italian, Spanish and German translations, and the Fixpack has 36 new fixes.

The Planescape: Torment Fixpack is a comprehensive WeiDU Fixpack for Black Isle's classic Planescape: Torment CRPG. Fixing literally hundreds of bugs and thousands of typos, thereby restoring a lot of lost and inactive content, the PS:T Fixpack (along with PS:T Unfinished Business and Qwinn's PS:T Tweak Pack) provides a completely new Planescape: Torment experience! Click here for a list of the most important fixes, as well as further information on the mod itself.

Planescape: Torment Unfinished Business takes the almost-but-not-quite-finished content that shipped with Black Isle's classic Planescape: Torment CRPG and polishes, bugfixes and finishes it so you can see and enjoy the new content in your game! With 14 components is a must-have for anyone interested in seeing what the developers didn't get time to do--or even if you're just looking for some new content! Click here for information on each of the compenents and further information on the mod itself.

Qwinn's Planescape: Torment Tweaks adds a few ease-of-use tweaks to your Planescape: Torment install, as well as one or two must-have components! Including a banter accelerator, ease-of-use tweaks and several content changes, this is an extremely useful mod for any player. Click here for information on each of the components and further information on the mod itself.

Before downloading the new version of the fixpack, read the updating instructions! They're very important. If you don't follow them it's quite possible your game may get fubared!

Related Links:

Download Links: PS:T Fixpack - PS:T Unfinished Business - Qwinn's PS:T Tweaks
Website: PS:T Fixpack - PS:T Unfinished Business - Qwinn's PS:T Tweaks
Forums: PS:T Fixpack forum - PS:T Unfinished Business forum - Qwinn's PS:T Tweaks forum
Readme Links: PS:T Fixpack Readme - PS:T Unfinished Business Readme - Qwinn's PS:T Tweaks

Infinity Animations beta 3 Released

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:36:37 +0000

Infinity Animations has een updated to WeiDU beta 3, with a number of fixes including:
- Fixed _LOW animation corrections causing areas crashing on load
- Fixed scripts and dialogues that Polymorph to _LOW animations
- Fixed code glitch preventing installation of optional components
- Added option to install sounds in svirfneblin component
- Added component to fix area creature references
- Added revised salamander sound tables (MSAL and MSA2 slots)
- Enhanced compatibility with aTweaks
- Enhanced creature animation patches for fiends and orc shamans

Related links:

Aurora's Shoes and Boots v5 Released

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:36:20 +0000

Aurora's Boots has been updated to v5 with a number of fixes, including:
- Fixed _LOW animation bugs causing areas crashing on load
- Fixed glitches in area function causing item and door corruption
- Fixed random item scripting routine
- Corrected references to Xulaye areas in Boots of the Bar scripts
- Removed traces of previous "animation-stacking" items
- Renamed some resources to avoid conflict with AjocMod

Related links:

Chloe v1.5 Released

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:36:02 +0000

Chloe has been updated to v1.5 by Isaya and Graumf, with a critical bugfix, without which Chloe won't talk at all! Grab it below.

Related links:

Aurora's Shoes and Boots v4 Released

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:31:08 +0000

Aurora's Shoes and Boots has been updated to version 4, with a number of changes, additions and fixes! The full list of changes:

Aurora has more dialogue! She's a bit "smarter" when it comes to thievery, though it would be spoiling to tell more...
Added French translation (from Aldiemus of the d'Oghmatiques)
Added crossmod banters with Kelsey, Solaufein, Hubelpot and Fade
Encoded sounds as WAVC instead of OGG format to save install time and space
Added goblin/gnome encounter for Classic Adventures
Added unique sounds for goblins, svirfneblin, cambions and alu-fiends from Icewind Dale and Neverwinter Nights
Changed goblin and gnome animations to use dedicated slots instead of stacking (using the Infinity Animations scheme for ToB executables)
Changed daemonfey boots to summon either a cambion fighter/mage or alu-fiend fighter/cleric
Added Icewind Dale animations and sounds for earth elemental, worgs, helmed and battle horrors
Fixed Helmed Horror component crash issue
Revised area patching macros to avoid issues in Larswood
Optimized patching by avoiding time-consuming regexp
Added option to abridge Spellhold cutscene in "Shorten BG2 intros" component
Amended documentation regarding compatibility, antivirus issues and SoA-only installs
Fixed glitches in item upgrade dialogues
Slightly nerfed item availability in Tutu by request
Karaea now moves from Nashkel to Baldur's Gate when relevant
Enhanced creature slot fixing in "Realistic random treasures" component
Fixed minor glitch with goblin animations if Drizzt Saga is installed
Fixed potential svirfneblin glitch if another mod gives them shields
Improved Battle Horror compatibility if SCS is installed
Moved batch and log files to "batchlog" subfolder

Related links:

Infinity Animations WeiDU Beta 1 Released

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:52:55 +0000

Infinity Animations has had a huge code overhaul and has now entered beta with a Windows version!

