23 replies to this topic

[Dimensionist]

I was asked to make a new thread for this in this forum, so here I am.

 

I used BWS to install the 'recommended' mods for my game. I then started a new game, and - in order to see the effects of the mods - gave him enough experience to get to Level 40. The problem came when I tried to level up - after updating my weapon proficiencies, I moved on to the Abilities screen. Except there were only three abilities visible, only one of those three had a description, and I had 24 points to assign that wouldn't let me move on otherwise. I was running a Fighter/Mage half-elf, if that helps.

 

Here's a screenshot:

 

Can anyone help?

[The Imp]

Well, the HLA's have a level minimum set in the HLA table... It could be that, not instant leveling up to very high level could fix the problem, as you then have enough levels to actually pass the level requirement, but to "fix" the actual source of the problem, you need to use Near Infinity. Get the latest snapshot from here. It's a Java tool, so it needs the java runtime application. Hopefully you got that.

 

To find which file you should open, open first the LUABBR.2da, it should have the fighter mage flagged as FM0, which means the LUMA0.2da file, so if that's the case, open that file, and it has this LVL_MIN column, you probably should just set all those values to "1 ", yes, with a space after the 1, as you'll be deleting a two numbers, which creates the need for two character replacement. Then just save the file, exit the editor and load the save before the cheat. And try not to gain more than 10 levels, so you can actually select abilities, as some of those can be picked multiple times, but the game only allows one pick per time.

[Dimensionist]

Well, the HLA's have a level minimum set in the HLA table... It could be that, not instant leveling up to very high level could fix the problem, as you then have enough levels to actually pass the level requirement, but to "fix" the actual source of the problem, you need to use Near Infinity. Get the latest snapshot from here. It's a Java tool, so it needs the java runtime application. Hopefully you got that.

 

To find which file you should open, open first the LUABBR.2da, it should have the fighter mage flagged as FM0, which means the LUMA0.2da file, so if that's the case, open that file, and it has this LVL_MIN column, you probably should just set all those values to "1 ", yes, with a space after the 1, as you'll be deleting a two numbers, which creates the need for two character replacement. Then just save the file, exit the editor and load the save before the cheat. And try not to gain more than 10 levels, so you can actually select abilities, as some of those can be picked multiple times, but the game only allows one pick per time.

 

You can't  get to Level 40 at once. You have to first got to lvl 12 or so then adding one-two level at once. Then there will be no error.

 

Alright, I'll try both. Thanks.

[Dimensionist]

Okay, all the values have apparently already been set to '1 ', so I guess I'll now try the guest's method.

[Dimensionist]

Okay, it didn't work. I specifically tried the 'single levelup' method as well, but unfortunately upon reaching somewhere around level 13 or 14, when you try to levelup the abilities menu pops up but all the options are greyed out so you can no longer level up.

 

EDIT: Oh, and it's still just those three options that show up, even greyed out - one that has a description, and two that don't.

Edited by Dimensionist, 07 January 2016 - 08:36 PM.

[The Imp]

Weidu.log's content and what class&kit are you trying to level up ?
The next thing then I am going to ask is, what does the kits own lu***.2da look like .. and the lunab.2da. To get those out, you need the Near Infinity -tool.

Edited by The Imp, 07 January 2016 - 11:30 PM.

[Dimensionist]

Weidu.log's content and what class&kit are you trying to level up ?
The next thing then I am going to ask is, what does the kits own lu***.2da look like .. and the lunab.2da. To get those out, you need the Near Infinity -tool.

 

Sorry for being a noob, but how do I get the Weidu.log?

 

As for the class&kit, I'm playing a half-elven Fighter/Mage as I mentioned, since I read somewhere that the combination of arcane buffs and high-end fighting ability makes things obscene in BG2.

 

I'll check. Should I just post the .2da files here? Or post the contents?

 

There isn't a lunab.2da, BTW, just a lunumab.2da.

