34 replies to this topic

[Azurath]

I have noticed that in Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, your familiar does not improve as your character does.  Instead it remains the same mediocre little pesk, following you around while waiting to die and cost you a valuable point of constitution.  I have tried the various familiars, and have found that, while they will work acceptably in the VERY early stages of the game, later on they are merely a hindrance and burden, constantly needing healing, while adding almost nothing to the party.  I was wondering if perhaps someone might care to look into this, and work on a mod to improve familiars and have them improve along with the character, perhaps including some changes based on wizard specialization/multiclass.  This would be greatly appreciated, as I feel that it is an area that was rather neglected and could have been greatly improved upon.  I would prefer something that works either with or without the Throne of Bhaal expansion, as not everyone (ie, me) has the expansion.  If such a mod already exists, please tell me where I can find it.

[Chevalier]

You should look here for a mod that might or might not be dead.

[Aion]

That's the familiar flirt/chat/banter pack at Ashford City. I don't know if it actually *improves* the familiar's powers....

[Chevalier]

True, but they might work with someone to add it to their mod as a optional componate. If they are still working on it.

[Child]

I have noticed that in Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, your familiar does not improve as your character does.  Instead it remains the same mediocre little pesk, following you around while waiting to die and cost you a valuable point of constitution.  I have tried the various familiars, and have found that, while they will work acceptably in the VERY early stages of the game, later on they are merely a hindrance and burden, constantly needing healing, while adding almost nothing to the party.  I was wondering if perhaps someone might care to look into this, and work on a mod to improve familiars and have them improve along with the character, perhaps including some changes based on wizard specialization/multiclass.  This would be greatly appreciated, as I feel that it is an area that was rather neglected and could have been greatly improved upon.  I would prefer something that works either with or without the Throne of Bhaal expansion, as not everyone (ie, me) has the expansion.  If such a mod already exists, please tell me where I can find it.

It's already being done.. by me..
Already made a leveling-up script.. where your familiars gain powers each time you level up.. It's general leveling-up for now.. will make specific soon...
Haveing them leveling up based on wizard specialization/multiclass was a new take on it, we'll see what I will do with it...

Other features:
- The choice of familiar is now selected by PC, still based on alignment.
- Adds new familiars. (Rat, Bat, Wolf, Baby Wyvern, Spider, Squirrel)
- Restricts familiars to mages and mage multiclasses (UAI won't work)
- Removes the dialog option to put your familiar in your pack.
- No con loss or hp bonus...
- When not in combat you will have no control over the familiar.

Being done:
- Tweaking of the new familiars
- adds banthers/interjects and quests

Have u actually released this yet, or is there an alpha/beta version available?

[Aion]

Nice! And when it's released, will it be a WeiDU mod? I hope so.

[Aegnor]

Just became a member... :thumbsup:

[Aegnor]

Mwahaha..
Looks like it won't be released today.. can't attatch .zip files.
And the mod is in such an early state that it would discourage people from using it if they played it , to buggy and to few features done.. :^^:

But don't despair, work is being done..

[T.G.Maestro]

- Removes the dialog option to put your familiar in your pack.
- No con loss or hp bonus...

Why? These were one of the useful and more interesting effects of the unmodded version. Removing these would reduce the effectiveness of theese familiars. Especially if you don't make them summonable at will (like in NWN), since they would definitely perish in a tougher battle.

Also, keeping them (both the older and new ones) balanced is essential here - while they level up, they must remain considerably weaker than any character of their level. A few special innates/spells here and there, and moderate THAC0/HP progression is more than enough.

[Aegnor]

- Removes the dialog option to put your familiar in your pack.
- No con loss or hp bonus...

Why? These were one of the useful and more interesting effects of the unmodded version. Removing these would reduce the effectiveness of theese familiars. Especially if you don't make them summonable at will (like in NWN), since they would definitely perish in a tougher battle.

Also, keeping them (both the older and new ones) balanced is essential here - while they level up, they must remain considerably weaker than any character of their level. A few special innates/spells here and there, and moderate THAC0/HP progression is more than enough.

- Removes the dialog option to put your familiar in your pack.

The familiar can be told to stay in a place. This makes you able to keep him out of harms way, for the bigger battles. Ask him to wait outside the room or area.

- No con loss or hp bonus...

This is not final, if the penalty and the bonus is gone, this evens out according to me.

[SimDing0]

- Removes the dialog option to put your familiar in your pack.

The familiar can be told to stay in a place. This makes you able to keep him out of harms way, for the bigger battles. Ask him to wait outside the room or area.

- No con loss or hp bonus...

This is not final, if the penalty and the bonus is gone, this evens out according to me.

Neither of these really answer the question: why?

[Aegnor]

Neither of these really answer the question: why?

- The con/hp thing is hardcoded, so in the system i use, for selection of familiars+new ones. And I don't think it was a nessesary part to actually manually code it..
- not in pack thing... um... because I say so?

[T.G.Maestro]

- not in pack thing... um... because I say so?

This tells everything then.

[Aegnor]

Was wondering about your previous post..

Especially if you don't make them summonable at will (like in NWN), since they would definitely perish in a tougher battle.

I never played NWN, how do they deal with this summoning familiar at will..
Does this mean they treat it like a Monster Summoning spell only it's the same monster each time..?

[SimDing0]

Well, I've been planning to do familiar enhancements for D0Tweak for some time now. I don't think I'll stop just yet.

[Aegnor]

Well, I've been planning to do familiar enhancements for D0Tweak for some time now. I don't think I'll stop just yet.

I hope so.. there is always the possibility this mod dosen't fall through..
(looking at the "familiar modding" history, this mod is certaintly doomed.. )
+ you have about 50x my modding XP.. (in not more)

[igi]

I'm told by supposedly reliable sources that there is also yet another Familiar mod in progress.

[T.G.Maestro]

I'm told by supposedly reliable sources that there is also yet another Familiar mod in progress.

Ok, Familiars will definitely rule the modding business sometime.

I never played NWN, how do they deal with this summoning familiar at will..

A mage has the Summon Familar innate, and can use it once/day. After the Familiar has been summoned, it stays as long as it is unsummoned, killed, or the mage rests. Either way, it can be summoned the next day without any problems. The mage won't lose any hitpoints or anything else if the familiar dies, but it cannot be re-summoned until rest.
The familiar gains new levels as the mage levels up, but their progression in HP and anything else is much slower/weaker compared to that of their masters.