Progress report for Improved Anvil v4.0, New adventures and new tactical challenges Options

[Sikret]

I would like to see an enhancement of the above mentioned map. More specific would I like the following to be "toughened up" a bit a la Tactics:
Troll Mound

It's done, Shaitan!

Initial post updated.

[Silverstar]

OK if you say so I will listen to your advice!

[Shaitan]

Very nice, I just can't wait for IA 4 now, almost arriving as a cristmaspresent?? Will IA 4 be downloadable from BWL?

[Sikret]

Will IA 4 be downloadable from BWL?

Improved Anvil is a BWL mod and will remain so (unless the site says that it doesn't want to host the mod anymore).

For now, the download center of the site has some technical problems. I don't know if you have already checked this page. I think all of us should do our bests to help the site perform its required "server upgrade" in order to maintain the download center and to make it active again as soon as possible.

Improved Anvil v4.0 will be ready in the near futrue. I hope that the download center will be working again by that time.

I ask Improved Anvil fans to help the site as much as they can.

[Shaitan]

So I did my small contribution

[Sikret]

Thank you, Shaitan!

[Sikret]

The site's download center is still closed. This incident delays the public release of IA v4.0. However, this delay also gives us an opportunity to proof-test all of the mod's new quests again. We have some time before the download center opens, so why not to use the time?

I have already tested everything as far as my time would allow, but it's a good idea to have more testers. I may still add more new content to IA v4.0, but the main big quests are already implemented.

I need at least two play-testers: One who wishes to play the mod with a non-evil mage protagonist and one who wishes to play the mod with a ranger protagonist (the new quest added to the ranger stronghold is a very big one and it may need more thorough and careful testing. I may ask the ranger player to play the quest more than once to choose different options during the quest. The quests do not have linear structures.).

The testers' names will be added to the mod's readme and they will be thanked for their precious help. Moreover, those who are waiting for IA v4.0 can have the chance to play it in this way (as testers) sooner than the public release of the mod.

Volunteers to test the mod should read the following conditions carefully and contact with me only if they agree with all of them:

1- Testers should have adequate free time to play the mod very quickly. (Of course, only the new quests need to be tested; so, I don't actually expect the testers to play every feature of the mod.)


2- Testers should not distribute the mod with any other player or person before the mod's public release.

3- Testers should not send any spoilers about the content of the mod to any public forum.

4- Testers should send me regular daily reports.


5- Testers should have installed the game in the following order:
I)Clean installation of the game (BG2 + TOB)
II)TOB official patch
III)Baldurdash TOB fixpack v112
IV)Selected components of Ease of use (I will tell you which components to install)
V)Auramaster Druid Kit v4.0 (optional)
VI)Improved Anvil v4.0

No other mod is allowed at this stage. It's a test and we don't want any other mod to interfere.

Those who are interested can send me PMs. Thanks!

[Sikret]

Initial post updated (features no. 16-18 added).

[Sikret]

Initial post updated (feature no. 19 added).

[OTG]

Yes, the easy-to-attain Belm scimitar had also occurred to me as being absurd and that's why I added a new monster in that tower, but perhaps the place needs to be more heavily guarded. Thanks for drawing my attention to this point. I will do something about it.

The monster that was added managed to poison (and kill) 2 of my party before I got through the dialog with the ogre mage... can the area script be tweaked so either the dialog pauses the action or the dialog isn't started at the same time the monster attacks?

Edit: The dialog (and perhaps the ogre mage) is spawned by the Limited Wish adventure, I don't know if Belm's in that location before doing the Limited Wish adventure, I usually make sure I've started that before going to the Druid Grove area!

This post has been edited by OTG: Dec 3 2006, 09:25 AM

[Sikret]

Yes, the ogre-mage is spawned by the limited wish quest. And yes, the scimitar is always there independent of the limited wish plot.

The solution is not to start the limited wish plot before having dealt with the new guardian(s) of the tower. The new guardian(s) added by IA v4.0 is/are way more powerful than the monster you have seen there while playing IA v3.0. It's better to have done the battle while the ogre mage is not there yet at all. So, the problem is not merely the dialogue, it's better not to make the ogre mage stuck in a fearsome battleground. In short, Postpone the limited wish quest for when the tower is safe.

