Making a mod

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What do you need to make a mod for BG2? How easy is the tutorial at PPG to understand for someone who's never modded before? I've read bits of it and still don't understand.

 

what kind of mod?

 

I think you should download a program like dltcp and study some items or creatures and so on so you can gain an understanding of it and maybe download some tutorials

 

I was toying with making a joinable NPC mod. I read Ghreyfein's tutorial, which made no sense so I read Jonathan Phipps guide to Ghrey's tutorial. Both found here.

Basically, I need someone to translate what the tutorial and modders on PPG say into plain English for non-modders. I half understand what is being said, meaning I see what I'm supposed to do but I don't have a clue how to do it.

AFAIK, I need to d/l Near Infinity and WeiDu.

 

Creating a joinable NPC mod is kind of a big undertaking; if you've never done any modding before, I'd really advise starting smaller and getting familiar with the engine first. Create a couple of spells or items, learn what the filetypes are and how they work, etc. At the very least, you'll need basic knowledge of how the game's scripting works, since triggers and actions are used by dialog (DLG) files, which you'll have to create to allow your NPC to talk.

 

Definitely start with items first. You'll probably be making some NPC specific items for him/her anyway, right? So why not start where it's easiest?

 

@Kuemper
http://chosenofmystra.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1908

It depends, but for me spells and items are actually harder than a fully written NPC. With glitches, forgotten flags, and messed abilities, I spent full three days preparing cre files alone.

 

I don't want to make items. I'm not wanting to create anything hard, just a joinable NPC. No voicing, no banters.

@Kulyok - *That* was an easy-to-understand tutorial! Much, much better than Ghrey's, which, imo, was akin to asking "How do I put gas in the car?" and getting an answer of the workings of an internal combustion engine. o_O Aces gave links to what I needed and explained what those confusing terms mean.

 

Oh, you don't want dialog or anything? Well, eh... why not just use a multiplayer session?

 

Because Kuemp probably wants to make mod npc, not another pc from multiplayer.

 

But is there much of a difference between an NPC with minimal dialog and an additional PC in a multiplayer session?

 

Kuemper, what kind of ideas do you have? I am soo curious! You can trust me to be your test-player, if you ever need one!

 

Ah, but an empty NPC can be improved later; even One-Day NPCs get their creators working on improving them after a while. Voicing and banters can be added in later versions, and maybe even a quest or two or even a romance if Kuemper wishes. And for the moment the NPC would still be usable with minimal options for her game or anyone else's (if she releases it). I say go for it and good luck.

 

kuemper, PM olimikrig or me; we've both browsed through most of the mod tutorials in the course of our BoM work, and have probably encountered similar confusions to you. Hopefully, we "n00b" modders would be better placed to translate WeiDU-speak into English for you.

 

Why not share with the rest of BG2 players? I've had the idea for a looooong time, but knew no one to code for me. It was frustration that got me posting here in hopes of some help, which I got. If I can manage to get it right and working, I'll build confidence to push for voicing and maybe - make my own portrait!

If I can succeed with a playable mod NPC with nothing, think of what I could do with actual effort! Instead of keeping the whole backstory of a multiplay PC in my head, I can share with the rest of the class.

I see 3 mod NPCs in my head - a F/D, an Undead Hunter pally and a F/T. I'm sick of either having to put up with the moderate original NPCs or playing the class myself. Jaheira's great, but - what if you had the choice of another F/D with better fighting stats (str, dex and con) and higher wisdom or charisma? Keldorn is a fine Inquisitor, but - why limit myself to only having 1 pally as an NPC? I've rolled higher stats than his, heck, my *mother* can roll higher stats! And the F/T. I'm sick of T/M who are dualled at a pitiful level that they are useless, and are gone for the first 4 chapters of the game. Jan Jansen is fine for me with his multiclass. Yoshimo, oh yeah, not.

 

Indeed, though I do love a self-made F/T.
For the record, I believe there is already an Undead Hunter out there (her name is Sandra and she comes with the "Summon Bhaalspawn" mod linked from PPG's modlist), and aside from Valen, Stivan the Hunter is a CN halfling F/T who was unfortunately unavailable when I started my Little People party.

 

Yes, I am also interested in making NPC mods, so if you would be so kind, could you post all your stuff here, so I can also veiw it? Thanks.

 

i am guessing that the classes etc. are not negotiable, but i am going to try anyway,
what about making the F/D into a R/C? the game really needs that one, and they have a much wider selection of spells, and can be highly capable in melee too!


EDIT: typo's

EDIT#2: more typo's and the mistake fel points out just underneath this post

[ March 12, 2006, 18:54: Message edited by: Balle ]

 

First, just plain no. A ranger requires a good alignment and a druid requires a neutral one; it just would not work.

Second, there's absolutely no gain for having an R/D over a F/D other than perhaps stealth.

Third, they'd have the exact same selection of spells as an F/D.

Fourth, umm, did you mean an R/C?

 

ah yes! the ranger druid yea.... love that one, thx fel