821 replies to this topic

[Ascension64]

I haven't much of an idea about how to implement plugin support, but given that code changes from multiple sources have a high potential of conflict, it seems quite dangerous to me.

[The Imp]

Is there way you could make a similar debug Extender to PST ?

[Kyoma]

I haven't much of an idea about how to implement plugin support, but given that code changes from multiple sources have a high potential of conflict, it seems quite dangerous to me.

Well the potential conflict wouldn't be more than what any mod that alters the exe has even what TobEx has. The creator of such a plugin, would still need to have good knowledge of the inner workings of the engine and investigate possible conflicts with (other) exe-modifying mods (and ofcourse with TobEx). The user would still be the one that decides if he or she wants to use a plugin.

 

The biggest advantage is that modders, in this case me, can implement stuff on a TobEx-level (or engine-level) without resorting to direct byte-patching or having to integrate it into a personal version of TobEx of sorts (which would be a support nightmare).

 

As for the implementation, I would be willing to write the code and test it a bit. Then you/me/we can release an alpha version or something. The idea is ofcourse that no (additional) changes (to the engine) take place unless a plugin is loaded.

 

P.S. Things I'm currently investigating and would be implementing in a plugin:

- Shared Identification: Checks the entire party when determining if an identification spell/scroll/item is available. Avoids the need to shuffle items around each time you need your mage/bard/someone to identify an item.

- Multiple Launchers: As mentioned before would allow you to equip multiple launchers of the same type.

- A few other minor stuff.

Edited by Kyoma, 21 May 2013 - 02:18 AM.

[DavidWallace]

Okay, here's my current wishlist. Much is probably impractical, but if you don't ask, you don't get...

 

1. Externalise # spells known at start

 

Currently the number of spells per level at character creation is hardcoded and rather overgenerous for 1st level characters. It would nice (though hardly necessary) to externalise this, ideally on a per-level basis (so that # spells was drawn from a 2DA with one row per character level and one column per spell level) but failing that, once-and-for-all.

 

2. Externalise various projectile types

 

While BG2 already externalises (to the PRO file) a lot of projectile information that's hardcoded in the BG1 or IWD versions of the IE, there are several remaining hardcoded behaviour types that it would be great to make accessible.

 

2a. Externalise large projectiles

 

Certain projectiles work by playing multiple copies of the same smallish animation at various different places, and various different sequence states, within a defined area. (Example: ADHW). This is hardcoded (selected via the Explosion Projectile byte at 0x217) and so new effects can't be added.

 

2b. Externalise cone projectiles

 

Certain projectiles work by spraying multiple copies of an animation (with sequencing determined by orientation) in a cone of defined radius and angle. (Example: Cone of Cold). While the cone parameters are controlled by the PRO file, the range of available animations is hardcoded (and again accessed via 0x217).

 

2c. Externalise clouds

 

Certain projectiles use a continuing version of (2a) (with a hardcoded duration) and also apply the payload of the spell immediately upon anything entering the area of effect and thereafter on a once-per-round basis. Once again this is hardcoded, so that duration cannot be changed and additional animations cannot be added.

 

3. Specify spawn locations on a per-creature basis

 

Spawning in BG2 uses one coordinate for the whole spawn, so that the spawns all appear in one unsightly blob. It would be nice to specify coordinates and orientation for each creature in the spawn list. IESDP claims that there are 56 bytes unused at the end of the spawn block in ARE files, which would accommodate the (2+2+1)x10 = 50 bytes required to give coordinates and orientation to each of the ten spawned creatures in the spawn field. There is plenty of room for a bit to control whether per-creature coordinates are used or not.

[Ascension64]

Will pop them on the list to have a look at.

[DavidWallace]

Following up on this: to some extent I can see now how to do some of (2) through VEF files and the "repetitions" field on PRO files. But I can't work out how to get a repeating pro file to play an animation without going mad, so I still can't manage clouds.

[K4thos]

Here is my wish list:

1. Externalize default portrait selection. As far as I know it is currently not possible to add additional portraits to character creation menu. Player must choose them from custom menu. It would be great if we could add new portrait entries into 2da files (male and female variant) so they show up like original ones.

 

2. Enhance "change portrait (107)" effect functionality - currently if you use this spell effect it will change the portrait to whatever you wish, but in order to change the portrait back you need to specify the name of that original portrait. Can it be changed so the spell effect picks up default M and S portrait written in CRE file when the spell does not have specified 'resource' name? That is how "Polymorph (135)" effect works - if you specify the resource it will change the appearance but if you later use the same spell effect but without resource the engine will change it back to default one. Hope you can see the benefits of this feature.

 

3. Disable hardcoded falling for paladins and rangers.

[DrAzTiK]

Hi Ascension,

 

Maybe some players have noticed the following fact : when the party is fighting, the fighting music stop and start again everytime you clic to the "return to game" icon  after looking your inventory  or checking  yours stats .

It is a little bit strange  and immersion breaking, andI don't know why it occurs only for fighting songs.

 

Any way to "fix" this ?

 

edit ; it has been fixed on BGEE

http://forum.baldurs...nventory-screen

Edited by DrAzTiK, 21 July 2014 - 07:03 AM.

[The Imp]

I probably have this off a bit, or totally, but anyways I make this post. Just to look like a fool.

As I am aware, the v2.5.26498 ToB BGMain.exe should only allows 2Gb's of ram to be useful... for multiple technical reasons. I don't get any of them, but I would assume the game being coded in the 1990's has a thing to do with it. As this came years after. That solution was found to lessen the lag apparently.

 

Can ToBEx add the "large address aware" -flag to the .exe, as it's supposed to allow 4Gb's of ram to be useful on today's x64 computers.

[Tash]

I still prefer your stand-alone work on TobEx than BGEE, Sir Ascension. But if there's a single feature of BGEE that I'd love to see in TobEx, it'd be externalized animation files: EXTANIM.2DA and EXTSPEED.2DA.

 

EXTANIM not necessarily, though, as it might be more work. But EXTSPEED (base animation movement speed) would solve most of the BGT monster movement issues. Thanks, 64-bit man!

Edited by Tash, 01 July 2014 - 06:28 PM.

[The Imp]

I ...

The thing is, you shouldn't be asking the BGEE stuff here, in the regular BG2 moding forum, but in the BGEE forums from beamdog...
I should have read what was said. Ahh...

Aw, shoot. I just got misunderstood by the forum Imp.

Don't worry about something so little things, the devil has it's voices to delight and it gets confused easily.
 
On unrelated matter, I would still like the game to be able to be played by 10 party members, nope you can never have enough.

Edited by The Imp, 02 July 2014 - 01:02 AM.

[Tash]

Aw, shoot. I just got misunderstood by the forum Imp. What I meant was that BGEE already has this feature. And now I wish that Ascension64, who has the skills necessary, did something similar in regular TobEx for our original BG2/GoG versions of the game. Sorry if I confused some of you.

Edited by Tash, 01 July 2014 - 06:31 PM.

[Salk]

I think we can consider Ascension64 retired from the scene at this point.

There is always hope for a comeback but it becomes increasingly more unlikely.

[Tash]

I think we can consider Ascension64 retired from the scene at this point.

 

Real pity, but I can understand. Is there anyone else, other than A64, bigg, and Erephine, who studied the baldur.exe structure and could possibly take over?

[Mad Mate]

All of them vanished in last year or more. Casualties of "enchanted" editions. 

[subtledoctor]

All of them vanished in last year or more. Casualties of "enchanted" editions. 

Boooooooooo...

Is there no one out there who has the abilities to keep working on TobEx? My wishlist is relatively small:

1) Backport the EEs' STYLBONU.2da externalizations so that we can mod wespon styles;

2) Add a Script Action to toggle bits 3-8 of offset 10 of the .CRE extended header (the OriginalClass fields). In TobEx Ascension64 introduced a Script Trigger to read these values, but no corresponding Script Action to set them.

In particular, if there is anyone out there who could do the latter, I have an AMAZING mod idea, which I will make and dedicate to you.

[Miksip]

I wish to add this function to disable loop-throu-containers-for-quest-items.

Original idea found here http://www.shsforums...m/#entry545818.

Simply don't let it look at .sto files too, only in inventory.

[The Imp]

Man Miksip, you missed the ship, it's already there.

[Miksip]

@The Imp

Would you be so kind to point out where it is?