6 replies to this topic

[temnix]

We all know that gender is used for summoning and to set up special combinations of markers for creatures. For example, I have a spell that summons and then targets creatures who are NEUTRAL.BELT....BOTH. For PCs, though, I don't think gender is used anywhere except, obviously, at character generation. In fact, it could hardly be used, because "females are equivalent..." and so on. Thus, it would not make sense for a spell that PCs might be subjected to to target MALE or FEMALE. The one exception, I think, is Tasha's Uncontrollable Hideous Laughter, or Derisive Laughter, but that's not a spell for the Baldur's Gate series.

 

Is it possible to mod GENDER.IDS and add extra genders? How would one get them to show on the character page?

[Creepin]

Thus, it would not make sense for a spell that PCs might be subjected to to target MALE or FEMALE.

If the flavour is fitting, then why not?

[The Imp]

Well, I have made a mod that's based on the PCs gender. A kit mod that make the character either a Amazon or what evert the other kit was ... and they were completely different kits and all that. Cause I know how to use those things. 

The gender also sets the casting voice.

Edited by The Imp, 03 April 2018 - 11:51 AM.

[temnix]

No, it's SEX that sets the voice.

 

But let's hear from the docs whether GENDER can be extended. And another thing. It seems to me that NONE values in the IDS files don't work as actual entries but switch on some of the other values. For example, NONE alignment isn't perceived, and so on. With GENDER, I've heard wrong sounds when targeting what I thought were genderless creatures. My spell used different sounds for MALE, FEMALE and a third option for monsters. So there is the answer to my original question; but the monsters with NONE were not only getting the neutral sound but also the MALE sound, until I changed the spell to target NIETHER instead.

 

The point: if NONE doesn't actually work for GENDER, what about SPECIFIC? Everybody is NONE there, by default, except the special creatures who get their own values. PCs are not going to become MAGIC, NO_MAGIC, NORMAL or SPIRIT. Now, people have messed around with SPECIFIC, but temporarily, I believe. After those changes and effects go away, PCs go back to being... NONE. No one has dared to alter their signatures permanently in that file. But if NONE here is just nothing, not used, then why not replace it with something permanent that would play a role?

 

Like age. Even Fallout had age, but none of the improvements and enhancements of the fantasy IE games have added that mechanic. It wasn't used, so it wasn't added; it wasn't added, so it wasn't used. A beautiful logic that could be carried away to its most satisfactory conclusion - a game that doesn't exist is the most harmonious. Meanwhile, though the game events don't take very long from Candlekeep to Watcher's Keep, there are mechanics that could and should age people - specters' touch, spells... Unlike GENDER, SPECIFIC can be extended as much as one likes. But it's not, unfortunately, shown anywhere on the screens.

 

I'm thinking of using effect 290, Change Title. Some of the fields could display the character's age instead.

 

Actually, never mind. Yes, it could be done. But, like with so many other things about these games, why bother?

Edited by temnix, 03 April 2018 - 12:58 PM.

[subtledoctor]

Now, people have messed around with SPECIFIC, but temporarily, I believe. No one has dared to alter their signatures permanently in that file.

My mod changes the SPECIFIC value for player character thieves, until they take a particular feat or HLA, at which point they revert back to NONE.

Just sayin'.

As for age, you could use a stat, which can take numerical values, rather than SPECIFICS or GENDER. Tracking, for example, which is currently unused, and does not appear on the record screen, and can be modified by opcode 93 I think.

Alternatively, if you do want it to show up on the record screen, you could repurpose Lore:
- set all unidentified items to require 999 lore to identify (so you must use a spell or scroll or store to identify things);
- set all classes to give 0 Lore per level;
- rename the "Lore" string to "Age;"
- set everyone's age as appropriate.

Now you can do fun stuff like
- age people by a year every time they are affected by Haste
- give people various penalties if they age too much
- make certain undead creatures increase your age by touching you
- wipe out all those things with a Greater Restoration spell

Edited by subtledoctor, 03 April 2018 - 01:15 PM.

[GeN1e]

Gender checks are not uncommon in dialogue, and some scantily clad female monsters also seek out male targets with their AI.

 

Also, depending on how sloppily it was scripted, some questlines may break if you're neither MALE nor FEMALE https://forums.beamd...#Comment_877293

[temnix]

Well, yes. Dialogues. My own consider gender, too.

 

If someone wants to take up this idea, I don't mind. Though it's probably better to take some other stat instead of Lore, something never used for anything, like Magical Fire resistance.

Edited by temnix, 03 April 2018 - 07:54 PM.