7 replies to this topic

[the bigg]

Hi all,

 

I've received a PM about porting TB#Tweaks to the EE Engine. Given that I'm looking forward to spending 17 and 18 October in an hotel room I thought that I'd take a look at making the migration (since I don't think it will be a ton of work).

 

I have laid down a bullet point for the work required (both in general for EE migration, and in particular for TB#Tweaks components), and would be pretty grateful if somebody could go over my notes and point out any mistakes I've made or stuff I've forgotten about.

 

The basics

1. Upgrade WeiDU.exe to the latest version
2. Add an ALWAYS statement to call the HANDLE_CHARSETS function on .tra files that will contain in-game strings (but not for the component names, or other strings that will be printed to the CMD prompt)
3. Fetch the latest multi-compatibility library (for handling area/chapter/game triggers across the gamut of BG* flavors)
4. review GAME_IS statements as appropriate
5. Add the standard readme blurb(s) as found E.G. in the Tweaks Anthology readme

Component breakdown

 

Component Title	Component Description	Compatible?	Comment
Nature's Beauty Tweak	Nature's Beauty 'blindness' effect only lasts 8 hours	Yes – improveable	Standard SPL patching.   However, has the spell been already modified thus?
Imprisonment Fix	Imprisonment becomes a 'permanent' maze, instead of removing the character from the party	Yes – improveable	Standard SPL/ITM/EFF patching.   Currently the component sets 25 Intelligence on the party member, and edits INTMOD so that 25 intelligence is a permanent maze – is there a smarter way to do this in the EE?
Petrification Fix	Petrification becomes a 'permanent' stun (and sets 1 HP), instead of removing the character from the party	Yes	Standard SPL/ITM/EFF patching
Drop Weapons in Panic Removal	The Drop Weapons in Panic opcode is removed from the game	Yes	Standard SPL/ITM/EFF patching
Unlimited/Cheesier Limited Wish & Wish	Removes all Wisdom requirements and random rolls from Limited Wish and Wish spells	Yes	Standard DLG patching
Improved Difficulty System	Replaces Difficulty(xx) with a GetGlobal() check	Yes – improveable	I would need to edit the mod to add the extra difficulty settings (story mode and LOB), instead of the standard 5 difficulties from standard BG2. Otherwise, standard BCS/DLG patching
Faster Romances	Makes RealGlobalTimer() checks faster	Yes	Standard BCS and DLG patching
No Item Requrements	Removes minimum stat requirement from items	Yes	Standard ITM patching
WSPATCK for all	All classes get bonus attacks per round according to wspatck.2da (so when leveling up and when specializing in a weapon). Optionally, make the level-up bonus attack at 7th and 13th be a CLABxxxx.2da feature for warriors (so that other classes only get the bonus attack from specialization)	Yes - redundant (?)	Already implemented SubtleDoctor's APR on Spec mod.   If SubtleDoctor's mod doesn't offer the same customization options
3rd edition style strength	Changes the Strength bonuses to be more linear	Yes	Standard 2DA patching
3rd edition style dexterity	Changes the Dexterity bonuses to be more linear. Also, dexterity gives a bonus/malus to Breath saving throws	Yes – improveable	Standard 2DA patching.   Currently the bonus/malus to saving throws is implemented by defining appropriate spells and adding appropriate IF blocks to every creature's BCS. Is there a smarter way in the EE to apply an effect based on the current Dexterity score (and change the bonuses as the score changes)?
3rd edition style constitution	Changes the Constitution bonuses to be more linear. Also, constitution gives a bonus/malus to poison/paralysis/death saving throws	Yes – improveable	Same as "3rd edition style Dexterity"
3rd edition style wisdom	Changes the Wisdom bonuses to be more linear. Also, wisdom gives a bonus/malus to Spell saving throws	Yes – improveable	Same as "3rd edition style Wisdom"
3rd edition style charisma	Changes the Charisma bonuses to be more linear.	Yes	Standard 2DA patching
Druids can wear metal	Reverts ItemRevision changes that forbid Druids from wearing helmets and other metal armor	Yes	Standard ITM patching
Gain stats as you level up	Party members gain extra stats at certain XP or character milestones	Yes	Standard BCS/DLG coding. Chapter-based increments are probably overpowered for SoD, but that's none of my business
Party members can facestab too	Party thieves/stalkers (when invisible) no longer need to be behind an enemy to benefit from backstab multiplier. Optionally, to benefit from this, they must be under the effect of Non-Detection	No	Going to assume that this is incompatible with EET, as the mod did nothing more than install Ascension64's TobEx.
Mages drop spellbooks	Enemy mages carry a spellbook item, that party mages can then use to learn spells (rather than relying on scrolls)	Yes (?)	The basic mod is already compatible, as it is standard CRE/ITM patching.   However, the component used Ascension64's TobEx to make the Learn Spell opcode apply the same rules as scrolls would, so I would need to verify that the rules are still applied:   1) forbidden school for specialized wizards 2) INTMOD rules regarding max # of spells and % change to learning spells 3) sorcerers must not benefit from the item 4) no bonus XP to be given if the spell isn't learned

