Bill Bisco - My Testing, Testing for experienced players Options

[Senka]

green lizardmen with halberds are now very powerful.

What about the rest? Maybe Bill needs to try insane? Or you can add special option for experienced players only? Too much insane...

[Bill Bisco]

Hi Vlad, thanks for your replies. In case it wasn't clear: Thanks a lot for this mod. I've really been enjoying playing it.

I missed a picture last time:



I was trying to say that the fact that you can talk to Mother Egenia and rest at will and fake rest at will combined with the treasure and high xp of the spawned lizardmen makes this a really attractive farming location.

1. I'll reload to an earlier point and go to the bar again to talk to Lysan
2. I hope Kresselack is not too deadly. Do I need to cast 6 death wards before talking to him again?
3. I guess you're right I don't recall seeing throwing spears in a Infinity Engine Game. Would it be possible to give some of these Lizardmen axes? Or are we limited by animations.

Hmm, if you're open to it, I could begin work on a Erevain Blacksheaf NPC for NEJ. This could be incorporated into the Main Mod or remain just as a mod mod if you wish. I could write the outline and the dialogues if you would implement the coding. Let me know.

[Bill Bisco]

Alright, I was mistaken. I did talk to Lysan briefly earlier. Apologies. This dialogue with Lysan can be broken though. If you enter the tavern under invisibility or Sanctuary the cutscene will not start.

Also, if you go behind the bar and reveal yourself, Lysan's pathfinding will fail to talk to you and the game is stuck in cutscene mode forever

[Bill Bisco]

Somehow Accalia got in a loop and is continually acting like she's casting a spell (her Animate Dead Spell never fired)



Dear Lord. This is the most trap filled area I've ever seen. Thank goodness my PC is a thief. I would really hate to turn Shar-Teel or Accalia into a Thief or neglect to convert Imoen into a Mage.



Hmm, what's this I pickpocketed? Albion's key hmm? Maybe I can open an area sooner than I was supposed to?



This guy has way too many copies of the same book



Hmm, it turns out that all these nice people living in these Dragon Caverns were really Yuan-Ti. Apparently, opening the door in the library was a grave offense. I hope I didn't break the game!

[Bill Bisco]

So, I'm guessing the fact that if you have the key, you don't need to open locks and as such you can just open this door which leads to the Yuan-Ti in the room. As such this won't cause the rest of the disguised Yuan-ti from revealing themselves

[Senka]

I hope I didn't break the game!

No

So, I'm guessing the fact that if you have the key, you don't need to open locks and as such you can just open this door which leads to the Yuan-Ti in the room. As such this won't cause the rest of the disguised Yuan-ti from revealing themselves

This key opens another door. Didn't you play IWD early?

[Vlad]

If you enter the tavern under invisibility or Sanctuary the cutscene will not start

I don't believe you hide the whole party, particularly when you are in the cities. In all BG-IWD series, the major trigger for many dialogues and actions is "to see" at least one of your group members. I have mentioned this also in the hints section. By the way, it would be nice if you read the hints and undocumented features, so it would save a lot of waste efforts.

You'll need to write all dialogues including joining and leaving for Erevain, at least 2-3 banters with each NPC, many event-connected interjections, tree-of-life dialogue and other similar important dialogues, and of course endings. If you write all this material, I'll add Erevain to the game after I finish Keldorn's Romance.

[EDIT] Ah, and you'll meet Xan in Halruaa, in the past, so think how you'll deal with their strange meeting, and what could be complications of such sudden meeting when your group is under disguise.

[EDIT2]

Apparently, opening the door in the library was a grave offense

Like Senka said, you don't break anything here. It's a plot. There are several ways you can offend the snake people. Library contains some sensitive books which partially reveal their true nature. That's why you are warned that you cannot enter there. In fact, you can only rest there using their healer and trade with their book keeper. If you're done with that, you can oppose Albion in 2-3 ways or just do what you did - unlock some of the locked doors. Btw, if you release Marchon and his group, you'll have a significant reinforcement of your group to clean the area from the snakes. Just use Hrothgar to enter that locked round room in the middle, he will recognise Marchon then.

This post has been edited by Vlad: Jun 2 2015, 07:53 AM

[Bill Bisco]

Hi Senka, I actually have never played IWD before so all of this is new to me. It might be fun to play through it one day and compare it to my experience playing NeJ. My hope and anticipation is that NeJ would be better.

You're right Vlad that walking around invisibly can cause problems. I was just testing earlier and found that the cutscene wouldn't start with invisible / sanctuary characters. It also highlighted how vulnerable cutscenes that require someone to walk up to you are: they can break if there are barriers.

I will read hints if I have to. I am trying to avoid spoilers to be honest as I want to enjoy the full experience and be surprised where appropriate (I have been surprised multiple times so far). Ideally a game progression is as smooth as possible so that one doesn't have to look online for help. I'd like my children to be able to play a fully modded BG2 game from start to finish (ideally)

Thank you Vlad for the opportunity. I'll create a new thread this evening to dedicate to the Erevain NPC expansion. I didn't know we meet Xan in this mod. That will be a lot of fun to write! I was hoping in the back of my head for an opportunity to have some inter-cousin dialogue. There's opportunity for some cross-mod content with the Xan BG2 mods as well.

