280 replies to this topic

[Choo Choo]

And with Linjo, assuming I don't play as a kensai (I tend to go as kensai, wild mage, archer or thief-with-a-bow). But she'd never do that to Darian - he's much more likely to suffer a tickle attack from her. (Although I have a feeling he'd almost prefer to die..)

Edited by Choo Choo, 14 October 2007 - 11:54 PM.

[Tempest]

There actually is a tickle attack in the game, though Charname isn't the perpetrator...

[Choo Choo]

Awww, my poor protagonist is going to be inconsolable!

..for a few seconds, and then she'll think of some other way to bother him.

[Tempest]

Well, remember that as is, Darian's response is that thing in spoiler blackout. I may or may not return the "am I fat" dialogue tree-while it's funny, it's also out of character for Darian to come out and say "You're a human. Of course you're fat." Granted, he is certainly thinking that when he answers...

And Chooch, it's Imoen that launches the attack-it was a scene from the scrapped Darian-Imoen romance that I just had too much fun writing to let go away completely. Fortunately, it's in character for Imoen to do so, even with her sister's boyfriend.

[Choo Choo]

Ah, yes, I think I read that somewhere. Linjo being an elf, though, that would probably be the last thing she'd hear. I can certainly see her asking him that question, though. In any case - this thread is about Darian, not my protagonist, no matter how long she's been sticking around.

As for the Imoen tickle scene, I'll feel sorry for poor Darian - he will be subject to TWO chipmunks in the party. *grin*

[Tempest]

I did generally try to provide two main paths through Darian's romance-one for a lighthearted Charname, with lots of opportunities to flirt, and one for a more dour Charname, as well as some middle ground. If you take the more flirtatious path, be ready for Darian to blush. A lot. It's his natural response to Charname indicating she's attracted to him, that she might have feelings for him, hinting that she knows he's attracted to her, and so on and so forth. Pale as he is (my avatar here is in fact Darian's portrait), he would have to be an illusionist to hide his reactions.

[Choo Choo]

If I know my PC correctly (which I'm bound to, I suppose), he'll be more red than blue most of the time, then.

Oh oh oh, and I've been meaning to ask but never got around to it.. this question is perhaps more suited for the "Ask Darian" thread, but since that topic seems slightly dead and I'm posting here anyway, here goes:

With those wings, does he have troubles sleeping on his back? Like, squashing the joints or something? I've tried to imagine what it'd be like, with moderate success, and I come to the conclusion that it'd be rather painful.

[Solar's Harper]

ehm, he's an elf right? He doesn't need sleep.

Reverie maybe, and in the case of sleep, correct me if I'm wrong Tempest. Maybe he uh, sleeps using wings as support?

[Choo Choo]

Well, lie on his back in general!

I very much doubt he hangs upside down with his knees, though.

And, uh, sorry for bothering you with silly "squee!" and questions, Tempest. *grin* But I just can't help it!

[Tempest]

Elves don't sleep, and the Avariel are no exceptions. Remember also that they only reverie for a short time compared to how long humans sleep-this actually comes up in one of his lovetalks where he comments on the nightmares Charname's been having. Avariel wings aren't exactly weak, either-they're fully developed and quite strong, much like an eagle's wings. One other point of Avariel physiology this leads into is that Darian's torso would have to be a fair degree bulkier than a typical elf's-a typical Avariel's wing muscles are among the strongest in their entire body. They have to be.

And feel free to resurrect old threads.

[Choo Choo]

Ooh, I see. Thanks for explaining! Although, if I remember correctly, elves can sleep should they wish to. They generally don't, though.

In any case, my curiosity is satisfied, at least for now. ^^

And, um, yeah. Sorry for being a generally hyper bother. *grin*

Edited by Choo Choo, 15 October 2007 - 06:54 AM.

[Tempest]

Xarana: *Laughs uncontrollably*

Darian: You are not helping matters.

Xarana: *Continues to laugh*

[Gwen]

"Darian's torso would have to be a fair degree bulkier than a typical elf's"

So Darian has a slight pot - belly? Or did I misunderstand that completely?