 

LUFM0.2DA

2DA V1.0
*
        ABILITY       ICON        STRREF    MIN_LEV   MAX_LEVEL  NUM_ALLOWED  PREREQUISITE EXCLUDED_BY   ALIGNMENT_RESTRICT
1       GA_SPCL900     *          *         1         99         20           *            *             *
2       GA_SPCL901     *          *         1         99         20           GA_SPCL900   *             *
3       GA_SPCL902     *          *         1         99         20           *            *             *
4       GA_SPCL903     *          *         1         99         20           GA_SPCL902   *             *
5       GA_SPCL904     *          *         1         99         20           *            *             *
6       GA_SPCL906     *          *         1         99         20           *            *             *
7       GA_SPCL905     *          *         1         99         20           GA_SPCL906   *             *
8       GA_SPCL909     *          *         1         99         1            GA_SPCL905   *             *
9       GA_SPCL908     *          *         1         99         20           *            *             *
10      GA_SPCL907     *          *         1         99         20           *            *             *
11      AP_SPCL928     *          *         1         99         1            *            *             *
12      AP_SPCL929     *          *         1         99         1            AP_SPCL928   *             *
13      AP_SPCL930     *          *         1         99         1            AP_SPCL929   *             *
14      GA_SPWI920     *          *         32        99         1            *            *             *
15      GA_SPWI921     *          *         32        99         1            *            *             *
16      GA_SPWI922     *          *         32        99         1            *            *             *
17      GA_SPWI923     *          *         32        99         1            *            GA_SPWI924    ALL_EVIL
18      GA_SPWI924     *          *         32        99         1            *            GA_SPWI923    ALL_GOOD
19      GA_SPWI925     *          *         32        99         1            *            *             *
20         *           *          *         *         *          *            *            *             *
21         *           *          *         *         *          *            *            *             *
22         *           *          *         *         *          *            *            *             *
23         *           *          *         *         *          *            *            *             *
24         *           *          *         *         *          *            *            *             *

LUNAB.2DA

2DA V1.0
0
                        FIRST_LEVEL     RATE      CHANGE_LEVEL   NEW_RATE
MAGE                    18              1         99             1
FIGHTER                 20              1         99             1
CLERIC                  22              1         99             1
THIEF                   24              1	      99             1
BARD                    24              1         99             1
PALADIN                 18              1         99             1
DRUID                   15              1         99             1
RANGER                  18              1         99             1
FIGHTER_MAGE            14              1         99             1
FIGHTER_CLERIC          41              1         99             1
FIGHTER_THIEF           41              1         99             1
FIGHTER_MAGE_THIEF      41              1         99             1
MAGE_THIEF              41              1         99             1
CLERIC_MAGE             41              1         99             1
CLERIC_THIEF            41              1         99             1
FIGHTER_DRUID           41              1         99             1
FIGHTER_MAGE_CLERIC     41              1         99             1
CLERIC_RANGER           41              1         99             1
SORCERER                18              1         99             1
MONK                    20              1         30             1
MULTI2FIGHTER           14              1         99             1
MULTI2MAGE              14              1         99             1
MULTI2CLERIC            15              1         99             1
MULTI2RANGER            13              1         99             1
MULTI2DRUID             14              1         99             1
MULTI2THIEF             17              1         99             1
MULTI3FIGHTER           12              1         99             1
MULTI3MAGE              99              1         99             1
MULTI3THIEF             15              1         99             1
MULTI3CLERIC            13              1         99             1

 

[Niewiem]

You have a file called weidu.log in your BG2 main directory

[The Imp]

OK, so that picture is from a BG1EE game, not from a BG2EE game, yeah, the high level abilities do not exist in BG1EE, so you are kinda restricted to levels below 14. As you normally be able to level to somewhere between 7 and 10, not 12-14. As the amount of required XP is humongous.

[Dimensionist]

You have a file called weidu.log in your BG2 main directory

 

Thanks, though I'm playing BG1EE.

 

 

OK, so that picture is from a BG1EE game, not from a BG2EE game, yeah, the high level abilities do not exist in BG1EE, so you are kinda restricted to levels below 14. As you normally be able to level to somewhere between 7 and 10, not 12-14. As the amount of required XP is humongous.

 

Is there anyway to fix that? I remember using a mod before BWS that *did* allow me to use the HLAs by porting over BG2EE HLAs to the BG1EE game.

[The Imp]

Is there anyway to fix that? I remember using a mod before BWS that *did* allow me to use the HLAs by porting over BG2EE HLAs to the BG1EE game.

How... well you are not supposed to, cause that's clear cheating man. That's it.
You can install that mod afterwards, but you are on your own on using it.

[Dimensionist]

Is there anyway to fix that? I remember using a mod before BWS that *did* allow me to use the HLAs by porting over BG2EE HLAs to the BG1EE game.

