I ran into a wall this past weekend and I thought I'd ask for opinions before I choose an approach to resolve it. So the question is: should I go with Solution A, B, C, D, or E?
Problem: I tried to use the Familiar slot for the second pet so that you can visually pick your second pet and get to name them uniquely. This failed because the AI of the familiar is such that it runs from combat/tries to stay out of the way. In addition, the Beastmaster ONLY companions are visible to Wizards/Sorcerers because the engine isn't respecting the feat column in the familiars table.
I think I found a way around the AI but I can't resolve the engine ignoring the damn feat column of the 2DA file.
Solution A: Let the player pick the second pet visually using the familiar slot. Sorcerers who pick a Beastmaster pet (clearly marked as such with the description) will instead summon the beetle. Dung for the lack of reading comprehension! If you pick a non-beastmaster familiar you get a boar. Truffles for you!
Solution B: The player's second companion is identical to the first and it's name is "X's twin" where X is whatever you named your first pet. Simple, to the point, and no reading required. The player does not get a familiar at all.
Solution C: The player's second companion is identical to the first and it's name is "X's twin" where X is whatever you named your first pet. Simple, to the point, and no reading required. The player does get a familiar so they can have a non-combat cute fuzzy to go with the pair of non-cute fuzzies.
Solution D: The player picks the second companion type from a bonus feat list while leveling up (probably at level 1). The familiar GUI is available and it is only used to let them name their second pet. No familiar is available to the player.
Solution E: The player picks the second companion type from a bonus feat list while leveling up (probably at level 1). The second pet's name is "X's twin" where X is whatever you named your first pet. They get a familiar as well for the cute-fuzzy aspect.
Edit:
Ok, a different way to look at this and a much simpler question:
Do you want a familiar?
If so, your second pet will not have a unique name.
If not, your second pet will have a unique name.
Regardless, you will be able to pick whatever type you want for each companion (such a spider and lizard, or wolf and cat).
Thursday, February 16, 2017
Saturday, February 11, 2017
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
So close...
I'm pretty close to a release. Got most of the Dalelands stuff cleaned out, and I'm working to sanitize what's left so that "in development" stuff doesn't clutter up the 2DA files and Dialog.tlk file.
Saturday, March 5, 2016
Small update
I've taken a staff position on the Realms of Trinity. Doing new classes and content for them will help keep me in the community after I wrap up this rather large update. LOL
Got the warlock code cleaned up from DB (no more alignment changes to evil just for using basic abilities). Did a pass on the alchemy stuff but I need to isolate the code so I can make sure it will work without other DB files. Did a status review on the new weapons and their impact on scripts and an initial crack at the separation of Beastmaster.
Got the warlock code cleaned up from DB (no more alignment changes to evil just for using basic abilities). Did a pass on the alchemy stuff but I need to isolate the code so I can make sure it will work without other DB files. Did a status review on the new weapons and their impact on scripts and an initial crack at the separation of Beastmaster.
Monday, February 15, 2016
Test Server
If folks wouldn't mind, ping this IP and let me know what the time is. It's a Dallas TX datacenter I'm looking at renting a server from.
45.35.0.3
45.35.0.3
Saturday, February 13, 2016
Content work has resumed
About the middle of last week I wrapped up the big project I've been doing for work (that has been very time consuming for the past six months) so no more 10-15 hour days, etc! I've been assessing what I have left to do to wrap up the SP update and seeing what all is unfinished and should be pushed to the next one to speed this one up.
I was also testing the waters again for helping servers but it seems they aren't really looking for new stuff right now. Maybe I'll pull the trigger on renting a server and start working on that new ruleset. :)
No ETA on 1.46 (gone this weekend for family) but hopefully next weekend I'll get the bulk of it knocked out.
I was also testing the waters again for helping servers but it seems they aren't really looking for new stuff right now. Maybe I'll pull the trigger on renting a server and start working on that new ruleset. :)
No ETA on 1.46 (gone this weekend for family) but hopefully next weekend I'll get the bulk of it knocked out.
Monday, December 21, 2015
Long overdue update
It's scary how fast time flies considering it's been like four months now since my last post. I do apologize for the lack of communication but this always ended up losing when it came to prioritizing the crazy whirlwind of stuff going on. Not being tied to a server unfortunately made it even easier to put off. I won't bore you with the reasons but I am slowly trying to finish the 1.46 update (more on that in a bit). I'll try to catch up and reply to the comments I've read over the last two updates since they have stacked up a bit.