This post has been edited by Bill Bisco: Jun 2 2015, 03:53 PM

[Vlad]

It also highlighted how vulnerable cutscenes that require someone to walk up to you are: they can break if there are barriers.

Yes, no game engine is flawless.

I will read hints if I have to. I am trying to avoid spoilers to be honest as I want to enjoy the full experience and be surprised where appropriate (I have been surprised multiple times so far).

Hints and undocumented features are not spoilers, but "pointers". Spoilers are in a different thread.

My hope and anticipation is that NeJ would be better.

Yes, you are supposedly correct. The idea of NeJ came to me when after playing BG series, I decided to play IWD. I played a bit and stopped, because I have been already spoiled with BG. I couldn't bear the NPCs in IWD, which were completely silent, no group interaction at all. It was not for me, so I've decided why not to transfer IWD into a BG-style game plus much more. So, Jan started to write and it turned to be a never-ending journey. Eventually, the IWD plot became just a side quest.

I didn't know we meet Xan in this mod. That will be a lot of fun to write!

I suggest you first complete the quests in Halruaa, and then you'll have more ideas about their sudden encounter.

[Bill Bisco]

Apparently you can't start the NeJ Quest Alone. I kicked Imoen out and it won't let me enter the area.



I can't go if it's just Minsc and me Either. I would like to be able to play NeJ without Imoen!



This post has been edited by Bill Bisco: Jun 13 2015, 04:20 AM

[Vlad]

It's very cruel from you - to drop Imoen in that dungeon. There are several logic problems though, but I'll see what I can do about that.

[Bill Bisco]

Some more testing Notes

1. You can read this information even through the walls. I don't know if this is possible to fix



2. Perhaps under some conditions, one should be able to rest in the same area as the fake Eldathans?



3. Dar's Items break the standard BG2 Houserule of Protection Items not stacking with Magical Armor.



4. I skipped these people originally and went past them. Now, I have the Heartstone, but the dialogue is the same



5. When you return to Kuldahar and go upstairs to see Arundel, you don't actually have the option to return to Irenicus's Dungeon. Either without Hrothgar in the party or with him in the party and you refuse to continue with him. You can't do anything here and you're stuck. It would be nice to allow players to return home at this point. All of the dungeons so far are a large detour from the main BG2 game and some players might like to bail at this point.



6. One Kuldahar shop, the Eldathan shop and perhaps a couple of other locations offer the "History of the North Book". The date is off. 1368 is way in the future of IWD and NEJ.



7. If you start a fight with Erevain in Easthaven, he says some lines that he should not:




8. Vampiric Shadows See through Invisibility and Ignore Sanctuary.



9. Vampiric Shadows are completely fixated on CHARNAME. They never switch targets even if right next to another enemy. Currently I just send CHARNAME in circles.

10. Vampiric Shadow targets party members it cannot see.

Upon CHARNAME coming into vision range of the vampiric shadow, it decides to attack Shar-Teel.



11. Shadowed Elven Warriors spawns can be abused by making them spawn across chasms that they can't cross. Easy XP.



12. I give you credit for the challenge level in Severed Hand. This group is following my entire party. It's kinda nice to be ran out of the dungeon for once!




This post has been edited by Bill Bisco: Aug 23 2015, 12:17 PM

[Bill Bisco]

How do I escape this area? I cannot exit the way I came.



There is another exit but that is merely to the top of the school entrance which is a dead end

[Senka]

Try green picture

[Bill Bisco]

TY Senka.

Alright, I'm stuck. I've talked to everyone I can. Most of the wizards respawn eventually outside. I've collected a lot of scrolls. I don't know how to get into the elemental houses nor get past the secret door in the ToB copy sewers. Any help is appreciated. The only mods on these are Baldurdash and NeJ3

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6NOBpc3-0...iew?usp=sharing

[Senka]

Don't you read this one, didn't you?
http://forums.blackwyrmlair.net/index.php?showtopic=1823

[Vlad]

Thanks Bill. Like Senka said, most of your comments and questions have been answered in the walkthrough and in the hint section here. If you're stuck, I suggest you take a look into the documented material. The quests are not easy any more. In fact, they are multi-step and complicated compared to vanilla game. The same is true about your comments above. If you cannot find a solution, we are here to help you.

[Bill Bisco]

If you open up a chest and all of Harluaa wants to slaughter you, is there a point at which you can leave Harluaa or are you forever borked because you killed everyone that was red circled to you (aka everyone)?

Here are some play through notes.

1. The problem I have with the below sequence, asking Geralith about the time machine instead of asking about Kuldahar, is that you have no opportunity to say, "Actually, send me to Kuldahar first instead"



2. This cutscene and music are nice. Good touch. It is too slow to pull up the text. Also, if we use the Kuldahar portal, souldn't we have a picture of Kuldahar background?