How... well you are not supposed to, cause that's clear cheating man. That's it.
You can install that mod afterwards, but you are on your own on using it.

 

That's cheating, but allowing you to level up to Level 40 isn't? Or the mods offering access to items well beyond BGEE limits?

 

And it's actually rather necessary, because without it you can't level beyond 13-14, and in fact can get completely stuck on the level up screen (... though I guess that bit's easily overcome by just going back and not leveling up).

 

Not to mention it's a single player game, so cheating's not really a problem there if you want to try new things to have fun.

 

In any case, I've got my info, so one last question - if I add the HLAs from the previous mod, it won't mess up my BWS installation, will it?

 

EDIT: For more information, it's TeamBG's Level 40 Rule Set/HLA mod, I think.

 

EDIT: Alright. Doesn't quite work with BWS, but the abilities populate just fine. Figure I'd just need to try and get the XP Cap portion working correctly and I'll be fine.

 

Thanks for the help here, guys. And if I said something impolite, I apologize.

Edited by Dimensionist, 12 January 2016 - 09:14 PM.

[The Imp]

Yeah, it's cheating cause you can't normally get to level 13 anyways. TRY and play the game for reals for ones, you'll notice that you can't get to that level. Without heavy XP cheating, or actions that you wouldn't normally do, like having only one character as your entire party. Cause it's so weak alone.
The game has a exponential XP gain table, meaning that for one level you have to have about twice the amount of xp to gain a level at this stage, and you are talking about a multi classed character by the by. .... Normal the game had a XP cap that limited the gained XP to 161 000. I don't think you can get to 1 000 000 xp, let alone 3M xp without actions that are well beyond any limits of cheating from any respect of the view. So the problem is non existing.

And if I said something impolite, I apologize.

Well, you are not... So no need to apologize.
PS, my judgement that you are cheating does not base you as a bad person, just that you need to understand the mechanisms behind the judgement.

Edited by The Imp, 13 January 2016 - 03:30 AM.

[Dimensionist]

Yeah, it's cheating cause you can't normally get to level 13 anyways. TRY and play the game for reals for ones, you'll notice that you can't get to that level. Without heavy XP cheating, or actions that you wouldn't normally do, like having only one character as your entire party. Cause it's so weak alone.
The game has a exponential XP gain table, meaning that for one level you have to have about twice the amount of xp to gain a level at this stage, and you are talking about a multi classed character by the by. .... Normal the game had a XP cap that limited the gained XP to 161 000. I don't think you can get to 1 000 000 xp, let alone 3M xp without actions that are well beyond any limits of cheating from any respect of the view. So the problem is non existing.

And if I said something impolite, I apologize.

Well, you are not... So no need to apologize.
PS, my judgement that you are cheating does not base you as a bad person, just that you need to understand the mechanisms behind the judgement.

 

It kinda doesn't count out the items-based mods, though. Or obviate the fact that cheating in a single player game is often just a way to enjoy the game from a different paradigm. For instance, if you want to roleplay as a trained adventurer starting out rather than a novice. Or if you want certain items because you're annoyed at the time it takes to move across maps (*cough*oil of speed*cough*), though in that case there *are* some speedhacks available. And even with all that you've said, it should be noted that removing the XP cap (as the existing recommended mods list provides) *will* let you peak at a higher level than the base level of the game. This is in addition to stuff like extra quests, extra items, etc.

 

Basically, at the end of the day, 'cheating' is both pointless as a criticism for a single-player game and boomerangs right back around when you use mods and/or game exploits, in spirit if nothing else. There's little point in condemning someone for doing so, particularly as in a single player game it's really up to him how he wishes to enjoy the game.

 

For instance, I played the game without cheating before. Didn't finish it, but that was more due to a lack of interest than inability - there were too many other games on my backlog. Returning to this game after some time, I wanted to add some zest to it - hence, choosing to start as a Level 40 player - because checking out the cool spells that I can use and the HLAs is fun.

 

I do agree with you on cheating when it comes to multiplayer games, though - if you're playing *with* someone, then they deserve the courtesy of a fair game.

 

Anyway, now to business - I tried it out by tweaking the files, and it comes out fine. I can't really play it with this without an extra change, however - is there any mod or other such method to scale the enemies up appropriately? If not, I suppose I'll rebuild my game back to the Level 8 limit (for a Fighter/Mage, anyway). Be kinda a let-down to face Sarevok as a Level 40 Fighter/Mage.

