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

[Sikret]

Initial post updated. Improved random (city and wilderness) encounters implemented.

The improved battle with Suna Seni and her party will be a true challenge for low level parties at that early stage of the game, but the Arbane's sword should not be an easy treasure. (And of course, if you find the encounter too difficult for your party, you may be able to avoid the battle and escape from the area if you wish and if you can run quickly enough.) However, defeating them is doable and most satisfying .

[Razfallow]

What about an improved chateau Irenicus? I don't know if you tried Slightly Improved Ilyich but i think it was great...it was because the new version 1.4 seems bugged and causes permant slowdown performance unfortunately...if only i had made a back up of the older version...

I apologize for bugs and slowdown because of my mod. I wish someone send me notification about this, as I don't have much time to play the game.
I'm going to realese new version of SII within three weeks.

Sorry for OT.

This post has been edited by Razfallow: Jan 15 2007, 07:36 AM

[Demivrgvs]

Does Suna Seni encounter has anything to do with Suna Seni-Valygar Relationship of UB? I mean are they going to conflict? I don't want to bother you but i think maybe i can help checking compatibilities!

Razfallow...i didn't expected a so quick reply by you, i'm impressed! Anyway...have you a backup of SII v1.3?

And by the way...i think this mod proves that skipping Chateau with dungeon be gone (that i consider cheating) isn't the best solution...it can be made fun so that doing it is challenging and not boring to death..

This post has been edited by Demivrgvs: Jan 15 2007, 08:23 AM

[Razfallow]

Anyway...have you a backup of SII v1.3?

I'm sorry, but no.

This post has been edited by Razfallow: Jan 15 2007, 09:12 AM

[Sikret]

Does Suna Seni encounter has anything to do with Suna Seni-Valygar Relationship of UB? I mean are they going to conflict?

Certainly incompatible, yes.

i think maybe i can help checking compatibilities!

It's very kind of you. I welcome and appreciate help offers of all sorts (ex: checking compatibilites, writing walkthroughs in a story style [see the sample story Silverstar has written], ideas for new quests, suggestions for more tactial challenges, finding and reporting flaws and glitches in the original game to be fixed, ... etc).

[smr49]

Awww, come on! I love Jasper St. Baird!! Great voice acting, fun dialog, and I know 3 people that finally got into the game and realized how good it is (once they installed Dungeon-Be-Gone) after being bored to quitting in the dungeon months or years before.

While I'll agree it's a cheat, it's the most harmless one I know of that serves a valuable (yet not balance-destroying) purpose on a vanilla install of the game. Only the installation of "Chateau Irenicus improving" mods would ever prevent me from taking advantage of Jasper's kind offer.

[panama]

By the way, I forgot to ask this. How does the Firkraag in your mod compare to the one in Super Firkraag? I know you said somewhere that he is tougher than the versions in Tactics and Improved Battles, but what about Super Firkie?

Also, did I read somewhere that Twisted Rune is nerfed from version 2? Or am i just imagining things?

[Sikret]

writing walkthroughs in a story style

Just do not start writing any new story before the release of IA v4.

[Sikret]

By the way, I forgot to ask this. How does the Firkraag in your mod compare to the one in Super Firkraag? I know you said somewhere that he is tougher than the versions in Tactics and Improved Battles, but what about Super Firkie?

Tougher, more intelligent, but without cheats.

Also, did I read somewhere that Twisted Rune is nerfed from version 2? Or am i just imagining things?

Are you comparing the Twisted Rune of V3 compared to V2? Or are you asking about V4?

In V4, the Twisted Rune battle is more difficult than all previous versions. Layene's level is increased to 31 (hence, she has more spells to cast) and she casts much better than both V2 and V3. She also uses the new polygonal scripting system. She will have some surprises for you as well, but I will not say more to avoid publishing spoilers. A very challenging fight indeed.

[panama]

as Ribald would say, "Music to me ears!"

Yes, I was comparing the Twisted Rune of V3 to V2.

[Demivrgvs]

[Only the installation of "Chateau Irenicus improving" mods would ever prevent me from taking advantage of Jasper's kind offer.]

That's exactly why i suggests you to give a try to Slightly Improved Ilych...you won't regret it if you like improved mods like IA.

[Sikret]

Initial post updated (improved City Gates' lich).

This is distinct from the general improvements applied to all liches, Elemental liches and Shade liches. A new type of lich (= Grave Lich) is designed and replaced the lich in the Crooked Crane.

[panama]

I'm dying...


... TO GET MY HANDS ON IA v4!!!!


Sikret, please release the damn mod already. This patience is driving me nuts.



please

[Mordokai]

I can't speak for Sikret, but my testing is almost done. So bear with us just a little bit longer. You will be able to get your hand on IA4 very soon, I am sure of it.

This post has been edited by Mordokai: Feb 3 2007, 11:36 PM

[panama]

LOL. I was just joking, take as much time as you need. Odd though, I've never been hyped over a mod so much

[Sikret]

@panama

Thanks for the interest. we (testers and I) are doing our best to prepare the mod as soon as possible.

@Mordokai

During the last few days, I added new content (between one and two additional hours of playing time) to WK (compared to the version you have tested before). I wonder when we can really declare that the tests are done. Fortunately, thetruth has not yet entered WK and can test everything there quickly, and I'm sure that you have also kept a saved game before entering WK and a few more saves at different levels inside the keep; so be prepared for all the surprises which await you.

Apart from WK, more content is also recently added to both SOA and TOB portions of the mod:

-Planar sphere is improved further.

-Post-Firkraag adventures have now more content.

- New content has been added to D'Arnise keep (now you can have a longer dialogue with glaicas and may find something mysterious in his belongings when you kill him)

- Spellhold is improved even further.

- Sendai's enclave is improved even further.

- More items are added to the randomization program.

- New types of monsters have been added that even v4-testers have not seen yet.

- Improved Illasera is in progress.

- Improved Mind Flayers' lair in underdark is waiting in queue.

Players, however, are badly waiting for the mod's release. I don't know which course of action they may prefer: Adding and completing all of these new features to IA v4 before its release, or postponing a number of them to IA v5? (players can say their opinions and votes here.) The difference may be about 3 weeks.

PS: I didn't write the names of the other testers here, because they have not revealed that they are testing the mod and I respect their decision. Needless to add that their names will be in the mod's readme with my thanks.

This post has been edited by Sikret: Feb 4 2007, 02:13 AM

[panama]

Well, I would rather wait until you complete adding all new features to IA 4 before its release. My last couple posts was just a bait to see how much more progress was made.

I just have one last question. When you said, "Planar sphere is improved further", will it still be compatible with the Planar Sphere mod?


Thanks, to Sikret and all testers.

[Demivrgvs]

I just say take all the time you need!

[Shaitan]

What the heck, we've waited so long now (that's how it feels) that three weeks isn't that long. Just do it proper

[Sikret]

Thanks, everyone! Now I feel that I can work on the mod with less stress or worries about the mod's releasing date.

@panama

Yes, IA is still compatible with the planar sphere mod. Just two points:

1- You had better postpone that feature of the planar sphere mod which allows you to forge items using the furnaces to the time Marvella's first quest (= Furnaces may malfunction) is done.

2- Do not start the planar sphere mod's main quest until all of Marvella's quests in IA are finished.