[Sikret]

Initial post updated (new quest in Ust Natha)

When you enter the drow city for the first time and before talking to solaufein, a girl is escaping in panic. A few moments later two drows appear and ask you about her. You can either tell them the truth or lie to them. Remember?

In the original game, we never learn what the girl was doing there and never see her again. Now, if you lie to the drows who are hunting her, she will appear again and will talk to you about her reason to be there and will ask for your help, which will lead you into a new quest: The mystery of the third color.

[Magnus_025]

Hi! I haven't played IA yet so I don't know if the things I'm going to say have been said before but as IA v4 is going to implement some quest and resolve some dead ends, I have a few questions/suggestions:
-What can be done with the Zentharim spy that is in the Five Flagons Inn? Jaheira has a comment about him but nothing more happens. Maybe an army of Zhents can come after you if you have betrayed Xzar?
-The fence in Bryinnlaw (the one you buy the passages for the two brothers) seems to know you. Maybe he is from Baldur's Gate? If it's not the fence I'm talking about, it can be one of the sailors in the vulgar monkey inn.
-Lady Galvena's quest is annoying. Not only you have to fight in a very narrow place, they are very easy to kill.
-Irenicus Chateau, not that I want it more difficult, but is it any way to change those annoying mephits for another more-difficult-less-annoying monsters?

If these suggestions aren't so bad, I can think of more. Keep your good work Sikret!

[Sikret]

Thank you very much, Magnus!

What can be done with the Zentharim spy that is in the Five Flagons Inn? Jaheira has a comment about him but nothing more happens. Maybe an army of Zhents can come after you if you have betrayed Xzar?

I don't recall Jaheira's comment. What is that? Perhaps it can give me some ideas. (To be honest, I don't like Jaheira's personality and don't usually have her in the party.)

-Lady Galvena's quest is annoying. Not only you have to fight in a very narrow place, they are very easy to kill.

This one has been already implemented since IA v2.0.

If these suggestions aren't so bad, I can think of more.

Sure! I'll be grateful.

[Magnus_025]

Hi! Since I haven't played IA yet I didn't know about Galvena's quest. Jaheira is one of my favourite NPCs so I rememeber almost everything she says. She recognizes the spy as one of the Zentharims and tell you to ignore him because he is of no importance, or something like that.
If I can remember anymore of these things I'll tell you. Bye!

[Shaitan]

Hi!

Will there be a IA 4 to download when BWL soon is up again?

Regards Shaitan

[Sikret]

Initial post updated. (Improved Sendai Enclave)

[Shaitan]

This is really going to kick some christmas-ar**! Glad my newborn daughter is a good sleeper and just plain happy.

...hopefully IA4 will be out before christmas

[Romulas]

A suggestion. For the umpteenth time I have played bg2 which has the expanded planar sphere mod and I just figured out how to enchant items after getting the book from one of the students. Unfortuneately many of the items that you can create are corrupted and just don't work, the choices given for each item have issues.

So, suggestion here. Can you put in the planar sphere part of ia4 a section that you can make some pretty nice items?

Since I don't have time to find the other forum for this I will just add it here. Last time I played ia3 I made either 2 of the noble staffs of air or fire, can't remember. Basically, I had one of them and when I went to cromwell to make the other one he gave me the same, a small inconvenience.

Anyway, thanks for the hard work.

Romulas

[Sikret]

Last time I played ia3 I made either 2 of the noble staffs of air or fire, can't remember. Basically, I had one of them and when I went to cromwell to make the other one he gave me the same, a small inconvenience.

Thank you very much for reporting the bug, Romulas! I fixed it.

So, suggestion here. Can you put in the planar sphere part of ia4 a section that you can make some pretty nice items?

Thanks for the suggestion, but to be honest, I don't like this idea. All new items of the mod require hard-to-attain components and lots of money and will be forged only by Cromwell or Cespenar.



This post has been edited by Sikret: Dec 11 2006, 09:53 AM