Edited by Dimensionist, 13 January 2016 - 07:26 AM.

[agb1]

There isn't much that can challenge a level 40 wizard.

On the Beamdog forums in the EE compatible mods lists you'll find a difficulty increase mod that isn't in BWS yet. It increases creature levels only, so it must be installed before BG2 Tweaks "give creatures max HP for their level" and before SCS (which revises spellbooks and proficiencies and more to match creature level) to have the intended effect.

[Dimensionist]

There isn't much that can challenge a level 40 wizard.

On the Beamdog forums in the EE compatible mods lists you'll find a difficulty increase mod that isn't in BWS yet. It increases creature levels only, so it must be installed before BG2 Tweaks "give creatures max HP for their level" and before SCS (which revises spellbooks and proficiencies and more to match creature level) to have the intended effect.

Thanks, I'll check it out.

[The Imp]

I can't really play it with this without an extra change, however - is there any mod or other such method to scale the enemies up appropriately? If not, I suppose I'll rebuild my game back to the Level 8 limit (for a Fighter/Mage, anyway).

First you want to play at level 40 and then want challenge. This game was not build that way.
How about you start at level ~5/5, play the whole game though with Boots of Speed and a few other items and limit the cheating at that. That's what we others do too. Also the Hit Point gain tables are switched to 1-3 depending on the exact class, at levels 10-13. And there's no point on going to levels beyond 20, as the games roles stop going further in the BG2EE on that point, except gaining more of the same HLAs, and the normal spells effects cap up too.

The issue is not that you are cheating, but that you are over cheating it by a mile... And the dragon that you can fight is a total n00b compared to anything you can throw at it, so you can't get anything out of the game with over cheating at it.

[Dimensionist]

I can't really play it with this without an extra change, however - is there any mod or other such method to scale the enemies up appropriately? If not, I suppose I'll rebuild my game back to the Level 8 limit (for a Fighter/Mage, anyway).

First you want to play at level 40 and then want challenge. This game was not build that way.
How about you start at level ~5/5, play the whole game though with Boots of Speed and a few other items and limit the cheating at that. That's what we others do too. Also the Hit Point gain tables are switched to 1-3 depending on the exact class, at levels 10-13. And there's no point on going to levels beyond 20, as the games roles stop going further in the BG2EE on that point, except gaining more of the same HLAs, and the normal spells effects cap up too.

The issue is not that you are cheating, but that you are over cheating it by a mile... And the dragon that you can fight is a total n00b compared to anything you can throw at it, so you can't get anything out of the game with over cheating at it.

 

I'm not really sure why you seem to have a problem with my playstyle, to be honest. Or anyone else's playstyle in single player, for that matter. I'm checking out what I can do with the game, playing it in different ways to see how it is. At Level 40, I can play around with 9th level spell at max cap and see how the various HLAs play out working together. Heck, it's an entirely personal choice, and to be honest, I'm sure it would be satisfying to play the game with a Level 40 character stomping everything, I just don't care to do it right now and was looking for a more epic scale of fights - hence the question of enemy scaling. Why is it such a bad thing to you? It's a single player game, no one else is affected, and I'm enjoying it.

 

There is really no actual issue about cheating or 'overcheating'. Not in a single player game. It's all about what a person would get satisfaction from. And yes, you can get something out of the game even while overpowering everything. Leaving aside how casually bulldozing past all enemies can be cathartic on a visceral level from time to time, it can also facilitate a certain kind of roleplay.

 

Now, the actual question was asked and answered. I hate to be rude, but do you have anything to add in that vein? Because really, the discussion about cheating seems to be bogging down to 'cheating beyond these specific bounds I've prescribed is wrong because you won't enjoy it', which is rather arbitrary and riddled with assumptions.

[The Imp]

Well, the BG1 was no designed to be played at level 40.
The BG2 was not either, the ToB was planed to be started at level ~18 - 22... if you want to plan a game at the 40th level mark... you play the BG2 ToB and there you get to stump a bit bigger enemies, that could possibly actually give you a challenge.
Or you could install the EET to an BG2EE game and then go ahead and start the game at level 50/50 in Candlekeep.

The game is not scale-able... intentionally.
Yes, the self made problem disappears when you move to a game that has the HLAs as an intentionally included feature.

Edited by The Imp, 13 January 2016 - 11:45 AM.