14 replies to this topic

[Duality]

One thing I always wanted for BG2 was some sort of decent sized mod that adds an Arena where you can fight.
At one point, I thought about making one myself, however, I don't have the skills to make the needed BMP of a large arena.

Anyone know where I might be able to find a decent arena bitmap? I'm considering starting to make an arena mod but......

[ronin]

Use the first area you are in after Bohdi talks to you in Spellhold. Close off the stairs and you have an arena.

[Duality]

Use the first area you are in after Bohdi talks to you in Spellhold. Close off the stairs and you have an arena.

Hmm..... That is a distinct possibility. Would require some serious editing but.....

I actually found a couple of BG2 maps on Black Wyrm that would partially work, I was only looking at non-bg 2 maps before. Guess I'll be seeing if my photoshop skills are up to the task of piecing them together.

Thanks

[Rodman49]

Hmm, nice idea, the arena is a typical convention in many newer RPGs (KotOR, Oblivion, Jade Empire) that BGII never had. Additionally I always thought it would be a good idea to have a mod made for multiplayer where instead of the BG storyline you just kind of faced waves of enemies in an arena with maybe a slight bit of RP challenges in between the waves.

[Duality]

Yeesh, well, I think I'm going to use a severely modified Waukeens. Has a nice arena look, needs a lot of work though and I suck at modifying images. Guess this will take a while.

For some weird reason I have the tendency to pick projects that require a lot of work. Must be some sort of personality deficiency.

I like the wave idea, I might include a survivor mode as well, where you have to fend off constant waves for a set period of time....

Any other ideas on combat types?

I was thinking:
Survivor mode - constant waves for a set period of time
Gladiator mode - increasingly difficult fights, nifty prizes if you win, full party battles
Class challenge mode - depending on your class, you fight certain battles against others of the same class. Magic user vs magic user etc duels. Single PC only.

Should be just a lot of copying and minor modifications to scripts once the first few are done.

Edited by Duality, 24 March 2008 - 02:42 PM.

[Hoppy]

Maybe Firfraag's layer would work too. Or an Ust Natha area.

[SConrad]

I think this is a great idea!

There's a pit in the Copper Coronet (where you fight whats-his-name), and also the place in the back (where the gladiators fight). The first one might be too small, but the second could work (though possibly with some modifications).

[Zyraen]

Spellhold Gauntlet can be easily adapted for this. If anyone is interested I'll see what I can do.

Spellhold Gauntlet basically already cordons you off into an area, teleports you into the middle of the map before each wave of monsters spawn, and the monsters come in randomly generated directions, with most waves having a "surprise" force that spawns in at a random timing during the fight ; if you wipe out the rest, the surprise force spawns in automatically so you don't have to sit around waiting for more foes (and have no chance to recover)

Edited by Zyraen, 24 March 2008 - 05:52 PM.

[Duality]

I was kind of thinking "old style roman colosseum". Call me old fashioned

I was also thinking *large*. Hence why I think I'll use Waukeens, since it fits both, though, I may have to slice it down some, I don't want it too large. Large battles, a large area to roam in, maybe some traps in the floor..... Someone shoot me now before I go way overboard. (for reference's sake, on the way home tonight I was thinking about implementing a leader board with points, showing your standing against other teams that also battle it out..... I gave up that idea fairly quickly)


Zyraen, I saw the spellhold guantlet when I was poking through the mod lists earlier today but I have yet to play it. Mainly since I haven't played BG2 in over a year. Of course, if people are in a hurry..... Since who knows how long this will take me to finish.

Either way, I have a couple of things in mind and I think I'd like to make my own. My only issue with doing it myself is the map issues. I actually enjoy scripting, however, I *really don't* enjoy photoshopping BMP's and then turning them into workable areas. Drives me friggin nuts.

Whatever, I'll get it done eventually. If anyone has anything else they think would be interesting, kindly post here and once I finish the area itself and some basic arena scripts, I'll take a look at adding people's suggestions.

Edited by Duality, 24 March 2008 - 06:24 PM.

[SimDing0]

A huge problem with an arena concept is that for the most part of the game, you are vastly more powerful than the people around you--so any monsters thrown at you that present a vague challenge are immediately going to raise eyebrows: "These guys have a WHAT locked up?!"
The only suitable junctures I can really see for this are either at some point in BG1, when you are clearly nowhere near the best the Sword Coast has to offer, or very early BG2. This doesn't seem to open up massive possibilities for varied combat: it's going to be primarily gladiators because nobody in the middle of Athkatla is really likely to have a ton of beholders and mind flayers locked up ready for you to fight. You can work in some semi-plausible backstory where a powerful mage summons in the opponents or whatever, but I think it's always going to be a stretch.
By and large, though, I agree that something like this is a good idea if you can pull it off believably. (If you're just going to throw dragons at people then I'll stop reading this thread now.) My suggestion is to shop around a bit for area art, because it's really a very simple area to draw, and it'd be a shame for the mod to be let down by "hey, this place looks a lot like Waukeen's Promenade!" syndrome.

[Michael]

Hmm... I was going to say it should be something put together by the Cowled Wizards... but aren't they in existence because of the fear of magic in the public, or something? Wouldn't make sense for them to start an arena combat place with summoned beings.

[Duality]

Believability has never been my strong point. After all, I did pick up the Planar Sphere mod and do extensive work on it, and if THAT mod isn't a prime example of "uh, what's believability?" then I don't know what is!

Although, now that you mention it, I might just go with the extra-planar cop-out.

Yee Old Powerful Being likes watching people fight, and thus scours the plains for potentials. You happen to be one and are offered a chance to compete.

That would at least explain why there are a bunch of people/monsters who could potentially beat the crap out of you.

Or some such hackneyed crap like that. It's an arena, at the moment story isn't high on my list, getting the basics done is.


Um... Where might I shop around for area art? The whole "waukeens 2.0" thing really isn't ideal, but I wasn't sure where else to go. I'd much prefer a well done area that isn't just a semi-copy of an old area.

[Rodman49]

I was thinking:
Survivor mode - constant waves for a set period of time
Gladiator mode - increasingly difficult fights, nifty prizes if you win, full party battles
Class challenge mode - depending on your class, you fight certain battles against others of the same class. Magic user vs magic user etc duels. Single PC only.

[SimDing0]

Hmm... I was going to say it should be something put together by the Cowled Wizards... but aren't they in existence because of the fear of magic in the public, or something? Wouldn't make sense for them to start an arena combat place with summoned beings.

Or you're hired by the Cowled Wizards to infiltrate the arena, find out who's behind it, and take it down. I don't know. The backstory's probably always going to be crud.

[Duality]

Well, as long as we all accept the fact that the backstory IS going to be crud then no worries. My writing tends to range from the silly to the absurd, and I don't really expect this mod to be any different. One of the many reasons I never considered a NPC mod.

Actually, the funny thing is, before Sim mentioned Dragons, I was thinking of having it run by a dragon, a la Firkarrg human form morphing, but I think I like the extra-planar copout better.

I'll probably start working on the area file BMP tonight and will hopefully have the area piece finished this weekend. (emphasis on hopefully and fully dependant upon how much time I spend playing NWN2/Diablo 2 again)

Edited by Duality, 25 March 2008 - 11:44 AM.