I've been off the staff of Dalelands since July and they haven't wanted any updates nor have I heard of any. I still log in every now and then when someone PMs me a question in order to answer it. Like any server with my stuff, they have complete permission to change or not change whatever they want. I consider the whole Dalelands subject closed as I can't see going back at this point (and not for negative reasons, simply their way of doing things isn't compatible with what I would like for doing content) so hopefully folks won't keep emailing about it (I get one every few weeks lol).
As far as Baldur's Gate - the whole thing was years and years ago and today I simply don't care. No grudge is worth carrying and I buried that hatchet years ago frankly (when I cleaned up the Nexus and Vault which was 2-3 years ago?).
Once I release a version with the source code they are free to use it (or not) at their discretion. The source code won't come with any caveats on who or what is allowed. One of items on the checklist for releasing the 1.46 update is to clear out all of the incomplete/unused descriptions from the TLK file. No chance of problems! If they wanted to use the content and ask me questions, I'd answer just like I will with any other server.
Speaking of - Realms of Trinity is waiting on the 1.46 update and I know that Realms of Darkness is looking at a re-launch and would like the source code as well. So that's two servers that are looking forward to future content and each will decide which pieces they intend to use from the set.
Which brings us to the topic of the source code. Removing the DB only source code and separating out the HyperV approved code has turned out to be a much nastier problem than I expected. It's simply the volume of files that I have to go through which is extremely tedious and time consuming. I'm also running into the problem of having a creature model hak that works for single player in order to make the Beastmaster work.
I'm working to clean out the unused descriptions (which are legion LOL) as well as add a lot more cmi_options to turn off the MP only decisions (since SP players don't care about exploits) which will hopefully restore compatibility with TonyK's AI. All of this is a lot of work!
What is likely to happen is that I will release a 1.46 update that has no Beastmaster and no source code. That way those wanting to play the game with the pack will be able to do so without much more of a delay. The 1.46.1 update will include the Beastmaster (and a separate download for an override set of creature models) and the cleaned up source code. Once I get closer to release I'll give an estimated release date but for now (and with the holidays) I feel its best to simply not give a date that I'll likely miss.
I have never and I will never take any payment for the work I've done on NWN2. It's always been in a grey area due to licensing (making money of WoTC content can get you sued or slapped with a C&D) and because of that and my job I simply don't want to deal with it. IF I were to ever be the one running a server then any funds allowed would be simply for the cost of the hardware/server rental. Frankly, I'd rather eat that out of my pocket as an entertainment expense in order to keep that clear separation of finances in place. Especially in todays day and age. :(
Combined packs have never and will never be supported by me. It's a risk when someone mashes two things together and hopes it all works out. That's just not something I have the time to chase down or even remotely want to deal with when time is such a precious commodity.
This past weekend was a free trial of Sword Coast Legends which I spent 4-5 hours trying out to see if it was any good. It was ok. It definitely showed the upsides and the downsides of a timer based skill system instead of having uses per day. It was kind of a hybrid between Dragon Age and D&D (which hewing closer to Dragon Age frankly). I realize with a max of 4 characters this will never be a replacement for NWN1/2 but it seems to be fine for doing specific stories for single player.
Maybe if they really do support it will enough over the next year or two that I'll try my hand at that single player story I've had in the back of my mind the last decade. I'd love to mod a campaign to tell that story but lack of time is and always will be the killer. Especially since it seems to have a very small community so it's probably not worth the time investment. Maybe I should just write short stories. LOL
The other thing of note I want to mention before I finish with this late lunch is that I was looking into kicking off a new NWN2 server set in the Moonshaes but that has essentially failed. We were unable to find any area builders so the whole thing was never going to get off the ground. I'm not sure there is even enough interest in a new server to spend the time on it if we did have builders. LOL.
The plans were to essentially drop a nuke on my pack and strip out of ton of the useless and OP stuff and try to generate a set of baseline classes that are open to RP in many different ways. Instead of PrCs for RP you simply go the epithet/guild route. Eh, enough of that, it's all a pipe dream!
That lack of interest will likely extend to future updates past the 1.46 series as well. I'm not sure there is enough interest between servers and the handful of single player users to justify the time I could probably spend on watching some TV shows I've put off for years. No decisions one way or the other yet, I play to get through 1.46 and see how that shakes out before making any real choices.
Thanks again for the interest you folks have (and have shown) and I wish you happy holidays (and a Merry Christmas)!
