4 replies to this topic

[Ace]

Hello,

First I'd like to tell you how much I've enjoyed playing many of your great mods. I would've been finished with IE games long ago if it weren't for your outstanding and unselfish efforts. Now I doubt if I'll ever be able to move on to something else, they're too awesome! A community of like-minded artists like this is truly amazing. Now I think I am ready to try my hand at learning modding and try to actually contribute something myself.

I'm looking to you all as the experts since I know relatively nothing yet about modding other than making some minor tweaks and entering some CLUA commands. The question I want to ask you is that although Baldur's Gate and all the associated mods are by far the best computer (or console) games I've ever played, as far as PnP tabletop roleplaying games go, I actually prefer the dark and gritty world of Warhammer Fantasy Roleply (WFRP), and I was wondering if you think it might be possible to take some of the old WFRP adventure modules such as the great Enemy Within Campaign, Doomstones, Restless Dead, etc..., and do the same thing that Sir Billybob has done with Classic Adventures? I've played BG1 & 2 a great deal, also PST, and I own IWD (although I have yet to load it up since I keep playing and replaying BG2). When reading the IWD instruction manual I noticed that much of the mechanics are similar to WFRP as far as skills, feats(talents) items, etc.... The only major differences are in the attributes (WFRP uses Weapon Skill (WS) Ballistic Skill (BS) Strength (S) Toughness (T) Agility (Ag) Intelligence (Int) Willpower (WP) Fellowship (Fel) and a few secondary others whereas D&D uses Str, Dex, Con, Int, Wis, and Char and a few secondary others such as saves, stealth, lockpicking, etc...). So that means that combat and most actions must be calculated differently than in D&D, although the calculations are very simple. Also, WFRP uses a career system of advancement (similar to dual classing, but you can do it multiple times) instead of leveling and dualclassing once like in D&D. From reading the forums here, I know there are a few things hard-coded into the IE and I am wondering if it would limit it to only games that use the classic D&D attibutes and level progression. Would it be theoretically possible to re-write the parameters that calculate combat and advancement? I think most of the other features might possibly be easily converted to work with a WFRP system although I can see a lot of work in creating new creature and player avatars and getting area maps to have that dark and gritty WFRP feel that its fans love so much. I don't want to waste my time researching the Infinity Engine program to determine if it would be possible to accomplish this when some of you probably could tell me if it's possible. If it's not possible, I'll focus my efforts on making mods for the existing IE games. I know very little about programming, but I am wanting to learn how to mod the IE, even if it's just to make add ons to BG2. I'm a footwear engineer for Nike and I mostly do 3D modeling using a program called PowerSHAPE by Delcam. I've also recently become aware of the GemRb engine and I understand that it has fewer hard-coded limitations than the original IE. I would prefer to use the mechanics of the WFRP game as opposed to converting all the stats from the WFRP adventures to D&D stats and using the D&D combat and adventuring system. As far as copyright issues go, I'm not too worried about it just yet. I have no intention of making money or taking away Games Workshops profits. If anything, it should breathe new life into some very old adventures just like what has been done with Classic Adventures. I realize that admitting that I may be biting off more than I can chew is probably a huge understatement, but I appreciate any help you could point me to. I plan on cutting my IE modding teeth by following some of the great tutorials posted here and at a few other sites before I try anything bigger.

Thanks for your time.

Cheers!

Ace

[Miloch]

I don't know if any of that's completely out of the question... you could even change labels for STR, DEX, etc., possibly even how they behave (check out the Virtue mod and how it changes Reputation etc.), you could probably overhaul the class system with custom kits. Certainly with GemRb most of it should be possible anyway. But it'd all be an awful lot of work, as you say. I'd suggest starting small with something of particular interest and work your way up from there.

[jcompton]

It is effectively impossible. The Infinity Engine is extremely closely tied to the D&D ruleset at the source code level.

[Azkyroth]

You probably COULD simulate a lot of the behavior at the front-end, but...well, why?

[leahnkain]

I honestly have to say it is a lot of work, as the co-creator of Classic Adventures I can tell you the amount of maps and writing involved is mind-boggling. If you are serious, perhaps you can help out the CA team to get a feel for the amount of work involved. I would love to get some help with maps and I am sure you could learn a fair bit if you want to help out the CA team. PM me if you are interested.