11 replies to this topic

[Black Wizard]

Hi, I'm a relative newcomer to the IE modding scene, I've been practicing making simple mods for the last few days, but there's something I'm curious about: is it possible to change your character's starting level in BG2?

I mean I know the game puts you at the level your chosen class is at 89000, but I was wondering if there was way to alter that and make it so you start at a lower level.

Thanks in advance!

[Sam.]

There are mods that do this, but I believe it requires hacking the EXE. I don't remember if ToBEx has externalized this or not... If you are wanting the WeiDU code to do this, I can probably dig up how the Classic Adventures mod does it.

[Jarno Mikkola]

There was actually a mini tool that could be used to the set the exact amount in the BGMain.exe also(it's circa 2002 or close)... I can't remember it's name though...
Edit: Ups, I still have it attached here(the xppatch.rar)... among other places.

And the BGT has the same feature as does the EasyTutu. Though those are the BG1 in BG2 mods, which reguire the original game and all so...
Hmm, why are you asking this Black Wiizard ?

Edited by Jarno Mikkola, 19 December 2012 - 10:32 AM.

[Miloch]

Easiest way is to mod the starting area script to set the experience (ar0602.bcs).

[Jarno Mikkola]

Easiest way is to mod the starting area script to set the experience (ar0602.bcs).

Erhm, does that actually work ? ... as you intent to, cause if we assume we assume to use the BG2 as the base and don't fix the .exe, the script gets applied after character creation, so when the new game begins, if the intended XP level is lower than the 89 000xp, the character is already at the highest level that amount allows for them.... yes, the game then applies the character the current XP ... but it only results into a huge cap between the start and the first actual level up... little like the dualing if you intent to get the best benefits out of it (without using the bigg's dual class tweak in the which ever mod it was).

[Black Wizard]

Easiest way is to mod the starting area script to set the experience (ar0602.bcs).

Yeah, sorry, but I'm not really seeing how that would work either. I mean character creation comes BEFORE the game actually begins and you enter the starting area.

Edited by Black Wizard, 20 December 2012 - 01:41 AM.

[Miloch]

Oh, you want to change the actual starting level for character definition and whatnot. Then I guess Sam.'s approach may be best if CA does that, as Tutu does and I think at least one megamod - Check the Bodies or something? But you could also do it after the fact by applying a spell that does opcode #96 (0x060) Stat: Level Change and or the scripting action AddXpObject() which is what Level 1 NPCs uses to match joinable NPCs closer to the PC's level.

[Jarno Mikkola]

Oh, you want to change the actual starting level for character definition and whatnot. Then I guess Sam.'s approach may be best if CA does that, as Tutu does and I think at least one megamod - Check the Bodies or something? But you could also do it after the fact by applying a spell that does opcode #96 (0x060) Stat: Level Change and or the scripting action AddXpObject() which is what Level 1 NPCs uses to match joinable NPCs closer to the PC's level.

But there's still the fact that the character creation is made to set level Player Character ... it's different with NPCs yeah... but.
The megamod you talk about is clearly the BGT.

[Black Wizard]

Hey, just to remind you guys, if there's a way to do this through scripting, I'm very much interested in knowing what it is. So if you know what it is, please share it.

Edited by Black Wizard, 20 December 2012 - 02:36 PM.

[Echo]

Can't you just use a ShadowKeeper tool to just set your level and experience and those of any NPC that joins your party?

[Jarno Mikkola]

Can't you just use a ShadowKeeper tool to just set your level and experience and those of any NPC that joins your party?

Well, if the purpose is to make a mod that allows you to start in a new location(not in the Irenicus prison in BG2:SoA) then not really as the Player Character needs to be modified as well. And that needs the BGMain.exe modifying... unless you want to add to the XP sum(89000), as then it's easy.