Mod for NeJ3: Erevain Blacksheaf NPC Options

[Senka]

Good example is Shar-Teel.

She is TOO talkative. IMHO.

[Vlad]

Bill, I'm creating an Infiltrator kit. Is it a thief-based or a fighter-based kit? Dependent on that, the proficiencies will be assigned accordingly.

[Bill Bisco]

Hi Vlad,

I really appreciate your generous and encouraging words. I am eager to use what little time I have to write again.

I have actually completed coding an Inflitrator kit based on my notes. The coding can be found here. That's one of the few things I actually finished doing

CODE

// 100 INSTALL KIT

ADD_KIT ~Infiltrator~ //Infiltrator, in this example, is the internal name of the kit as it will be referred to in the game files. The internal name you specify here will need to be consistent throughout the rest of the ADD_KIT command.

  // appended to CLASWEAP.2da
  ~Infiltrator                1           1           1           1           1           0           0           0~
  // appended column-wise to WEAPPROF.2da
  ~Infiltrator 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0~
  // appended to ABCLASRQ.2da
  ~Infiltrator                0       9       0       0       0       0~
  // appended to ABCLSMOD.2da
  ~Infiltrator                0       0       0       0       0       0~
  // appended to ABDCDSRQ.2da
  ~Infiltrator                0       17       0       0       0      0~
  // appended to ABDCSCRQ.2da
  ~Infiltrator                0       15       0       0       0      0~
  // appended to ALIGNMNT.2da
  ~Infiltrator                0       1       1       1       1       1       1       1       1~
  // appended to DUALCLAS.2da
  ~Infiltrator                1       1       1       0       0       0~
/* this is the name of your abilities 2DA file, in the style of clabrn02.2da */
~erevain/kits/infiltrator/clabbi01.2da~
/* These are the 2da files listed in KITTABLE.2DA that you want your kit to be a part of. List as many as you like. */
~K_T_H    K_T_D   K_T_G   K_T_E   K_T_HE   K_T_HL   K_T_HO~
/* This is the "unusable" value you want for you kit and also the class value. These would normally appear at the end of KITLIST.2DA */
~0x00040000 4 ~
/* This is the High Level Ability Abbreviation (see LUABBR.2DA).  Normal values are Fi0, Pa0, etc. */
~Th0~
/* This is the TOB starting equipment list. Put a * if you don't want something. See 25STWEAP.2DA. */
~CHAN09 * HELM07 BAG20 RING06 RING21 * BOOT01 AMUL20 BRAC10 BELT06 AROW11,40 BULL03,40 BOLT06,40 POTN52,5 POTN04,2 POTN14,5 HAMM07 SW1H27 STAF08~
/* These are the strings you want for the lower, mixed and help
* descriptions for your kit. */
SAY ~infiltrator~
SAY ~Infiltrator~
SAY ~INFILTRATOR: The master of stealth and invading unknown places: urban or wilderness. These rogues use their magical abilities to supplement their thieving skills at the price of reduced progress in thieving aptitude.

Advantages:
- Access to several innate abilities, which grow in frequency and availability as levels advance:
1. Luck (2 uses at level 2)
2. Non-Detection (2 uses at level 3)
3. Knock (2 uses at level 4, 1 additional use at levels 7,10,16,22,28,34,40)
4. Invisibility (2 uses at level 5)
5. Find Traps (2 uses at level 6, 1 additional use at levels 12,18,24,30,36)
6. Improved Invisibility (at level 8)
7. Dimension Door (at level 11,17,23,29,35)
8. Farsight (at level 9,15,21,27,33,39)
9. True Sight (at level 13, 19, 25, 31, 37)
10. Mass Invisibility (at level 14,20,26,32,38)
Disadvantages:
- Gets only 15 points to distribute thieving points per level.~