 

 

I apologize for dropping a dozen open-ended questions here - hopefully I have some left-over good will that I can bank on 

 

 

 

I apologize for dropping a dozen open-ended questions here - hopefully I have some left-over good will that I can bank on 

 

Edited by the bigg, 05 October 2020 - 12:29 PM.

[Thanatos-Zero]

In regards to APR on Spec, there is also now with the EE versions the CLSWPBON.2DA file. It handles, which class receives benefits of the WSPATCK.2DA file.

Here a simplefied and shortened version of the file itself, without all the multiclasses and kits.
 

2DA                 V1.0
0
                    GETS_PROF_APR       UNARMED_DIVISOR     ZERO_SKILL_THAC0
MAGE                                   0                   0                   5
FIGHTER                              1                   0                   2
CLERIC                                 0                   0                   3
THIEF                                    0                   0                   3
BARD                                    0                   0                   3
PALADIN                               1                   0                   2
DRUID                                  0                   0                   3
RANGER                               1                   0                   2
BARBARIAN                          1                   0                   2
SORCERER                            0                   0                   5
MONK                                   1                   3                   2
SHAMAN                               0                   0                   3

 Edit: As I tried it out without the mod, it seems APR to Spec is still needed to make this work properly.

Edited by Thanatos-Zero, 10 October 2020 - 11:21 AM.

[Endarire]

The official guide to converting mods to support EE and EET.

[jastey]

Hello the bigg!!! Nice to see you around.

The basics look about right. With the components I can't help much.

[Thanatos-Zero]

Since the original link of K4thos doesn't work anymore, here the one, which does.


How-to: Converting existing mods to the EE engine

Edited by Thanatos-Zero, 06 October 2020 - 06:36 AM.

[CamDawg]

Welcome back! Always nice to see old-timers, even if it's just for a bit. I'm assuming you're going to continue to support the originals. In which case, while EE does have some ways you can improve some of these tweaks, it may not be worth it since you'd end up supporting two methods--supporting one (slightly suboptimal) method may be better.

 

That being said, I'll try and walk through some of the questions.

 

Nature's Beauty still has permanent blind.

 

Maze's opcode supposedly supports an arbitrary duration if parameter1 = 1 (and for the originals, too). Otherwise, no special EE stuff here.

 

For the 3e-style attribute bonuses w.r.t. saving throws, you can actually screen out effects via EE's opcode 318. So you could put targeted EFFs for bonus/malus directly into the items and spells based on the target's attributes and screen out ones that shouldn't apply as needed.

 

For the components that require TobEx, I'll see if I can get Bubb (who runs EEex) to weigh in.

 

edit: ate my line breaks

Edited by CamDawg, 06 October 2020 - 07:04 AM.

[Mike1072]

Look who it is!  Great to see you around again.

 

I don't have much to add when it comes to improving compatibility for EE/EET, but I can point out that the "Druids can wear metal" component may not serve much purpose when it comes to Item Revisions.  IR has a separate component for adding these restrictions to druids and fighter/druids, so players could get the same effect by just not installing the IR component to begin with.  However, your component may still be useful in combination with the Druid Remix component from Divine Remix or other mods that bundle the usability changes with additional features.

[Thanatos-Zero]

@the_Bigg Has there been any progress since the 18th October?