Infinity Animations patches Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal to support additional creature and character animations (referred to as 'animation slots' by the community). It also offers a compelling automatised process of making claims for these added game animations, acting as a central hub for anyone who would like to add animation entries to the game without being bogged down by issues of mod conflicts and incompatibilities.

A complete list of all the animations added can be found here.

Related links:

aTweaks reaches v3

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:44:13 +0000

Introduction
This mod represents a compilation of PnP related tweaks and various house rules which are designed to bring more consistency to the gameplay. It works on normal Baldur's Gate II games as well as either of the two Baldur's Gate conversion projects: (Easy)Tutu and Baldur's Gate Trilogy (BGT). In summary, aTweaks can bring several classes, races, spells, items and creatures closer to their PnP counterparts, add more consistency to the gameplay by making sensible rule adjustments and eliminating exploits, and make it easier to distinguish between creatures with similar avatars through the use of recoloring techniques. The mod is divided into multiple components all of which can be installed separately and are completely independent of each other. More detailed descriptions of all components can be found in the readme.

New in aTweaks v3:
This major release adds several new components which are primarily aimed at bringing the Fiends of BG2 closer to their PnP counterparts. Legitimately missing abilities are restored and spuriously granted benefits are removed. The Fiends' AI has been enhanced as well, and it now allows them to act in accordance to their PnP behavior and intelligence scores. Furthermore, summoned Fiends now match the allegiance of their summoner which allows the party to receive experience points for each opponent that the Fiends defeats, but it also applies the appropriate reputation penalty for each innocent that the Fiend murders. Finally, the nature of a summoned Fiend now corresponds to the alignment of its summoner. More information on the Fiend components can be found here. Another new component restores the PnP Scribe Scrolls ability to all Mages except Sorcerers. See here for more details on that.

Related links

PST: UI Mod Hits v2.1

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:38:18 +0000

Ghostdog's Planescape: Torment UI Mod has been updated with the option of expanding the size of the dialog box, even bigger fonts and a number of important fixes! As of the new version resolutions under 800x600 are no longer supported, but for everybody else grab it from the link below!

Related links:

Day 12 of 12: Qwinn's PS:T Mods hit v4!

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 07:56:50 +0000

And finally, for Day 12 of 12 (really long past), we have the long-awaited v4 of Qwinn's PS:T mods, all with new Polish translations and a bunch of new features!

Version 4 of the Fixpack adds a dozen engine fixes and over 100 non-engine bug fixes. Just as a taste: hit point bonuses from constitution at high levels fixed, no more wiping out whole wards full of innocents and having your alignment barely twitch, the luck statistic is fixed, item dialogues interfering with cutscene dialogues is fixed, you can demand compensation from the Lim Lim merchant if it runs away, and you can now enjoy even more abuse from Annah when you try to remove her armor! That just counts as 6 of the over 100 brand new fixes, see the readme for more.

Unfinished Business restores a bunch of new banters and sounds (you can now -hear- Fhjull Forked Tongue muttering and cursing as he wanders around his lab, just as an example), and even adds two new music themes from the PS:T soundtrack: the Alternate Smoldering Corpse Theme (plays in the bar at night, original still plays during the day), and Morte's Theme. Talking to your party members will now play their theme music. There's also a new Restored Bestiary Entries component, which even adds some original artwork by SHS forum poster Leila to provide a portrait to go with the restored alu-fiend entry.

Three new tweaks in Qwinn's Tweak Pack v4.0! Disabled Stat Minimums (you're no longer restricted to a minimum of 9 in all stats), BG2-Style THACO display (because the original THACO display was grossly inaccurate and unhelpful), and QuickLoad functionality! All three by our master of assembler, scient the engine guru.

Related Links:

Download Links: PS:T Fixpack - PS:T Unfinished Business - Qwinn's PS:T Tweaks
Website: PS:T Fixpack - PS:T Unfinished Business - Qwinn's PS:T Tweaks
Forums: PS:T Fixpack forum - PS:T Unfinished Business forum - Qwinn's PS:T Tweaks forum
Readme Links: PS:T Fixpack Readme - PS:T Unfinished Business Readme - Qwinn's PS:T Tweaks

Day 11 of 12: Yoshimo Friendship v2 and Jerry Zinger v3

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 07:52:01 +0000

For Day 11 of 12, we have two releases. The first is the Yoshimo Friendship v2, featuring restructured code, bugfixes and TRAification, and the next is Jerry Zinger v3, featuring a new Russian translation by Austin, aerie.ru and Prowler.