// change regular spell to innate.  Below Macro is from Divine Remix Authors: Andyr, CamDawg and NiGHTMARE.  Thank you and Mike1072 for the hint!
DEFINE_PATCH_MACRO ~spell_to_innate~ BEGIN
  READ_LONG  0x64 "abil_off" ELSE 0
  READ_SHORT 0x68 "abil_num" ELSE 0
  READ_ASCII ("%abil_off%" + 0x04) "bam" (8) // reads the bam filename from ability
  WRITE_SHORT 0x1C 4                         // sets spell type to innate (4)
  WRITE_LONG  0x34 1                         // sets spell level to 1 to avoid scripting issues
  WRITE_EVALUATED_ASCII 0x3A "%bam%" #8      // writes the bam filename from abilities to spell icon
  FOR ( index = 0; index < abil_num; index = index + 1 ) BEGIN
    WRITE_SHORT ("%abil_off%" + 0x02 + (0x28 * "%index%")) 4 // changes ability icon location to innate (4)
    READ_SHORT  ("%abil_off%" + 0x12 + (0x28 * "%index%")) "speed" // reads casting speed
    PATCH_IF ("%speed%" > 3) BEGIN
      WRITE_SHORT  ("%abil_off%" + 0x12 + (0x28 * "%index%")) ("%speed%" - 2) // reduces casting speed
    END ELSE BEGIN
      WRITE_SHORT  ("%abil_off%" + 0x12 + (0x28 * "%index%")) 0 // makes instant
    END
  END
END

COPY_EXISTING ~SPWI209.spl~ ~override/BIIN01.spl~ // Luck
              ~SPWI310.spl~ ~override/BIIN02.spl~ // Non-Detection
              ~SPWI207.spl~ ~override/BIIN03.spl~ // Knock
              ~SPWI206.spl~ ~override/BIIN04.spl~ // Invisiiity
              ~SPPR205.spl~ ~override/BIIN05.spl~ // Find Traps
              ~SPWI402.spl~ ~override/BIIN06.spl~ // Dimension Door
              ~SPWI405.spl~ ~override/BIIN07.spl~ // Improved Invisibility
              ~SPWI424.spl~ ~override/BIIN08.spl~ // Farsight
              ~SPWI609.spl~ ~override/BIIN09.spl~ // True Sight
              ~SPWI721.spl~ ~override/BIIN10.spl~ // Mass Invisibility
  LAUNCH_PATCH_MACRO ~spell_to_innate~ // Takes all of the copied and renamed spells above and runs the earlier defined macro

Suggested Starting Weapon Proficiencies for Erevain are 2 Longsword 2 Longbow 2 Single Weapon Style. I'd like to see him emulate his god's (Corellan Larethian) Fighting Style (1 handed sword and nothing in the other hand and occasionally using a bow, aka the stereotypical elf).

Thieving skills is suggested no extra points in Open Lock, Hide in Shadows, or Move Silently as the special abilities are intended to replace those. I'm not terribly worried about allocation as that can be better refined during testing.

I'll start writing some interjections again.

[Bill Bisco]

I've added additional interjections or outlines for additional interjections starting with 17.400 by editing my earlier posts. I can also add new posts if that works better; let me know. I will make it my goal to write or outline 1 interjection dialogue per day. Thank you for your help and inspiring me once again!

[Vlad]

These are his spells:

3273 EREV_DETECT_INVISIBILITY
3276 EREV_INVISIBILITY
3277 EREV_KNOCK
3280 EREV_RESIST_FEAR
3377 EREV_INVISIBILITY_RADIUS
3382 EREV_DETECT_ILLUSION
3472 EREV_DIMENSION_DOOR
3475 EREV_IMPROVED_INVISIBILITY
3505 EREV_SHADOW_DOOR
3504 EREV_ORACLE
3503 EREV_TENSER_TRANSFORMATION
3506 EREV_MISLEAD
3508 EREV_TRUE_SIGHT
3523 EREV_PROJECT_IMAGE
3524 EREV_MASS_INVISIBILITY
3525 EREV_SIMULACRUM
3526 EREV_TIME_STOP
3527 EREV_SHAPECHANGE

I'll give him an item like I gave to Nalia to increase his thieving abilities.

[Vlad]

Bill, unfortunately the feature of decreasing the number of points a thief can get per level is hardcoded.

[Vlad]

Bill, you'll need to voice Erevain in that case, or should I use one of the existing in the net voices?

[Vlad]

These are for your voicing. It should be simple for you:

SAY MORALE ~I must hide! Now!~
SAY HAPPY ~I have grown quite fond of this company.~
SAY UNHAPPY_ANNOYED ~I don't like the path that we're taking.~
SAY UNHAPPY_SERIOUS ~We muat make a serious change soon!~
SAY 0xb8 ~I am long past done with you. Good riddance!~
SAY LEADER ~My multiple talents make me the natural singlular leader.~
SAY TIRED ~I need to meditate.~
SAY BORED ~Elves can be patient, but not this patient!~
SAY BATTLE_CRY1 ~With true strikes!~
SAY BATTLE_CRY2 ~With Elven speed!~
SAY BATTLE_CRY3 ~By Corellon's sword, you shall fall!~
SAY BATTLE_CRY4 ~Taste my Elven steel!~
SAY BATTLE_CRY5 ~Fie to ye foul foes!~
SAY DAMAGE ~Agh.~
SAY DYING ~I need healing quickly.~
SAY HURT ~That'll leave a scar.~
SAY AREA_FOREST ~Ahh. How I relish such beautiful forests.~
SAY AREA_CITY ~Another city. Perhaps some of my kind dwell here.~
SAY AREA_DUNGEON ~Work together friends, danger is likely nearby.~
SAY AREA_DAY ~Fair weather is most welcome.~
SAY AREA_NIGHT ~Be weary friends, most unsultry creatures lurk at this hour.~
SAY SELECT_COMMON1 ~How can I serve?~
SAY SELECT_COMMON2 ~Yes?~
SAY SELECT_COMMON3 ~Which talent do you require?~
SAY SELECT_COMMON4 ~Anytime; anywhere.~
SAY SELECT_COMMON5 ~Need a spell?~
SAY SELECT_COMMON6 ~Corellon would show ye true glory, if you let him.~
SAY SELECT_ACTION1 ~By Corellon's grace.~
SAY SELECT_ACTION2 ~ With Elven speed.~
SAY SELECT_ACTION3 ~Absolutely.~
SAY SELECT_ACTION4 ~So it is.~
SAY SELECT_ACTION5 ~ May Erevan Ilesere keep us disguised.~
SAY SELECT_ACTION6 ~For beauty.~
SAY SELECT_ACTION7 ~With humble pleasure.~
SAY SELECT_RARE1 ~It is an honor to serve the cause of light.~
SAY SELECT_RARE2 ~Dance to the rhythm of life! ~
SAY CRITICAL_HIT ~That's it!!~
SAY CRITICAL_MISS ~Argh!~
SAY TARGET_IMMUNE ~Another weapon! Now!~
SAY INVENTORY_FULL ~I need a large bag of holding. The item is on the ground.~
SAY SPELL_DISRUPTED ~My spell is faulty!~
SAY SET_A_TRAP ~A token of my genius.~
SAY HIDDEN_IN_SHADOWS ~One with the shadows.~
SAY PICKED_POCKET ~I only take what I must.~

[Vlad]

Bill, I have an idea. I can block the second hand of Erevain, so he won't be able to use shields or wear a second weapon, and he will gain penalties to thieving skills. You won't see anything in his second hand, but you won't be able to place anything there. Is it what you want?

[Bill Bisco]

Hi Vlad, thanks for your posts.

1. Infiltrator Kit

If you add the Assassin usability flag, you can make a Thief Kit get only 15 points per level. Read this thread

If you look at the code I posted earlier, you'll find the ~0x00040000 4 ~ there which should work to reduce thieiving points to 15 per level. I believe I tested it earlier but we can double check.

That is my desire for the Infilatrator Kit. Magical abilities that can augment / replacing some thieving skills at the cost of less thieving skills

2. Thieving Skill Bonuses

I considered earlier giving Erevain his own custom Boots of Elvenkind and Cloak of Elvenkind, but I never wrote it out. I was partially waiting to test what points I thought were needed.

Erevain's starting slots are as follows so far

Armor: Erevain's Elven Plate +2
Gloves: Empty
Helmet: Empty
Amulet: Blacksheaf Family Amulet
Ring1: Empty
Ring2: Empty
Cloak: Empty
Boots: Empty
Belt: Empty

Weapon 1: Erevain's Broadsword +3
Weapon 2: Longbow +1
Ammo 1: Arrows
Ammo 2: Arrows
Ammo 3: Arrows
Off-Hand: Empty

I think I'll add a write-up for a custom Boots of Elvenkind and Cloak of Elvenkind for Erevain.