And good call with Imoen, she would tickle him, regardless of relationship with CHARNAME or MAZZY. She is just a flirty, teasing kind of girl!

[Choo Choo]

I think Tempest meant that Darian's torso is slightly more MUSCULAR than a typical elf's, Gwen. *grin* Of course, I might be wrong. Just my guess.

[Tempest]

Yes, Choo Choo has it right. Aerie's wing muscles have likely atrophied a fair amount, but from a purely logical standpoint, a fully grown Avariel must have a more muscular torso in order to fly. No special mention of this is made in any canon sources, aside from specifying that Avariel seldom use the longbow and shortbow due to them using different muscles, but it seemed logical enough to me. It's why I didn't assign Darian a lower strength score-raw physical power is considered virtually irrelevant by his people. They favor speed, grace, and accuracy with a crossbow.

[Gwen]

Aah, now I know. Thanks Choo Choo, and of course, Tempest. Might have been a stupid question but I had to ask it.

[Tempest]

Stupid questions are fine. Gives me something to do while trying to figure out what the hell I did to BG2 (game currently crashing as soon as Darian joins the party).

[Kellen]

Stupid questions are fine. Gives me something to do while trying to figure out what the hell I did to BG2 (game currently crashing as soon as Darian joins the party).

Hey, Darian what the square root-

Erm. Actually a somewhat serious question. Or two.

First. What has been the hardest part (not most time consuming, but most difficult to do and/or understand) with your Darian making?

Second. I know we have several great idea-ers( ) here on SHS, but who are intimidated by the prospect of going through all the code involved in mod-making. As someone who only months ago was among the same, what would you tell them?

(Sheesh! I sound like an interviewer for some newspaper )

[Tempest]

First. What has been the hardest part (not most time consuming, but most difficult to do and/or understand) with your Darian making?

Writing flirts.

Okay, really, it's coding. Fortunately, some extremely patient and kind people have been helping me through it all, even though I've been making life much harder for myself than it's had to be.

Second. I know we have several great idea-ers( ) here on SHS, but who are intimidated by the prospect of going through all the code involved in mod-making. As someone who only months ago was among the same, what would you tell them?

Be afraid. Be very afraid. Do it in stages-make sure you can get the npc to appear and join the party in-game first, then add banters, make sure they work, then the interjections or whatnot, then the romance, and so on and so forth. I've been trying to do Darian in one fell swoop, and it's been one swell foop. I *still* haven't gotten Darian to start talking. And if someone suggests something that will make coding easier, do it. I've made life much harder for myself than necessary, and I will not repeat the [countless] mistakes I've made with Darian. Or that's what I hope, anyway.

Creating a mod is a *lot* of work-make no mistake. Counting the initial brainstorming and writing early versions of Darian's banters, I've been at work on him since January. It is not something you'll slam out in a couple of months, so make sure you're ready to work in the long-term. I won't be surprised if Darian's final SoA release comes out in 08, though I really hope it won't take that long. I'd say the hardest part of creating a mod is working with your creative muse-you may have a bunch of great ideas, but you need to create the framework for those ideas as well. Darian has several major lovetalks that I had planned out for a long time, but then I had a bunch of others to write-creating the relationship and really building up to them. I'm still not sure if I've pulled off the buildup right, and I expect I'll learn from feedback during alpha testing.

Coding on the other hand is more time-consuming than anything else. I'd hesitate to call it difficult, per se. But the tiniest of mistakes can make an entire file refuse to compile in Weidu. You must be patient, and some problems don't have obvious solutions.

The number one factor in Darian getting as far as he has would definitely be the support of the modding community here at SHS. I truly could not have done this without y'alls' patience, kindness, and willingness to put up with my occasional moments of sheer stupidity.

[Solar's Harper]

For some reason, I concur.

Bout the coding that is.

And just about the remark of the crossbow, if my understanding of the weapon's history is correct, crossbows take longer to reload and then fire than bows (long or short), but can beat Arbalst (or however its spelt) bows at any time.

(For those that don't know, a later form of crossbow, only heavier and far more powerful, plus accurate)

Either way I don't claim to be an expert on these things, so anyone can feel free to prove me wrong.