I've been off the staff of Dalelands since July and they haven't wanted any updates nor have I heard of any. I still log in every now and then when someone PMs me a question in order to answer it. Like any server with my stuff, they have complete permission to change or not change whatever they want. I consider the whole Dalelands subject closed as I can't see going back at this point (and not for negative reasons, simply their way of doing things isn't compatible with what I would like for doing content) so hopefully folks won't keep emailing about it (I get one every few weeks lol).
As far as Baldur's Gate - the whole thing was years and years ago and today I simply don't care. No grudge is worth carrying and I buried that hatchet years ago frankly (when I cleaned up the Nexus and Vault which was 2-3 years ago?).
Once I release a version with the source code they are free to use it (or not) at their discretion. The source code won't come with any caveats on who or what is allowed. One of items on the checklist for releasing the 1.46 update is to clear out all of the incomplete/unused descriptions from the TLK file. No chance of problems! If they wanted to use the content and ask me questions, I'd answer just like I will with any other server.
Speaking of - Realms of Trinity is waiting on the 1.46 update and I know that Realms of Darkness is looking at a re-launch and would like the source code as well. So that's two servers that are looking forward to future content and each will decide which pieces they intend to use from the set.
Which brings us to the topic of the source code. Removing the DB only source code and separating out the HyperV approved code has turned out to be a much nastier problem than I expected. It's simply the volume of files that I have to go through which is extremely tedious and time consuming. I'm also running into the problem of having a creature model hak that works for single player in order to make the Beastmaster work.
I'm working to clean out the unused descriptions (which are legion LOL) as well as add a lot more cmi_options to turn off the MP only decisions (since SP players don't care about exploits) which will hopefully restore compatibility with TonyK's AI. All of this is a lot of work!
What is likely to happen is that I will release a 1.46 update that has no Beastmaster and no source code. That way those wanting to play the game with the pack will be able to do so without much more of a delay. The 1.46.1 update will include the Beastmaster (and a separate download for an override set of creature models) and the cleaned up source code. Once I get closer to release I'll give an estimated release date but for now (and with the holidays) I feel its best to simply not give a date that I'll likely miss.
I have never and I will never take any payment for the work I've done on NWN2. It's always been in a grey area due to licensing (making money of WoTC content can get you sued or slapped with a C&D) and because of that and my job I simply don't want to deal with it. IF I were to ever be the one running a server then any funds allowed would be simply for the cost of the hardware/server rental. Frankly, I'd rather eat that out of my pocket as an entertainment expense in order to keep that clear separation of finances in place. Especially in todays day and age. :(
Combined packs have never and will never be supported by me. It's a risk when someone mashes two things together and hopes it all works out. That's just not something I have the time to chase down or even remotely want to deal with when time is such a precious commodity.
This past weekend was a free trial of Sword Coast Legends which I spent 4-5 hours trying out to see if it was any good. It was ok. It definitely showed the upsides and the downsides of a timer based skill system instead of having uses per day. It was kind of a hybrid between Dragon Age and D&D (which hewing closer to Dragon Age frankly). I realize with a max of 4 characters this will never be a replacement for NWN1/2 but it seems to be fine for doing specific stories for single player.
Maybe if they really do support it will enough over the next year or two that I'll try my hand at that single player story I've had in the back of my mind the last decade. I'd love to mod a campaign to tell that story but lack of time is and always will be the killer. Especially since it seems to have a very small community so it's probably not worth the time investment. Maybe I should just write short stories. LOL
The other thing of note I want to mention before I finish with this late lunch is that I was looking into kicking off a new NWN2 server set in the Moonshaes but that has essentially failed. We were unable to find any area builders so the whole thing was never going to get off the ground. I'm not sure there is even enough interest in a new server to spend the time on it if we did have builders. LOL.
The plans were to essentially drop a nuke on my pack and strip out of ton of the useless and OP stuff and try to generate a set of baseline classes that are open to RP in many different ways. Instead of PrCs for RP you simply go the epithet/guild route. Eh, enough of that, it's all a pipe dream!
That lack of interest will likely extend to future updates past the 1.46 series as well. I'm not sure there is enough interest between servers and the handful of single player users to justify the time I could probably spend on watching some TV shows I've put off for years. No decisions one way or the other yet, I play to get through 1.46 and see how that shakes out before making any real choices.
Thanks again for the interest you folks have (and have shown) and I wish you happy holidays (and a Merry Christmas)!
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