3. Block Off-hand

I don't want to block the offhand explicitlly, I just want to disincentivize people to use it.

4. I'll start using my voice to voice Erevain. Any suggestions for the titles of the files? Any character limits?

This post has been edited by Bill Bisco: Nov 5 2016, 02:18 AM

[Bill Bisco]

I recorded some voice clips. Access them here I understand why voice actors are paid money now! This isn't easy! I think I'll record one at a time and make each one really good. I need to speak in a higher pitched voice than my normal comfort level. The ones in the uploaded clip sound too human-like.

[Vlad]

I've always had a problem with these flags. Sometimes, not all innate abilities appeared in the innate slots, and when I changed the flags, appeared others. Sometimes, the character lost other abilities. So, it's a kind of a trap. At the moment, I prefer to keep the flag as per Imoen's kit. He'll get the thief skills as normal, I think it's good. The items I've made you'll like. And I really like voicing. Concerning the pitch, I'll increase it a bit in Sony Sound Forge for all files, so no worry.

[Bill Bisco]

I recorded some higher pitched samples here. I think these are slightly better than the lower pitched ones above.

[Vlad]

Please listen for two sounds with the increased pitch and tell me which one you like more. I'll convert your recorded sounds than in a batch process. I like how you recorded them. I'll ask you then to record some other NPCs for me.

 erevdung1.wav ( 302.33k ) Number of downloads: 2

 erevdung2.wav ( 324.89k ) Number of downloads: 3

[Bill Bisco]

Let me re-record some voice clips with my natural higher pitch. I need to also use Audacity to Delete some background noise for higher quality audio clips. I'll upload them to an open source folder. At that point, I'll leave it to you what you think is best.

1. To leave the audio and pitch as it is
2. To use software to modify the pitch (note, we'd have to do that for every audio sample from now on, and it'd be best if you told me exactly how you did it so I could replicate it)
3. Tell me to re-record some of the audio in a different manner

I'll finish this as soon as I can.

[Bill Bisco]

1. I re-recorded several voice clips. This represents what I believe I can get the best out of my higher pitched voice for the moment. I did all the Selection and Action sounds. I will get to the other sounds later. You can download the sounds here:. I will let you know as I add other sounds. I will re-record sounds that you think aren't good; let me know.

I used .ogg. That is the best for mod packages yes?

Recording sounds is fun but harder than you might think. My voice box hurts a bit. I have to wait until all my family is asleep to record to avoid interrupting sounds!

2. I would request you add Strength as a starting spell for Erevain. 18/50 + 50% from Strength = 18/00 . I imagine Erevain as an NPC that needs a lot of buffing spells to be effective and stay alive.

3. I realized that every vanilla NPC in BG2 has a voiced line when they speak to you for the first time. I'll voice Erevain's first dialogue too.

[Vlad]

Bill, I like the most the first set you created. Really like it. Good balance between voice/volume/noise. This is exactly how all the sounds are made in BG series. So, pitch 1 will be enough in my opinion.

Stats as of now:

17
19
17
18
14
12

Good for triple character. Tomes my boost a bit more if needed. He is not a front fighter, so no need for strength higher than 17. Triple class elf gets the maximum dexterity and AC, which is good for him. Constitution is very important. It's hard-coded, so everything less than 17 and he will get hurt all the time and won't survive long in combat. Int and wis is a must. I'm creating items for him.

[Senka]

97, really? Give him an item for WIS and/or STR

[Vlad]

Actually I have rolled 91 for him, but then added 2 to CHR and 4 to WIS. Yes, I can do that but then he'll have a problem with getting the Ring of Might.

[Senka]

Yes, I can do that but then he'll have a problem with getting the Ring of Might

Potion of wisdom will help I don't remember: do you need stats for wearing ROM?

Actually I have rolled 91 for him

Well... I rolled 98 for PC but not quickly ))))) Some hours required.