31 replies to this topic

[spanyam]

Yeah, there's really no telling what is to be expected. From my side, I'm looking to be particularly lazy. So I would ideally like to install a bug free ascension (as found in bp-ascension) working in tandem with scsii's ai, all done using bws. But right now, given the current states of the two mods, I guess we really have no way of knowing if that will work.

I'll get some clean installs set up over the next couple of days and get started on testing first bp-ascension with scsii, as I think there is more immediate benefit to gain from that. If all goes well there, then I can move onto testing the combinations of the core components.

[Miloch]

Yeah, there's really no telling what is to be expected.

Which is why I recommended testing: no one knows the exact details of what works and what doesn't, though we've seen no end of speculation on the subject.

From my side, I'm looking to be particularly lazy.

Ah. Well, that's not really good when it comes to testing...

So I would ideally like to install a bug free ascension (as found in bp-ascension)

Heh, where do you get this "bug-free" business? I can guarantee you BP-Ascension is not bug-free (hardly a mod exists that is) because it's based off the old Ascension, which has confirmed bugs. And I know most of these haven't been fixed in BP-Ascension (some haven't even been reported until recently). And also, as that link mentions, there's a new (and probably much less buggy) version of core Ascension floating out there that we should get our hands on soon. So that will throw a wrench in using BP-Ascension, since the latter overwrites. Like I mentioned earlier, ideally, you should install the core Ascension, then the BP Ascension components should patch that, as the related SCS components do. But until we fix BP so it patches, you'd have to install something like BP-Ascension > Ascension (new version) > SCS2

I'll get some clean installs set up over the next couple of days and get started on testing first bp-ascension with scsii, as I think there is more immediate benefit to gain from that.

Yes, that's what I basically recommended as the first to look at. But I still think you should test with only one or the other first, so you know what to expect, and with no mods at all, so you have some sort of "control."

Incidentally, BP (currently) has no "core AI" component. It just has a "core" component that has *everything* not mentioned in the subcomponents. I don't even know what all it has (though I've revised most of the code already) but as I mentioned in the G3 thread, it has new projectiles, animations, revised innate abilities, patched items, spells, and perhaps most importantly, creatures, and these last probably include new encounters and whatnot, and also perhaps conflict somewhat with some of the SCS improved creature components, though I very much doubt there is a direct correspondence there, as the BWP guide seems to imply.

Someone should really document what's in BP's core component, and perhaps determine whether it can be split into subcomponents further. It'd have to be someone who knows more about it though, so maybe you could get horred's attention by posting a topic on the subject in the BP forum. Maybe Chevalier or someone could help too, as he seems to've been involved in the past.

[spanyam]

Ah. Well, that's not really good when it comes to testing...

Oh no, I meant "be lazy" in the sense that it would be ideal to find a way (both for me and others) to just be able to install Ascension successfully with SCSII without having to leave the comfort of the BWS. I didn't mean that I wanted to half-ass the testing. And yeah, "bug-free" is the wrong word here. I should've said "less buggy."

But I still think you should test with only one or the other first, so you know what to expect, and with no mods at all, so you have some sort of "control."

Okay, then what I'll do is start with 3 areas:
1) vanilla 2) BP-Ascension only 3) SCSII only.

After comparing those, I'll change the setup to:
1) core Ascension only 2) BP-Ascension + SCSII 3) SCSII + BP-Ascension

And lastly, test core Ascension + SCSII.

In all this, as you recommended, I'll skip the fixpacks, BGT, and everything else. It'll just be SoA+ToB patched as a starting point. Also, do you recommend that I install all of Ascension's "Improved" components? Core Ascension, BP, and SCSII all have their own variants.

Someone should really document what's in BP's core component, and perhaps determine whether it can be split into subcomponents further. It'd have to be someone who knows more about it though, so maybe you could get horred's attention by posting a topic on the subject in the BP forum. Maybe Chevalier or someone could help too, as he seems to've been involved in the past.

Okay, I will post there later today.

Edited by spanyam, 24 December 2010 - 08:22 AM.

[Dakk]

Just wanted to chirp in that you're doing appreciated work spanyam

[dabus]

Since I had a look at the tp2-files to adjust some conflicts and dependencies a few weeks ago, I'd like to add my 2 cents (so maybe you don't have to install as much as you'd do without the information):

1)
BP(15) = ascension component needs boulder.itm, which is installed by BP(0) = Big Picture AI

2)
scsII(6210|6220|6260|6270) = Smarter Illasera|Yaga-Shura|Ascension demons|Ascension Irenicus and Sendai need fingrom.CRE, which is installed by BPV180(15) = Ascension

3)
scsII(6210) = Smarter Illasera needs illas01.itm, which is installed by BPV180(19) = Improved Illasera

4)
scsII(6220) = Smarter Yaga-Shura needs yagaft.bcs, which is installed by BPV180(20) = Improved Yaga-Shura

5)
scsII(6230) = Smarter Abazigal needs dw#dragon.mrk, which is the marker for scsII(6100|6101) = Dragon AI

6)
scsII(6240|6250) = Smarter Gromnir|Melissan have no dependencies

Edited by dabus, 24 December 2010 - 02:21 PM.

[spanyam]

Ah, fantastic. Thanks, I'll set those up accordingly. Also, is it better to run a full install from CD, or can I do it using the multi-install tool from the BWS?

[dabus]

If you use the BWS multi-install feature, it will just create a copy and leave out the CDX-folders.
Then it adjusts the [ALIAS]-section so that it points to the already existing CDX-folders from the base-installation. That's what most users with multiple installations do.

The things I listed are from the tp2-files and I've added them to the [Connections]-section of the BiG World Setup\Config\Setup.ini (beta version). The dependencies and conflicts of the mods and components are fetched from there. You may find some stuff that could be helpful. Of course you can also use the beta and click on the mod or component to look at them.

It would be cool if you (or others) could pinpoint some that are missing.

Edited by dabus, 24 December 2010 - 03:03 PM.

[spanyam]

All right, I'll do that then.

Just wanted to chirp in that you're doing appreciated work spanyam

I'm happy to have the opportunity. It's a good learning experience, since I honestly have a lot of figure out in order to do this properly.

Edited by spanyam, 25 December 2010 - 12:53 PM.

[spanyam]

Well, I'm running into a wall with the BWS part of it. I used the beta.7z that you (dabus) had posted in the BWS beta thread towards the end, but it's doing wonky things when trying to restore a clean install. I'm doing this because I want to erase my current configuration completely before I start. I guess it lost track of where it used to be or something? First it stalls at the "moving save" phase and hangs. Then when I end process and try again, it deletes all the core files (like baldur.exe, etc.), BiG World Setup.vbs, and then hangs again. I have the BiG World Clean Install folder outside of the main BGII folder if I need to restore a backup, but that still leaves me with a ton of junk in the main folder. Any idea what might be happening here?

Edited by spanyam, 25 December 2010 - 12:55 PM.

[dabus]

Don't know without the log/user.ini and I don't have vista/7 if this is involved.
If it is, try to run a cmd as administrator and the execute the BWS.

Also hover with your mouse above the icon to see what the script is doing. Then move elsewhere and look again to see if the script continues or stalls.

Edited by dabus, 25 December 2010 - 02:01 PM.

[spanyam]

Okay, it looks like I just have to wait it out on occasion. My computer's explorer.exe was also having a bit of trouble, so that might've contributed to it (did a restart to fix that). When I did hover the mouse at that stage, it appeared to be hanging. It continued after a long pause.

Edited by spanyam, 25 December 2010 - 02:22 PM.

[dabus]

If it takes to long, look at the BiG World Setup\Config\User.ini. Go to the [CleanInstall]-section.
These are the files and folders that should exist in your folder after your restore.

Move all files into a new folder.

Move the following files & folders from there into the BG2-folder as they are not modified:

mplay*
nwn_1.mpg
(GS)Arcade*
glsetup.exe

BiG World Clean Install (if exists)
BiG World Downloads (if exists)
BiG World Old Files (if exists)
BiG World Setup* (if exists)
cache
cd(1-5)
data
ereg
mplayer
script compiler

Copy the files and folders from the BiG World Clean Install-directory.
Save and MPSave can be deleted since those saves cannot be used without the installation.

Open the data-folder and delete new folders that have a different timestamp then the rest of your file.
You should have all these bif-files in you folder (CDCreAni|DESound may not exist)
25AmbSnd|25Areas|25ArMisc|25CreAni|25Creatures|25CreSou|25Deflt|25Dialog|25Effect|25GuiBam|25GuiDes|25GuiMos|25Items|25IWAnim|25MiscAn|25NpcSo|25Portrt|25Projct|25Scripts|25SndFX|25SpelAn|25Spells|25Store|AMBSound|Areas|ARMisc|CDCreAni|CD3CreA2|CD3CreAn|CD4CreA2|CD4CreA3|CD4CreAn|CHAAnim|CHASound|CREAnim|CREAnim1|Creature|CRESound|CRIWAnim|Default|DESound|Dialog|Effects|GUIBam|GUICHUI|GUIDesc|GUIFont|GUIIcon|GUIMosc|Hd0CrAn|Hd0GMosc|Items|MISCAnim|MISSound|MovHD0|NPCAnim|NPCHd0So|NPCSoCD2|NPCSoCD3|NPCSoCD4|NPCSound|OBJAnim|PaperDol|Portrait|Project|Scripts|SFXSound|SPELAnim|Spells|Stores.

You should be able to run a clean game now. Delete the trash-folder if you can do so.

Edited by dabus, 25 December 2010 - 03:02 PM.