The Yoshimo Friendship mod adds a series of dialogues with Yoshimo, our favourite charming knave whom we meet in Irenicus Chateau at the beginning of the game. Spanning the length of the time he's in the party, the Yoshimo Friendship expands on the humorous rogue, adding to his story and giving the player a new perspective on the character. Written by Shadowhawke, author of many popular BGII fanfiction stories and contributor to the Khadion NPC mod, the Yoshimo friendship is a must-install for anyone with a fondness for the character!

Related links:

The Jerry Zinger show allows the PC and his companions to view (and take part in) the live talk show of Jerry Zinger, well known Amnish celebrity! Shows are daily, and executed largely by cutscenes. The programme includes features such as "My ex is an evil mastermind" with Irenicus and Ellesime, "Families Reunited" with Aerie and "My husband's mistress", with Keldorn and Viconia! The Jerry Zinger Show features a brand new area, the studio, which can be accessed from the Den of Seven Vales. Jerry Zinger is voiced, and great care has gone into writing the juicy material!

Related links:

Day 10 of 12: Viconia Friendship v3

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 07:19:16 +0000

And with any luck, we're completely back in business!

The Viconia Friendship has been updated to v3, with new TRAification, a code rework and a number of bugfixes!

Related links:

Day 9 of 12: bigg Mod Updates

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:02:16 +0000

the bigg has updated TB#Tweaks, Generalised Biffing, TB#Quest and Refinements! The changes and notes on these releases are as follows:

tb#tweaks:
- added a new component that allows non-fighters to get extra attacks per round with specialization (coded by Taimon).
- Generic bug fixes.
- Upgrade is save-safe.
- It is always recommended to upgrade.

generalized_biffing:
- uses a much faster algorithm.
- Upgrade is not safe: you need to manually uninstall the previous version prior to unpacking the new one. Apart from this detail, upgrade is save-safe.
- It is recommended to upgrade only if you are upgrading other mods in the interim or making a new install (in other words, no new in-game features).

tb#quest:
- Spanish and Russian translations.
- Generic bug fixes.
- Upgrade is save-safe.
- It is always recommended to upgrade.

refinements:
- Generic bug fixes.
- Upgrade is save-safe.
- It is always recommended to upgrade.

Related links:

Day 8 of 12: The Big Picture v179e

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:50:46 +0000

horred the plague and Chevalier have brought us the next version of The Big Picture, updating it to version 179e!

V179e combines all the fixes compiled by the BP crew since BPv177 was released, all the fixes done by the Big World Project up to version 7 and a number of other fixes. It also includes a new French translation by Graoumf, an Italian translation by Stoneangel, Al17, Alessandro, Max, M.Inxes, Rahar and Stefan, a German translation by Leonardo Watson, and Spanish Translation by Ancalagon el Negro.

Related links:

Day 7 of 12: Check the Bodies v1.12

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:01:46 +0000

For Day 7, Hoppy has brought us a new version of Check the Bodies!

V1.12 of Check the Bodies includes new Italian and German translations as well as a revised French translation, and a whole horde of fixes. If you've ever played CtB and liked it but had to stop due to bugs, maybe it's time to try it out again!

Related links:

Day 6 of 12: BGT WeiDU v1.08, BGT Tweak Pack v9, Hard Times BGT v2.3

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 06:12:14 +0000

Finally we can resume! This was the scheduled release for day 6, but due to the forum upgrade and then the subsequent breakage of the Downloads Manager, we had to move it today. Ascension64 has been busy at work, releasing new versions of three of his mods late last week!

The first of these is the new version of BGT. This update adds the option of having full music throughout the Baldur's Gate series, and incorporates the majority of the Dudleyville fixes. On the bug fixes side, this update should permanently fix issues with Jaheira and Viconia among other minor bug fixes. Unless there are major issues with this version, this release is likely to be the final major release of BGT-WeiDU.

The second of these is an update to Hard Times, which has an updated German translation as well as a new bugfix, and the third is the next version of the BGT Tweak Pack, adding an Italian translation!

Related links:

Download Manager is up!

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 23:04:17 +0000

Hey all!

Just a quick announcement to let everyone know the Download Manager is up and working, and we'll be resuming 12 days with Day 6 tomorrow. Thank you for your patience, and I hope everyone has a great week!

Liam

Day 5 of 12: Mazzy Friendship v2

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:29:34 +0000

Version 2 of the Mazzy Friendship has been released, with restructured code and several bug- and typo-fixes! It has also been TRAified for ease of translation.

The Mazzy Friendship adds a series of dialogues for an eligible PC, in which you can discover more about and befriend the valiant halfling. Mazzy is not the most talkative woman in the world, but she definitely has her opinions, and will voice them if she feels it appropriate--similarly if she has questions she will not be afraid to ask.

There are 16 dialogues throughout the course of SoA & ToB.

Related links: