232 replies to this topic

[Grim Squeaker]

And they'll get as pure a conversion to the BG2 engine as we can give. However, part of the BG2 engine is map notes. So giving a full conversion to the BG2 engine, you do kind of expect them.

You are probably right. I'm just afraid small changes will add up, and it will eventually lead to something unpleasant, like naming wilderness areas in BG1, or giving an elaborate map note to a random house some mod is using as a Very Sekrit Meeting Place. Naming Thunderhammer Smithy a "Thunderhammer Smithy" is all right, I guess.

Agreed.

[Hety]

Well rule "Plaсe has sign - it will have map not" is not the worst to follow imo. And simple enough to avoid confusion.

[Borsook]

Grim said everything I wanted about map singns... any it is possible to turn them off, right? so purists can do that, also even if included in the core they still can be optional...

[CamDawg]

Map Notes from Tutu Tweaks follows the "if there's an info point, there's a map note" guideline. Outside of this, I only add map notes for obvious terrain features--cave entrances, for example, or the entry/exit points for Nashkel Mine levels.

[kharan5876]

I agree with adding map notes to the core install. I see map notes as using the bg2 engine and I agree with the distinction ascention made about that.

Perhaps it could be setup to have bg1 and bg2 in the same game even if you use a tutu style install. I don't like the idea of 2 installs either. Could setup the main menus like bgt has now where you can start from a new bg1 game or start a new bg2 game. If you don't install the transition you can just export at the end of bg1 and import into bg2.

[Borsook]

Could setup the main menus like bgt has now where you can start from a new bg1 game or start a new bg2 game. If you don't install the transition you can just export at the end of bg1 and import into bg2.

since I don't know bgt - does it mean that soa button works as bg1 and tob button as bg2? so no way starting from tob?

[seanas]

since I don't know bgt - does it mean that soa button works as bg1 and tob button as bg2? so no way starting from tob?

as it currently works: soa button starts a bg1 game (there's a new button on the load game/ start new game screen for 'start new bg2 game'); tob button starts a tob game.

[SimDing0]

That's not quite the full story, though.

The BG1 button replaces the Tutorial in the SoA section of the game. This all seems well and good until you realise that it divides the ToB start screen into "BG1 and SoA" and "ToB", which is unbalanced to say the least. I find it sufficient mangling of the menu that I'd rather take Tutu's approach and have two installs.

[Salk]

You all will excuse my silly question: but what's the point of creating a Trilogy which lets you start from SoA ? By logic the game should start only from candlekeep and then move to the BG2 portion of the game through the transition Mod. I never tried BGT so it may be that this intent is not possible to be delivered ? Thanks!

Edited by Salk, 16 January 2006 - 08:50 AM.

[Borsook]

You all will excuse my silly question: but what's the point of creating a Trilogy which lets you start from SoA ? By logic the game should start only from candlekeep and then move to the BG2 portion of the game through the transition Mod. I never tried BGT so it may be that this intent is not possible to be delivered ? Thanks!

E.g. I don't wanna keep 2-3 versions on the disc and want to check something in soa, or on a particular day just feel like playing soa...

[seanas]

give it a rest sim: or are you trying to tell me you've forgotten how to play the game? come on.

@salk: having an option to start an SOA game is the same as having an option to start a TOB game. there's no reason why you'd remove ths choice.

i'm attaching (screenshots from my current install) of the load screens in question, for reference purposes:

Edited by seanas, 16 January 2006 - 09:09 AM.

[NiGHTMARE]

Is it possible to swap the buttons over, i.e. have the ToB button on the left and the SoA button on the right? If so, you could have BG1 in the ToB screen, and ToB on the tutorial button.

[SimDing0]

I've experimented with various readjustments of the menu. That was one. The other was having BG1 in one section and SoA and ToB in the other. Both are a joke for compatibility purposes.

[Grim Squeaker]

I've experimented with various readjustments of the menu. That was one. The other was having BG1 in one section and SoA and ToB in the other. Both are a joke for compatibility purposes.

Really? I mean, I can see how converting the ToB section to play the SoA game would be a problem, but what if you were only relabelling the buttons?
e.g.
The Tutorial button takes you to SoA
The New SoA game button takes you to ToB
The New ToB game button takes you to BG1

Can you just relabel the buttons so they take you to different parts of the game (not just renaming the buttons and porting the resources across), without having to (in this example) convert all of SoA into the tutorial?

[NiGHTMARE]

You could always just replace the tutorial area with a blank screen, with a script which moves player1 to the normal start area.

[horred the plague]

@seanas--you're still kicking that old screen around?

 Baldr000.bmp   900.05K   282 downloads

--the first public viewing. Artwork by Yacomo, concept and GUI by yours truly.

[Ascension64]

@Kulyok:

But I just can't see a "decent writer" for everybody. When it comes to any additional writing in the core component, "make it optional or do not include it at all" is what I will always say.
Also, don't forget that we BG1 purists want to play BGT/TUTU conversion, too.

Unfortunately, if everyone is a 'non-decent writer', then you also say that journal entry titles have to go. This means all journals must be placed in the INFO section to avoid the spacing bug when you place journal entries without titles into the DONE_QUEST and QUEST sections...and when QUEST/DONE_QUEST entries are incorporated as an optional component all ~950 dialogue files in BG1 need to be recompiled (and the package needs to include ~950 new D files) if you don't want rigorous and dodgy hex offset patching.

What is it going to be, then?

@SimDing0:

The BG1 button replaces the Tutorial in the SoA section of the game. This all seems well and good until you realise that it divides the ToB start screen into "BG1 and SoA" and "ToB", which is unbalanced to say the least. I find it sufficient mangling of the menu that I'd rather take Tutu's approach and have two installs.

I don't think a bungled menu screen (that still works) compares anything to 2.95GB! I'm not wasting 2.95GB for another install, and besides, if the transition is going to take place, your 2.95GB is wasted anyway.

Edited by Ascension64, 16 January 2006 - 06:12 PM.

[Drew]

I'd hardly call the menu screen seanas posted "bungled". My only suggestion would be to avoid using an image of BG2's villain in the background. Even if it looks cool.