3. I really like this cutscene. This really makes me want to continue playing and see the story and find out how many times I've been replaying the this life. Makes me think of Planescape: Torment. I love it!



4. I'm disappointed that a charmed Priest of Oghma will still call the guards if he sees you open up a chest. Oh well, I'm no longer naked.



5. Yea, this guy and the whole level regenerates completely every time you visit it. I can get infinite xp (from lockpicking and killing), infinite gold (from chests), and infinite items (from chests)



6. I never fully explored the Irenicus dungeon. I actually just went straight for the portal. Now that I'm on the other side, I actually can't return to these 3 doors because I lack a key. It'd be nice to return to the portal I came out of and simply be unable to re-activate it.



7. Hrothgar likes to say crazy things



8. I'm glad Dar recognizes a half-orc here. He should of course, acknowledge Half-Orc status on the first talk with CHARNAME.



9. You get to keep items from your dream. Yay!



10. I still cannot leave without Hrothgar. Please let us end our NeJ journey if we wish without Hrothgar



11. It would be nice if we could tell this guy that we found a mythal



12. Hrothgar gives me this speech as soon as I exit the Irenicus cutscene. Should I get this immediately? Do I actually have an opportunity to say no not now?



13. All of these haters everywhere in Harluaa, but still a few blue people who want to talk to me.



14. These Harluaa Mages respawn outside. It'd be nice if they stayed dead



15. I moved my Mage to the Front and had her talk to the Tutor. Yet, CHARNAME is summoned for the Mage Test. Are NPCs allowed to take these tests at all?



16. Failing a Mage Test puts you in permanent Cutscene mode. You are permanently stuck



17. I found a bug with Vanilla game that apparently has never been reported.

If you pay Gaelan Bayle and get your first quest from Aran Linvale to find Mook in the docks. If you then pickpocket Aran and fail, the whole Thieves Guild will Red Circle you including Aran. You cannot join the Shadow Thieves and Arkanis Gax will never Spawn. You cannot proceed further in the game.



This post has been edited by Bill Bisco: Sep 4 2015, 01:24 AM

[Senka]

1. The problem I have with the below sequence, asking Geralith about the time machine instead of asking about Kuldahar, is that you have no opportunity to say, "Actually, send me to Kuldahar first instead"

You missed this option early

6. I never fully explored the Irenicus dungeon. I actually just went straight for the portal. Now that I'm on the other side, I actually can't return to these 3 doors because I lack a key. It'd be nice to return to the portal I came out of and simply be unable to re-activate it.

Never? Really? Why?
No key. Golem opens them.

Please let us end our NeJ journey if we wish without Hrothgar

No way

Do I actually have an opportunity to say no not now?

Yes

Are NPCs allowed to take these tests at all?

Mage only

16. Failing a Mage Test puts you in permanent Cutscene mode. You are permanently stuck

Load game, try again. Bug happens

If you pay Gaelan Bayle and get your first quest from Aran Linvale to find Mook in the docks. If you then pickpocket Aran and fail, the whole Thieves Guild will Red Circle you including Aran. You cannot join the Shadow Thieves and Arkanis Gax will never Spawn. You cannot proceed further in the game.

If you decide to break the game do not be surprised result )))

[Bill Bisco]

1. The problem I have with the below sequence, asking Geralith about the time machine instead of asking about Kuldahar, is that you have no opportunity to say, "Actually, send me to Kuldahar first instead"

You missed this option early

6. I never fully explored the Irenicus dungeon. I actually just went straight for the portal. Now that I'm on the other side, I actually can't return to these 3 doors because I lack a key. It'd be nice to return to the portal I came out of and simply be unable to re-activate it.

Never? Really? Why?
No key. Golem opens them.

Please let us end our NeJ journey if we wish without Hrothgar

No way

Do I actually have an opportunity to say no not now?

Yes

Are NPCs allowed to take these tests at all?

Mage only

16. Failing a Mage Test puts you in permanent Cutscene mode. You are permanently stuck

Load game, try again. Bug happens

If you pay Gaelan Bayle and get your first quest from Aran Linvale to find Mook in the docks. If you then pickpocket Aran and fail, the whole Thieves Guild will Red Circle you including Aran. You cannot join the Shadow Thieves and Arkanis Gax will never Spawn. You cannot proceed further in the game.

If you decide to break the game do not be surprised result )))

1. Just a note that these doors should open else we're cut off permanently. Really, we should come back to the same portal we used to enter Easthaven.

2. The game tells us that we can leave NeJ before going to the Seldarine's Hand and that we can leave after the Seldarine's hand. In both cases, the player is prevented from doing so. That's a problem.

3. It would be nice if Multiclass NPCs could help. Erevain won't be able to assist otherwise. I note though that my other Mage multiplayer NPC could not take the test, my main PC ended up doing so.

4. No, it is a bug, but reloading doesn't help. Failing a Mage test puts you in cutscene mode.

5. Pickpocketing is part of the game. It should not break when you choose to do so.